“Community Leadership in Wartime”: Aspen Seminar Held in Zakarpattia for Participants of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, local governments in Ukraine have taken on enormous responsibility: ensuring the functioning of their communities, supporting residents, responding to security threats, and finding solutions amid constant uncertainty. At the same time, alongside the daily challenges of crisis management, they face an equally demanding task — maintaining a long-term vision for community development without losing sight of the people their decisions are meant to serve.

From October 4 to 8, the Aspen seminar “Community Leadership in Wartime” took place in Zakarpattia, bringing together heads of local communities and leaders of military administrations participating in the League of Leaders initiative under the U-LEAD with Europe Programme.

Throughout the seminar, participants engaged with classical and contemporary texts, shared their experiences in local governance, and collectively explored complex questions of community leadership.

Key topics included personal responsibility, ethical dilemmas in public decision-making, trust between authorities and citizens, social cohesion, and the development of human capital within communities. Particular attention was given to responsibility towards future generations: how to make decisions that address immediate needs without limiting opportunities for long-term development.

As part of the programme, participants met with Ukrainian writer Myroslav Dochynets and visited Saint-Miklos Castle, where they spoke with its tenant, Yosyp Barysh, about the preservation of cultural heritage.

The seminar was moderated by Denys Poltavets, External Leadership Expert for the U-LEAD with Europe Programme and Director of Program Development at Aspen Institute Kyiv, and Andrii Kulakov, External Leadership Expert for the U-LEAD with Europe Programme and Program Coordinator for the Aspen Institute Kyiv Alumni Community Program.

The seminar was coordinated by Olena Fomina, External Expert for the U-LEAD with Europe Programme and Director of Programs at Aspen Institute Kyiv.

We are grateful to all participants for their openness, willingness to share their experiences, and readiness to ask difficult questions, including those concerning their own decisions. Community leadership requires not only the ability to respond to crises but also the capacity to maintain a long-term perspective and create conditions for sustainable development, even in wartime.

The seminar was conducted by the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, which is jointly financed by the European Union and its Member States Germany, Denmark, France, Austria, Poland, and Slovenia.