Mapping Ukraine’s Democratic Space: Part 3

Civic activist perspectives on conditions in 40 localities

Authors: Andrii Darkovich, Valentyn Hatsko, Roksolana Nesterenko, Daria Bevziuk and Iryna Ilnytska

This third report in the Mapping Ukraine’s Democratic Space series presents an in-depth assessment of the social, economic, and institutional conditions in 40 Ukrainian hromadas (territorial communities), based on surveys with 120 local activists and qualitative data collected in February 2025. Now entering the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian communities face overlapping pressures from war, economic disruption, and institutional strain. Despite these challenges, this report reveals a civic landscape defined by adaptation, gradual recovery, and localized resilience.

Mapping Ukraine’s democratic space research project aims to provide granular insight into the evolution and impacts of the war on Ukraine in different local geographies. It also aspires to identify spheres and groups of people crucial for resilience. The research focuses on the following spheres: (a) economic wellbeing and access to social infrastructure; (b) security; (c) governance and civicness. The selection of these spheres and the concurrent adoption of a framework incorporating three distinct criteria are motivated by the recognition that the most significant transformations within Ukrainian society are manifesting within these specific domains. Such a strategic approach is designed to facilitate a nuanced understanding of the evolving dynamics and the far-reaching implications of the war within Ukraine, contributing to a thorough grasp of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities facing the societ and activists.

Learn more about PeaceRep’s Ukraine programme