The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began two years ago, leaving a trail of death and destruction alongside pockets of communities who are reviving towns, cities and hope, with help from UN agencies on the ground.

A UN Development Programme (UNDP) expert inspects a war-damaged building. Before starting the work of clearing debris, each site is carefully inspected for the presence of dangerous objects, such as unexploded ordnance.

Known by its Ukrainian acronym MOM, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has deployed mobile teams that conduct renovation works in several regions heavily affected by shelling.

Connecting citizens with critical public services and humanitarian assistance, even in remote areas, is a priority for Ukraine, so it developed the Diia app. UNDP provides support for the initiative and also helps older people to strengthen their digital skills.

Children attend classes safely underground in Kharkiv at Metro Schools, a network that opened in 2023 and now serves more than 2,000 students, with support from the UN refugee agency, UNCHR.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and the Kyiv School of Economics, UNDP is testing robotic technologies for mine clearance, the goal of which is to rid the country of landmines as soon as possible.

UNDP organized the East Expo 2023 in Kyiv in the framework of the UN recovery and peacebuilding programme, with financial support from the European Union, the US Embassy in Ukraine and the Government of Croatia. The expo brought together micro, small and medium sized businesses from war-affected areas.

Despite all the efforts underway to rebuild people’s lives, there are constant reminders that Ukraine remains at war.