Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba held an online meeting with Verena Hubertz, Germany’s Minister of Housing, Urban Development, and Construction, to discuss the launch of new joint projects in the housing and spatial planning sectors.
Tools for Housing Restoration
Ukraine is currently using several key mechanisms to restore its housing stock:
-
eReconstruction — a state compensation system for damaged or destroyed homes;
-
Capital reconstruction projects for large-scale rebuilding;
-
Social housing programs, offering long-term preferential rent.
According to the Ministry of Development, over 140,000 families have already received compensation through the eReconstruction mechanism. However, the scale of destruction remains immense — more than 300,000 houses damaged or destroyed and 4.6 million internally displaced persons, with reconstruction needs estimated at $80 billion.
“Housing is the foundation for people’s return, community life, and economic recovery. In 2026, we plan to scale up reconstruction with support from the German government,”
— emphasized Oleksiy Kuleba.
Urban Planning and Social Housing Reform
A key priority is to accelerate funding and simplify urban planning procedures. The Ministry has launched a pilot project on spatial planning for destroyed and new settlements — a concept that drew strong interest from the German side.
Germany is ready to provide expert and financial support for urban development and housing policy reforms, particularly in the establishment of a social housing system. Under this model, housing remains community-owned and is rented out at a fixed, below-market rate — ensuring affordability and social stability.
Outlook
The upcoming projects between Ukraine and Germany are expected to:
-
Develop a modern framework for social and affordable housing;
-
Improve urban resilience and infrastructure;
-
Attract German expertise and investment into Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction process.
This cooperation underscores Germany’s ongoing role as a strategic partner in Ukraine’s recovery, supporting not only rebuilding efforts but also the modernization of the country’s housing and spatial planning systems.
