After two years of full-scale war, Ukraine is facing not only military but also social challenges. The unique phenomenon of national cohesion, which became one of the decisive factors of resistance in the first months of the invasion, is undergoing natural erosion. How to preserve this invisible but critical resource of national resilience?
Explosion of unity: a phenomenon of 2022
February 2022 revealed to the world not only the horrors of Russian aggression, but also the unprecedented ability of Ukrainians to organize and solidarize. Tens of thousands of volunteers, the activation of parishes, and the instant mobilization of civil society all created a rear that became a support for the front.
“This phenomenon can be seen as a manifestation of the deep social solidarity that is part of Ukrainian identity, but often remained hidden in peacetime,” the analysts note. The invasion activated a collective defense mechanism, which manifested itself in unprecedented mutual assistance and the revival of traditions of mutual support.
According to sociologists, 2022 was the year when trust in institutions, the army, volunteers, and communities peaked. Against the backdrop of an existential threat, society spontaneously developed the mechanisms of unity that would otherwise have required years of conscious effort.
Challenges for 2024-2025: fatigue, fragmentation, distrust
Today, the situation is changing. According to the analysis of the Democracy Assistance Foundation (2025), since the beginning of 2024, there has been a noticeable decline in the level of social cohesion. The social cohesion index is only 51.8 out of 100 points, and it is trending downward.
What are the main factors behind this decline?
Social fatigue. People are morally exhausted, and anxiety levels are rising (anxiety index is 5.8 out of 10). Constant anxiety, uncertainty about the future, and economic problems all undermine psychological resilience.
Problems of mobilization. There is a sense of unfair distribution of responsibilities: some have been at the front for more than a year without rotation, while others have never been mobilized or are evading. This situation gives rise to moral dilemmas and social splits.
Political tension. Elections, discussions about the terms of peace, and the lack of a unified strategy all exacerbate the difference in vision of the future.
Decreased interpersonal trust. One of the most disturbing symptoms is that people trust each other less, which undermines the very foundation of the social fabric.
Christian democratic response: solidarity as a moral imperative
In such circumstances, the Christian democratic approach offers a response that goes beyond technocratic crisis management. It sees cohesion not as a unity imposed from above, but as the result of a conscious choice by citizens who recognize a common destiny and responsibility.
“In the Christian tradition, cohesion is not only a political task, but an ethical requirement: to build bridges, not walls; to listen to other groups, not to muffle their pain; to support the weak not out of pity, but out of respect for their dignity,” explains the social policy expert.
This perspective allows us to see divisions not just as sociological facts, but as moral challenges that require not only technocratic solutions, but also an ethical response based on the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good.
Inequality as a threat to national unity
One of the main threats to cohesion is inequality, especially in times of war. Although social mobilization smoothed out inequalities in 2022-2023, they are now resurfacing:
- Economic inequality: some have lost everything, while others have become demonstrably rich.
- Inequality of access to resources: treatment, psychological support, evacuation are not equally available to everyone.
- A gap in the sense of justice: there is a massive feeling that “some are fighting the war” and others are evading it.
A deep sense of social injustice becomes the emotional root of divisions. This is especially dangerous in times of war, when fair burden-sharing becomes not just an economic issue, but an existential one.
A strategy for preserving unity: from emotions to institutions
The Christian democratic approach offers concrete steps to preserve social cohesion:
Recognize cohesion as a strategic goal of state policy. Social cohesion should be prioritized alongside defense and the economy. It is proposed to include the social cohesion index in regular monitoring, to introduce a national cohesion program, and to create a social cohesion group at the NSDC as an analytical and strategic center.
Create a network of community-based resilience centers. These centers should combine the work of psychologists, chaplains, and social workers to provide comprehensive support to people. It is especially important that they function on the basis of cooperation between the state, community, church, and NGOs.
Fair mobilization through a rotational model. The system, under which most men serve in rotation, with limited periods of continuous service at the front, is perceived as fair and humane. “Mobilization should stop being a lottery and become a duty that does not degrade dignity,” the experts emphasize.
Rethink the support for veterans, IDPs, and families of the victims. These groups should not just be “beneficiaries of aid” – they should become partners in rebuilding the country. It is proposed to reform the system of veterans’ services, introduce lifetime status for the family of the deceased, and develop integration programs for IDPs with a focus on employment and participation in community life.
Define the role of the church as a partner in strengthening the social fabric. Churches and religious communities have the trust, infrastructure, credibility and experience to serve. They can be included in consultations on cohesion policy, veterans’ reintegration programs, and work with families of the deceased.
Community as an environment of solidarity
Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the community – not just as an administrative unit, but as a moral and social environment of mutual assistance.
“In the Christian democratic approach, the community is not only a territorial subject of self-government, but also a moral and social unit of solidarity,” explains the local government expert.
It is the community that first meets internally displaced persons, becomes a source of support for the families of the victims, restores social ties and builds an infrastructure of psychological resilience. The principle of subsidiarity implies that problems are best solved at the lowest possible level, and only when they exceed the capabilities of this level should higher authorities be involved.
The ethics of trust: restoring meaning to institutions
Sociological studies show that today only the Armed Forces enjoy a high level of trust, while most state institutions are at the bottom of the trust scale. The Christian democratic approach emphasizes that institutions should serve people, not dominate them.
To restore trust, it is necessary:
- Ethical leadership – examples of morally motivated actions in government
- Transparency and participation – public control, budget openness
- “Human face of the state” – social workers, judges, educators should not be “officials” but people who care
“Only institutions that care can support the nation in a crisis,” the analysts conclude.
From fragmentation to a common path
Rifts in society cannot be hidden – they must be openly recognized, diagnosed and treated. This can be done through fair and transparent mobilization, decent treatment of veterans and families of the fallen, systematic work with anxiety and emotional exhaustion, restoring trust in institutions, and supporting local communities as the basis of unity.
Ukrainian society has retained in its depths a moral resource that dictatorships do not have: faith in man, trust in one’s neighbor, and willingness to serve. It is these virtues that should be elevated to the level of politics-not cynicism, but responsibility; not control, but trust; not fear, but hope.
In times of trial, the fundamental Christian values of faith in human dignity, hope for revival, and love for one’s neighbor can become not only personal guidelines but also a national strategy that inspires and guides society in its most difficult times.