“Working conditions remain very difficult, but we are holding on,” Sergiy Tomilenko tells CRD

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is entering its fifth year. But the flame of resistance still burns brightly, says Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), a Stockholm-based human rights organization and long-time partner of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).

Since the beginning of the war, Civil Rights Defenders has supported the courageous human rights defenders who are keeping this fight alive. In 2023, CRD, by decision of the NUJU Board, became the laureate of the Ihor Lubchenko National Prize for the Protection of Freedom of Speech.

“Across the country, from Lviv to Luhansk, journalists, lawyers, and activists are fighting for justice,” CRD emphasizes. “Many of them risk their lives documenting war crimes so that the truth does not disappear and the perpetrators can be brought to justice. The constant power outages have made the work even more demanding and risky. [NUJU President] Sergiy Tomilenko is one of them.”

“Repeated and large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure continue to cause long and unpredictable power outages. Working conditions remain very difficult, but we are holding on and continuing to support journalists across the country as best we can,” Sergiy Tomilenko told CRD.

The human rights organization says it works with the NUJU every day to ensure that journalists can continue their work, both on the front lines and during power outages. The NUJU provides reporters with protective equipment, technical and psychological support, training, and documents violations against the media. They also support the families of journalists who have been taken prisoner.

The CRD emphasizes that the crisis should not silence the voices of Ukrainian journalists and human rights defenders. To continue their work, they need access to electricity.

“With portable batteries, charging stations, and other equipment, they can keep their cameras, computers, and communications running – even when the power goes out again and again. This is absolutely crucial now,” the CRD website says.

Thanks to the CRD emergency fund, it has been able to support several Ukrainian partner organisations working in humanitarian crises where heat, electricity, and running water are in short supply. European human rights defenders are now calling for continued support for those who defend human rights in Ukraine every day. “Every contribution matters – sometimes between life and death, between whether the truth is documented or lost forever,” the CRD says.