FBA’s work with Ukraine

Sweden’s Support to Ukraine

Sweden has provided extensive development assistance to Ukraine for many years. FBA has a long-standing presence in the country and has established itself as an important partner at local, regional and national levels. Support to Ukraine is the agency’s highest priority.

In response to the acute crisis resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, and to contribute to Sweden’s reconstruction and reform cooperation with Ukraine, FBA has both expanded and adapted its work in the country. FBA also prioritises activities in Ukraine within the framework of the Strategy for International Civilian Crisis Management.

Democratic governance reforms strengthen trust between decision-makers and individuals, thereby contributing to Ukraine’s resilience and reconstruction. At the same time, long-term reform efforts require adressing the acute security consequences of the full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian Partnerships and Local Presence

To effectively adapt our support to the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine, FBA works closely with a broad range of government actors and civil society organisations in the country.

We continuously monitor developments on the ground, facilitated by two FBA staff members based at the Embassy of Sweden in Kyiv. A large number of experts are also seconded by FBA to international missions and organisations, including the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UN RCO).

By responding to Ukrainian priorities and designing activities in close dialogue with national and local actors, FBA strengthens Ukrainian ownership of both reconstruction and reform efforts.

FBA also collaborates with several international actors and EU institutions that are central to the Swedish strategy’s objective of supporting Ukraine’s EU integration. We are a part of Team Sweden and work closely with Swedish government agencies and other actors operating in Ukraine.

FBA works across the following five areas:

Democratic Governance and Reform

FBA works to strengthen democratic governance, with a focus on defence reform, support for Ukraine’s EU integration and efforts to counter hybrid threats.

Given the role of the defence sector in Ukraine, the future security architecture is important for democratic governance and public-sector reform. Reforms related to oversight, governance, transparency and anti-corruption will be central, not least during the transition when martial law is lifted. FBA contributes to the review and implementation of general military regulations, in accordance with EU and NATO standards.

FBA also helps strengthen understanding of reform needs in the defence sector beyond military operations, and how the EU, NATO and other international partners can support these efforts. This work is carried out in close cooperation with the Reform Support Office under Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, as well as with the EU, NATO and Team Sweden.

Another support focuses on strengthening Ukrainian leaders in the military and civilian security sectors, with an emphasis on leadership in times of crisis. This work is carried out together with the Swedish Defence University and the National Defence University of Ukraine (NDUU).

Ukraine’s EU Integration

Ukraine’s EU integration is taking place under difficult conditions due to the ongoing war. Ukrainian regions play an important role in translating the reforms required for EU accession into concrete changes that benefit their residents.

FBA supports regional state administrations in leading and coordinating this work. Through capacity development, exchange of experience and support for regional action plans, FBA strengthens the regions’ ability to contribute to EU integration. The work is carried out in close cooperation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and strengthens the link between regional needs and the national accession process.

Protection Against Hybrid Threats

Russia is waging its war against Ukraine on several fronts – not only through military means, but also through disinformation and other so-called hybrid threats. The aim is to create divisions and weaken societal resilience and democratic processes.

Hybrid threats exploit vulnerabilities across many different areas of society and therefore require broad cooperation, deeper knowledge and preventive measures. All parts of society – the public sector, the private sector and the defence sector – need to contribute.

FBA works with local partners to strengthen these efforts, including through training for leaders in the public, military, and private sectors. Together with the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM) and Ukrainian partners, FBA also carries out activities to strengthen the capacity to identify and address hybrid threats without compromising democratic principles. Read more about the June 2026 workshop in Lviv, where Ukrainian and international experts discussed hybrid threats and democratic decision-making.

Reintegration of Ukraine’s Veterans

The number of veterans in Ukraine is currently estimated at more than 1.5 million, a figure that could increase several times over by the end of the war. More than three and a half million people have been internally displaced, while nearly seven million have fled beyond Ukraine’s borders as a result of the war.

The country’s ability to support all those who have taken part in combat and those who have been displaced is crucial to long-term stability and reconstruction. A central part of this work focuses specifically on the reintegration of veterans.

FBA works closely with Ukraine’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs, contributing expertise, evidence and lessons learned from international experience. FBA trains public officials in communication and engagement with veterans. Together with the Ministry and the United Kingdom, FBA also coordinates donor efforts on veterans’ issues in Kyiv.

Together with Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and the EBRD, FBA has developed guidelines for businesses to enable the private sector to play a proactive role in supporting veterans’ return to civilian employment. FBA also works to promote the coordination of support for veterans within Team Sweden.

Social Cohesion and Security

The war has transformed Ukraine’s security environment and created new challenges for local communities. Recurring attacks, large-scale population displacement and a growing number of returning veterans affect both people’s sense of security and social cohesion.

FBA supports Ukrainian authorities, security actors and civil society in addressing these challenges together. In 2026, FBA launched a pilot project in five municipalities to develop local security councils. These provide a forum where residents, authorities, the police and civil society can jointly identify security challenges and develop locally anchored solutions. The project is a collaboration between FBA, the National Police of Ukraine and the Ukrainian civil society organisation Association for the Community Self-Organization. The work builds, among other things, on a national survey of Ukrainians’ perceptions of security conducted by FBA together with the Razumkov Centre in 2025. Read more in the report: Beyond the Frontline.

FBA also cooperates with Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs to strengthen future police officers’ capacity to address security challenges and work closely with local communities. Among other initiatives, FBA, in close cooperation with the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) and the Swedish Police Authority, is developing a leadership programme to strengthen regional police chiefs’ ability to lead effectively and communicate under current conditions.

From 2025 to 2028, FBA is also conducting its own research project on social cohesion in Ukraine: Between Resilience and Fragmentation: Social Cohesion in Conflict Areas.

Gender Mainstreaming

FBA also integrates a gender perspective into all its activities to ensure that the perspectives of women, men, girls and boys are taken into account.

One initiative with a specific focus on gender equality is FBA’s support to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU/DSNS). The cooperation aims to strengthen gender mainstreaming and support the practical implementation of Ukraine’s National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 within Ukraine’s state emergency service, which is responsible for rescue operations and emergency preparedness. The purpose is to create a more gender-equal organisation that is better able to respond effectively to the needs of women, men, girls and boys under extremely difficult conditions.

Scholarship in support of Women, Peace and Security

In 2020, FBA was commissioned by the Swedish Government to establish a scholarship to increase knowledge of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The scholarship was established in memory of the peacebuilder Zaida Catalán, who had been deployed by FBA as a gender expert to several international peace operations. The purpose of the scholarship is to recognise young peacebuilders engaged in issues related to women’s participation in conflict resolution.

Ukraine is one of the countries where FBA runs the scholarship programme, hosted by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund in Kyiv.

Staff Contributions to the EU Advisory Misson in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine)

FBA provides seconded personnel to the EU Advisory Mission for the reform of Ukraine’s civilian security sector (EUAM). The mission focuses on advising the civilian security sector in accordance with EU standards and international principles of good governance and human rights. The civilian security sector includes institutions responsible for law enforcement and justice (e.g., police, border guard, migration service, prosecutor’s office). The mandate consists of four main areas:

• Civil Security Sector Reform: Advising on EU-related reforms and action plans.

• Border Management: Supporting legal alignment with EU standards.

• Liberated Areas: Assistance with stabilization, reintegration, and community rebuilding.

• International Crimes: Capacity-building for investigation and prosecution of war crimes.

Seconded personnel

• EUAM Ukraine: 7 personnel

• UNDP/RCO: 1 personnel