In the line of fire. Slobozhanshchyna: local identity and ways of future development

In the Ukrainian informational and cultural space, there seems to be a certain contrast between the East and the West of the country. Foreign tourists and Ukrainians themselves somewhat devalue the assets of the eastern regions. Like, in the West you have mountains, fortresses, waterfalls, and cozy towns. Austrian bricks, Hutsul songs, delicious banosh and untouched Ukrainian villages. And what to see, say, in Slobozhanshchyna? The border zones bordering on Russia have historically been significantly influenced by Russia on the nature of the formation, in particular, of settlements in the region. At one time, more than other regions, they felt the onslaught of the tsar, and then the Soviet system, and Soviet narratives, which walked here with the dirty, clumsy Bolshevik boot, distorting language, culture, and architecture. Now, in the XNUMXst century, these territories are again forced to defend themselves from the enemy who once made them their colony.

But at the same time, it was the Ukrainians, not the Muscovites, who built the Slobozhanshchyna. And they created favorable conditions for the development and development of new lands. The historical processes that took place in this territory significantly influenced the planning structure of cities. Based on the military-economic framework of the territory, built in the XNUMXth and the first half of the XNUMXth centuries, the planning of the cities of Slobojan gave birth to new qualities that were not inherent in their pure form either in Muscovy or in Hetman's Ukraine.

Historical factors of urban planning

"In the XNUMXth century the lands of Slobozhanshchyna were still a really wild field, with practically no permanent settlements, - explains the architect Volodymyr Novgorodov, — the main transit routes through which the Crimean Tatars and Nogai raided Muscovy passed through this territory. The constant wars that the Moscow state waged with Western European countries required protection from the south. Therefore, Muscovy began to attract new and new "empty" lands, and in fact, strategically important territories, into economic circulation. "In 1571, in the upper reaches of the Kolomak River, beyond the Mzha River, in the middle reaches of the Siverskyi Donets, in the lower reaches of the Oskol, at the end points of station junctions, border signs were installed by the Moscow military expedition," he says Volodymyr Novgorodov, — thus, a significant part of the Wild Field became a part of the Moscow state by default."

Volodymyr Novgorodov — Ukrainian architect, member of ICOMOS, corresponding member of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture, member of the National Union of Architects, honored teacher of O.M. Beketov Kharkiv University of Urban Economy. He was engaged in the development of historical reference plans and protection zones of the cities of Kharkiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast. He devoted more than 50 years to the restoration of architectural monuments and the design of church architecture in Ukraine.

At that time, Muscovy already had the experience of colonizing the southern and eastern territories of Siberia, so it tried to start building new cities according to the same principle, Novgorodov explains. This is how large defense systems were created, the so-called "foreign lines and lines": Belgorod, Izyum, Ukrainian.

The construction of the Belgorod line became a new form of territorial development at the time and marked the beginning of intensive colonization of the lands, which became known as Slobid Ukraine. Further south of it, under the leadership of the local Ukrainian regimental sergeant, lines of several fortress cities were created. This is how the Kharkiv-Vilshany-Valka line was born. In 1660–1670, fortress cities were built along the river. Byshkin, Liman, Andriyevi Lozy, Balaklia, Izyum — parallel to the middle course of the Siverskyi Donets. Along the Mzhi River — Zmiyiv, Sokoly, Vodolagu and Valka. Along the Merla River — Kolontaiiv, Krasnokutsk, Bogodukhiv. Chains of settlements covered a gigantic territory in the interfluve of the Siverskyi Donets and Oskol rivers. The lines of these cities were deployed by the front to the main enemy roads. At the beginning of the 1731th century the route from Crimea to Moscow passed through the southern part of Slobid Ukraine, so the authorities strengthened these areas with three more fortified towns along the Berestova River and seven fortresses on the Oril, Kolomak, and Merchyk rivers. In 309, the construction of a solid XNUMX-kilometer long Ukrainian fortified line began, based on the projects of French fortifiers who had previously worked in Kyiv, and with the help of the Cossacks of the Slobid regiments and the local Ukrainian population.

In addition to the military factor, the nature of construction was influenced by the economy. Moscow authorities did not have enough resources to acquire new lands, so the cities of Slobojan were built by Ukrainian settlers from Transdnieper and the Left Bank. They brought here their social structure with its democratic system of elections of military-administrative power, their cultural and urban planning traditions, which originated from the times of Kyivan Rus.

