In Washington, D.C., the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States hosted a presentation of a comprehensive reconstruction project for the city of Maryinka, Donetsk Oblast, developed by Ohio State University students. The initiative was implemented as part of the Diplomacy Lab program launched by the U.S. Department of State.
This was reported by Embassy of Ukraine in the USA.
This is the fourth joint project resulting from academic and citizen diplomacy aimed at strengthening ties between American youth and Ukraine.
Marinka is a city that has become a symbol of Ukraine's struggle since 2014: occupied by Russian troops, liberated in 2019, but reduced to rubble again with the start of the full-scale invasion.
"Today, after the brutal destruction and occupation following Russia's full-scale invasion, Maryinka is under the control of the aggressor - but we know that the city will return to Ukraine, and projects like this bring that day closer," said Oksana Markarova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States, during the presentation.
The concept presented by the American students includes modern urban approaches, energy-efficient solutions, sustainable development, and examples of inclusive urban planning that could serve as a basis for the restoration of Maryinka after de-occupation.
Special thanks were expressed to Halyna Korniienko, who developed the course on the reconstruction of Ukraine at Ohio University and organized the cooperation with Ukrainian universities - Priazovsky State Technical University (now temporarily relocated to Dnipro) and the National Forestry University of Ukraine in Lviv.
The Embassy noted the importance of such initiatives for strengthening people-to-people ties, which, along with government assistance, form a broad platform of academic and diplomatic solidarity between the United States and Ukraine.
"This initiative of scientific and citizen diplomacy is a great example of solidarity of American youth with Ukraine and #People2People ties, which are and will be the basis of support for Ukraine in rebuilding cities with the introduction of innovative modern approaches," Markarova said.
"We are grateful to everyone who participated in this important project and to the U.S. Department of State for supporting this inspiring initiative," the embassy added.
Author: Inna Mikhno