Thresholds of Survival: The Resistance in Occupied Ukraine
The 2024 CSIS report Crossing Thresholds traced the emergence of diverse forms of resistance in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories between 2022 and 2023. Since then, the occupation environment has hardened dramatically: Pervasive surveillance, coercion, and new forms of digital control have almost eliminated the space for open activism, forcing adaptation underground. This update examines developments in 2024–2025, analyzing how resistance has evolved to survive, relying on compartmentation and trust, and prioritizing survivability over visibility. Understanding this evolution is critical for assessing impact, setting realistic expectations, and aligning Western assistance with the lived realities of resistance under Russian occupation.
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