Even before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February, Ukraine’s mayors and governors were turning heads for their competence and service delivery during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, the country’s local officials have demonstrated fearless leadership in the face of war and mobilized resources and their constituents to defend Ukraine. What role will Ukraine’s mayors and governors continue to play in the war effort? Decentralization reforms have given Ukrainian regions more autonomy—how do they interface with authorities in Kyiv? What role will Ukraine’s local leaders play in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction?

Melinda Haring, deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, moderates a discussion with Ivan Fedorov, mayor of Melitopol, Vitaliy Kim, governor of Mykolayiv Oblast, Oleksandr Lomako, secretary of the Chernihiv City Council, Pavlo Sheremeta, distinguished fellow at GLOBSEC and former minister of economic development and trade of Ukraine, and Victoria Voytsitska, former member of parliament of Ukraine and member of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory, on the role of Ukraine’s local officials in wartime.


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