The main driver of change in Ukraine's defense sector has become civil society, which has taken on the role of innovator, organizer, and controller.

This was stated by the Head of the Change Support Office of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Yulia Marushevska during the 17th annual Kyiv Security Forum entitled "UA: LET'S UNITE AGAIN TO DEFEAT THE WORLD'S AGGRESSOR", organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation "Open Ukraine".

"When I talk to colleagues from Europe who work in the defense sector, they are always amazed at how strongly civil society is involved in our country. They call it an ecosystem," - Yulia Marushevska noted.

According to her, since 2014, Ukrainians have become accustomed to not waiting for the state, but to solving problems themselves. That is why the initiative from below has become the basis of reforms that are now being implemented even in wartime.

“If we do not stand up for ourselves, no one will. We do not wait for the government or the General Staff to initiate changes, we launch training programs, develop technologies, and help the army,” she explained.

Yulia Marushevska gave an example from military education: more than 80 thousand Ukrainian servicemen have been trained in Europe, which was the result of cooperation with private initiatives. This, in her opinion, reflects the unique architecture of Ukrainian society - when changes come from non-governmental organizations, foundations, and volunteers and only then are supported by the state.

At the same time, according to her, the tasks of the public sector have also been transformed: if in 2014–2015 efforts were focused on supporting the army directly - purchasing ammunition, equipment, equipment - now the priority has become strengthening state institutions.

“We are trying to create effective procurement agencies, make them work correctly, transparently. And here again the huge role of civil society - now as a partner in reforming the state,” - emphasized Yulia Marushevska.

The key goal of the Office of Support for Change, according to her, is to be a “bridge” between state structures and grassroots initiatives - so that both sides can effectively cooperate, maintaining flexibility and dynamics in times of greatest challenges.

The Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” foundation, is the main platform in Ukraine to discuss issues of war and peace, national and global security.