Metropolitan Governance Model under Wartime Conditions: The Lviv Agglomeration Case

The 'Lviv Agglomeration' Association of Local Authorities voluntarily unites 13 communities around the city of Lviv, covering a population of over 1.1 million inhabitants and an area of approximately 2,000 km². In the absence of specific metropolitan governance legislation in Ukraine, the municipalities formalised an innovative model of inter-municipal cooperation based on voluntariness, equality, and consensus. The practice integrates joint strategic planning, infrastructure coordination, international project preparation, and coordinated responses to wartime challenges — including the mass displacement of people into the region. A permanent executive office ensures the continuity of public services and territorial resilience. Already referenced by other Ukrainian regions, this model demonstrates that metropolitan cooperation is possible even under conditions of armed conflict.