URBAN RESILIENCE DURING THE WAR: THE CASE OF KHARKIV
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/2413-7154/2025.94.4Keywords:
urban resilience, city recovery, sustainable development, war, KharkivAbstract
Ukraine is currently experiencing one of the most severe crises in 21st-century in Europe. Alongside demographic strain, ongoing attacks and infrastructure destruction complicate efforts to ensure resilience and stability. Consequently, sustainable urban development remains critically important. In this context, urban resilience, viewed as a core element of urban sustainability amid the full-scale invasion, has gained strategic significance. This article analyzes the path toward achieving urban resilience in the Kharkiv city (Ukraine) during the war. The study reveals the multidimensional nature of this concept through an examination of physical infrastructure, social practices, and the cultural interpretation of collective trauma. The article explores concrete measures implemented in Kharkiv, including curfews, air raid alerts, the creation of safe spaces (shelters and metro schools), support for businesses, housing restoration, artistic initiatives for memorializing the war and psychological support for residents. It also highlights a range of challenges that hinder the implementation of resilience strategies, such as financial instability, unequal access to resources, low levels of civic engagement, and a lack of an integrated approach to urban development. The conducted analysis made it possible to provide practical recommendations for developing more resilient practices for the Kharkiv city. This analysis emphasizes the importance of a systemic, inclusive, and long-term approach to building urban resilience, one that relies not only on engineering solutions but also on rethinking values, engaging the community, and restoring social trust. It is important to acknowledge that the processes of resilience formation vary significantly across cities situated in different regions and confronted with diverse challenges. The experience of Kharkiv can serve as a valuable resource for developing strategies for reconstruction and urban management in crisis and post-crisis contexts.
First received: 1 December 2025
Accepted: 16 December 2025
Published: 17 December 2025
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