“ECPMF initiatives in Ukraine have provided the necessary protection for colleagues working under extreme pressure,” Sergiy Tomilenko in Leipzig

The headquarters of the European Center for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) in Leipzig was visited by Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).

“It was important for me to finally come to one of the leading European defenders of press freedom – an organization whose work has truly impacted the safety and resilience of Ukrainian journalists,” the President of the NUJU noted on a social network.

ECPMF initiatives in Ukraine – from legal support and emergency grants to training programs and the Journalist-in-Residence Kosovo safe residency program – have provided the necessary protection for colleagues working under extreme pressure. These efforts are of profound importance to our community.

During a meeting with Executive Director Andreas Lamm, Sergiy Tomilenko expressed NUJU’s gratitude for the Center’s continued cooperation and shared an update on the current situation facing Ukrainian media:

the sharp increase in threats from russian strike drones, which now strike far beyond the front lines;
the urgent need for reliable drone detection and early warning systems, as well as modern protective equipment for journalists working in these areas;
the critical role of frontline newspapers in informing communities when digital networks fail,
and the ongoing work of the Journalists’ Solidarity Centers (JSC), safe spaces recognized by UNESCO as an effective Safe Place for Journalists. These centers provide electricity, communications, equipment, and psychological support to media workers — and they remain indispensable as winter approaches.

As the largest journalism organization in Ukraine, the NUJU is always ready to support ECPMF’s work on the ground — whether by vetting candidates for residency in Kosovo or German safe-housing programs, recommending frontline journalists for fellowships, or encouraging newsrooms to join training and capacity-building initiatives.

Sergiy Tomilenko’s visit to Leipzig was particularly moving because of the opportunity to meet Ukrainian journalist Iryna Avramenko from Dnipro, who is currently in Germany as part of the Center’s residency program. Dnipro is under daily russian shelling, and thanks to the residency provided by ECPMF, recommended by the NUJU, Iryna was able to find temporary safety and focus on her professional work in a calm and supportive environment.