On May 15, 2025, the National University of Ostroh Academy held a panel discussion titled “Community Resilience in Wartime”. The event took place within the framework of the project Studies of principles and values of European politics from Pericles to modern times (No. 101127113 — POLIS — ERASMUS-JMO-2023-HEI-TCH-RSCH) in an online format on the Zoom platform.
The discussion was moderated by Dmytro Shevchuk, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Vice-Rector for Academic and Research Affairs.
The following participants took part in the discussion:
Oleksandr Koval, Head of the Rivne Regional Military Administration;
Valerii Tertychka, Doctor of Public Administration, Professor, Professor at the Department of National Security and Political Science;
Olha Demianchuk, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations and National Security;
Vitalii Lebediuk, Candidate of Sciences in Public Administration, Associate Professor, Head of SPEPA “POLIS”;
Olena Shershniova, Candidate of Sciences in Public Administration, Associate Professor, Assistant to the Rector for Project Activities;
Mykola Davydiuk, Political Scientist, Director of the “Politika” Analytical Center;
Yuliia Shulyk, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Finance and Business at the National University of Ostroh Academy.
During the discussion, the speakers emphasized that communities have become the first line of response to the crisis. They addressed the reception of internally displaced persons, the organization of shelters, evacuation, and the provision of basic services amid shelling and power outages. They also discussed the shortage of personnel in local self-government caused by mobilization and the departure of employees abroad, reduced local budgets, the burden on the social sector, education, and healthcare, as well as the psychological fatigue of the population and the need to support veterans and their families.
Particular attention was paid to the economic adaptation of communities: preserving small and medium-sized businesses, relocating enterprises, and the role of local taxes and state subventions. For the Rivne region, as a relatively safe but border area, the issues of receiving displaced persons, protecting critical infrastructure, security along the northern border, and balancing the needs of defense and community development were especially relevant.
Participants from the academic community offered a conceptual understanding of resilience as the ability not only to survive a shock but also to adapt and develop. They discussed the components that shape it: institutional capacity, financial autonomy, social capital, and trust between authorities and residents. They also considered ways of assessing resilience and crisis management tools at the local level.
Participants also discussed the impact of the war on local development and governance, as well as Ukraine’s European integration and the role of communities in this process.
The event served as a platform for dialogue among government representatives, academics, and experts on ways to strengthen community resilience and integrate communities into the European space.