On September 14, an online meeting was held by the Board of the Department of Family, Youth, and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
The event was attended by Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration; Oleksandra Zhuravel, Chief of Staff of the Regional State Administration; deputy heads of city, town, and village military administrations; representatives of the family and youth departments within the military administrations of communities and district state administrations; and heads of regional municipal institutions and organizations under the department’s jurisdiction.
Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, addressed the meeting participants with a welcoming speech. He emphasized the importance of systematic work in the areas of youth policy, support for women, the development of civic identity, and the strengthening of social cohesion, especially in the context of full-scale war.
One of the key topics was the discussion regarding the preparation and conduct of the regional contest “Woman of Donetsk Region 2026” and the 4th Congress of Women of Donetsk Region.
The discussion was joined by Mykhailo Snopenko, deputy head of the department and head of the division for youth policy and public events in national-patriotic education; Lilia Kislitsyna, president of the NGO “Smarta” and Lilia Kislitsyna, Chair of the Secretariat of the Donetsk Region Coalition 1325, as well as Natalia Kirkach, Advisor to the Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration on ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men and on preventing and combating gender-based violence, and Chair of the Board of the “Slavic Heart” Charitable Foundation.
The meeting participants discussed the organizational aspects of holding the competition and the Congress, identified priority areas for preparation, and outlined further steps for their implementation.
Special attention was given to the “Ukrainian Donetsk Region” digital calendar—a tool for organizing and disseminating information about events, activities, and initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukrainian national and civic identity. During the meeting, participants discussed its development, implementation, and future content.
They also reviewed the activities of the Donetsk Oblast Regional Youth Congress. The Congress’s chairman, Oleksandr Nesterenko, briefed participants on the organization’s achievements and presented the main directions for its future activities.
Following the meeting, they determined the next steps for each of the issues discussed and outlined specific tasks for their implementation.
Systematic collaboration among government agencies, civil society organizations, and the youth community is a key component of supporting the residents of the Donetsk region, fostering civic engagement, and strengthening Ukrainian identity.