On January 28, 2026, the project A Shared Vision of a New Home: Pre-Project Discussion of a Residential Quarter for IDPs from Bakhmut was presented at Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv. The event brought together displaced residents of Bakhmut, representatives of civil society organizations, local self-government bodies, and members of the expert community. Among the participants was Oleksiy Orlovskyi, Director of the “Democracy and Good Governance” Programme at the International Renaissance Foundation.
During the event, participants discussed the protection of the rights of internally displaced people and presented the results of research dedicated to possible solutions for the housing needs of displaced residents from Bakhmut.
Particular attention during the panel discussion “Addressing Housing Challenges for IDPs” was devoted to long-term solutions for the housing needs of people from Bakhmut. The panel featured Oleksandr Marchenko, Deputy Head of the Bakhmut City Military Administration; Oleksandr Ivchenko, Deputy Head of the Hostomel Village Military Administration; Oleksandr Yavtushenko, Head of the Kyiv Region IDP Council and Adviser to the Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration; and Arkadii Petrosian, Head of the Association of Young IDPs of Ukraine and initiator of Draft Law No. 1116. The speakers discussed the challenges of Ukraine’s state housing policy for internally displaced people and current legislative initiatives addressing these issues.
An emotional highlight of the event was the presentation of the project Bakhmut Before. The exhibition featured photographic memories of Bakhmut residents depicting their peaceful hometown before the war. The exhibition served as a reminder of the importance of preserving memory, identity, and the connection between communities and their homes, even under conditions of forced displacement.
The project A Shared Vision of a New Home: Pre-Project Discussion of a Residential Quarter for IDPs from Bakhmut was implemented by the teams of the NGO “Bakhmut Fortress” (the project applicant), the NGO “Anti-Crisis Media Center,” and the urban coalition “Ro3kvit” in partnership with the Bakhmut City Military Administration.
The event was held within The Impulse Project, implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and East Europe Foundation with funding from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida). The content of the event does not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation, East Europe Foundation, the Government of Norway, or the Government of Sweden.
