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Statement

by the Delegation of Ukraine 

at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 

SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities

(9 July 2026)

Mr. Chair,

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, Ukraine has remained firmly committed to achieving all Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 11 on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Before Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine had made significant progress in advancing sustainable urban development. We invested in affordable housing, sustainable transport, energy-efficient buildings, improved waste management, modern urban infrastructure and disaster resilience, working to create more inclusive and resilient communities across the country.

However, since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, expanding its armed aggression against Ukraine initiated in 2014, these efforts have been severely undermined.

As a direct consequence of the aggression, more than 250,000 residential buildings in Ukraine have been destroyed or heavily damaged. Entire urban landscapes, including Mariupol, Bakhmut, Volnovakha, Popasna and Rubizhne, have been devastated. Frontline cities such as Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Pokrovsk and Sumy continue to endure relentless attacks. At the same time, cities and communities across the entire territory of Ukraine are subjected to regular Russian missile and drone strikes deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, hospitals, energy facilities and transport networks. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced, creating one of the largest population displacements in Europe since the Second World War.

Despite these enormous challenges, Ukraine remains committed to achieving SDG 11. We are determined to rebuild our cities and communities based on the principles of resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness and accessibility. However, genuine recovery and sustainable development are impossible without a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, in accordance with the UN Charter.

We also express our support for the work of UN-Habitat and deeply appreciate its continued assistance to Ukraine. Such support is essential for resilient recovery, reconstruction, sustainable urban development and the reform of Ukraine's housing policy.

Ukraine remains committed to working with international partners to build greener, safer and more resilient cities, while advancing the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Thank you.