The consequences of the destruction of Ukrainian cities by the Russian invaders and the problems of their restoration (on the example of m. Popasna)

Abstract

As a result of the Russian invasion of the territory of Ukraine, the buildings of Ukrainian cities were destroyed, and quite a few settlements of various categories were completely destroyed. One of these cities is the small Ukrainian city of Popasna - a working town of railway workers in the East of our country, which is now temporarily occupied by the Russian invaders, and in which 100% of the buildings have been destroyed. Is it appropriate to restore such cities after their liberation and the end of hostilities? How to reproduce them? Most of the cities of Ukraine were built in Soviet times according to the urban planning principles established by the Soviet theory and tested by the construction practice of the USSR and Ukraine. At that time, our state, ruled by the Communist Party, differed from European democratic countries in its system of government. All decisions regarding the direction of further development of architecture and urban planning were chosen by the government in accordance with Soviet ideology. The state also ensured the planning and financing of construction works in accordance with the adopted plans and carried out strict control over their implementation. Modern Ukraine is confidently moving along the path of European democracy, social consciousness and the state's attitude towards an individual have changed. How to determine the directions of urban renewal according to the new social needs of society? The city of Popasna was chosen as an example for consideration of this problem. The article analyzes the origin and history of the city, its development during Soviet times, the current state that arose as a result of Russian aggression, and offers proposals regarding the likely direction of revitalization.