Can Bankova Muster Political Will to Make Institutional Reforms During War?

Article excerpt

Ukraine's presidential administration, known as Bankova, faces mounting pressure to pursue institutional reforms even as the country fights for survival against Russian invasion. The piece examines whether Ukrainian leaders can sustain the political will for governance overhauls, anti-corruption measures, judicial reform, decentralization, while managing an existential military crisis. War on the Rocks presents a curated digest of Ukrainian commentary that moves beyond battlefield updates to capture how Ukrainians themselves debate governance, accountability, and state-building amid ongoing conflict. The tension is stark: wartime typically centralizes power and defers reform, yet Ukraine's Western backers increasingly expect institutional progress as a condition of aid. Ukrainian voices across the political spectrum weigh competing urgencies.