The draft law No. 5557 on the Fundamentals of National Resistance was presented in Kyiv

Today, a press conference titled “National Resistance as a Guarantee of Ukraine’s Security. Presentation of Draft Law No. 5557 on the Fundamentals of National Resistance” was held at the Officers’ House. The Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation acted as a co-organizer of the event.

Participants of the event spoke about the essence and key provisions of the presidential Draft Law No. 5557 on the fundamentals of national resistance. During the press conference, Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Hryhorii Halahan, emphasized the exceptional urgency of adopting the draft law on national resistance. He stressed that the threat from the Russian Federation has not disappeared—recently the Kremlin announced its intention to additionally form about 20 new units and formations in the Western Military District of the Russian Federation, on top of the existing forces. This means an increase in the number of armed units along Ukraine’s borders. The implementation of a national resistance system will guarantee the state’s readiness for any possible developments.

“At the same time, the introduction of such a system is historically justified. The national resistance movement against the Russian-Bolshevik occupation on the territory of Ukraine operated as early as the 1920s, with the most famous representatives being the ‘Kholodnyi Yar’ insurgents. We also recall the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. It was national resistance that managed to counter Russian aggression in 2014. Today, the adoption of the draft law is necessary to regulate, in particular, the development of the resistance movement, which will be subordinated to the Special Operations Forces. Most importantly, Draft Law No. 5557 provides for full social and legal protection for members of the resistance movement, as stipulated by the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Social and Legal Protection of Servicemen and Members of Their Families’,” Hryhorii Halahan emphasized.

Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces, Anatolii Barhylevych, spoke about how, during the preparation of the draft law, members of the working group thoroughly studied and took into account international experience as well as the best practices of Ukrainian initiatives.

“The draft law practically implements the concept of comprehensive defense used in NATO member states. In this way, Ukraine, through this change in its defense approach, aligns it with the practices existing within the Alliance. At the same time, the draft law is a logical continuation of the adopted Military Security Strategy and allows the practical implementation of the principle of ‘comprehensive defense’,” Anatolii Barhylevych emphasized.

He also pointed out that an important component of the comprehensive system of preparation for national resistance is military-patriotic education. It provides for mastering basic combined-arms practical skills and abilities, as well as training and preparation of citizens for living conditions in areas of (military) combat operations. Components of military-patriotic education include initial training for students in secondary education institutions and basic training for those who have reached the age of 18 and are not undergoing military service.

Member of Parliament of Ukraine Fedir Venislavskyi expressed support for the presidential draft law on national resistance No. 5557, noting that it had not received any critical remarks from the Main Scientific and Expert Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. At the same time, all recommendations of the department have already been taken into account by the working group that prepared the draft law.

“It should be emphasized that the draft law on national resistance received unanimous support from the профиль Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, including Lieutenant General and MP (European Solidarity) Mykhailo Zabrodskyi. I would like to draw attention to the fact that the draft law was submitted by the President as urgent for a reason—its adoption during this session of the Verkhovna Rada is critical. Due to the requirements of the Budget Code, if the draft law is not adopted now, it will only be able to enter into force in 2023. Against the backdrop of the growing Russian threat, such a delay could be fatal for Ukraine. I am convinced that the draft law will receive comprehensive support from the parliamentary corps,” Fedir Venislavskyi said.

Head of the Service for Mobilization and Territorial Defense of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Serhii Zabolotnyi, noted that the draft law had been developed for more than a year by a working group that included military personnel, volunteers, and experts. They took into account personal experience from the Russian-Ukrainian war and are now acting as a united front to ensure the adoption of this draft law. All proposals of the working group participants were also taken into account during the process.

“The security of every citizen of Ukraine largely depends on the adoption of the draft law on the fundamentals of national resistance,” Serhii Zabolotnyi emphasized.

Advisor to the Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Denys Podanchuk, emphasized that the state must be ready to rapidly repel aggression from any direction. He explained that implementing the concept of national resistance would significantly strengthen the Ukrainian army. For example, territorial defense units and detachments, if necessary, would be involved in specific tasks to defend the territories to which they are assigned from the occupier. There will also be an opportunity to involve territorial defense units in peacetime to protect the population in emergency situations and crises. Meanwhile, the resistance movement will operate in occupied territories and carry out special tasks to counter the enemy under the command of the Special Operations Forces.

“We have drawn conclusions, and a repeat of 2014 must not be allowed. The people and the army are united. Together we will be stronger. The model of national resistance proposed by the President will best help the military defend our state, rather than burden it with additional bureaucratic procedures. The correct approach is not to seek military parity with the Russian Federation, which is building up its military power, but to organize comprehensive resistance to the aggressor. This will ensure effective counteraction in the future and significantly strengthen defense capabilities,” Denys Podanchuk shared.

At the end of the event, participants of the press conference called on all deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to support Draft Law No. 5557 on the fundamentals of national resistance.

More about the draft law on the website: https://sprotyv.in.ua