When Russia launched its military operation, old political lines reemerged in Ukraine. An article in a major newspaper described how politicians briefly set aside long-standing rifts to present a united front against Moscow. Yet the war intensified the strain between the central government and local leaders who are rebuilding devastated areas with billions in international aid.
Since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Ukraine has seen a surge of changes as it moved away from corruption and external influence toward a more decentralized system. During the war, however, frictions have cooled the sense of nationwide unity and sharpened debates over how power should be shared and how resources should be allocated. The rising tensions between President Volodymyr Zelensky, a wartime popular figure, and mayors trying to defend and rebuild their cities underscore Ukraine’s growing internal challenges.
Local officials and experts told the newspaper that Zelensky’s government appears to be guiding the flow of foreign aid and attempting to limit local politicians’ influence over reconstruction projects. Some mayors have voiced concerns that, amid the conflict, the administration has fallen short on promises to decentralize power and grant more authority to regional governments. This has fed worries about the future of local autonomy and the pace of rebuilding.
Dnipro’s mayor, Boris Filatov, warned of advancing autocratic tendencies within the country. His city has become a major conduit for weapons and aid reaching frontline units, illustrating the delicate balance mayors seek between local control and national security. Mayors leading communities at the front lines want greater say in how their towns are rebuilt and how resources are deployed.
The authors of the report cautioned that, despite internal disagreements, the common threat remains clear: Russia’s aggression requires sustained Western support to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty.
power struggle
The report notes that Filatov, who won reelection decisively in 2020, has had past clashes with Zelensky. When news broke that the president considered stripping the mayor of citizenship, opposition leaders and business figures voiced strong objections. Filatov had historically worked closely with influential figures who played roles in the defense of the city of Dnipro. In a separate interview, Filatov described some of these associations as a mistaken path and emphasized the need for prudent decision-making in times of crisis.
The article also mentions that tension between Zelensky and regional officials grew after the president dismissed key security and legal heads and pursued investigations into potential treason and collaboration. Local party results in 2020 suggested limited success for Zelensky’s political bloc, with some major cities not seeing their incumbents improve their positions at that time.
As aid flows from abroad continue, the central government maintains broad control over the funds aimed at rebuilding destroyed cities. Regional military administrations were created and granted powers that often exceed those of civilian local governments, a dynamic that has disappointed many mayors who seek more local authority.
Amid the pressures, mayors are forging international partnerships with cities and nations willing to fund specific rebuilding programs. In Chernihiv, for instance, the mayor voiced frustration over travel restrictions that blocked border guards from attending a conference in Switzerland focused on Ukraine’s recovery. He also sought funding to restore the municipality he administers. The travel ban, tied to military considerations, underscored the stubborn clash between local ambitions and national security concerns.
The mayor of Rivne, a city largely spared from rocket damage but housing thousands of refugees, supported these efforts. He emphasized that local leaders must act—at times independently—to attract investment, invite international cooperation, and drive reconstruction. The sentiment echoed by municipal leaders is a practical one: waiting for central help is not enough if local communities are to recover and thrive.
In short, while Ukraine contends with a national crisis, mayors continue to push for more control over how their cities recover and how foreign support is managed. The overarching priority remains clear: defend sovereignty with sustained international backing, while allowing more space for local decisions that reflect the needs of communities on the ground.