In the second half of the XVII — the first half of the XVIII centuries. 3 types of settlements were formed in Slobozhanshchyna: regimental towns, hundreds of towns and small settlements. Their placement depended on the defense and economic capabilities of the territory. The simultaneous functioning of economic activity and military affairs led to the fact that semi-independent settlements were created around the fortified city center, and a flat division was formed at the foot of the fortresses located on the high bank. In the time of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, with the introduction of zaymanshchyna (a type of land ownership in which the plot is transferred to the first to occupy it), the rapid settlement and development of forests, lakes, rivers and their banks began, which gave an impetus to the development of the economy, economy and trade relations .

Volodymyr Novgorodov: "The urban planning processes of the XVII-XVIII centuries on the territory of Slobozhanshchyna at that time had no analogues in European practice and were a kind of harbinger of the activity that in modern urbanism was called district planning"

By the second half of the 17th century. a characteristic planning and three-dimensional structure of the city was formed: the architectural frame was based on churches and cathedrals, around which a central square was created, next to it - a market and small squares of freedom. "The temples formed a unique silhouette of the city and outlined a clear system of landmarks in space," says Novgorodov. Due to the even distribution of land among the residents, the layout of the quarters approached the correct geometry, which distinguished the then Slobozhanshchyna from other regions. "Such urban planning processes had no analogues in European practice," Novgorodov notes, "and were a kind of harbinger of the activity that in modern urbanism has received the name of district planning." Thus, in less than a century, thanks to the passion of the Ukrainian population, Dyke Pole turned into a densely populated, protected region with a unique character of urban planning. Its genetic code has been preserved in the southern part of Kharkiv region since the XNUMXth century. and to this day in the planning of the cities of Slobojan and in the unique fortified Ukrainian border line between the Siverskyi Donets and the Dnipro with XNUMX earthen fortresses and ramparts.

Local identity. Is there a difference between the Ukrainian West and East?

"All over the world, the local identity of a territory is shaped by 2 factors: the natural environment and objects of cultural heritage," says Olena Zhukova, a monument expert and cultural expert. The heritage itself is a unique carrier of information, a material reflection of the way of life in a certain territory in a certain period of time.

Olena Zhukova — antiquarian, museologist, cultural expert, expert on the quality of higher education, expert on cultural heritage and tourism at the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, head of the Scientific Center for Museum Studies and Monument Studies at the National Center for Museum Studies and Historical Studies of the National Institute of Cultural Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, invited researcher at the Department of Art History of Uppsala University in Sweden, member of working groups on the development of strategies for the development of museums and nature reserves, member of the Tourist Board of the Kharkiv City Council, manager of projects for the sustainable development of territories with heritage.

Olena Zhukova explains that after the Tatar-Mongol invasion, the civilizational process, which leads to the formation of material culture, known to us as cultural heritage, shifted from the East of Ukraine to the West, where intensive construction took place. New cities that grew out of ancient Russian settlements destroyed the remains of archeology. At the same time, civilizational processes were slowing down in Slobozhanshchyna, so it was here that archaeological antiquities were preserved much better. One of the most remarkable Ukrainian monuments of archeology in this region are the remains of a large city of the XNUMXth–XNUMXth centuries near the village of Verkhnii Saltiv, Vovchan district, Kharkiv region, belonging to the archaeological Saltiv culture. "Our region has a rich layer of archaeological monuments, starting from the Stone Age," notes Volodymyr Novgorodov, "Scythians, Khazars, Kipchaks, and other peoples".

When medieval fortification construction flourished in the western regions of Ukraine, there were no conditions for the creation of castles in Slobozhanshchyna. But in the West, we will not come across complex and diverse urban planning monuments of classicism, because a large-scale historical building was already formed here at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. On the territory of Slobidska Ukraine, these times were the heyday of stone construction. "This is classicism, this is incredible eclecticism and modernity," says Zhukova, "in the territory of Halychyna, Volhynia or Prykarpattia, you will not find the palace and park complexes that existed where the Hetmanate was, in modern Kharkiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, and Chernihiv Oblast." Among the vivid examples of classicism, we can single out the historical core of Chuguyev, where the square with the ensemble is located, which includes the Headquarters of Military Settlements, the Intercession Cathedral, the Way Palace, and Trade Rows. "A model among landscape complexes is the village of Velikiy Bobryk in the Sumy region," says Denys Vitchenko, "there is a homestead park here, which is a classic example of working with the landscape of a noble estate of the late XNUMXth - first half of the XNUMXth centuries." in Ukraine".

