CIVIL press release, February 24, 2025

February 24, 2022, will forever be remembered as the day Russia launched its unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, escalating a war that began in 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea and occupation of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. Three years later, Ukraine continues its heroic resistance against a brutal aggression that has devastated cities, claimed countless lives, and shaken the foundations of global security.

CIVIL – Center for Freedom has stood with Ukraine from the very first moments of the brutal aggression, being among the first civic organizations in the world to issue a strong public condemnation of the invasion and call for a decisive response against the aggressor.

Three years after, it has become obvious that war is not only fought on the battlefield but also in the realm of defending the truth. Russia’s aggression is accompanied by relentless disinformation campaigns aimed at justifying war crimes, undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty, and weakening international support. Despite these efforts, Ukraine has stood firm, proving that the will to defend freedom is stronger than the machinery of tyranny.

CIVIL’s newsrooms work tirelessly, reporting facts from the battlefield, debunking Kremlin propaganda, and exposing hybrid threats in the Balkans and beyond. As a platform for analysts and opinion makers, CIVIL plays a vital role in countering disinformation and defending democracy.

As the world marks this dark anniversary, Ukraine’s struggle remains a defining moment for democracy and international order. The price of resistance has been immeasurable, but the resolve of the Ukrainian people and their defenders has shown the world that freedom is worth fighting for.

Three years into this brutal aggression, Ukraine’s fight has become the fight of all who stand tall against imperialism, oppression, and war. The world must stand with Ukraine—not with words alone, but with unwavering action.

Slava Ukraini!

CIVIL