In this research, OPORA defines the concept of social cohesion as a society’s capacity to ensure the welfare of all its members by minimizing disparities and avoiding polarization, while fostering supportive communities of free individuals who pursue shared goals through democratic means.

On June 25, 2025, President Zelenskyy, on behalf of Ukraine, signed an Agreement with the Council of Europe on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine.

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.

Under the martial law introduced after Russiaʼs full-scale invasion, holding elections in Ukraine is impossible. However, since elections could happen very quickly after the war ends, preparations must be made in advance. The conditions for holding them will also vary significantly among different communities. To make an informed decision on where elections are possible and where they are not, a comprehensive study based on clear and measurable criteria is needed. These indicators, as well as the government bodies responsible for collecting and verifying data, must be defined in law. This approach should protect against political manipulation and ensure transparency through public oversight. This is especially important given past precedents—in 2020, the Central Election Commission (CEC) was forced to not hold elections in 18 communities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions based on conclusions from military-civil administrations that did not contain clear criteria for such a decision. That is why Civil Network OPORA developed a security audit methodology that provides a comprehensive assessment of the physical security, socioeconomic, and socio-political situation. In March and April 2025, this methodology was piloted in four communities.

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.

On June 4-5 in Brussels, MEPs and election experts discussed ways to counteract politically biased (fake) election observation and related disinformation campaigns. The Civil Network OPORA, as a leading Ukrainian organization of independent civic election observation, was represented at the conference by its Chair of the Board, Olga Aivazovska.

Specific challenges and barriers for valnurable groups

How cohesive are we on the national level? Quantitative stage