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Transfiguration Church and the remains of the Hlukhiv fortress in the city of Glukhiv. Photo: Viktor Dvornikov

Denis Vitchenko — architect, candidate of architecture, researcher of Ukrainian romanticism in architecture, associate professor of the department of urban planning of the O. M. Beketov KhNUMS. He devoted a significant part of his scientific works to the topic of archaeological heritage, in particular, its preservation and actualization in modern life. He is engaged in the study of traditional features and patterns of Ukrainian identity in architecture.

A separate place in the cultural heritage is occupied by the period of the Cossack era. This is Ukrainian baroque, which is best preserved in Chernihiv Oblast, in Slobozhan Oblast — in Bogodukhiv, Sumy, and Okhtyrka. "To touch the ancestors of the Cossack family, you need to come to Slobozhanshchyna, Poltava and Severshchyna," says Olena Zhukova. A landmark of the Ukrainian Baroque of the XNUMXth century. Viktor Dvornikov considers the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Izyum.

Viktor Dvornikov — Kharkiv architect, member of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, founder and head of the Fashion-home architectural studio, coordinator of the urban-social project Kharkiv loadSTONE, which included a community of architects, urban planners, designers, artists, activists and volunteers from Kharkiv and other cities of Ukraine.

Architect Viktor Dvornikov considers the historical areas of Chuguyev, Lubotyn, Bogodukhov and Kupyansk to be cultural magnets of the Kharkiv region. In Sumy Oblast, our experts note the city of Okhtyrka with a large number of historical cultural objects, including the Trinity Monastery, the Intercession Cathedral, the Church of George the Victorious, the Church of the Transfiguration, the Okhtyr Gymnasium. According to Victor, one of the most attractive cities of the Sumy region is Trostyanets, where the Annunciation and Resurrection churches are located. The estate complex of Leopold Koenig, an entrepreneur of German origin, owner of sugar factories, is also located here. This is a monument of architecture and history, on the territory of which is located the "Round Yard", where there are a picture gallery, a local history museum and a chocolate museum.

Olena Zhukova: "Historical processes that took place during the XNUMXth century. on the lands of Slobozhanshchyna, led to significant losses of tangible and intangible heritage, Russification of these territories"
We must understand that the closer the country is to the border with Russia, the less Ukrainian is preserved there."

Forming as border territories, Kharkiv region and Sumy region were greatly influenced by the Russian state. This also applies to church architecture. According to Denys Vitchenko, due to the influence of the Holy Synod of the Russian Empire, and later the Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox churches experienced stylistic and morphological transformations, for example, the completion of cathedrals received characteristic "onion" shapes and the golden color of baths. After the Bolshevik coup, more constructivist buildings were built in Kharkiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast than in the western regions. This is also due to the fact that Kharkiv had the status of the capital and had to broadcast certain political narratives. During Soviet times, collective and state forms of management were forcibly introduced in the countryside, and therefore many collective farms were formed here, and new villages grew up around them. Of course, for this reason, the villages of Slobozhanshchyna were significantly different from the villages of Western Ukraine with their thousand-year history. "Let's remember that the state of preservation of cultural heritage and the development of settlements," explains Zhukova, "was also influenced by the period of stay under the influence of the Soviet authorities. If Soviet power was finally established on the territory of Slobozhanshchyna at the end of 1919, then in Galicia - in 1939, and in Transcarpathia - in general in 1945. That is, the western territories were less under this influence than Eastern Ukraine, where the traditional village was killed, Ukrainian traditions were leveled, the composition of the population changed."

Heritage management as a way of sustainable urban development

The use of cultural and natural heritage is one of the most effective means of sustainable development of small towns, Olena Zhukova believes. Why heritage? In a small settlement, it is useless to expect large-scale enterprises and large investments, but small towns and villages can rely on cultural heritage sites. As Viktor Dvornikov notes, it is in small towns that valuable historical architecture is preserved better than in regional centers, since the demand for real estate and the density of buildings are much lower there. This means that such objects can be used as one of the tools for the development of the territory, increasing its attractiveness, and forming new products and services. Viktor believes that the cities of Putivl, Glukhiv and Chuguiv have great potential in this sense. "The heritage of these cities can influence their development not only as tourist centers, but also as cultural centers with the development of arts and crafts, professional and higher education," says Dvornikov, "this formula of combining cultural heritage and active social life is the most conducive to the development of comfortable conditions and can be a driver of urban growth."

