Koryukivka municipality was one of the first to meet the occupiers and demonstrated a powerful movement of resistance. Local residents blocked the roads and stopped the tanks with their bare hands. At the beginning of April, the Armed Forces of Ukraine drove out the Russian army, and the municipality began to recover and return to normal life. The U-LEAD with Europe Programme helped this municipality, says Koryukiv City Mayor Ratan Akhmedov.

According to him, as a result of the invasion, the municipality was effectively cut off from other territories of Ukraine for 41 days. The occupiers destroyed bridges and roads, and the only way was through the zone of active hostilities.

Because of this, the municipality had to use available resources. In particular, the local government launched a bread factory that stopped a few years ago, and united the efforts of farmers.

"We managed to start a bakery that stopped operating several years ago. In the neighboring municipality, the work of the cheese factory was resumed. Local farmers got to work. The greatest difficulty, probably, was with the medicines. Medicines for which there was the highest demand disappeared from the shelves in the first days. And it turned out that someone had enough medicine, and someone did not have it at all. That's why they delivered everything they needed across the river - by boats," recalls Ratan Akhmedov.

The Armed Forces entered the territory of the municipality on April 5. The mayor calls this day the happiest in his life. After the liberation of the region, the residents of the municipality took up the task of restoring the destroyed buildings and improving the operation of local businesses. U-LEAD with Europe played an important role in this.

"When the occupiers were kicked out from here, work began on the restoration of Ukraine. By February 24, we really wanted to develop infrastructure facilities. Of course, the war crossed out all the plans, and such projects are practically not financed today, because the funds are directed to the defense sector. That's why we turned to U-LEAD. First of all, regarding the establishment of backup power for critical infrastructure facilities," the mayor adds.

Koryukivka municipality is one of 333 municipalities that received emergency aid packages from U-LEAD based on urgent needs. In particular, the municipality received "Repair" and "Lighting" aid packages, which include generators, cutting machines, chain saws, cutting discs and chains, forklifts and a light post. This made it possible to unblock roads, restore the operation of critical infrastructure facilities and provide electricity to rural areas.

"Thanks to this help, in particular, we were able to restore the water supply to the territories where the occupiers damaged the pipelines. In addition, preparations for the winter period are already underway, and here this equipment plays an equally important role. And, of course, clearing debris on the roads. A powerful resistance movement was formed in our community, which did everything possible to prevent the movement of Russian equipment. And all these debris were also removed thanks to U-LEAD," says Mr. Akhmedov.

Today, the municipality continues to gradually return to normal life. Local entrepreneurs are resuming their work, and municipality residents are doing everything they can to get rid of reminders of the occupation period. The mayor is convinced that all plans and projects will be implemented after the victory of Ukraine.