The Future of Ukraine's Security Sector: The Path to Post-War Peace and Stability Consolidation

Key Chapter Title List

1. Anti-Corruption to Secure Ukraine's Future
2. Re-calibrating the Scales of Justice
3. Supporting Veterans and Security Governance
4. Supporting Civilian Law Enforcement
5. Overall Policy Options
6. Research Methods and Assumptions
7. Key Findings
8. Priority Issue 1: Strengthening Weak Anti-Corruption Mechanisms
9. Priority Issue: Rebuilding Social Cohesion
10. Priority Issue: Regulating Ukrainian Volunteer Defense Organizations
11. Priority Issue: Addressing Policing Challenges in the Post-Transformation Civilian Security Environment
12. Summary of Policy Options

Document Introduction

At this critical juncture of Ukraine's transition from war to peace, the consolidation of peace and stability hinges on enhancing its security sector capabilities. While winning the war remains Ukraine's primary task, this report focuses on core security sector issues that determine the country's ability to "win the peace," including combating corruption, holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable, facilitating veteran reintegration, and strengthening civilian security. These issues are not only crucial for Ukraine's internal stability but are also closely aligned with the strategic interests of the United States and NATO, holding significant importance for consolidating democratic alliances and strengthening the defense of NATO's eastern flank.

Based on extensive field research, qualitative analysis of official documents, and consultations with numerous Ukrainian, U.S., and international officials and experts, the report constructs a comprehensive policy framework. The core content is divided into four thematic chapters, each delving deeply into key challenges and solutions in the areas of anti-corruption, judicial reform, veteran support and security governance, and civilian law enforcement. Each theme identifies core priority issues, such as strengthening mechanisms in the anti-corruption field, addressing corruption within the security sector and elite capture, enhancing transparency in judicial reforms, and improving the efficiency of war crime accountability.

Methodologically, the report synthesizes insights from over 200 cross-sectoral experts to form policy recommendations that are both comprehensive and targeted. Comprehensive policies include developing an overarching framework for post-war security sector reform, establishing coordination platforms, conducting public expenditure reviews, introducing technological innovations, and continuously monitoring citizen needs. Targeted policies focus on specific implementation pathways for each theme, such as expanding staffing for anti-corruption bodies, digitizing judicial records, providing comprehensive support for veterans, and developing specialized plans for policing in liberated territories.

The report emphasizes that Ukraine's security sector reform must balance multiple contradictions: it must seize the reform opportunities presented by EU and NATO eastward expansion while avoiding institutional flaws caused by hasty reforms; it must meet international standards while adapting to domestic fiscal and capacity realities; it must strengthen security and defense capabilities while guarding against the erosion of democracy by excessive securitization. Successfully advancing these reforms will not only help Ukraine consolidate post-war stability and achieve a transition to European-style democratic governance but will also signal to strategic competitors the resolve and capability of democratic alliances to collaboratively address challenges.