Democratic Resilience in Ukraine: from emergency to transformation

The report analyses 200 community resilience initiatives developed in Ukraine between February 2022 and June 2026. Based on 64 interviews, 105 representatives from different sectors, and a survey of local initiatives, the document examines how civil society has articulated collective responses to the Russian invasion. The study highlights that more than three quarters of the initiatives analysed were still active four years after the start of the war.

Civil society as an engine of democratic resilience

The initiatives analysed show the central role of civil society organisations, volunteering and community networks in responding to the crisis, as well as the importance of cooperation with local institutions. The report highlights the ability of these actors to sustain community life and adapt to a context of prolonged war, while identifying obstacles that threaten the continuity of their work, such as the exhaustion of volunteering, dependence on external funding and the fragility of independent media.

Moving from emergency to a sustainable transformation

The document raises the need to consolidate the resilience capacities developed during the war so that they can contribute to a long-term democratic transformation. To do so, it is necessary to strengthen the sustainability of community initiatives, ensure more stable financing conditions and strengthen cooperation between civil society and public institutions. The report thus offers an analysis of learning and outstanding challenges to preserve the role of communities in Ukraine’s democratic future.

Download the report here.