"The leading means of cultural heritage management throughout the modern world is its interpretation," Olena Zhukova notes. There are many tools for heritage interpretation that involve interactive interaction between the object and the viewer, which can be entertaining, educational, educational and scientific in nature. Drawing attention to a particular heritage, curators of cultural programs organize performances, theater performances, music festivals and shows, quests, lectures, research experiments and even sports competitions. In order for individual objects to be included in the life of the city and to start the processes of sustainable development, their interpretation must be deep. "The information embedded in the object itself should be broadcast through various means of expression, which are also called museum means," explains Olena Zhukova, "then you don't even need a tour guide: the object itself talks to you, tells a story."

On the territory of Sumy region and Kharkiv region there are such monuments that carry historical meaning: churches of the Cossack Baroque period. "These are not just religious buildings, but symbols — symbols of freedom or support for one's people," Olena explains. "When you see such a building, you immediately understand that it is, for example, a message from our ancestors, such well-known families as Galagans, Lyzoguby, Mazepa." Few people now remember that these objects really "worked for the people": Cossack temples could be a place of preservation of Cossack values ​​or a shelter for infirm Cossacks, there could even be a center of support for the insurgent Ukrainian movement - the Haydamachchyna - like Motronynskyi monastery in Kholodny Yar. It is also necessary to interpret the archaeological heritage. Today, according to Vitchenko, the way to get to know such sights is almost exclusively in the field of tourist activity. But the interpretation of monuments takes place with the help of the relay of events in which objects, artifacts and symbols are immersed.

Culture as a way of integrating heritage into city life

For effective heritage management, cultural industries must be involved, Olena Zhukova explains. It is cultural initiatives and art projects that integrate cultural heritage objects into modern life and give them new meanings. Thus, an abandoned storeroom of the XNUMXth century can be turned into a lecture hall, and the ruins of an old church can be turned into a music stage. According to Olena Zhukova, there are cities that, in their development, emphasize the combination of heritage and modern culture. Thus, Polish Lublin, which was in a depressed state for a long time, turned into a brilliant show city, where various festivals, performances and laser shows are constantly taking place, attracting a huge number of visitors.

The Ukrainian Institute creates many cultural and educational projects and programs on our territory. Its creative director Tatyana Filevska talks about the potential of Kharkiv Oblast: "Artists who have a great influence on the culture of the region live and work here. This is our world-famous Serhiy Zhadan, a wonderful school of design, artists known both in Ukraine and abroad: this year at the Venice Biennale, Ukraine is represented by artist Pavlo Makov, and one of the curators is Borys Filonenko - both from Kharkiv. The world-famous Kharkiv School of Photography, which has been operating since the 1970s. Yermilov Center, Municipal Gallery and others are important art institutions for the country and active abroad."

Tetyana Filevska, creative director of the Ukrainian Institute: "On February 24, the world woke up and discovered a huge European country about which it knew almost nothing. People were surprised to find out that Ukraine is not Russia, nor the Soviet Union, nor part of some incomprehensible space. It is a European nation with its own culture and language. The world has learned about Ukraine, but it still does not understand it. Now it is important to spread this knowledge and deepen understanding. On the front pages of newspapers, everyone sees cities under attack, so they often first learn about them precisely in such a tragic tone. But we try to tell about our country also through its culture"

The Ukrainian Institute cooperates with Kharkiv art institutions. "They have very interesting proposals and projects for our international partners," says Tatiana, "in particular, this concerns the Kharkiv School of Architecture." This is the Literary Museum, the Bagels & Letters agency, the Kharkiv Municipal Gallery." The website of the Kharkiv School of Photography, which became one of the projects of the Ukrainian Institute, was translated into English and French, and this became an occasion for substantive conversation with colleagues in France, Germany, the Czech Republic and other countries. The exhibition of the Kharkiv School of Photography was presented outdoors in Brno, which is Kharkiv's sister city in the Czech Republic. Currently, specialists of the Ukrainian Institute are negotiating with the Manifesta biennial of modern art, which is interested in cooperation with Ukraine. "We think that in the context of Manifesta 2028, Kharkiv is one of the most interesting cities, but I am sure that other cities of Kharkiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast will also be potentially interesting," says Tetyana Filevska, "because this project involves the involvement of Ukrainian cities and places and the creation of infrastructure for obtaining up-to-date art education, which will be integrated into the European system."

