Ukraine continues to build a state capable of effectively countering external aggression. This task is key under the current conditions of war. This was emphasized by Andriy Yusov, representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, during the panel discussion "Defensive Democracy: How We Sustain Defense Capability," held as part …
Ukraine continues to build a state capable of effectively countering external aggression. This task is key under the current conditions of war.
This was emphasized by Andriy Yusov, representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, during the panel discussion “Defensive Democracy: How We Sustain Defense Capability,” held as part of the XIV Civil Society Forum “We [STAND] 2025.”
According to Andriy Yusov, the principle “serve or support” must become an individual choice for every Ukrainian. He noted that for military personnel, their families, and the volunteer community, this has long been the norm, as they all understand their responsibility for defending the state.
Yusov emphasized that the concept of defensive democracy should be viewed by society as a new social contract—one that includes every citizen’s participation in defending the country and ensures a fair distribution of responsibilities.
“It is unacceptable for one part of society to bear the main burden of war while another continues to live outside the wartime reality. This creates divisions within the country that the adversary can exploit,” he stressed.
The representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate also emphasized that Ukraine must not choose between democracy and preserving statehood. In his view, victory is only possible by upholding democratic principles that define Ukraine’s path as part of Western civilization.
The XIV Civil Society Forum “We [STAND] 2025,” organized by the ISAR Ednannia Center, became a discussion platform for addressing how to combine democratic values with the challenges of wartime.
Participants included NaUKMA President Serhiy Kvit, coordinator of the Civic-Military Movement Oleksiy Ivashyn, and Chairman of the Foundation for Democracy Assistance Yuriy Honcharenko. The moderator was writer and serviceman Anatoliy Dnistrovy.
