Amid a full-scale war, youth policy in the Donetsk region has taken on strategic importance. Developing young leaders capable of taking on responsibility and uniting the community is a vital component of the region’s resilience.
A striking example of how active youth can become an effective talent pool is the professional journey of Kateryna Chyzh and Liliana Ryabenko. From 2024 to 2025, they led the Youth Council under the Hrodivka Settlement Military Administration (Kateryna Chyzh as chair and Liliana Ryabenko as secretary). They coordinated youth initiatives, implemented volunteer and patriotic projects, and organized fundraising drives to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
With the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the council refocused its activities on assisting the Defense Forces, internally displaced persons, and community residents. After the Hrodiv Military Administration was relocated to Dnipro, Liliana Ryabenko became one of the initiators of the IDP Support Center, which provided people with the necessary humanitarian, social, and counseling assistance.
Systematic work, managerial skills, and active citizenship have laid the foundation for their career advancement. In March 2025, Kateryna Chyzh was appointed head of the Department of Education, Culture, Youth, Tourism, and Sports of the Hrodiv Town Council. In October 2025, Liliana Ryabenko was appointed deputy head of the Hrodiv Town Military Administration.
Today, the women continue to work as a united team to support youth development, assist community residents, and bring Victory closer. The experience of the Hrodiv community convincingly demonstrates that the Youth Council is not only a platform for initiatives but also an effective school of leadership that trains responsible administrators for the reconstruction of the Donetsk region.