This concise guide is addressed to international partners seeking to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capacity and to contribute to its victory in the existential and genocidal war launched by the Russian Federation. Its core argument is that support for civil society in the security and defence sector has been, and in many cases remains, an insufficiently recognised component of the overall international assistance.
At the same time, relatively modest investments in civil society within the defence sector — particularly when compared to the scale of bilateral military assistance — can generate a significant multiplier effect for defence reforms, battlefield effectiveness, and the development of the defence-industrial base. Realising this potential requires a deeper understanding of the national context and the civic participation role across all areas of public governance, including defence.
For this reason, the guide provides a concise overview of the role of civil society in Ukraine’s defence sector, identifies key gaps in international cooperation with civil society actors, and offers recommendations on how these gaps may be addressed.
This guide 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: Lesia Ogryzko, Kateryna Barysheva, Polina Istomina