Introduction of a security approach to state regional policy: the concept of ‘frontline territories’ and the state's priorities for their support officially determined

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has amended the State Regional Development Strategy for 2021–2027, establishing a new approach to spatial and strategic planning for the development of regions and territories.

The changes allow regional policy to be adapted to new security realities and challenges related to the war. They provide for an update of regional development priorities until 2027, as well as a clear definition of frontline and temporarily occupied territories. This decision aligns state regional policy with the European Union's approaches to cohesion policy and allows for better consideration of the specific characteristics of each region, particularly in terms of security.

"This is not just about new terminology, but about the possibility of a systematic approach to planning recovery, financing and support. The lack of a clear definition of territories has made it difficult to plan recovery measures effectively. Today's decision officially establishes the concept of frontline territories and state policy priorities for them for the first time. This enables the state to develop separate targeted support programmes for such territories and to integrate a security approach for the targeted financing of priority projects. Until now, such an approach simply did not exist," emphasised Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine - Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksii Kuleba.

Thus, the decision is an important step towards the systematic, security-based reconstruction of the country, especially in the most vulnerable regions close to the frontline.