Safe community is a shared responsibility and a point of origin for practical solutions: Oleksii Kuleba

On June 26, the Safe Community 2025 forum organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine took place in Dnipro. The event brought together community leaders, regional military administrations, representatives of security services, police, rescuers, and members of the Government. The forum was attended by Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

The forum focused on the development of a safe environment at the community level, practical solutions that allow for a systematic response to threats, strengthening the capacity of communities to act in crisis situations and creating safe spaces for living. The initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Community Rescue Officer project, was presented, which is intended to provide a new level of civil protection on the ground.

In his statement, Oleksii Kuleba emphasized that a safe community was a shared responsibility of the state, regional and local authorities.

"It is in communities that practices are formed on which the public security and national recovery policy are based. It is especially important to hear the voice of the frontline and border areas, because it is there that the country's stability is maintained today," said Oleksii Kuleba.

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that support for communities remains a priority of state policy. In 2025, more than UAH 74 billion of grants and subventions have already been allocated to the local level - these are basic funds that allow hromadas to fulfill their responsibilities, support people and respond to challenges. By a separate decision of the Government, UAH 1.8 billion was allocated to 180 frontline communities for shelters, emergency works, and repairs of utility networks.

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko emphasized that security was not only about responding to threats, but above all about creating conditions in which everyone feels protected in everyday life.

"For more than three years now, our country has been living in a large-scale war, and this is a test that has affected every family in our country, every settlement, every community. Even under fire, we continue to work to make Ukrainians feel more secure. Security is not just the absence of explosions and attacks, it is the ability to safely take your child to school. It is the confidence that in case of danger, each of us will receive fast and high-quality help. It is when public spaces are safe and services are convenient and accessible. We understand that when people feel safe, they will return home," said Ihor Klymenko.

Oleksii Kuleba also emphasized that in times of war, communities not only adapt to challenges, but also set the course of action - implement solutions that are subsequently scaled up at the level of state policy.

"The Government's task is to support these practices with resources, to create conditions for each community to have the capacity to act. I am grateful to the communities that take responsibility and make decisions every day. Especially to those who joined the “Side by Side” initiative and support the affected regions. Resilience begins with concrete decisions on the ground," said Oleksii Kuleba.

The Safe Community 2025 Forum became a platform for discussing real tools that work in communities in times of war, as well as examples of interagency cooperation that allows for an effective response to threats. The participants of the event confirmed the importance of close partnership between the state, communities and security services as the basis for creating a resilient environment.