Kharkiv's city center is covered with debris after a Russian missile attack Saturday, May 25, 2024. Some Texans with experience in urban planning are helping Ukraine plan for reconstruction when the war ends. Earlier this month, when the storm sirens wailed and the lights flickered several times and went out, I thought of Ukraine.
Add to those challenges the peculiarity of rebuilding after an unprovoked attack: the entire city is a war crime scene awaiting investigation. Personnel will have to locate and clear unexploded shells and land mines. And planners must recognize that Russia will remain an existential threat. “If you start planning right away, while the bombs are still falling, time and money can be used for actual, physical rebuilding ,” Samiliv said.