The situation of human rights defenders and civic activists in Ukraine in 2025

This study analyses the state of civil society in Ukraine in 2025, in the context of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, martial law and institutional transformations on the path towards the European Union.

The report summarises the results of documenting cases of persecution and losses among representatives of the civic sector, analyses key challenges faced by anti-corruption activists, human rights defenders, journalists, environmental and LGBTIQ+ activists, and presents the findings of a sociological study on levels of safety, risks and the resilience of the activist community. The report outlines both external threats related to Russian aggression and internal trends affecting the space for civic activity, and is intended for representatives of public authorities, international partners, researchers and civil society actors.

The analytical report is available in English and Ukrainian.

Authors: Iryna Yuzyk, Khrystyna Roman, Diana Deputat, Alona Martynchuk