21/08/2025
Restoring and Developing Social Infrastructure in the Kharkiv and Sumy Regions
Schools, hospitals, administrative institutions and other social infrastructure facilities — are part of the everyday life of every person. For residents of communities close to the frontline, preserving and restoring such institutions is especially important.
Due to shelling, some of them were damaged or destroyed. For people, this made access to essential services more difficult and, in some cases, forced them to go to other settlements for these services.
In cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), we are carrying out repair works to restore social infrastructure facilities or create new ones in communities in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
Thus, since October 2022, a Point of Invincibility has been operating at an educational institution in the city of Kharkiv. There local residents can warm up, eat, charge their phones, or simply have a cup of hot tea and socialise.
Due to shelling, some of them were damaged or destroyed. For people, this made access to essential services more difficult and, in some cases, forced them to go to other settlements for these services.
In cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), we are carrying out repair works to restore social infrastructure facilities or create new ones in communities in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
Thus, since October 2022, a Point of Invincibility has been operating at an educational institution in the city of Kharkiv. There local residents can warm up, eat, charge their phones, or simply have a cup of hot tea and socialise.
Oksana, Deputy Director of the institution where the Point of Invincibility operates, says that in winter people come there from all the surrounding buildings and dormitories: “People came when we had no heating or electricity (in the district). At one point, people stayed here day and night for three days .”
In March 2026, as a result of a direct missile strike on a neighbouring building, the lyceum where the Point of Invincibility is located sustained significant damage. On the first day, the staff managed to cover the roof with plastic sheeting and board up the windows. However, the heating system located on the roof was also damaged, and they were unable to repair it on their own.
“After the strike, the windows and doors were shattered and the walls were damaged. We did everything we could on our own and somehow restored it. It (the Point of Invincibility) is operating now,” — says Oksana.
Since there are no other municipal institutions nearby, in winter most residents come here, therefore, it was important to fully restore the building before the start of the cold season.
The contractor CF “Angels of Salvation”, has already reinforced the rafter system, repaired the brickwork, and is now preparing the roof for the installation of corrugated sheeting and restoration of thermal insulation, as well as the reinstatement of heat supply to the building. The repair works are planned to be completed by the end of summer.
In March 2026, as a result of a direct missile strike on a neighbouring building, the lyceum where the Point of Invincibility is located sustained significant damage. On the first day, the staff managed to cover the roof with plastic sheeting and board up the windows. However, the heating system located on the roof was also damaged, and they were unable to repair it on their own.
“After the strike, the windows and doors were shattered and the walls were damaged. We did everything we could on our own and somehow restored it. It (the Point of Invincibility) is operating now,” — says Oksana.
Since there are no other municipal institutions nearby, in winter most residents come here, therefore, it was important to fully restore the building before the start of the cold season.
The contractor CF “Angels of Salvation”, has already reinforced the rafter system, repaired the brickwork, and is now preparing the roof for the installation of corrugated sheeting and restoration of thermal insulation, as well as the reinstatement of heat supply to the building. The repair works are planned to be completed by the end of summer.
However, within the framework of the project, we are engaged not only in restoring damaged facilities, but also in creating institutions needed by the community.
For residents of one of the communities in the Sumy region, in cooperation with UNHCR, we have started the construction of a new Administrative Service Centre (ASC).
“The restoration of social infrastructure in communities is extremely important for maintaining people’s access to basic services amid constant attacks. People should not have to go to another city to get the necessary services or be left without them at a time when they need them most because of the war. By restoring and creating additional social infrastructure facilities in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, UNHCR, together with ‘‘Angels of Salvation’’ and the local authorities, helps community residents, including internally displaced people, receive the necessary support closer to where they live,” — said Richard Evans, Head of the UNHCR Office in Kharkiv.
Currently, separate departments providing administrative services operate for 12,000 residents, including around 2,000 internally displaced people, but they are not available in every settlement. Specialists often have to go to people’s homes, which is inconvenient for both the staff and local residents. Because of this, residents turn to ASCs in neighbouring communities or go to the regional centre to get the necessary services.
Under these circumstances, the establishment of an ASC became a necessity for residents so that they could receive services within their own community without having to go to other settlements.
The new ASC will be established on the premises of an old outpatient clinic, where our construction workers have already carried out dismantling works inside the building and replaced the sewerage system. The workers are currently dismantling the roof.
For residents of one of the communities in the Sumy region, in cooperation with UNHCR, we have started the construction of a new Administrative Service Centre (ASC).
“The restoration of social infrastructure in communities is extremely important for maintaining people’s access to basic services amid constant attacks. People should not have to go to another city to get the necessary services or be left without them at a time when they need them most because of the war. By restoring and creating additional social infrastructure facilities in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, UNHCR, together with ‘‘Angels of Salvation’’ and the local authorities, helps community residents, including internally displaced people, receive the necessary support closer to where they live,” — said Richard Evans, Head of the UNHCR Office in Kharkiv.
Currently, separate departments providing administrative services operate for 12,000 residents, including around 2,000 internally displaced people, but they are not available in every settlement. Specialists often have to go to people’s homes, which is inconvenient for both the staff and local residents. Because of this, residents turn to ASCs in neighbouring communities or go to the regional centre to get the necessary services.
Under these circumstances, the establishment of an ASC became a necessity for residents so that they could receive services within their own community without having to go to other settlements.
The new ASC will be established on the premises of an old outpatient clinic, where our construction workers have already carried out dismantling works inside the building and replaced the sewerage system. The workers are currently dismantling the roof.
Overall, the restoration works will include: roof repairs, façade works, and all interior finishing works. The team plans to complete the repairs before the start of the winter season.
“We understand the relevance and importance of restoring social infrastructure for communities, especially those most affected by the war. Therefore, we plan to continue working in this area, implement new projects, and gradually expand the programme to other regions so that support is available to a greater number of communities and residents,” — says Oleksandr Shcherbakov, Local Coordinator of the Charitable Foundation “Angels of Salvation”, sharing the plans for the future.
This material was prepared by the Charitable Foundation “Angels of Salvation” with the support of UNHCR Ukraine – the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Foundation “Angels of Salvation” and does not necessarily reflect the views of UNHCR.
This material was prepared by the Charitable Foundation “Angels of Salvation” with the support of UNHCR Ukraine – the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Foundation “Angels of Salvation” and does not necessarily reflect the views of UNHCR.
