Recording the damage caused by the Russian Federation's armed aggression is a priority, not only for municipalities in border oblasts. The correct recording is a major factor in the process of restoration and reconstruction. In addition, a quick and high-quality procedure for recording destruction is one of the safety factors. This makes it possible to prevent injuries and deaths of people by quickly involving emergency services.
"Local self-government bodies perform a key role in this procedure. The executive bodies of village, settlement, and city councils organise and coordinate the urgent work to eliminate the dangerous consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation associated with damage to buildings and structures, unfinished construction projects, prevent human deaths, and reduce the amount of possible material losses," said Maria Palchuk, Municipal Finance and Management Adviser of the U-LEAD Regional Office in Kyiv Oblast
According to the expert, in case of their formation, military administrations of settlements can perform this function instead of local self-government bodies. They are responsible for the preparatory work prior to the inspection and recording of damage. In particular, they should interact with the territorial bodies of the State Emergency Service and law enforcement agencies to ensure the clearing of the territory and facilities from contamination by explosive objects that threaten human life or health.
There is an algorithm of actions of the executive body/military administration as follows:
- To form a commission for inspections, involving specialists/specialist with a higher education in the field of Civil Engineering and Architecture, except for the speciality of Geodesy and Land Management.
- To draft and approve the commission's work plan. The nature and extent of the existing damage, determined during a visual inspection of the damaged objects, should be considered when developing the plan.
- To publish the approved work plan on the official website of the local self-government body within 3 calendar days from the date of approval. Whenever possible, the commission may notify the owner or manager of the facility of the terms of the inspection in writing. The commission should involve authorised representatives of the owner or manager (balance sheet holder) of the facility in the commission's inspection, as far as possible.
- To prepare for the commission inspection or, in case of need, a technical inspection.
- The executive body considers the acts of the commission inspection, reports and acts of the technical inspection. The commission draws up the inspection reports. Acts of the technical inspection and reports are drawn up by the executor. The results of photographic recording of the facility, which indicate the nature and extent of the destruction, shall be attached to the commission's inspection reports.
- In order to take measures to ensure technogenic safety, the executive body draws up and submits to the Regional Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies lists of potentially hazardous facilities as well as hazardous facilities for consideration.
- The Regional Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies approves the lists of potentially hazardous facilities as well as hazardous facilities within 5 days. The executive body approves the lists of such facilities.
- Organise dismantling works.
- Arranges for the collection, preliminary sorting and separation of hazardous waste, transportation and temporary storage of waste generated as a result of dismantling.
Both the procedure and the specifics of the inspection work of the commission are regulated by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On Approval of the Procedure for Performing Emergency Work to Eliminate the Consequences of the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation Associated with Damage to Buildings and Structures" of 19 April 2022 No. 473.