THE ROLE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE POST-WAR ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION OF UKRAINE’S REGIONS
Abstract
The article examines the role of critical infrastructure in the post-war reconstruction of the economies of Ukraine’s regions in the context of large-scale destruction caused by full-scale armed aggression. The relevance of the study is determined by the deep regional asymmetry of socio-economic development resulting from damage to and destruction of transport, energy, water, and digital infrastructure facilities that ensure the basic functions of livelihoods and economic activity across territories. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the systemic impact of the recovery and modernization of critical infrastructure on economic revitalization, regional resilience, and spatial cohesion in the post-war period. The methodological framework is based on the analysis of statistical and analytical materials from international and national institutions, regional comparison, the use of quantitative proxy indicators for assessing losses of critical infrastructure, and structural-logical modelling of cause-and-effect relationships between the condition of infrastructure systems and the dynamics of regional economic development. The study identifies regional specificities of critical infrastructure destruction and substantiates their direct and indirect economic consequences, particularly their impact on production, employment, investment activity, and resource mobility. A model of the influence of critical infrastructure on regional development with a two-way feedback mechanism is proposed, reflecting the self-reinforcing nature of infrastructure investments in the process of economic recovery. The scientific novelty of the study lies in combining quantitative assessments of critical infrastructure losses with a qualitative analysis of economic risks in the regional dimension, which makes it possible to move from nationwide estimates to targeted prioritization of reconstruction efforts. The practical significance of the results consists in their applicability by public authorities, regional and local governments, as well as international partners, for shaping effective policies aimed at the recovery, modernization, and enhancement of critical infrastructure resilience in the context of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine’s regions.
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