Today, as we mark Ukraine Defenders Day, we recognise all those working to defend democracy and freedom in Ukraine and around the world.  

For decades, Ukraine has been on a journey strengthening its democracy for the good of its people, WFD has been proud to support this. We have continued our work with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine throughout the invasion, advising on how to maintain policymaking despite the conflict.  

Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine is an attack on our shared values of democracy and freedom. The fight to defend democracies around the world is getting harder, and the need to defend them has never been more urgent

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24 August 2022: Today, as Ukrainians mark 31 years of independence, they also mark six months of Putin’s devastating war on their country. The unprovoked attack on Ukraine is also an attack on our values of democracy and freedom. For 182 days now, Ukrainians have been forced to sacrifice their lives to defend these values as well as their home. Ukraine's struggle for its territories in the East and the Crimea has been going on since 2014.

For decades, Ukraine has been on a journey strengthening its democracy for the good of its people. WFD has been proud to have provided support along this road and we are continuing to do so. WFD stands with Ukraine, and we look forward to its democratic future.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has brutally illustrated what is at stake in the struggle between democracy and autocracy. The fight to defend democracies around the world is getting harder and has never been more urgent.