The Ukraine will pursue her “total transformation” six cities which have been severely damaged by the Russian invasion, as part of a rebuilding program announced by the Prime Minister today Dennis Schmihal.

Kiev’s Western partners are preparing to grant billions of dollars to Ukraine to support reconstruction efforts after 14 months of war.

Smikhal said the cities of Borodyanka and Moshchun near the capital Kyiv, Yakhidine in northern Ukraine, Trostianets and Chirkuni in eastern Ukraine and Posad-Porkrovske in southern Ukraine would be rebuilt “completely and according to new principles” as part of a pilot program.

“This means that specific houses and buildings will not be rebuilt, but everything – with a systemic approach, a new design and a complete transformation of these settlements,” he said at a government meeting.

All six of these cities had suffered “terrible disaster”, he said.

The Ukrainian prime minister stressed that the project is part of a wider plan for rapid reconstruction, even as the war rages on.

Ukrainian forces are expected to launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks to try to recapture Russian-held territory.

“For us it is important for Ukrainians to see already this year that reconstruction is a reality”Schmihal pointed out.