On Thursday, June 5, the Ukrainian Security Club held a regular offsite meeting in Zhytomyr on the topic “National Security and Internal Cohesion: Challenges and Prospects”. The event was attended by military personnel, veterans, academics, volunteers, representatives of local government and business, historians and experts.
The discussion was moderated by Yuriy Goncharenko, Head of the UBC, and Oleksandr Gingizov, Coordinator of the Zhytomyr branch of the UBC. The participants of the event discussed the readiness of Zhytomyr region for security challenges, taking into account the proximity to the Belarusian border, the need to protect infrastructure, the issue of strengthening the resilience and cohesion of Ukrainian society, as well as the concept of defensive democracy, which involves an unwavering commitment to democratic values with a realistic approach to security challenges.
The event was attended by veterans Andriy Korniychuk, Anton Klyuchevsky and Oleh Babkin, psychologist Yulia Saroseko, volunteers and entrepreneurs Andriy Gursky, Ihor Sayuk and Oleksandr Katsimon, volunteer Olga Stakhivska, veterans Ihor Seiko and Ihor Fasolya, volunteer of the NGO “Steel Tyl” Kateryna Khatiashvili, volunteer Olena Lisova, city council member and owner of Polissia-Product LLC Oleksandr Rakovych and Colonel Vasyl Oleksiuk of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The central topic of the meeting was a report by Oleksiy Ivashyn, coordinator of the Civil-Military Movement initiative group, entitled “Balance of Security and Freedom: A Model of Defense Democracy for Ukraine.” He noted that Zhytomyr region is one of the regions that demonstrates what it means to be in constant readiness to repel Russian aggression.
Oleksiy Ivashyn assessed the security situation in the region: “Currently, the threat level of an attack on Zhytomyr region from Russia through Belarus is assessed as moderate. The current state of affairs on the battlefield is characterized by the absence of prerequisites for the rapid advance of enemy troops. The Ukrainian Defense Forces are taking a range of measures to deter the enemy as effectively as possible. And the price Russia pays for the advance that sometimes takes place is incommensurate with common sense.”
Ivashyn also cited examples of countries that have been able to combine defense and democracy, such as Finland, Israel, and the United States.
“If we do not preserve freedom of speech, if we do not have fair elections, then the question arises: what are we fighting for? Are we building a second Russia or the DPRK?” the movement’s coordinator emotionally addressed the audience. “Defense democracy is not a utopia. It is a way of survival for countries like ours. And this is the kind of Ukraine we have to build,” Ivashyn summarized.
Particular attention of the participants was drawn to the topic of information security, which was disclosed by Yuriy Goncharenko as a representative of the InfoLight.UA research and analytical group.
“Modern warfare is not just about tanks, drones or infantry. It is also about information strikes designed to break the enemy’s will and create chaos. Today, the enemy’s most successful efforts are those aimed at creating splits in Ukrainian society. The main tools for implementing these attacks are social networks, primarily TikTok,” noted Honcharenko.
The format of short videos promotes dopamine addiction, which reduces the ability of users to critically perceive information. Similarly to the mechanics of slot machines, TikTok algorithms deliberately alternate between interesting and less interesting videos, creating an “emotional swing” effect. An example of the effective use of TikTok as a tool of political influence is the elections in Romania (2024), where a pro-Russian candidate was able to increase support from 3% to more than 20% thanks to the active work of influencers on TikTok and Telegram. According to Yuriy Goncharenko, similar scenarios are already being recorded in Ukraine.
The discussion of the region’s readiness for potential threats from Belarus sparked a lively debate. The participants discussed the need to strengthen fortifications, improve the territorial defense system, and raise the level of security awareness among the population.
Oleksandr Gingizov, a veteran and coordinator of the Zhytomyr branch of the UBK, emphasized the importance of national and patriotic education of young people.
“We have to raise a generation that will be ready to defend their land and at the same time value democratic principles. The main message for all of us should be: either we join the ranks of the Armed Forces or we help the Armed Forces. And the rear should be defensive and filled with positive thoughts and healthy ideas,” emphasized Gingizov.
Serhiy Twardovsky, a veteran and former psychologist officer of the 516th separate battalion named after Ivan Bohun, emphasized the importance of rehabilitation and socialization of veterans and providing soldiers with psychological support and advice on legal and social issues. He also called for filling the segment of national-patriotic education among young people.
Kateryna Khatiashvili, a volunteer with the Steel Home Front NGO and tactical medicine instructor, emphasized the importance of national-patriotic education and military training for young people, and the widespread introduction of tactical medicine courses.
“Physically strong and morally strong young people are our future,” the volunteer emphasized.
War veteran and disabled veteran Andriy Korniychuk emphasized the importance of sports and football for the physical and social rehabilitation of veterans and the need to improve the legal regulation of benefits for defenders.
Volunteer and private entrepreneur Anatoliy Gursky drew attention to the crucial role of the active minority on the Maidan and in Ukrainian public life and emphasized that our soldiers also belong to this category. Therefore, the rehabilitation of veterans should be based on the state’s respect for the defenders who gave their health to the country.
Olena Lisova, a private entrepreneur, emphasized the need to improve the financial literacy of Ukrainians, from schoolchildren to pensioners, as this area is one of the most important categories of public security.
Psychologist and psychotherapist Yulia Saroseko drew attention to the strengthening of the role of psychological assistance to Ukrainian soldiers, their families and victims of hostilities. Anton Kliuchevskyi, a war veteran and disabled veteran, called for following the example of countries such as Finland and conducting systematic defense training for young people and the population. The warrior emphasized the need to educate young people in the spirit of respect for their homeland and to take active steps by the state and local communities to ensure the moral and patriotic development of the new generation of Ukrainians.
The participants also discussed the demographic challenges facing Ukraine and ways to overcome them. According to Oleksiy Ivashyn, “a demographic catastrophe is something that could destroy Ukraine in the coming decades, so we must work on this issue as a priority.”
As a result of the meeting, a number of practical recommendations were developed to strengthen the region’s security, support veterans and develop a system of national-patriotic education. The organizers of the event plan to submit these proposals to state and local authorities.
The Ukrainian Security Club is a platform that brings together representatives of the Security and Defense Forces, government and local self-government, think tanks, academics, public and political figures, and entrepreneurs who coordinate their activities to ensure Ukraine’s stable development, achieve sustainable peace, overcome internal contradictions, and promote social cohesion.
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