EUAM Ukraine: Highlights and Achievements in 2025
December 31, 2025
In 2025, Ukraine’s civilian security institutions continued to operate under constant pressure. The war did not pause reform. It reshaped it. Police officers, border guards, prosecutors and investigators were expected to deliver every day, while institutions pushed ahead with long-term changes essential for Ukraine’s path towards the European Union. Throughout the year, EUAM Ukraine worked alongside its partners to support both reform priorities and war-related operational challenges.
Reforms firmly linked to the EU path
EUAM Ukraine continued to support the Overarching Law Enforcement Reform, reinforcing its role as a core element of Ukraine’s EU accession process. In 2025, the Mission provided strategic advice on 21 draft laws and 28 strategic documents of the Mission’s partners. Wartime conditions slowed legislative progress, yet 11 strategic documents were approved, embedding reform priorities into official strategies and action plans that will guide Ukrainian institutions in the years ahead.
Public attitude reinforced this direction. A nationwide survey initiated by the Mission showed strong public backing for reform, accountability and EU integration. This confirmed that institutional change is a clear societal expectation.
Justice that recognises survivors
As the war continues and accountability for international crimes remains a pressing priority for Ukraine, EUAM’s contribution in this area focused on strengthening both legal frameworks and institutional capacity. The Mission also continued to support the work of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, contributing expertise to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes committed during the war.
In 2025, EUAM created space for practical learning by bringing Ukrainian judges, prosecutors and investigators together with their European colleagues, including those with experience from Yugoslav war-crimes cases and proceedings before the International Criminal Court. This allows Ukrainian partners to draw on that experience when handling complex cases, protecting victims’ rights and building credible, evidence-based prosecutions.
Throughout a year a sustained focus was placed on justice for survivors of war crimes. EUAM supported its Ukrainian partners in improving how victims are informed, protected and supported throughout the justice process, including in cases of conflict-related sexual violence and other serious crimes. This approach reflects a shared understanding across institutions that justice is measured not only in verdicts, but also in trust, dignity and access to support during the whole process.
Supporting stability in liberated and adjacent territories
In areas emerging from occupation or living with constant security risks, EUAM’s support focused on helping law-enforcement agencies operate effectively in volatile environments. In 2025, the Mission delivered targeted training and advisory support in liberated and adjacent territories, with an emphasis on public order management, leadership and communication under stress.
At the same time, EUAM promoted community-oriented policing and dialogue mechanisms to help rebuild trust between law enforcement and local populations. This approach supported social cohesion and reintegration in communities affected by displacement, trauma and the gradual return of state authority.
Mental health as part of operational readiness
The toll of war is felt across Ukrainian society, and law-enforcement officers are no exception. As first responders, many face the consequences of Russian attacks at close range, particularly in areas near the front line. Timely psychological support and strong peer-to-peer assistance are essential to help them continue working effectively.
In response, EUAM Ukraine, with the support of the Government of the Netherlands, has started to implement the «Blue Haven for Ukraine – Блакитне небо для України» project. A key result was the opening of the first Blue Haven centre in Lviv in July, followed by two additional centres in Rivne and Vinnytsia in October and November. These centres provide structured peer-to-peer psychological support for police officers, veterans and their families who carry the heaviest burden, helping them remain composed and decisive under sustained stress.
Alongside this, EUAM and the European Gendarmerie Force completed EU-certified Psychological First Aid training. Delivered through a train-the-trainers model, the programme equipped Ukrainian officers and trainers with practical tools to recognise trauma and respond appropriately in moments when communication matters most. This approach ensures that skills and knowledge continue to spread within institutions.
Integrated Border Management: security aligned with Europe
Integrated Border Management remained a key area of EUAM Ukraine’s work, linking security, reform and EU accession. In 2025, efforts increasingly focused on coordination, operational practice and alignment with EU standards.
Throughout the year, EUAM worked closely with border guards and customs officers on the ground. Cross-border exercises, study visits and practical training strengthened crisis response, document control and day-to-day cooperation at the border, supporting Ukraine’s progress towards EU-aligned border management.
A major milestone was the first donor conference for Ukraine’s Integrated Border Management Strategy, held in Kyiv in December. The conference brought together Ukrainian authorities and international partners to align priorities, funding and responsibilities around a shared framework. EUAM played an active advisory role, helping translate strategic objectives into coordinated, practical support.
Delivering support
Training remained a central pillar of EUAM Ukraine’s support. In 2025, the Mission delivered around 320 training activities, reaching nearly 7,000 staff from partner institutions. Most sessions were held face-to-face, underlining the importance of direct engagement, while online and mixed formats ensured flexibility where security or distance required it. Many activities followed a train-the-trainers approach, helping institutions retain expertise internally and continue building capacity over time.
Strategic advice and training were reinforced by practical support. In 2025, EUAM facilitated over 140 equipment handovers, including through external funding, with a total value of almost €7 million. The equipment reached partners across the country, from western regions to areas closer to the front line, supporting public order policing, investigations, border management and digital work.
Looking back
2025 for the Mission was a year of embedding reforms into our partners’ strategies, strengthening coordination mechanisms, expanding mental-health support and ensuring that training and equipment translated into real capacity.
Behind every figure are people: officers on night shifts, investigators handling complex cases, border guards managing constant flows, and survivors seeking justice. EUAM Ukraine’s role throughout the year was to support them steadily and practically, with a clear focus on results that endure.
