Due to difficult situation in Kyiv, NUJU postpones public offline events

“We have not had electricity for over 30 hours,” informs President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) Sergiy Tomilenko. After last week’s devastating russian attacks on the capital, the Union’s building, like about 8,000 others, lost heat. The heat supply was restored, but due to emergency surges, there has been no water for the fifth day, and since yesterday, the heat has been turned off again.

“I would like to sincerely thank my colleagues in the office for their understanding, patience, and coordinated work in these difficult conditions,” adds Sergiy Tomilenko. “At the same time, we are deliberately not holding public events indoors until the situation stabilizes. In particular, yesterday we were forced to postpone an important event in support of local media to approximately the end of January, when we will be able to provide safe and appropriate conditions for participants.”

Sergiy Tomilenko thanked the repairmen who, in extremely difficult weather conditions (in Kyiv, it is currently -10-15 degrees Celsius), are trying to fix one breakdown after another. To finally restore heat and water to the building, a powerful power supply is needed, which is not available.

The NUJU has charging stations – thanks to international partners. But even they cannot power laptops without recharging for more than 25 hours.

Of course, for many colleagues, for many Ukrainians, for many Kyiv residents, such trials are not news. And someone lives and works in much more difficult conditions. First of all, these are our defenders, men and women, who defend the country every day in conditions that are much more difficult than any other everyday difficulties.

“But still, I think it is important to talk about these realities – about the conditions in which the NUJU team continues to work,” Sergiy Tomilenko noted. “I think it is important for our partners and friends to know this.”

Despite the difficulties, the team continues to work remotely and in coworking spaces, supporting the front-line press, families of illegally detained journalists, and war correspondents. “Journalists are important,” emphasizes Sergiy Tomilenko.

NUJU Information Service