Ukraine should focus on building a comprehensive defense system that integrates state institutions and civil society, rather than copying individual defense institutions from other countries.
This opinion was expressed in a comment to Ukrinform by Dmytro Teperik, Director General of the International Centre for Defense and Security in Tallinn, according to a publication on the agency’s website.
“For Ukraine, it is important not to copy specific institutions but to adopt the underlying principles. The most important of these is the integration of state structures and civil society into a unified system for preparing for crises and war,” Teperik said, commenting on recent changes to Ukrainian legislation concerning citizens’ preparation for national resistance.
According to him, while developing its national resistance system, Ukraine should look not to mechanically replicate Estonia’s Defense League, known as Kaitseliit, but rather to embrace the principles of integrating the state and civil society in the field of security.
Teperik emphasized that Estonia’s comprehensive defense model involves not only the military but also government agencies, local authorities, businesses, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and ordinary citizens in ensuring national security. He also noted that Kaitseliit is an integral part of Estonia’s national defense system and operates under a separate law, with a clearly defined role in the country’s defense planning.
