The proliferation of dispersed and fragmented urban forms and extended urbanization processes in Europe has been continuously challenging the established administrative borders and governance models (Robinson & Le Galès 2024, 10). In this context, the issue of institutional fragmentation of a city-region, defined morphologically, functionally, economically, or epistemologically, comes to the forefront. It is addressed by specific state strategies and policies that open up new territories for urbanisation (Topalović & Schmid 2023). It also signifies the erosion of the meso (provincial) level of territorial governance, necessitating the urban authorities to assume responsibility over the broader territorial scale (Cardoso & Meijers 2021). However, this debate often overlooks the revision of a local government’s size occurring under the guise of decentralisation, backed up by numerous international organisations and financial institutions (Zimmermann & Feiertag 2022; Hendriks et al. 2010). This presentation addresses the condition of core cities in Ukraine that were included into the massive effort of revising the size of administrative units and altering the territorial mandate of local governments started in 2014 (Romanova & Umland 2024). As a result, 87% of core cities went through administrative merger with their productive hinterland, creating new obligations concerning services provision and infrastructure planning, but also fostering urbanisation. In the context of the ongoing Russian aggression, these territories at the metropolitan fringe can be viewed as strategic areas for resilience (Marques & Alvim 2024). From serving as buffer zones during shelling or military advances to providing land for accommodating displaced populations and production facilities or ensuring food security during the logistical chains’ disruption, they consolidate areas of potential urban expansion, while remaining fragmented and neglected. A closer look at the fringe areas thus can generate insights concerning the future planning scenarios for Ukraine.