Company / Community Overview
Balakliia Territorial Community was established on June 12, 2020, through the merger of Balakliia City Council and 14 village councils in the Kharkiv region. The community consists of 37 populated areas with an administrative center in Balakliia, covering 1,297.45 sq. km.
Due to Russian aggression, eight rural districts and Balakliia itself were occupied, while six others became active combat zones. Balakliia was under occupation from March 2 to September 8, 2022. Extensive damage occurred to critical infrastructure, including educational, cultural, medical, residential, and transport facilities. As a result, many residents were displaced.
Before the conflict, the population was 44,392. Over half fled during the occupation, though currently around 30,000 residents have returned, with 5,560 internally displaced persons registered in the community. Balakliia is located 99 km from Kupiansk’s combat zone and 151 km from the Russian border. The community’s primary focus is on emergency restoration of residential and social facilities damaged by the war.
Brief Description of the Project / Technology / Other Specifics
The bridge over the Balakliika River in Balakliia is a crucial part of the local street network, supporting vehicular and pedestrian traffic and connecting residential, industrial, and warehouse zones with the city center. The bridge also serves as an alternative route to radial, chord, and ring roads, providing access to major streets and external highways.
The bridge, spanning 169.5 meters, was destroyed during the full-scale invasion on September 6, 2022. The explosion damaged supports, spans, and the monolithic slab, leaving horizontal cracks and exposing reinforcement. The overall structure is rated "Inoperable" (State 5) per the Technical Inspection Report. Temporary structures allow limited traffic, but full functionality is yet to be restored.
The reconstruction project includes dismantling damaged components, installing new foundations and supports, expanding the bridge to four lanes, and adding dedicated paths for pedestrians and bicycles. Additional upgrades include water drainage, external lighting with anti-corrosion protection, and road safety features such as durable markings and high-visibility signage. The upgraded design is expected to extend the bridge’s service life to 80 years, improving accessibility with bike lanes and barrier-free paths for individuals with disabilities.
The project area benefits 40,655 people, with Balakliia’s direct population of 25,501, including 3,287 internally displaced persons.
Advantages of the Project
This project follows the "Build Back Better" principle, providing significant improvements post-reconstruction. Key advantages include:
- Traffic Safety: Reduces traffic accidents on the reconstructed bridge section.
- Increased Capacity: Expands street and bridge capacity, easing congestion.
- Extended Infrastructure: Adds to the length of reconstructed streets and lighting networks.
- Enhanced Accessibility: Increases bicycle path length and provides barrier-free walkways for people with disabilities.
- Quality & Safety Improvements: Elevates the standard and safety of passenger and freight transport, emergency medical access, and public bus services while ensuring safe and continuous bicycle travel.
Company Owner or CEO / Head of Community Overview
Vitalii Karabanov serves as the head of the Balakliia City Military Administration in the Izium District of Kharkiv Region. Appointed by the President of Ukraine on October 4, 2022, he ensures compliance with Ukraine’s Constitution and laws within Balakliia’s territory, implements presidential acts and executive authority directives, organizes the administration’s functions, performs duties of the Balakliia City Council, and oversees its operations.
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