According to a recent study by Transparency International (TI) Ukraine, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv remains the undisputed leader in the country’s digital transformation. Kyiv has demonstrated the highest level of “digital maturity” among all surveyed municipalities, positioning itself as the closest follower of European standards for digital governance.
Assessing digital maturity
The study is part of a broader evaluation of urban transparency and openness aligned with the European Index. Its primary objective is to measure how closely Ukrainian municipalities adhere to modern European principles of democratic governance, the Ukraine Facility plan, and European Commission recommendations.
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Moving beyond a simple analysis of website availability, researchers focused on the practical utility, convenience, and integration of digital tools. Cities were evaluated based on 40 rigorous criteria, including:
Digital strategies and informatization programs Online access to education, medicine, and social services Digital interaction with local authorities Functionality of city portals and mobile applications Interactive maps and user-feedback systems
Out of a maximum of 100 points, the national average remained significantly lower than the halfway mark. This highlights a persistent disparity in digital development across the country, where only select municipalities are systematically investing in modern electronic solutions.
Electronic services assessment results. (Image by Transparency International Ukraine)
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Kyiv – digital flagship
With a score of 70 out of 100, Kyiv secured the top spot. The capital was lauded for its comprehensive ecosystem, where digital services are not isolated tools but a holistic infrastructure accompanying residents in their daily lives – from public transport and healthcare to administrative registries.
A key highlight was the “Kyiv Digital” app, which received the highest user satisfaction ratings. This success has been bolstered by international partnerships. With the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the city has consolidated its major services into a single, streamlined Unified City Services Portal.
User ratings of comprehensive mobile applications. (Image by Transparency International Ukraine)
Under the leadership of Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the capital has moved closest to the European model of urban e-services, effectively setting the benchmark for the rest of the nation.
Regional leaders and the digital divide
While Kyiv holds the lead, other major cities are striving to bridge the gap:
Lviv (63 points): Traditionally an innovation leader, Lviv took second place. It lost points primarily due to the lack of a single, comprehensive mobile application equivalent to Kyiv’s platform. Kharkiv (58 points): Secured third place—a remarkable achievement given the ongoing security challenges. Kharkiv has managed to not only maintain but further develop its digital services despite frontline conditions.
Electronic services: where cities performed best and worst. (Image by Transparency International Ukraine)
In the middle of the ranking, cities like Dnipro (56), Khmelnytskyi (56), and Odesa (51) showed fragmented progress. While specific services reportedly function well, they lack a unified digital logic. Meanwhile, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Lutsk recorded the lowest scores, indicating a lack of strategic planning and limited interactive tools for citizens.
Looking ahead
The TI Ukraine report confirms that e-services are a vital tool for transparency and anti-corruption. While Kyiv sets the standard, the significant gap between leading cities and the rest of the country remains a challenge.
Electronic services: breakdown of implemented and non-implemented indicators (Image by Transparency International Ukraine)
For sustainable growth, Ukrainian municipalities require not just technology, but the political will and strategic investment to meet the high bar set by the capital on the road to the EU.
