From Ruins to Roots
Kharkiv / Ukraine /1716
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022, has caused widespread devastation, countless deaths, and mass displacement. With no clear end in sight, the war perpetuates cycles of uncertainty and instability.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, lies just 30 kilometers from the Russian border. As a frontline city, it has faced relentless shelling and destruction, with nearly a quarter of its infrastructure damaged by April 2024. The war has inflicted severe physical losses, compromised safety, weakened community cohesion, and caused profound psychological trauma, compounded by strategic efforts to destabilize residents and interrupt daily life.
Landscape architecture plays a significant yet often overlooked role in mitigating the destabilizing impacts of warfare. Examples, such as the United States’ landscape interventions during Operation Enduring Freedom, highlight its strategic potential. Efforts ranging from urban park enhancements to large-scale reforestation projects leveraged green spaces to improve mental health, foster social cohesion, and stabilize communities. These initiatives, aimed at “winning hearts and minds,” demonstrate how thoughtful intervention can restore a sense of control, alleviate psychological stress, and rebuild social stability in war-torn areas.
