Historical Background – Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Ukraine:
The Civil-Military Cooperation Directorate was created as part of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reform to manage the growing complexity of military-civilian interactions, especially after the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014. CIMIC officers are trained in negotiation, disaster response, humanitarian coordination, and international law.
Since 2022, their importance has grown dramatically. CIMIC units operate in de-occupied regions, support IDPs (internally displaced persons), liaise with local administrations, and coordinate with international humanitarian organizations.
These personnel play a vital role in maintaining stability in conflict zones, winning civilian trust, and ensuring the military’s operations do not harm civilian life — a key element in Ukraine’s strategy for sustainable defense and post-conflict recovery.