Frontline Municipalities Issue Appeal to Government
Communities situated near the front lines are calling on the government to prevent any rise in utility tariffs and taxes. Speaking at the Forum of Starostas of Unbreakable Kharkiv Region on February 19, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, who also heads the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities, outlined a series of critical challenges. These include energy security, business conditions, tariff policy, and support for educators and social workers.
Terekhov stressed that wartime conditions have created severe budgetary pressures, a situation exacerbated by the presence of over 212,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kharkiv. He noted that the enemy is deliberately targeting power generation, increasing risks to the region's energy resilience. The mayor emphasized that frontline community budgets cannot independently fund large-scale energy modernization, and that raising tariffs, particularly for gas distribution, would directly harm territories already living under the strain of war.
Rebuilding Infrastructure and Supporting Citizens
Terekhov also highlighted that these communities are simultaneously rebuilding infrastructure, supporting residents, and aiding the military. While he supports raising teachers' salaries, he cautioned that communities cannot bear this additional financial burden without targeted state subsidies for frontline areas. According to the mayor, imposing a 20% VAT on small businesses could force them to close or operate in the shadow economy, damaging regional economic activity. These communities face a unique set of pressures not experienced in safer regions far from the fighting.
“It is impossible to compare rear regions with frontline territories, as their conditions of existence are fundamentally different.”
Ihor Terekhov
Terekhov called for a distinct policy approach for frontline communities to ensure the integration of IDPs, aiming for the term 'internally displaced person' to not exist for more than five years. In conclusion, he stated that fair solutions for frontline communities are a prerequisite for the stability of the entire nation, as strong communities ensure a strong Ukraine.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov's statements underscore the vital need to support frontline communities, which, despite the harsh realities of war, strive to maintain stability and rebuild. Addressing their economic and social challenges is crucial for shaping effective national policy.
- The government must account for the specific circumstances of frontline territories.
- Financial assistance is essential to prevent further negative consequences for local populations and businesses.