Almost three years following the incursion of Russian military troops into Ukraine, intensifying a conflict that has persisted for a decade, Ukrainian urban areas are in devastation as the conflict continues. The coastal city of Mariupol sustained significant damage. Bombs devastated hospitals and residences and destroyed banks along with playgrounds. Schools remain scorched and vacant.
The remaining 30 percent of the residents still living in Mariupol, currently under Russian control, face inadequate electricity, uncontaminated water, and healthcare services. Moreover, among the 65,000 displaced Mariupol residents scattered throughout Ukraine and abroad, numerous individuals have no residence to which they can return. Although Ukraine’s future is still unclear, its mayors and municipal officials are acutely focused on strategizing for recovery post-war. “Ukrainian communities recognize that we should reconstruct better after the war concludes, so what can we learn from that experience?” states Vadym Boichenko, the mayor of Mariupol and leader of development for liberated and temporarily occupied communities within the Association of Ukrainian Cities. To obtain funding for reconstruction, “leaders must create solid projects accompanied by vision and creativity for their communities,” he continues.
Success hinges on leveraging innovative research and progressive strategies for urban economic development and planning. To facilitate learning, the Kyiv-based Association of Ukrainian Cities, Mariupol City Council, and the nonprofit Mariupol Reborn established a virtual Community Recovery Academy that relies on the expertise of MIT. This online educational program for Ukrainian officials features a series of lectures by professors from the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP), part of the Institute’s School of Architecture and Planning. These discussions include insights from practical case studies along with theoretical instruction.
“When I initially discovered this opportunity, attempting to mobilize a contribution from DUSP was an obvious choice; it’s the least we can provide,” remarks Christopher Zegras, head of DUSP and professor of mobility and urban planning. Increasingly destructive weather phenomena and persistent conflicts globally have rendered post-disaster planning “a universal necessity, and regrettably likely a growing global demand,” Zegras adds.
An affiliation with MIT
The connection to Ukrainian officials was established by Victor Hoskins MCP ’81, a DUSP alumnus based in Washington. Last spring, the president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority was informed about Ukraine’s requirements by a former colleague he had collaborated with while serving as deputy mayor of planning and economic development in Washington, D.C.
Hoskins has international experience, frequently traveling to Europe and Asia, where his office has branches focused on attracting foreign businesses to Fairfax County. In previous roles, “much of my work has revolved around entering jurisdictions that are facing challenges and revitalizing them economically,” Hoskins notes.
He arranged a discussion with Mariupol’s deputy mayor, Sergiy Orlov, and his team, who are operating in exile from the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. “Their situation is beyond what we can imagine,” Hoskins remarks. “Anything we can offer to assist is beneficial.” One approach Hoskins has employed in his planning and development efforts is seeking guidance from academic institutions. Orlov requested him to recommend several schools in the United States. “I suggested reaching out to the best universities worldwide,” states Hoskins. “Consider MIT.”
Hoskins facilitated an introduction between Orlov and Zegras, who committed DUSP’s support after becoming acquainted with the initiative. Officials from 37 municipalities across Ukraine, particularly small to medium-sized ones, showed a strong interest in discovering best practices in urban development and understanding reconstruction planning and funding strategies to aid in rebuilding.
From Boichenko’s temporary office, where air raid alerts are frequent and missile sounds echo overhead, a small group outlined the modules and curriculum for the Community Recovery Academy. The academy commenced in September 2024, with seven MIT professors participating to deliver lectures as part of the initiative’s second of four modules: “Economic Modeling, Recovery of Cities and Territories.”
DUSP Lecturer Andrew Stokols, whose lineage traces back to Ukraine, assisted Zegras in coordinating schedules and discussions. “It’s essential to contemplate how planners can respond to ongoing conflicts globally,” Stokols emphasizes. “Academic exchange is beneficial, and it’s reassuring to know we can contribute something, no matter how small.”
Preparing for the future
Lecture themes included transportation resilience and recovery presented by Jinhua Zhao, a professor of cities and transport and director of the MIT Mobility Initiative, as well as revitalization of main streets and economic development strategies for small towns presented by Jeffrey Levine, associate professor of the practice of economic development and planning.
Andres Sevtsuk, associate professor of urban science and planning, discussed street commerce and strategic designs to foster dynamic urban sidewalks. Liz Reynolds, former special assistant for manufacturing and economic development at the White House National Economic Council and present DUSP professor of the practice, also addressed industrial transformation. Timothy Sturgeon, an associate of the MIT Industrial Performance Center, conducted a session alongside a Ukrainian colleague on integrating Ukraine’s software sector into global value chains.
Presentations were simultaneously translated into Ukrainian, and attendees had ample opportunities to pose pressing inquiries.
Mary Anne Ocampo, associate professor of the practice of urban design and planning and principal at Sasaki and Associates, shared experiences from her work on Kabul’s reconstruction from 2017 to 2019 during her address to Ukrainian officials.
She discussed strategies to attract investment and build consensus among essential organizations and institutions capable of supporting reconstruction, while motivating Ukrainian leaders to consider how marginalized populations might influence rebuilding. Smaller, quick-win projects can be crucial, she noted.
Albert Saiz, the Daniel Rose Associate Professor of Urban Economics and Real Estate, provided insights into urban and housing economics along with master planning economics. He referenced examples from cities in the U.S. Midwest that experienced significant downturns, such as Detroit and Cleveland, and also examined post-World War II recoveries in Japan and Germany.
A critical takeaway for Ukraine is the significant impact external trade has on recovery, Saiz states. Following World War II, Japan concentrated on fostering trade with other nations, which enabled its emergence as a stronger nation. “In Japan, cities rebounded swiftly,” says Saiz. For Ukraine, “it’s vital to re-establish firm-based external, international relationships at this moment.”
Saiz detailed how to arrange credit guarantees, essential for enabling Ukraine to secure international funding. He also suggested that constructing temporary structures could prove beneficial, informing officials that building FEMA-type homes as a transitional solution could be a viable option. Simultaneously, clarity in planning is paramount.
“I indicated that it’s necessary to create a clear path for your stakeholders, yet within that framework, there should be flexibility,” says Saiz.
A lasting collaboration
The Community Recovery Academy is currently in progress with backing from the U.K. government through U.K. International Development and the International Republican Institute (IRI UKRAINE), in partnership with steel and mining corporation Metinvest and Ukrainian investment group SCM.
Metinvest and SCM are also assisting with planning efforts currently underway through the nonprofit organization Mariupol Reborn. The group’s urban vision document for 2040 incorporates insights from urban planners, architects, and various experts. Regarding the academy, there is persistent demand for more educational sessions. “The interest is quite substantial,” Boichenko states. Approximately 100 territorial communities expressed interest in participating in the academy, while the initial phase accommodated several dozen.
Orlov and Zegras aim to offer another series of MIT lectures this spring. In the long run, plans are being developed for a multidisciplinary, multi-departmental MIT practicum in fall 2025, wherein students will collaborate with Ukrainian officials on recovery planning. Concurrently, lectures will be compiled into a free and publicly accessible online learning course.
Zegras expresses hope that the insights gained in this endeavor will contribute to establishing an initial framework for Ukraine’s future, as well as outlining planning’s potential role in reconstruction amid a world where such initiatives are increasingly necessary — whether in Sudan, Gaza, or Los Angeles.
For Boichenko, the academy signifies foundational work. “We are merely at the outset,” he concludes. “We are fostering robust relationships and are indeed pleased to collaborate with MIT.”