On January 14, 2026, the membership of the Youth Council under the Vuhledar City Military Administration of the Volnovakha District in Donetsk Oblast was officially approved. The creation of an advisory body in a state of martial law is a strategic step to ensure youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level.
The council includes proactive community representatives who, despite being forced to relocate, have shown a willingness to actively participate in the development of their native region and support their fellow citizens.
According to the regulations, the main tasks of the newly created Youth Council are: youth policy development - direct participation in the formation of strategic plans for community development; project activities - implementation of social, humanitarian, and educational initiatives; and communication - establishing effective dialogue between the younger generation of the community and the authorities.
The creation of a council in the Vuhledar community is part of a region-wide trend toward developing youth activism. Currently, youth councils in Donetsk Oblast are operating in “crisis management” mode, focusing on the following areas: volunteer activities - systematic assistance to internally displaced persons and support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, psychosocial support - creation of safe digital and physical spaces for youth interaction, advocacy and protection of rights - representing the interests of young people affected by armed aggression, and integration - facilitating the adaptation of young displaced persons in their new communities.
Despite territorial fragmentation and the challenges of war, the youth activists of Donetsk region demonstrate a high level of consolidation. This confirms that young people are the main intellectual and social resource for the region's recovery!
The Donetsk Regional State Administration continues to provide comprehensive support for youth initiatives, creating conditions for the realization of each leader's potential, regardless of their actual location.