The National Resistance: The role of Resistance Movement participants in restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty

Sabotage and subversive operations behind enemy lines, intelligence gathering, and undermining the occupation regime are the unseen yet vital efforts of the Resistance Movement. Thousands of Ukrainians have united into an extensive underground network, working daily to bring victory closer in areas where the aggressor believes itself secure.

The Resistance Movement is a method of countering the russian occupation, combining effectiveness with near-total invisibility to the enemy. Underground operatives adhere to strict principles of clandestinity, enabling them to execute assigned missions successfully despite the constant threat of exposure.

“For eleven years, Ukrainians have courageously resisted russian aggression behind enemy lines. Operating covertly under persistent threats, they significantly support the Defence Forces of Ukraine in striking the enemy, disrupting its logistics, and liberating occupied territories,” stated Yurii Yelenich, Head of the National Resistance Policy Department at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence outlines the essence of the Resistance Movement, its importance in the fight for liberation, its key functions, and the primary risks faced by its participants.

What is the Resistance Movement?

The Resistance Movement constitutes a system of military, informational, and special operations aimed at restoring Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity. It forms a vital component of the broader National Resistance framework.

The activities of the Resistance Movement are governed by a legislative framework, including the Laws of Ukraine “On the Fundamentals of the National Resistance” and “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law,” as well as relevant government resolutions and orders from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

What role does the Resistance Movement play in countering the aggressor?

The history of Ukraine’s Resistance Movement dates back to 2014, when russia occupied Crimea and parts of Donbas. Already then, patriots in the occupied territories initiated active underground operations, ranging from organizing protests to gathering intelligence and conducting sabotage missions.

Over the subsequent eight years, the resistance evolved into a formidable force, significantly hindering the occupiers' operations. Underground operatives disrupted sham referendums, sabotaged the activities of collaborators, and established effective coordination with the Ukrainian military.

Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, the Resistance Movement became a pivotal factor in the liberation of territories in the Oblasts (regions) of Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson. From the outset, underground operatives actively destroyed enemy vehicles and equipment, conducted sabotage on critical infrastructure, and disrupted the invaders’ logistical supply chains.

Today, Ukraine’s underground network continues to operate in temporarily occupied territories. The state supports the Resistance Movement but emphasizes the need for caution and coordinated collaboration.

Who leads the Resistance Movement?

The leadership of the Resistance Movement is exercised by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the Commander of the Special Operations Forces (SOF). The SOF is responsible for organizing and coordinating the underground network’s activities in occupied territories.

Information regarding the direct leadership of the Resistance Movement is classified as a state secret.

What tasks are assigned to the Resistance Movement?

The primary tasks of the Resistance Movement include establishing a resistance network, conducting special operations, and disrupting the occupiers' activities. A vital role of the Resistance Movement involves executing information and psychological operations and engaging in intelligence activities.

The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine organize the formation of resistance cells and ensure they acquire the necessary capabilities. They also coordinate the participation of underground operatives in special operations and oversee the training of Ukrainian citizens for resistance activities.

The specific methods of operations are classified as state secrets.

What methods does the resistance movement employ?

Partisan warfare has emerged as one of the most effective tools of the Resistance Movement. Underground operatives conduct systematic strikes on enemy communications, destroy military vehicles and equipment, and disrupt the logistical supply chains of occupation forces.

Sabotage operations aim to destroy infrastructure critical to the enemy. Resistance Movement participants disable railway lines, bridges, ammunition depots, and fuel storage facilities, significantly limiting the combat effectiveness of occupation forces.

Information warfare plays an equally vital role. Underground operatives collect and relay intelligence on enemy troop movements, disseminate truthful information about the war’s progress among the local population, and conduct psychological operations aimed at undermining the morale of the occupiers.

What challenges does the Resistance Movement face?

The activities of the Resistance Movement are inherently linked to constant risks to the lives of its participants. The occupiers ruthlessly pursue underground operatives, employing torture, illegal detentions, and even executions against identified Ukrainian patriots.

The necessity for strict clandestinity demands exceptional caution in communication and movement. The slightest mistake can compromise the entire network, forcing underground operatives to verify every move with meticulous care.

Operating under occupation is further complicated by limited access to essential resources. Resistance Movement participants must demonstrate significant ingenuity to compensate for the lack of specialized equipment and materials needed for operations.