Stepove: The prospects for community restoration and development

Modern reality requires communities to adapt as quickly and efficiently as possible to the dangers and losses caused by combat events. The steppe community in the Mykolaiv region, unfortunately, was not an exception. The Russians repeatedly tried to fire at the community, but on October 18, the enemy launched the biggest rocket attack on the settlement of the Stepove community.

About what measures were aimed at restoring the infrastructure and providing compensation to citizens, and what steps the community is taking today in the direction of restoration, read in the article NikVesti.

Before the start of the full-scale invasion, 9 thousand 544 people lived on the territory of the Stepove community. The most densely populated are the villages of Stepove — 1,920 people, Mykhailivka — 1,465 people, and Shrokolanivka — 1,446 people. However, since the beginning of the full-scale war, as of November 1, 204 people left the community. In addition, the war forced another 869 people from different regions of Ukraine to move to the Stepiv community.

Damage assessment of damaged community property

On October 18, 2023, the Russians used ballistic weapons to strike a settlement in the Stepove community. The hit was recorded at a catering establishment in the village of Stepove. One person died under the rubble, and another was injured. 5 infrastructure facilities of the communal ownership of the community, 9 infrastructure facilities of the state-owned State Enterprise Plemreproduktor «Stepove» and 75 private residential buildings were damaged.

«Four «Iskanders» flew over our Stepove community, as a result of which the residential buildings of the residents of our community and the social sphere of our Stepovo were destroyed. Mainly destroyed the trading points. People who bought products are now suffering a little from this. But life is slowly getting better, and we are recovering a little from these consequences,» said the secretary of the Stepove village council, Viktor Fediuk.

The total amount of damage to 5 communally owned infrastructure facilities in Stepove is 2 million 910 thousand 700 hryvnias, namely:

• Lyceum — 1,493,000 hryvnias,

• Kindergarten — 469,300 hryvnias,

• Library — 726,400 hryvnias,

• Stepove village council — 122,000 hryvnias,

• Outpatient clinic — 100,000 hryvnias.

The children's boarding house, which belongs to the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, was also destroyed. Infrastructure and social sphere objects belonging to the Stepove state enterprise were also affected:

• Orchid Cafe, dining room

• House of culture, children's and youth sports school

• One dormitory

• Administration building

• Hotel complex

• DIY store

In May 2023, the secretary of the village council, Viktor Fediuk, issued an order to create a commission to survey and record the damage/destruction of buildings and determine the cost of restoration in the territory of the Stepove community.

Later, by the decisions of the executive committee (from 18.05.2023 and 28.08.2023), commissions were created to consider issues of compensation for destroyed real estate objects as a result of hostilities and acts of terrorism.

Financing of restoration works

At the session of the Stepove village council held on November 7, a decision was made to allocate funds for the restoration of community facilities in the total amount of 2 million 810 thousand 700 hryvnias. This amount is distributed as follows: 1 million 567 thousand 900 hryvnias from the local budget and 1 million 242 thousand 800 hryvnias from an additional subsidy from the state budget.

It should be noted that the funds were directed to the restoration of key objects of the Stepove rural territorial community until the end of 2023:

• Stepove Lyceum — 1 million 493 thousand hryvnias,

• Stepove kindergarten — 469 thousand 300 hryvnias,

• Stepove household building (library) — 726 thousand 400 hryvnias,

• Stepove village council — 122 thousand hryvnias.

Viktor Fediuk, secretary of the Stepove village council, notes that slate and OSB sheets were allocated from the council's reserve fund to help local residents whose houses were damaged by the incoming rocket.

Equally important is the support from international donors, such as the Danish Charity Organization and the Red Cross, who have already provided significant assistance to the local population. This includes not only material, but also financial assistance for those who suffered from Russian aggression.

«After the flights, international donors came to our community — the Danish charity organization and the Red Cross. Well done, they immediately gave people basic necessities, building materials, food and warm things. Also, the Red Cross gave monetary aid to people who suffered from Russian aggression,» Viktor Fediuk said.

The plans for 2024 include additional allocation of funds for repair works of damaged objects.

The condition of shelters

In addition to the restoration of damaged infrastructure buildings, the Stepove community also pays attention to its security. Emphasis is placed on the repair and inspection of civil defense shelters, in order to prepare for possible dangers in the future. Currently, there are 13 civil protection structures on its territory, including communal, private and state ones.

The survey conducted as of October 1, 2023, showed that three protective structures are in a state of emergency, and it is recommended that they be removed from the register. The rest of the shelters are in the process of repair work.

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To restore the shelters, funds were allocated to various communally owned facilities, such as the Stepove Lyceum, the Krynychky Shelter, the Shyrokolanivka Shelter, and the dispensary in the village of Novokaterynivka.

Also, by the decision of the Stepove City Council session, 625,000 hryvnias were allocated for the production of design and estimate documentation for the new construction of a shelter on the territory of the Mykhailivka Lyceum of the Stepove Village Council.

«We plan to shelter the territory of Mykhailivka Lyceum. This is the largest educational institution on the territory of our Stepove community. We have already ordered design and estimate documentation, for which we have allocated 625,000 hryvnias. At the moment, a georesearch and topographical commission has arrived at the lyceum. When the project is ready, we will look for partners or charitable foundations to make us a shelter,» said Viktor Fediuk.

According to the secretary of the village council, the construction of one shelter requires approximately 5-8 million hryvnias.​

Also, funds in the amount of 169 thousand 548 hryvnias were allocated for the arrangement and repair work of the simplest shelter in the Katerynivka Lyceum. Currently, the repair work on the lyceum has been completed.

Funds in the amount of 764,118 hryvnias have been allocated for the arrangement and repair of the simplest shelter in the Shyrokolanivka Lyceum, and repair work is currently underway.

Funds were also allocated for arranging and carrying out repair work of the simplest shelter in the outpatient clinic of general practice of family medicine in the village of Novokaterynivka, in the amount of 534 thousand 86 hryvnias.

Plans for next year

Viktor Fediuk, secretary of the Stepove village council, announced plans for the next year regarding the development and restoration of sports and cultural infrastructure in the village. According to him, the council intends to take two objects into communal ownership: a sports complex and a cultural center belonging to the Stepove state enterprise.

However, noting the significant size and the need for serious repair of these structures, Viktor Fediuk stated the need to attract additional funds to implement the plans.

«To restore these objects, we need to invest significantly, and here we count on the support of the community, donors and charitable organizations,» the secretary noted.

He also added that in the case of successful acquisition of objects in the ownership of the community, it is planned to allocate funds for the development of design and estimate documentation. According to Fediuk, this will be a key stage in attracting investments and donor support for the further restoration and development of the village's sports and cultural facilities.

The restoration of the Stepove community after the war is a task that requires not only material costs, but also the joint efforts of the entire community and support from the state and international partners. Because the damage caused by the enemy not only limited the lives of the residents in some sense, but also put a lot of financial pressure on the community.

Author: Alina Kvitko, NikVesti