Beyond the military struggle, the task of rebuilding governance, restoring infrastructure, and healing social wounds requires tremendous effort and strategic planning.
Understanding these hurdles offers a window into the resilience of Ukrainian society and the broader implications for post-conflict recovery worldwide.
Since the beginning of the full-scale aggression, almost 4,000 settlements in 231 territorial communities have been temporarily occupied.
This applies to 11 Oblasts of Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Odesa.
During the occupation, Russian forces destroyed Ukraine's local self-governance and state institutions on temporarily occupied territories.
The provision of public services, such as education, healthcare and social support, has become an instrument of manipulation.
For example, in order to force residents to cooperate, the occupiers deliberately created humanitarian crises, in particular, by artificially restricting access to food and essential goods.
In some regions, the occupiers attempted to introduce the Russian currency (ruble), all the while a Russian curriculum and textbooks were introduced in educational institutions.
Seeking legitimacy, the occupation authorities held so-called ‘referendums’.
In September 2022, similar fake votes on ‘joining Russia’ took place in the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblasts. These actions were aimed at establishing clivage and creating the illusion of support for the occupation.
According to the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, in 2022-2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine de-occupied about 2,800 settlements in more than 160 territorial communities in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Odesa Oblasts.
An important step in taking into account the specifics of the de-occupied territories was taken when the State Strategy for Regional Development until 2027 was updated.
However, there are many common challenges for all territories.
1. Restoring Governance and the Rule of Law
Many local administrations in occupied areas were either dismantled or co-opted by Russian authorities, leaving a governance vacuum.
Ukrainian authorities face the task of reinstating local governments, ensuring the rule of law, and rooting out enemy collaborators.
This process is vital to re-establish trust among citizens who may have experienced coercion or conflicting loyalties during the occupation.
One of the most difficult challenges is restoring social cohesion. Under occupation, communities often experienced forced Russification, propaganda, and suspicion between neighbours.
Some residents may have cooperated with occupiers, either willingly or under pressure, while others resisted. This creates a tense environment post-liberation, where accusations of collaboration can divide communities.
To address this, Ukraine is implementing programs to promote dialogue and reconciliation. However, ensuring that all citizens feel heard and respected is a complex task.
Civic organisations play a crucial role in rebuilding trust, but they need support and resources to operate effectively in these areas.
Nonetheless, distinguishing between those who collaborated under duress and those who did so willingly is a delicate task, requiring transparent investigations and fair trials.
Ensuring fair treatment and adherence to international human rights standards is crucial to avoiding possible polarisation.
2. Restoring Infrastructure and Basic Services
Many liberated areas are in ruins. Cities like Mariupol and Bakhmut, systematically destroyed by Russian forces, would require complete reconstruction.
Restoring basic services—electricity, water, healthcare, and education—must take place to make these areas livable again.
However, the devastation goes beyond infrastructure; the occupation has also inflicted environmental harm, complicating recovery efforts.
For instance, Russia is already transporting garbage from the Rostov region into the Donetsk Oblast, abandoning plans to build a landfill near Rostov due to local protests.
This reckless disposal strategy threatens to create an environmental disaster in eastern Ukraine, further burdening the region's recovery. Meanwhile, in other occupied territories, Russia uses basic services like waste collection as a tool of coercion.
In the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson Oblast, they have established a so-called "operator" for garbage removal, but this service is only available to those with Russian passports.
Such tactics not only contribute to environmental degradation but also serve as a means to force Ukrainian residents into accepting Russian control, making the reintegration and rebuilding process even more complex for Ukraine.
3. Demining and Ensuring Safety
Landmines and unexploded ordnance present a persistent threat in liberated areas. Ukraine is now one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
Until demining is complete, civilians remain at risk, especially farmers returning to their fields or children playing outdoors. International support and expertise are crucial for accelerating these efforts and ensuring the safe return of displaced populations.
The process of deoccupation in Ukraine presents a formidable challenge, encompassing the restoration of governance, infrastructure, and social cohesion.
The devastation caused by Russian forces has created deep political, security, and psychological wounds that require more than just reconstruction—they demand a holistic approach to rebuilding trust, reestablishing the rule of law, and fostering national unity.
Issues such as demining, addressing collaboration, and mitigating environmental damage add layers of complexity to this effort.
