This research examines a unique phenomenon: during the largest war in Europe since the Second World War, civil society is playing a critical role in shaping Ukraine’s security and defence sector.
Ukraine is fighting not only with its army. It is fighting with intellect, networks of trust, the speed of decision-making, and the courage of citizens to take responsibility where the state is unable to keep up or is slowed down.
The study demonstrates the formation of a distinct civic defence sector and its evolution. The Ukrainian experience, in turn, reveals a new logic of change: security is built from the bottom up — through expertise, testing of solutions, and horizontal interaction.
Using the example of 12 organisations, the authors outline how the mechanisms of civil society’s influence operate in Ukraine’s security and defence sector, map these mechanisms, and describe the profiles of each organisation. This sample is not exhaustive and serves as a representative basis for capturing key types of expertise, institutional trajectories, and models of civil society influence in the defence sphere: BRDO, CACDS, Center for Defence Strategies, Frontier Institute, Frontline Reforms, NAKO, New Geopolitics Research Network, Price of Freedom, Pryncyp, Sahaidachnyi Security Center, Snake Island Institute, StateWatch.
The study focuses on organisations that promote reforms, produce applied analysis, and conduct international advocacy in wartime conditions.
This report is produced by Sahaidachnyi Security Center with the Askold and Dir Fund support as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Sahaidachnyi Security Center and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR Ednannia.
Authors: Kateryna Barysheva, Yurii Buhai, Polina Istomina
Content Editor: Lesia Ogryzko