The local and regional dimension of Ukraine’s resilience during Russia’s full-scale invasion: an introduction

This introduction explores Ukraine’s local and regional democratic resilience during Russia’s full-scale invasion. It highlights how civic agency, informal networks of local stakeholders, and decentralized governance have enabled communities to adapt, mobilize, and uphold democratic institutions and values under extreme conditions. Drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical insights, the special issue rethinks resilience as a dynamic, multi-dimensional process rooted in bottom-up agency, societal transformation, and institutional reform. It emphasizes the importance of civic engagement, local accountability, and collaborative governance in sustaining democratic functionality during crisis. Ukraine’s experience offers critical lessons for understanding how democracies can endure, adapt, and recover in the face of existential threats, contributing to broader debates on governance, crisis response, and democratic resilience.