The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) will be able to maintain the network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers thanks to the solidarity appeal launched in February 2025 on the eve of the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During this period, NUJU received donations totalling 36,000€, which will enable the network to operate fully until July 2025.
The NUJU expressed its deep gratitude to all affiliates of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) who demonstrated remarkable solidarity and support with donations, in particular the Norwegian Union of Journalists (Norway), the Danish Union of Journalists (Denmark), the Federazione Nazionale Della Stampa Italiana (Italy), the Deutscher Journalisten-Verband (Germany), the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (Greece).
The network provides comprehensive assistance, including free rental of protective equipment, safe workspaces, a legal hotline, and emergency financial grants for journalists affected by the war. With five Centers strategically located across Ukraine – three in the frontline cities of Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia, plus a head office in Kyiv – a team of 22 qualified specialists is working tirelessly to support media professionals reporting from the war zone.
“We are grateful to everyone who responded to our call for help. It is very important to keep the network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers, which is essential for journalists, running smoothly in the face of intensifying Russian attacks. In particular, the continuation of the network’s activity in March was made possible by a donation from the Danish Union of Journalists,” said Sergiy Tomilenko, NUJU President.
“As the war in Ukraine continues unabated, our professional solidarity with Ukrainian journalists must be stronger than ever. The Solidarity Centers provide essential safe spaces in an increasingly dangerous environment. These safe spaces aren’t just physical locations – they are beacons of hope for independent journalism when it’s most under threat. We have a responsibility to ensure these centers continue their vital work for our brave colleagues on the frontlines of truth,” said Maja Sever, EFJ President.
Additional funding required
While Russian bombardments are intensifying across Ukraine – the latest massive attacks on Kryvyi Rih (Dnipro region), Kharkiv and Sumy confirm this – Russian propaganda continues to present these attacks on civilians as strikes against military targets. Independent Ukrainian and foreign journalists must have the resources they need to report objective information and counter disinformation.
All unions and media organisations can support this vital network by:
- Providing direct financial contributions to sustain daily operations via this link
- Advocating with your national governments to include media support in Ukraine aid packages
- Engaging with international donors and programs such as UNESCO, EU Media Freedom initiatives, and other institutional funders
- Developing joint projects that can qualify for bilateral or international funding
- Providing in-kind support through equipment donations, training resources, or expert consultations
- Organising solidarity events to raise awareness and funds
- Creating exchange programs between your journalists and Ukrainian colleaguesThe spirit of collaboration between journalists’ unions across Europe has already achieved remarkable results. By supporting Ukrainian journalists today, we are not only enabling them to continue their professional activities despite extraordinary challenges, we are also strengthening the foundations of press freedom in Europe for tomorrow.
ABOUT THE EFJ
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is the largest organisation of journalists in Europe representing over 296,000 journalists in 74 journalists’ organisations across 44 countries.
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