Civil society at war: Will Ukraine's democracy hold?

Meet Ukrainian organisations that safeguard democracy during war.

More than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion – and over twelve years since the war began in 2014 – Ukraine faces sustained and mounting pressure. While soldiers fight on the frontlines to maintain borders and liberate territories, civil society continues to defend the country’s democratic core: a society grounded in the rule of law, human rights, and accountability.

Throughout Ukraine’s modern history, civil society has played a critical role in driving reforms and holding those in power to account. But this role is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain under wartime conditions. Today, there are many challenges to civil society: burnout and capacity strain, reliance on international support, and the impact of recent high-level corruption scandals. At the same time, wartime centralisation of power is narrowing democratic space. Legislative and policy developments, such as a controversial draft Civil Code, criticised for potentially undermining human rights protection, have further raised concerns about the state of reform.

This panel with Yevheniia Kubakh from the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Center for Civil Liberties, Olena Halushka from International Center for Ukrainian Victory, and Arve Hansen, head of the NHC’s Nansen project, will examine both the achievements and pressures facing Ukrainian civil society today and explore what role it can play in safeguarding democracy during the war and after.