*Note from the host - I apologize for the missed weeks, a combination of holiday and family concerns. Also, my audio in this one is a little poor, unfortunately my good mic has developed an issue.*
In this episode, we speak with Ukrainian veteran and civil activist Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a former combat medic who returned from war to fight a different battle — defending democracy at home in Ukraine.
After serving on the front lines following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Koziatynskyi became a central figure in organising mass protests against controversial anti-corruption legislation that many feared would undermine the independence of National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. The demonstrations, held during wartime and under martial law, forced a political U-turn by the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy — a rare and remarkable example of democratic pressure succeeding during an existential national conflict.
Koziatynskyi discusses his journey from civilian entrepreneur to battlefield medic, and from soldier to protest organiser. He explains the risks of public dissent during war, the role of civil society in resisting authoritarian drift, and why he believes individual action can still shape the fate of nations.
This conversation explores corruption, democracy under fire, Ukraine’s European future, and what citizens everywhere can learn from a society fighting for survival while refusing to surrender its democratic values.
