Delivered online at the Political Level Meeting of the Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Committee of the Regions – 15 May 2025
At the recent high-level meeting of the Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, held at the European Committee of the Regions, Vadym Boichenko — Mayor of Mariupol in exile and Board Member of ALDA delivered a powerful statement reaffirming the vital role of local democracy in the rebuilding of war-affected communities.
Speaking on behalf of both the hero city of Mariupol and nearly 400 Ukrainian communities impacted by the war, Boichenko highlighted the efforts of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, particularly the newly established Section for the Development of De-occupied and Temporarily Occupied Communities, which he leads, and which advocates for the rights and needs of nearly 5 million Ukrainians.
Boichenko extended his gratitude to the European Committee of the Regions, the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, and key partners such as ALDA and the City of Gdańsk, for their unwavering support. Emphasising that the war in Ukraine represents not only a military conflict but a fundamental clash between democratic values and imperialist ideologies, he called for continued European unity to uphold peace and justice.Reflecting on his long standing cooperation with ALDA, dating back to 2017, Boichenko underlined the transformative impact of ALDA’s work in Ukraine — especially through the establishment of the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Mariupol, which remains active even in exile, supporting displaced communities through cultural, psychological, and humanitarian initiatives. He noted:
“Participation has become a vital element of Mariupol’s successful transformation. This multi-stakeholder approach — involving citizens, local authorities, and cities from across Europe — is a proven model of cooperation. This is what ALDA taught us — and today we see the results.”
Boichenko also highlighted the broader LDA network across Ukraine, with agencies active in Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia, each playing a unique role in strengthening civil society, youth engagement, and international cooperation — even amidst war.
To date, 33 Ukrainian and European partners have joined this model, contributing to concrete outcomes such as student exchanges, training programmes, and joint policy dialogues. These are not symbolic actions, but real instruments of solidarity and resilience.
Crucially, Boichenko raised the issue of justice — not only in terms of reconstruction or compensation, but of moral and international recognition of the atrocities faced by cities like Mariupol. He reminded participants that:
“Justice for Mariupol and for Ukraine is not a privilege — it is a necessity. Without it, we cannot move forward. The democratic world must prove its values with action.”
In conclusion, Boichenko called for continued and strengthened partnerships between Ukrainian and European cities, stressing the need not only to win the war, but to win the peace — a peace built on freedom, democracy, and justice.
Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦
