On October 22, 2025, a forum dedicated to internally displaced persons took place in Odesa, bringing together participants from Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.

The main aim of the event was to explore the pressing issues faced by displaced persons and to establish effective communication between local authorities and the IDPs themselves.

Among the participants were acting Deputy Mayor of Odesa Serhiy Koziuba and Director of the Department of Labor and Social Policy Olena Kytainska.

Opening remarks were made by Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk and Chairman of the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada Pavlo Frolov.

During the discussion panel, representatives of the IDP councils shared their experiences, successful cases, and solutions in the realm of social protection. The importance of involving IDPs in decision-making processes was emphasized.

An online platform called “IDP Councils Portal” was also introduced https://radyvpo.org.ua/, featuring an interactive map, current news, analytical materials, relevant legislation, and practical tools for council operations.

Reference

Currently, over 220 thousand internally displaced persons are registered in Odesa region, with 134.5 thousand accounted for in district social protection offices.