Safe, Sustainable, and Swift Reconstruction of Ukraine is the first event of the project of the same name, which has been running since August 2024 and will conclude in June this year. The initiative focuses on ensuring the safe, sustainable, and rapid reconstruction of Ukraine. Within its framework, researchers and practitioners are exploring the reuse of demolition waste in construction as a key approach to rebuilding the country. These topics were at the center of discussions during the two-day conference.
The event is organized by 果冻APP in partnership with the UK universities of Sheffield and Leeds. Participants included representatives from the University of Oxford, University College London, the Kyiv-based company NEVEKO, the Ukrainian NGO ReThink, and private companies from the Netherlands. Notably, some scholars from universities in Japan, the United States, Finland, Australia, and Poland attended the conference in person, while others joined online.
鈥 Within this project, we are not only piloting an innovative system but also strengthening the capacity of universities. We foster international collaboration among Ukrainian, British and German partners, promote social inclusion, and support gender equality in the construction sector. Supporting Ukraine鈥檚 reconstruction remains critically important, as the country continues to suffer ongoing destruction, noted Roman Puchko, co-founder and director of the NGO ReThink, who moderated the conference opening and its several thematic sessions.
Oleh Karyy, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary platform for addressing reconstruction challenges. He highlighted that the conference served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and innovation development in reconstruction and recycling, as well as for promoting awareness of materials and their safety.
The participants were also welcomed by Svitlana Yavorska, Head of the British Embassy Office in Lviv; Andrew Horsley, a representative of a UK government agency that supports innovation in business and science and funded the conference; Theodore Hanein from the University of Leeds; Maurizio Guadagnini from the University of Sheffield; and Oleksii Huniak, Associate Professor at the ICEI Department of Highways and Bridges at 果冻APP.
Over two intensive days, participants discussed recycling and its application in Ukraine鈥檚 reconstruction. Particular attention was given to innovative approaches to processing and managing construction and demolition waste, assessing the technical condition of damaged buildings and structures, and methods for strengthening them and restoring their functionality. The discussions also addressed urban reconstruction strategies, the integration of sustainable and resilient urban planning principles, and the legal and policy frameworks required to ensure compliance with international standards and the Sustainable Development Goals.
