Focus on Resilience and Sustainable Mobility During Ukrainian Ministerial Visit to K2
Despite the ongoing war at the front, Ukraine remains firmly focused on the future. On the contrary – the country’s infrastructure is to be rebuilt, and when it is, it must be sustainable, resilient, and aligned with the requirements for EU membership. To help achieve these goals, Ukraine is receiving support from K2 and Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering (LTH) through a tailored training programme funded by the Swedish Institute.
This week, K2 and LTH welcomed Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, Serhiy Derkach, along with a delegation of senior representatives from Ukrainian transport authorities. The visit is part of an ongoing training initiative led by K2 and LTH, specifically designed to meet Ukraine’s needs, in which the minister and several members of his delegation are participating. The purpose of the visit was to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.
The delegation arrived in Lund after a 24-hour journey by train and other ground-based transport – Ukraine’s airspace remains closed due to Russia’s war of aggression, making air travel no longer a viable option. Other forms of transport and infrastructure have also been affected by the war. With parts of the railway network destroyed in Russian bombings, trucks have become increasingly vital for freight transport due to their flexibility – their numbers have doubled since the Russian invasion nearly three years ago.
“It’s not something I’m happy about, but it’s the only way the country can function,” said Serhiy Derkach.
Resilience in the Transport System
At the same time, Ukraine is facing an acute shortage of bus and truck drivers, as well as mechanics to maintain the vehicles – many of the men who previously held these roles are now needed at the front, and the sector has not traditionally been adapted for women, something that is now being rapidly addressed.
Resilience was also a key topic when research leader Fredrik Petersson-Löfgren presented research on bus electrification. Ukraine currently has only one electric bus, and deploying more is considered too vulnerable at present, as the electricity supply can be disrupted at any moment due to Russian attacks, explained Serhiy Derkach. He expressed hope that solar panels on buses or a less vulnerable charging system could be future solutions.
Another important factor for robustness is avoiding the concentration of railway traffic in single transport hubs. Instead, the focus should be on multimodality, ensuring that parts of the system can continue to function even if others are destroyed. Building infrastructure underground also provides the added benefit of shelter.
Looking Ahead
The training programme provided by K2 and LTH covers areas such as sustainable transport planning, public transport, urban mobility, traffic safety (currently, more people die in traffic accidents in Ukraine than from Russian bombs), accessibility for all, and innovation in the transport system. The aim is both to support post-war reconstruction and to adapt regulations and systems to enable EU membership.
“This course is fantastic and truly inspiring. I want to do everything I can to ensure my country not only survives but thrives. We want to rebuild with a new perspective – not in the Soviet way, but with new, green technology and innovation. Sweden is a major role model in this, and that’s one of the reasons we’re here,” said Serhiy Derkach.
He emphasised the importance of human capital. Ukraine largely lacks urban planners and relevant educational programmes, and in this area too, Derkach looks to Sweden for inspiration. National transport statistics and a centre similar to K2 are also high on the wish list.
Turning Knowledge into Action
Helena Svensson, Director of K2 and Lecturer at LTH, developed the course together with Lena Winslott Hiselius, Professor at LTH.
“We are truly honoured that the delegation and other participants in this initiative want to come to K2 and engage with our expertise. We hope this will lead to continued collaboration,” she said.
The training is a capacity-building programme aimed at investing in professionals who can translate knowledge into action and help shape new laws and regulations. In addition to the minister himself, 25 senior officials at national, regional, and local levels – working in sectors such as finance, roads, rail, aviation, maritime transport, reconstruction, and urban planning – are taking part.
“What’s important about this programme is that we’ve actually involved actors at the national level – people working on reforms. It’s crucial that we in Ukraine receive the same training and apply the same methodology, both nationally and locally, to move forward,” said Serhiy Derkach before heading into the Bishop’s House in Lund to meet Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure, Andreas Carlsson (Christian Democrats), and his team to discuss further collaborations and initiatives.
Participants in the Visit:
Among those present during the visit were: Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine; Dmytro Klets, Deputy Director Recovery and Reform Support Team; Andriy Yarmak, Director Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise and Kateryna Onyshchenko, Head of International Road Transport Department, Ukraine, among others.
Text: Anna Maria Erling
Photo: Johan Persson/Lund University