Government and public activity in the development of cities

In order for the objects of cultural heritage to really work for the benefit of the region and bring profit, the first thing that needs to be done is to open access to them. And this question currently lies in the political plane. According to our experts, the problem lies in the entrenched Soviet approach, which needs to be changed. "Heritage belongs to society, not to individual people who came to certain positions and decide whether or not to give permission for the actualization and interpretation of the heritage object," says Olena Zhukova. "The community must have a vision, but in the pre-war period, the view on the development of most small towns remained post-Soviet and was embodied in point improvements of the already existing infrastructure or in "painting with a different color", - comments Viktor Dvornikov.

Olena Zhukova: "Inheritance belongs to society, not to individual people who came to certain positions"

Viktor Dvornikov notes that, unfortunately, there is still no effective long-term cooperation between the authorities and the community. "All kinds of events, fairs and cultural events have increased in recent years, but this does not translate into a significant social movement that would lead to changes," Dvornikov explains, "the participants of the round table regarding the Kharkiv development project, which we held at the end of August, are in one voice complained about big problems in the organization and the amorphous nature of local authorities." According to architect and urban planner Oleksandra Naryzhnaya, mass events are often confused with culture in cities. "One does not cancel the other," explains Oleksandra Naryzhna, "but in order for culture to really develop, it is necessary to pay attention to it, to support actors and institutions. For this, for example, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation does a lot, but the cities do practically nothing."

Oleksandr Naryzhna — Kharkiv architect, urban planner, former vice-rector of the Kharkiv School of Architecture, head of the public organization "Urban Reforms", head of the Urban Reform urban development office.

It is obvious that the connection between the authorities and residents in small towns is closer than in regional centers. But does this give an advantage to towns and villages to implement more progressive ideas? The initiatives should come from the residents themselves, who should realize the responsibility for the development of the city, Viktor Dvornikov believes. Communicating the value of these ideas to the community will, over time, create a demand for change and improvement. "The ideal system would be one where the local government independently had a certain committee or expert union that would act as such a generator of concepts and move cities into the future," says Dvornikov. Oleksandra Naryzhna notes that the open, transparent cooperation of the city administration with urban planners can give the city a new perspective on development, determine its opportunities and advantages. "Cities, just like large business enterprises, should invite an external consultant who will help find new, non-trivial solutions," Naryzhna assures.

Oleksandra Naryzhna: "If we want to jointly develop our cities and the country, we need to communicate in one language, and not try to produce documents that disorient the community and allow decisions to be made in the interests of individuals"

Oleksandra considers the master plan to be the best example of cooperation and a clear document on the development of the city. According to Naryzhnaya, new documents have recently appeared in Ukrainian legislation, such as the Concept of Integrated Development of the Territory of the Territorial Community, the Comprehensive Plan for the Spatial Development of the Territory, but, of course, the formal part remained: the General City Plan, zoning and DPT. "On the one hand, we can consider that these are similar things," the urban planner explains, "with regard to the integrated development plan, it is so, but if you look at it from the perspective of city residents or investors, then it is a bunch of formal documents that are available only to a small number of people. And what's worse, they don't match each other at all." In contrast to this documentation, the master plan makes it possible to define the main ideas and principles of the city's development, and, most importantly, it is understandable to everyone. "If we want to jointly develop our cities and the country, we need to communicate in one language, and not try to produce documents that disorient the community and allow decisions to be made in the interests of individuals," says Naryzhna.

Advantages of small towns and ideas for the development of territories

"Small cities have many advantages: air quality, pedestrian accessibility, security, close connections between people, access to the natural environment," Oleksandra Naryzhna says. "Most people would be happy to live in a small town with good ecology, delicious food, and the tradition of rural life," says Olena Zhukova. "It is the balance of nature and infrastructure that can be attractive for encouraging new progressive residents or retaining young people," Viktor Dvornikov believes.

