This project examined possible directions for the post-war economic recovery of Ukrainian cities, drawing on European experience in urban development, planning and reconstruction. It was developed in response to the large-scale destruction of urban infrastructure in Ukraine caused by Russia’s war and the urgent need to prepare evidence-based approaches for future urban recovery.
The project focused on Ukrainian cities as key elements of the national settlement system and as crucial spaces for economic renewal, social resilience and territorial development. Since the scale and character of destruction differ significantly between cities and regions, the project proceeded from the assumption that there can be no universal model of reconstruction. Instead, post-war recovery strategies need to take into account the specific socio-economic, spatial, infrastructural and institutional conditions of each city.
A central part of the research was the analysis of European approaches to urban development management, with particular attention to the experience of Vienna. The project explored how modern concepts of sustainable urban development – including smart cities, creative cities, green cities and learning cities – can inform the reconstruction and renewal of Ukrainian cities. Particular attention was paid to the diversification of urban economies, the city of short distances, mixed-use development, neighbourhoods as social spaces, public transport, soft renewal of historical urban structures and citizen-oriented digital administration.
Methodologically, the study combined desk research, analysis of urban development policies and regulatory frameworks, comparative analysis of Vienna and Kyiv, and interviews with local authorities, architects and developers in Vienna. This made it possible to link strategic urban planning concepts with practical implementation experience and to assess the transferability of selected Viennese practices to Ukrainian urban contexts.
The project contributes to urban and regional studies by outlining possible post-war development trajectories for Ukrainian cities and by connecting reconstruction debates with sustainable urban planning, economic renewal and local governance. It provides a basis for developing state and municipal policies aimed at resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery.
Scientific presentations, events, media:
Tkach S. (2022). Features of the implementation of the smart city concept in the capitals of Ukraine and Austria. Grundlagen der modernen wissenschaftlichen Forschungder Sammlung wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten «ΛΌГOΣ» zu den Materialien der II internationalen wissenschaftlich-praktischen Konferenz, Zürich, 12. August, 2022. Zürich-Vinnytsia: BOLESWA Publishers & Europäische Wissenschaftsplattform.
Tkach, S. (2022). The Impact of the War on the Development of Ukrainian Cities: Threats and Opportunities. The 26th RSEP International Conference on Economics, Finance & Business, Istanbul, 22–23 August 2022. P.15
Tkach S. (2023). The Experience of Vienna's Postwar Transformation: From Ruins to the Most Comfortable City in the World. Economics of Urban Renewal: Collection of Materials of the International Urban Forum, Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Kyiv, March 22–23, 2023. Kyiv: KNEU, 2023. Pp. 379-382.
Tkach, S., & Giffinger, R. (2024). A smart indicator concept for post-war resilient development of Ukrainian cities. Rozwój Regionalny I Polityka Regionalna, 18 (68), 29–49. https://doi.org/10.14746/rrpr.2024.68.04
State Institution “Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”
02.05.2022 - 04.09.2022
Joint Excellence in Science and Humanities Programme, Austrian Academy of Sciences
