Ukraine is preparing civilians for resistance: National Resistance Centers are being opened across the country

Ukraine is preparing civilians for resistance: National Resistance Centers are being opened across the country

A large-scale project is unfolding in Ukraine to prepare civilians for national resistance. The key element of this initiative will be the creation of a network of specialized centers across the country.

What is this project about? What knowledge and skills will citizens gain? And most importantly—what do those who face death daily, our military, have to say about it?

Ukraine to establish national resistance centers: what is known?

A network of centers for preparing the civilian population to resist the aggressor will be deployed in Ukraine. This was reported by the Ministry of Defence. The training programs in these centers will be based on unified standards developed by the Command of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ensuring a systematic and effective approach to preparing the civilian population to defend the state.

The main goal of this national initiative is to comprehensively prepare citizens for active participation in national resistance, to strengthen patriotic spirit, and to provide the basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for effective protection of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Deputy Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Yevhen Moisyuk, emphasized the strategic importance of creating an extensive network of National Resistance Centers for strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. He noted that this decision will significantly enhance the level of national resilience and ensure each conscientious citizen’s readiness to contribute to the state’s overall security.

It is planned that such centers will be established in each region of Ukraine and in the capital, Kyiv, in the form of municipal institutions or enterprises. The initiative to establish them will belong to the heads of regional or city government administrations (military administrations), and the final decision will be made by the respective regional councils.

The financial provision for the centers’ activities will be carried out at the expense of local budget funds, as well as other sources not contrary to the current legislation. The material and technical base will include necessary training equipment, various models, and training samples of weapons, modern communication means, specialized simulators, and more. Veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, holding relevant certification and combat experience, will play a key role as instructors. If necessary, current servicemen of the Territorial Defense Forces and Special Operations Forces may also be involved in the training sessions. The training programs will be developed based on standard programs from the Command of the Territorial Defense Forces, with mandatory consideration of the specificities of each region.

The training of the population should become widespread throughout the state, and for this, a foundation is needed, emphasized the founder of the Kyiv Regional Center for Population Preparation for National Resistance, an officer of the Third Army Corps, Anastasiнa Rymar, in a comment to the publication "Focus". In her opinion, creating such centers in every region of Ukraine is critically important. Rymar noted a significant delay in such decisions, by at least ten years, but stressed the necessity of immediate actions. She believes that the centers for preparing for national resistance provide the basic knowledge and skills that every citizen should possess in modern conditions. Rymar highlighted the extensive line of combat contact and the threat of missile strikes and "Shahed" attacks throughout the country. In her conviction, the inability to provide even basic pre-medical assistance is an unacceptable neglect of one’s own safety.

For example, the Kyiv Regional Center for Population Preparation for National Resistance, which began its activities in January 2024, has established itself as a leader in this field. In its first year of operation, the center trained over three thousand citizens across various programs. Currently, the center offers several formats of training, adapted to different needs and capabilities. Available are basic courses lasting 100 hours, covering 17 directions, and short 45-hour courses on 8 key disciplines, including tactical, shooting, engineering training, tactical medicine, and the basics of controlling unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, the center regularly organizes one-day intensives on tactical, engineering training, tactical medicine, and UAVs, as well as separate one-day courses on specific disciplines. Importantly, all training programs are completely free for participants.

A particular pride of the Kyiv Regional Center for National Resistance is its highly qualified instructor staff, which includes experienced veterans from the Third Assault Brigade and “Azov”. Their combat experience and professionalism ensure a high level of preparation for the trainees. Currently, a campaign to popularize national resistance is also underway throughout Ukraine.

What do the military say?

Deputy Commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade Maksym Zhorin, commenting on the emergence of such centers, emphasized the necessity of deploying nationwide and massive civilian training across the country. He stressed that every citizen should have free access to current knowledge and skills on a voluntary basis, also considering this as an important factor in strengthening the moral spirit of society. Zhorin mentioned the successful experience of creating one of the first training centers with the support of their brigade in the Kyiv region a year and a half ago, which, despite significant demand among the population, has become a model. He expressed hope that after the adoption of the respective ruling, other regions will have no reason to delay the creation of similar centers. The deputy commander paid special attention to the quality of work of the newly created centers, emphasizing the inadmissibility of their existence only on paper. He highlighted the importance of involving veterans with real combat experience in the training process and ensuring proper support for such structures from regional administrations, which should recognize their key role in the national security system.

In addition, Zhorin emphasized the necessity of ideological and practical military training for young people, considering the significant attention that the adversary pays to this issue.

Armed Forces of Ukraine serviceman and officer Danylo Yakovlyev also commented exclusively to TSN.ua about the idea of creating national resistance centers. He believes that the national resistance strategy must be well thought out.

The serviceman thinks it is never too late to start creating such centers, but it should have been done earlier in Ukraine, where the war has been going on for 11 years.

The strategy of national resistance must be well thought out

Officer Danylo Yakovlyev is convinced of the necessity of systematic training in the fundamentals of national resistance in various educational institutions across Ukraine. He emphasizes that the involvement of veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war in this process is extremely important. Their invaluable combat experience and practical skills could become a key component in preparing youth and the civilian population for potential threats.

The military stresses that it’s critically important to teach young people the basic action algorithms in the event of a building collapse and skills for providing first pre-medical aid.

Yakovlyev says that the essence of national resistance lies in the comprehensive acquisition of necessary skills by citizens. In the event of aggression, the country will be able to rely on these prepared individuals, who will become an active force of resistance, significantly enhancing the society’s defense capability and resilience.

Training the entire society in military skills is an important aspect of national security in many countries. For example, in Switzerland, all able-bodied men are required to undergo military service, which includes basic training and periodic reserve training over many years. Gun ownership is common after service, which contributes to general population awareness of military matters. Switzerland also has a developed civil defense system that trains citizens for actions in emergency situations, including the consequences of military actions. Another example is Israel, where both men and women are required to undergo military service after turning 18. A significant portion of the population remains in reserve and regularly undergoes training, maintaining their military skills. Due to the country’s geopolitical position, issues of security and military training are part of public consciousness.

In Finland, most men are subject to military service, and women can serve on a voluntary basis. There is also a strong reserve system. In Poland, the Territorial Defenсe System is actively developing, where civilians participate on a voluntary basis. They undergo training in basic military skills, tactics, first aid, etc. There are state and public initiatives for organizing military training for civilians, including training in weapons handling, survival, and civil defenсe.