Novopskov, Luhansk Oblast, 3 January 2019 – A reconstructed national police station was officially opened in the village of Novopskov, Lugansk oblast. The building has undergone a major refurbishment in accordance with the Universal Design principles, which ensure the availability of facilities for the populations with low mobility and persons with disabilities. It is expected that the refurbished police station will provide services and ensure public order for more than 12,000 residents of the Novopskov amalgamated territorial community (ATC).

The police station restoration project was implemented by the NGO "Moya Novopskovshchyna" and supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine  and the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme. The station was also equipped with office furniture and equipment. The total cost of the project is UAH 589,776 (approx. 20,800 US dollars).

"The opening of the reconstructed police station takes us one step closer to better well-being of the population of Lugansk oblast and the residents of this community in particular. It’s not the first time we are supporting the Novopskov community. Last year we have opened a new Administrative Service Centre, that is now fully operational and makes it quicker and easier for the village dwellers to access a whole range of administrative services,” said Victor Munteanu, the manager of UNDP’s Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme.

“I believe that this police station will contribute to higher confidence and trust in police among the local population; and public trust is the key performance goal for the police in Luhansk region. The fact that this project has been implemented in Novopskov shows that new approach of cooperating with communities applied by the police is efficient, and population does have trust in police, and that’s the most crucial thing. We keep working to ensure that this result could be achieved in other districts as well,” said Col. Serhii Kolesnyk, the head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Luhansk Oblast, at the opening.

Liudmyla Latysheva, the head of the Novopskov raion state administration, and Vadym Gaiev, the head of the Novopskov ATC, also expressed their appreciation for development assistance their community received from the international partners.

“Today we can see the proof that community development depends on the participation of the citizens and the community organization who truly care to make a difference. After all, neither community, nor police, nor the partners would be able to achieve this on their own, without this synergy of efforts from all stakeholders,” said Latysheva.

Background information:

The Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP) addresses priority needs in eastern Ukraine after armed conflict erupted in the spring of 2014. The Programme aims to strengthen community security and social cohesion, support the economic recovery of conflict-affected communities, as well as further the implementation of the decentralisation and healthcare reforms in government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The RPP is implemented by four UN agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Programme is supported by nine international partners, including the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Governments of Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The total budget for 2019-2022 is over USD 50 mln.

Media inquiries:

Yuliia Samus, Communication Specialist, UNDP Ukraine, +38 097 139 14 75, yuliia.samus@undp.org, communications.ukraine@undp.org

Photos courtesy of NGO Moya Novopskovshchyna / Yegor Pototsky