How Cohesive is Ukrainian Society? Quantitative Study by Civil Network OPORA

Analytical document “Migration Policy of Ukraine: Legal Regulation and European Integration” sheds light on the complex challenges facing Ukraine in the field of migration, especially exacerbated by the full-scale Russian invasion. Mass emigration, demographic changes, the need to adapt legislation to new realities, and Ukraine’s EU integration commitments call for systematic and balanced solutions. The analysis of the current situation, legal framework and international standards presented in this document has revealed a number of problematic aspects and areas for improvement, including coordination between government agencies, enforcement of migrant rights and resolution of citizenship-related issues.

Today, Europe has changed because we didn’t manage to stop Russia. This is not a pessimistic view, but a straightforward fact. Sometimes, even our international friends say (or think) that Ukrainians are overly emotional and traumatized. But the truth is that we have accepted a terrifying reality and are trying to resist it — rather than believing in wishful thinking, which belongs to the world of fantasy. There is no more security in Europe and all hybrid threats will become real for countries under the NATO umbrella if Ukraine loses to the aggressor.

Russia’s full-scale invasion led to emigration of a huge number of Ukrainians, which has become an economic and humanitarian challenge not only for Ukraine but also for the partner countries hosting millions of forcibly displaced persons. According to the most conservative estimates presented in Civil Network OPORA research study, the population of Ukraine declined by more than 8 million during the period of 1991 to February 24, 2022. Russia’s war of aggression has significantly worsened the demographic situation in Ukraine, causing massive internal and external displacement. According to the UNHCR, 6,346,300 citizens of Ukraine were registered in Europe as of February 19, 2025. Furthermore, the aforementioned study based on the data collected by mobile operators indicates that the number of residents of Ukraine has decreased by more than 7 million as of June 6, 2023 relative to December 31, 2021.

"Peace agreed upon," declared The Washington Times on September 28, 1938. By now, we should have learned: deals with predator states bent on conquest – whether Nazi Germany then or Russia today – don't buy peace; they invite war. In the last century, Europe didn't avert disaster; it sleepwalked straight into the deadliest conflict in humanity's history. 

An open appeal by Ukrainian public figures to the world leaders and the international community. The document is signed by more than 160 persons, including human rights activists, MPs, diplomats, academics, famous artists, leaders of the largest business associations and various religious communities (Christian, Muslim and Jewish). The appeal, entitled "Do not appease evil" highlights the Ukrainian vision of Russia’s far-reaching subversive objectives, and depicts the positive and the negative scenarios of the war’s end that depend on the position of the world leaders and the international community.

We embraced a huge number of challenges that have become the norm, and we have been living in this threatening environment for a long time. Nevertheless, our attitude towards the State is evolving, and so does the State’s attitude towards the society, the people, and an individual.

“At one point even I bought into the idea that we are way too polarized and this is the wrong way to go”, said Olha Aivazovska during presentation of key findings of OPORA’s study “(Dis)connected: Polarization in Ukrainian Society” at the 13th annual Civil Society Development Forum.

On October 22, 2024, Civil network OPORA held the second civic summit “(Dis)connected: rethinking social resilience in Ukraine”. The summit based itself on the results of joint research study on polarization of Ukrainian society, which was carried out by OPORA in cooperation with Kyiv School of Economics.

As of late October 2024, uncertainty about the prospects for ending the over-10-year war in Europe remains a key factor in encouraging the aggressive behavior of Putin’s Russia and its allies. North Korea’s de facto entry into the war leaves no doubt about the global nature of the confrontation, in which a group of authoritarian states is trying to destroy the world order that is based on respect for international law and the inviolability of borders, and, instead, establish a new world order where the right of force dominates.