Despite the growing body of research on the Russo-Ukrainian war, the full scope of Ukrainian resistance in the occupied territories remains underexplored. Early research often focused either on nonviolent protest or unconventional warfare, missing the bigger picture of the resistance movement as a whole.

Drawing primarily on open-source data, this project explores peaceful civil protests and armed partisan activities as integral parts of a national resistance movement. This approach enhances our understanding of Ukraine’s response to Russian aggression and underscores the strength of Ukrainian identity in resisting occupation. The agency and resistance demonstrated in the occupied territories directly impact on regional security, humanitarian responses, and the broader geopolitical landscape, and thus carry important implications for Europe.