Living under fire: Kharkiv’s path to resilience and recovery

Kharkiv, under constant threat from Russian shelling, is striving to adapt, sustain life, and maintain its economy despite significant challenges.

What are the main challenges the city encounters and what is its' path? 
These questions were discussed at the NV-organized event with Kharkiv's most prominent citizens and leadership.

The discussion was moderated by Radio NV chief editor Oleksiy Tarasov.

Coping with the Frontline Reality

Kharkiv, located just 40 kilometers from the Russian border, faces the harsh realities of war daily. Writer and activist Serhiy Zhadan described Kharkiv as a city that must transition from being a military stronghold to becoming a hub for creative, innovative solutions in economics, culture, and education.

This transformation, he noted, is a daunting task but achievable thanks to the resilience and dedication of Kharkiv’s residents.

Deputy Mayor Svitlana Horbunova-Ruban detailed the city's dual burden: it hosts over 200,000 internally displaced persons, including 27,000 children, while many younger and middle-aged residents have left, leaving an aging population behind.

The city is set to open a new municipal Veteran Space to support reintegration through family services, business training, art therapy, and mental health programs.

Community and Demographic Shifts

Maryna Nikolayeva of Smart Media  observed significant shifts in Kharkiv’s community. Many original residents, especially women and children, have not returned, while new arrivals from war-affected areas like Izium and Kupiansk have started integrating into city life. Nikolayeva highlighted the difficulty in uniting the community for common goals, as many activists joined the military early in the war, and some have been lost or injured.

Economic Challenges and Adaptation

Deputy Governor Yevhen Ivanov noted that Kharkiv’s population stands at approximately 1.1 million, including 570,000 displaced people across the region. The city has suffered over 50,000 damaged or destroyed buildings, affecting both residential and industrial structures. Key industries like machinery and defense manufacturing cannot be relocated and must continue operating under the threat of missile and drone strikes.

Oleksandr Chumak, the President of Entrepreuners Association also highlighted the economy to be a key to the city resilience.

"Over the past 10 years of war, three attempts to capture Kharkiv—2014, 2022, and 2024—ended in failure," he reminded.

"This has demonstrated that Kharkiv has a distinct new mission. It is a fortress city that provides security to all of Left-Bank Ukraine and the country as a whole. It is impossible for an aggressor to reach Europe without taking Kharkiv. This mission must be understood by both Ukraine and Europe. Kharkiv's resilience is anchored in its economy; without it, the city could not be defended."

He highlighted that Kharkiv’s economic hardships are disproportionate compared to western cities like those in Zakarpattia Oblast.

“Uniform tax policies do not work for frontline cities,” he asserted, noting that tax hikes have a harsher impact on oblasts like Kharkiv.

However, local officials successfully secured temporary exemptions from property and land taxes — a measure unmatched in other parts of Ukraine.

Other pressing issues and challenges for Kharkiv residents in 2024 include:

• employment, rehabilitation, and social integration of veterans
• the critical need for special tax policies for businesses in this frontline city
• demographic changes: how many residents have left and may never return
• the necessity of in-person education and the impact its absence has on the city’s economy
• specific requirements for shelters in a frontline city.

This project is implemented through the Ukrainian Rapid Response Fund program, carried out by IREX with support from the U.S. Department of State. The content is the sole responsibility of The New Voice of Ukraine and does not necessarily reflect the views of IREX or the U.S. Department of State.