KYIV, Ukraine, May 18, 2026 — Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) presented its new research report, From Risk toResilience: Civilian Protection Readiness in Ukraine, during an event hosted at the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine. The report examines how the experience of Russian occupation shapes whole-of-society resilience, with a focus on civilian self-protection practices and preparedness for a possible escalation of hostilities.
The findings reveal that some factors consistently determine perceived security among civilians: threats from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), shelter usability, warning windows for air strikes, and exposure to unexploded ordnance (UXO). De-occupied hromadas (local communities) demonstrate more operational preparedness, including population censuses, mobility registries, and regular coordination drills, while communities without occupation experience more often lack visible, actionable mechanisms.
“Preparedness is not only about formal systems,” said Khrystyna Kozak, Researcher at CIVIC Ukraine. “Our findings show that civilians feel safer when protection measures are visible, usable, and adapted to the realities they face every day — from drone attacks and short warning windows to inaccessible shelters and evacuation uncertainty. If people do not understand how a crisis plan works in practice, that gap itself becomes a protection risk.”
CIVIC continues its call for practical, visible, and people-centered protection measures. These include improving shelter usability, making evacuation plans clear and actionable for civilians, expanding regular preparedness training, strengthening crisis communication, and ensuring that local authorities and frontline communities have the resources needed to respond effectively to escalation.
Access the full report in English and Ukrainian here.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact:
- CIVIC’s Global Media Team: [email protected]
- CIVIC Ukraine Communications Officer: Liudmyla Gitsevych, +380 96 737 7810, [email protected]
Spokespersons available for interviews in English, Ukrainian, and French
Image courtesy of Olena Zashko
