DEVELOPMENT OF RESILIENCE OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN UKRAINE DURING MILITARY CONFLICT

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the relatively new concept of resilience, which has evolved from a rather narrow term in ecology and psychology into one that has gained popularity across various fields of science. Particular attention is given to the resilience of Ukrainian cities as an acquired ability to endure the challenging conditions of wartime. The manifestations of the ability to adapt to everyday challenges and to transform the environment in response to existing threats create a field for socio-geographical research.Exogenous and endogenous factors that may cause the emergence of this phenomenon have been identified. The article also explores the challenges of resilience development over time, the nuances of its classification, and the question of differences between rapid (adaptive) and long-term resilience.An analysis of the development of Ukrainian cities under both indirect and direct threats from the Russian Federation leads to the conclusion that, since 2022, Russian aggression has been the primary precondition and determinant for the formation of resilience. This risk factor should be considered key in conducting current research on the Ukrainian urban environment and its resilience.One of the attributes of a full-scale war is air alert, which has become a part of everyday life. The article examines the reaction of urban communities to such alerts and the impact of this factor on the functioning of the largest cities of Ukraine located in different regions (Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv). In particular, it analyzes the number and duration of alerts in 2024, their proportion during the operating hours of shopping malls, and their correlation with the real estate market (rent) over the selected period.The study also offers assumptions regarding directions for further research on this phenomenon.Conclusions are formulated as to why the military conflict should be considered as a key factor influencing Ukrainian cities. And how air alerts, which are one of the manifestations of threats to rear cities, demonstrate the ability of society to resist, absorb, adapt, transform, and recover from the consequences of danger, as, in fact, resilience is understood in a broad sense.