South Ukrainian Forum for Internally Displaced Persons in Odesa
On October 22, 2025, a forum took place in Odesa, bringing together individuals who were forced to leave their homes from Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.
The main goal of the event was to discuss the issues faced by displaced persons and to establish productive cooperation between local authorities, state institutions, and the displaced individuals themselves.
Among the participants were the acting deputy mayor of Odesa, Serhiy Kotsyuba, and the director of the Department of Labor and Social Policy of the Odesa City Council, Olena Kytainska.
Welcoming remarks were made by the deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Iryna Vereshchuk, and the head of the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Protection of IDP Rights, Pavlo Frolov.
During the discussion panel, representatives of IDP councils shared their experiences, successful cases, and developments in legal and social protection for displaced persons. The importance of involving the displaced in decision-making processes concerning their lives in new communities was emphasized.
An online platform called the “IDP Councils Portal” was also launched https://radyvpo.org.ua/. The portal features an interactive map of IDP councils, current news, analytical materials, relevant legislation, and practical tools for effective council operations.
Additional Information
Currently, there are over 220,000 internally displaced persons registered in Odesa region, with 134,500 displaced individuals accounted for in the district social protection offices of the Department of Labor and Social Policy of the Odesa City Council.
