Dmytro Ivanov, co-founder of the "Dobrobat" volunteer movement, called on state managers and community leaders to fundamentally rethink their attitude towards internally displaced persons (IDPs) during a broadcast with political analyst Yuriy Romanenko. He argued that displaced citizens are a key economic resource that many officials continue to undervalue.
IDPs as a lifeline for community budgets
Ivanov emphasized that population growth driven by displaced persons directly impacts a community's financial capacity, particularly through state subventions and reverse subsidy mechanisms.
"Many officials still haven't grasped that internally displaced persons—and people in general—are a treasure... Furthermore, subventions are distributed based on population size. There are surplus communities. If their number of [residents] increases... they avoid reverse budget withdrawals," the expert explained.
He stressed that amid the demographic crisis, the value of every individual to the economy has multiplied: "If people were a treasure before, now they are a treasure cubed."
Economy and taxes
According to the volunteer, displaced persons are not a social burden but a driving force for the real economy, provided proper conditions are created for them.
"These are people who can work. When they live and work here, they pay taxes. Paying taxes means the real sector of the economy is functioning," Ivanov noted.
Energy-independent housing for the displaced
Ivanov also shared that Dobrobat is implementing housing projects for IDPs in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Notably, these new homes are designed to meet modern energy security challenges.
"When building accommodation for internally displaced persons, we include backup systems, meaning renewable energy sources. It's a 'must-have' now; there is simply no other way," he concluded.