But what needs to be changed in small towns for this? In order to determine the vector of further development, of course, the city needs a large-scale and thorough analysis, notes Naryzhna. And only a deep understanding of the potential, advantages and disadvantages will provide a starting point for the further development scenario. Each city will have its own, but many settlements will be able to find common ways and cooperate in some specific area. Experts believe that the principle of unification will become the leading method for the development of territories.

Volodymyr Novgorodov: "The confrontation between Eastern and Western Ukrainians is a false theory planted on us by the enemies of the Ukrainian state"

Volodymyr Novgorodov talks about the importance of ideological and mental unification of different regions of the country with the aim of joint preservation of monuments. "The confrontation between Eastern and Western Ukrainians is a false theory planted on us by the enemies of the Ukrainian state," says Novgorodov, "regional differences in architecture, art, urban planning, and folk creativity do not oppose each other, but complement each other, which makes the culture of the Ukrainian people more multifaceted and deep Our task is to preserve a valuable heritage and pass it on to future generations."

Viktor Dvornikov believes that individual historical objects and locations also need to be combined into joint routes and guides. "As a result of the historical development of the territories, in contrast to the western regions of Ukraine, Slobozhanshchyna has a lower density of cultural heritage objects and long distances between them, which encourages the development of additional points of attraction, in addition to the existing ones," says Viktor Dvornikov, "such cities, especially in Kharkiv Oblast , will not be able to become tourist centers, but together they can form a complex that will increase tourist attraction." Viktor Dvornikov draws attention to the settlements of the Kharkiv region that are within the same tourist route. We are talking about the villages of Sharivka, Volodymyrivka, and Stary Merchyk. Based on this principle, according to Denys Vitchenko, we can create not only all-Ukrainian, but also international routes. For example, historical and cultural paths connected with migrations of peoples. Thus, the village of Mala Pereshchepina in the Poltava Region attracts the attention of patriotic Bulgarians, who identify these lands with the grave of Khan Kubrat, the legendary progenitor of the Bulgarian nation.

One of the manifestations of effective dense communication in the plane of urban development is the formation of conglomerations at the level of the economy. Denys Vitchenko talks about the concept of the Kharkiv — Poltava — Sumy triangle, which should combine the benefits of each of the territories into one developed system. In this scheme, Kharkiv will work as an industrial and innovation center, while Poltava and Sumy will "close" natural and recreational issues.

Oleksandra Naryzhna: "It is important for cities to start thinking strategically about attracting people and developing social capital"

To ensure the infrastructure of life, social infrastructure and economic growth, small cities need to have a working economic model and cooperate with each other, Oleksandra Naryzhna believes. In this interaction, she emphasizes social capital. "A good example is the city of Trostyanets in Sumy Oblast," says Naryzhna, "the mayor of this city was a person with progressive views who is open to dialogue with the local community and the city's residents and is ready to implement innovations. It would be even more effective for its development to develop connections with Okhtyrka and other nearby small towns." Oleksandra believes that the global task for the entire country is cooperation, not competition. "Although the topic of competition between cities is very popular, it is important to understand that cities compete for human capital, not for budgets," says Naryzhna, "in this context, it is important that cities begin to think strategically about attracting people and developing social capital."

Viktor Dvornikov offers a method of social unification and creation of equal conditions for all sections of the population. This will improve the quality of life in small towns. He notes that it is important to review the meaning and role of a person, to pay the greatest attention to his safety, health, comfort and education. To do this, it is necessary to give comprehensive priority to pedestrians by offering convenient movement on foot or by bicycle, to stimulate sports by creating a comfortable infrastructure, to promote the cooperation of people and their continuous education outside educational institutions in appropriate spaces and on platforms for interaction, to take care of ecology and the environment, giving attention to waste recycling and disposal, taking care of water bodies and green areas.

In the further restoration of the Ukrainian cities of the eastern regions, the most important factor will be the security factor, because currently on the territory of the Slobozhanshchyna, as in the distant times, the city-building processes are influenced by two main factors - war and the economy. But in order to create a comfortable and happy life for the inhabitants of the border areas, it is necessary not only to reclaim land, but also to completely change the approaches to urban planning, which were outdated long before the start of a full-scale invasion. It is important to review the principle of interaction between city authorities, communities, experts in the architectural environment, art industries, business and tourism: any processes related to the development of cities should be equally transparent and accessible to all project participants. Open tenders, clear urban planning documents, readiness for cooperation should effectively influence the definition of the main development vector of each city or town: industrial, cultural, tourist or any other.

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