#92 Kyiv: Building Resilience Through Digital Innovation Amid Crisis and Conflict

In this episode, we are joined by Victoria Itskovych, Chief Information Officer of the City of Kyiv in Ukraine, to discuss how Kyiv is leveraging digital tools to maintain vital public services and ensure the safety of its residents amidst the ongoing war.

Our guest shares the challenges her city has faced, from missile attacks to infrastructure blackouts, and how the Kyiv Digital app became a lifeline for citizens. We explore topics such as resilience, the integration of mental health and education into digital platforms, and how Kyiv's experience can provide valuable lessons for cities worldwide.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:00] Teaser Question: "If you had to describe Kyiv’s journey with digital transformation in three emojis, what would it be?"

[00:03:15] Our guest's background: Victoria Itskovych shares her professional journey and how she became Chief Information Officer of Kyiv City.

[00:04:45] Kyiv's response to the war: How Kyiv Digital has been crucial in maintaining safety and continuity during the ongoing war.

[00:09:09] Adapting the Kyiv Digital app: How the app was transformed to offer life-saving tools and services amidst the crisis.

[00:12:55] Challenges with digital infrastructure: Addressing Wi-Fi outages and adapting other digital infrastructure to ensure resilience.

[00:17:52] Education and mental health initiatives: How Kyiv integrates these areas into their digital framework to strengthen overall city resilience.

[00:23:38] Call to action: How external stakeholders can support Kyiv’s digital transformation and resilience efforts.

[00:28:42] Trial and Error Segment: Victoria shares the challenges and mistakes made during the digital transformation, and what lessons were learned.

[00:30:39] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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