How the First Stage of the Donetsk Region Youth Councils Open Forum Went From June 20 to 26, 2026, a large-scale and landmark event for the region’s youth policy took place—the first stage of the Youth Councils Open Forum, “Donetsk Region: A Platform for Resilience. Youth for Defenders and Their Families.” The Youth Council under the Donetsk Regional State Administration came together and fully carried out a rich and ambitious program of an educational and practical field trip that followed a route from Dnipro to Zakarpattia to Kyiv.
One of the central elements of the forum was an in-depth interregional dialogue held in the picturesque village of Polyana in the Mukachevo District. Youth leaders from Donetsk Oblast held a joint strategic session and presented their unique experiences working in the context of relocation and crisis response.
A landmark event was the official meeting between representatives of the Regional Youth Congress and regional youth councils and the leadership of the respective regions. The young people had a unique opportunity to engage in an informal conversation with Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, and Myroslav Biletskyi, head of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration, as well as to receive online support from the leadership of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
The presentation of their joint achievements turned into a true technological spectacle: featuring a live broadcast of aerial footage, demonstration flights of FPV drones trailing blue-and-yellow smoke, and a creative drone delivery of commemorative “wish flags” for regional leaders. This productive day concluded with an interactive team-building session titled “Culinary Diplomacy,” where regional administration leaders and young people shared their thoughts in a relaxed atmosphere while preparing traditional bograch and juicy sausages.
In addition to working at the regional level, the delegation actively explored best local practices. Representatives from Donetsk Oblast visited the welcoming Polyana Youth Center “Development Platform” and gained a deeper understanding of the activities of their colleagues from the Youth Council attached to the Polyana Village Council in Mukachevo District. This exchange of experiences laid a solid foundation for future joint inter-community projects between the East and West.
An exceptionally emotional part of the trip was the visit to the relocated children’s health camp “Pearl of Donetsk Oblast.” The highlight of the day for the children was a meeting with Ukrainian military personnel who are also members of the regional youth council. The soldiers put on a spectacular demonstration of modern technology for the campers: they showed real drones, gave fascinating explanations of how they work, and gave the children the opportunity to examine the equipment up close. This evoked incredible emotions and genuine excitement among the boys and girls.
Проте молодіжний актив Донеччини вміє не лише продуктивно працювати. Після виснажливих робочих годин лідери мали час і для внутрішнього перезавантаження. Члени молодіжної ради та Регіонального молодіжного конгресу збиралися виключно своїм колом, грали у волейбол та відпочивали. Таке неформальне дозвілля неймовірно здружило та згуртувало команду.
Another inspiring highlight of the forum was a meeting with the well-known Ukrainian TV host, volunteer, and blogger Denys Khristov (call sign “The Dutchman”). Young people from Donetsk Oblast spoke with Denys during the official portion of the event and later joined an evening screening of his documentary film “The Miner.” Participants had the opportunity to speak candidly about the daily realities of volunteering on the front lines and to discuss the film directly with its director and producer.
The final stop of the tour was Kyiv. On June 25, at the “Parkovy” Exhibition and Convention Center, a delegation from the Youth Council and the Regional Youth Congress of Donetsk Oblast took part in a large-scale ceremonial event titled “Outpost of the Eastern Front: Talent. Intellect. Creativity,” dedicated to honoring gifted youth and graduates from the Donetsk region. Representatives of the councils delivered a powerful official address from the stage, demonstrating unwavering solidarity, strong internal cohesion, and a readiness to serve as mentors for those who will soon be rebuilding their homeland.
Following this eventful week, the Donetsk Regional Youth Council approved a clear action plan for its current term. All planned objectives for Phase I of the forum were achieved 100%. This proves once again that, despite the challenges of war, the youth of Donetsk Oblast are a united, unbreakable, and institutionally strong team, ready to act here and now for the sake of Ukraine’s future!