Rebuilding our cities means rebuilding Europe’s shield itself.

Russia’s war is not only being waged against Ukrainian cities. It is a war against the democratic principles that unite Europe. Our cities are fighting to ensure that these principles prevail.
Kharkiv endures every attack and emerges stronger each time. This city doesn’t merely survive — against all odds, it builds the future, defying everything that seeks to destroy it.
The painful stories of my city can be told by hundreds of other frontline towns and communities that live and survive under relentless Russian shelling. We share the same pain and the same challenges. But we also share the same hope: to win, to rebuild, and to move forward.
That is why nearly 200 of Ukraine’s frontline cities and municipalities have joined forces to create the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities of Ukraine.
This platform unites mayors, experts, and partners to share knowledge, coordinate recovery, and ensure that those who have paid the highest price for freedom are heard.
Rebuilding our cities means rebuilding the very shield of Europe.
Op-ed by Ihor Terekhov for Euronews link