by Order No. 4 of January 20, 2026, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, approved the “Methodological recommendations for creating a barrier-free environment for public buildings.”

The recommendations can be accessed here.

The Methodological Recommendations are intended to adapt the residential buildings for persons with disabilities and other people with limited mobility, as well as to improve the comfort of using public buildings. The document contains practical step-by-step solutions for adapting the condominiums, taking into account the existing technical constraints. In particular, they address arrangement of barrier-free entrances, ensuring access to entrances, common areas, and adjacent territory.

Special attention in the recommendations is given to the simplest shelters located in basements. Due to limited floor area, narrow staircases, and outdated planning solutions, most of these shelters are currently inaccessible to people with limitedt mobility. The document provides alternative engineering and planning solutions aimed at improving the safety and convenience of using shelters under the existing constraints. Practical application of these solutions requires involvement of qualified independent consulting engineers to ensure high-quality delivery of the relevant works.

ICEG seeks to align the Ukrainian market of engineering consulting services with international standards (in particular, FIDIC and EFCA standards).

We recognize the importance of complying with the Ministry’s recommendations regarding accessibility for people with limited mobility; however, their practical implementation remains a significant challenge. Drawing on ICEG’s international experience and involvement of donor programs, it makes sense to use international best-practice cases in reconstruction projects.

To recap, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories has updated the inclusivity requirements for buildings and structures. Amendment No. 3 to ДБН В.2.2-40:2018, which updates and clarifies the requirements for design and operation of construction facilities in line with modern barrier-free standards, will come into force on April 1, 2026.