Remembering Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
24 februari, 2023A personal account on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine from Julia Sedyk and Carl Fredrik Birkoff, Project Coordinator and Project Manager.
Summertime in Kyiv. People walk in the streets and cafes are open. Does it seem like as usual? At first sight, yes. Yet, one feels the fragile and almost intangible haze of war.
During more than 100 days of invasion, Ukraine has demonstrated tremendous resistance and gained wide global support. At the same time, every day of war inflicts enormous losses including the lives of thousands of civilians who have turned out to be a direct and open target.
The air strikes and artillery shelling of Ukrainian cities, as well as explosions and shooting by Russian armed groups have led to the destruction of state and private properties, roads, and other essential infrastructure. The number of Ukrainians seeking refuge in nearby countries has exceeded 6,8 million people, mostly women and children. The number of internally displaced people exceeds 8 million.
Since 2014, FBA has worked with strengthening the capacity of local authorities and municipalities in Ukraine to deliver administrative services in accordance with rule of law principles.
With the increasing number of refugees and internally displaced persons, authorities are dealing with a growing number of issues related to provision of administrative services, such issuing ID-cards and passports or distributing financial and social aid. Since the start of the invasion, the public authorities are being overloaded and often lack resources, mainly expertise, to make a sound and detailed legal analysis before making decisions.
At the same time, the citizens who receive public services are often unaware of the particularities of the provision of services under the war conditions, the changes that might have occurred because of the war, including changes in legislation that might impact their rights. The increased number of internally displaced people is also in itself an additional challenge that impacts the provision of services.
FBA is keen to continue its support to Ukraine, through its activities based on strategic, long-term partnerships with local stakeholders both from the governmental area and civil society.
It is expected that after the war a substantial effort will be needed in the application of the rule of law in public administration. In particular, this will affect the provision of public services to the general population and the groups affected by the war (that might include a large number of the general population), and reintegration of veterans (their number will rise comparing to the pre-war of 2022 situation that reached 420 000).
In addition, efforts will be needed to prevent new conflicts in communities facing economic and social challenges after the war, as well as issues related to security and access to justice. The destruction will require extensive reparation and compensation.
FBA is keen to continue its support to Ukraine, through its activities based on strategic, long-term partnerships with local stakeholders both from the governmental area and civil society.
This support includes creating a build back better methodology for Ukrainian cities, seizing the opportunity to promote a new paradigm for previously corrupt or otherwise problematic aspects of society.
It also includes conducting an initiative together with the Rule of Law Center at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy called “law during the wartime”. The project creates policies for local authorities on how to address the needs of victims of sexual and gender-based violence during the conflict. Another initiative is to create conditions for the reintegration of veterans after war including work with the judiciary.
There is no clear answer to the timing or outcome of the current situation. However, the massive destruction does not affect the area the FBA has worked with the most – creating connections and opportunities, sharing knowledge and ideas.
av Carl Fredrik Birkoff, Julia SedykHybrida hot framstår som alltmer integrerade i dagens konflikter och som en del av nutida säkerhetsutmaningar. För oss på FBA, som traditionellt arbetat med civila medel för att förebygga och lösa väpnade konflikter, innebär detta en ny dimension av vårt arbete. I januari i år besökte Moldaviens inrikesminister FBA med ett tydligt budskap och fråga: […]
Regeringen har aviserat en reformagenda för biståndet som ska presenteras under början av hösten 2023. En politisk prioritering som förväntas få genomslag i reformagendan är viljan att förstärka sambanden mellan bistånd och handel för att främja utveckling. Biståndet kan bara utgöra en del, ofta dessutom en begränsad sådan, för att möjliggöra ekonomisk utveckling och ge […]
Den 18 augusti 2023 är det 20 år sedan det fredsavtal undertecknades som satte punkt för de blodiga inbördeskrigen i Liberia 1989-2003. Ritualmord, häxprocesser och hemliga sällskap. Det var mycket jag förskräcktes av när jag läste in mig på Liberia inför mitt första jobb i landet 2016. Jag läste förstås också om omfattande korruption, rättslöshet, […]
During a sunny September afternoon in 2019, I sat in a small café near Golden Gate in Kyiv, reflecting on my first visit to this beautiful country twenty years ago. Now, as a project manager for the FBA ”Local Self-Government and the Rule of Law Project,” I found myself back in Ukraine, witnessing its remarkable […]