On May 8, Kyiv hosted a constituent assembly of the Initiative Group for the Creation of the Civil-Military Movement of Ukraine, which brought together military personnel, veterans, volunteers, journalists and other representatives of civil society. The event launched a new movement aimed at strengthening defense capabilities and protecting democratic values in Ukraine.
Particular attention was drawn to the speech of Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, who warned the audience against illusions about the imminent end of the war. “Some people are now deceiving themselves with the expectation of peace, which is supposedly about to come. Some people are deliberately speculating on this, while others are pleased to nurture false hopes. There is neither reason nor benefit to rely on this,” Yusov emphasized. “First, no one knows the exact date of peace. Secondly, even if the fighting stops, whenever it happens, the war will not stop. The war that has been going on for hundreds of years.”
Yusov noted that Ukraine should be prepared for a prolonged confrontation: “It may seem paradoxical, but the more we are ready for war, the more chances we have for sustainable peace.”
“Ukraine is doomed to build a powerful security system, to make defense and protection of the country a top priority not only for the state but for the entire society,” the DIU representative emphasized, adding that this is the main task of the movement.
Defense democracy: a new approach to security
The main outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the Declaration on the Formation of the Initiative Group, which outlines the goals, principles and activities of the future movement. The central concept around which the participants united was defensive democracy, an approach that combines a strong security system with unshakable democratic values.
Yuriy Goncharenko, representative of the initiative group and founder of the InfoLight.UA research and analytical group, revealed the deeper meaning of this concept: “We are now in a situation where both the continuation of the war and any form of truce or peace are a challenge for Ukraine, if Russia continues to exist,” he said. “Defensive democracy is about the war we are in, which will not stop along with the fighting. And it is about democracy, which must be preserved under any circumstances.”
Honcharenko also emphasized the danger of an internal split in Ukrainian society: “We recently examined our internal cohesion and saw some disturbing symptoms. We are increasingly immersed in our own bubbles. And the enemy is dividing us and trying to rule us.”
According to him, defensive democracy involves not only protecting the borders from an external enemy, but also preserving the democratic system, ensuring justice and fighting corruption: “This is order in the state, but ensuring elected officials. And the competitiveness of politicians, which does not turn into suicidal self-destruction. This is justice, the demand for which is dominant in society.”
Joining forces for a common goal
Oleksiy Ivashyn, one of the initiators of the Civil-Military Movement, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, emphasized the importance of collective efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
The emerging civil-military movement has identified several key areas of activity:
- educational and patriotic work;
- direct support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- Preparing the population for defense challenges;
- protecting the rights of veterans and families of the fallen;
- educating young people in the military-patriotic spirit.
The participants of the meeting formulated a clear vision of Ukraine’s future. In particular, the final provisions of the Declaration state: “We see Ukraine as a modernized, efficient state, armed and ready to face any challenge. To achieve this, it must combine military effectiveness with the preservation of the principles of democracy and openness.”
The civil-military movement is open to all citizens who share the goals and principles set forth in the Declaration and are ready to take an active part in its development. “We are able to defeat any enemy only if we do not betray ourselves,” summarized Yuriy Goncharenko, calling for unity and joint action for the sake of Ukraine’s future.
The initiative to create the Civil-Military Movement of Ukraine demonstrates that Ukrainian society is ready for new forms of organization and interaction to counter existential threats. The concept of defensive democracy proposed by the movement’s members can become an important element of the national security strategy, combining the best democratic practices with the need for constant readiness to defend sovereignty.
Leave a Reply