THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
More than a hundred delegates and guests of the Congress of the Swedish Journalists’ Union on March 4 expressed their support and solidarity with Ukrainian journalists with loud applause. This demonstration of unity was heard during the grand opening of the most representative gathering of Swedish media professionals in Saltsjöbaden, a picturesque suburb of Stockholm on the coast.
Immediately after the opening of the Congress, President Ulrika Hyllert began a special session of solidarity with Ukrainian journalists. The Congress delegates first watched the video of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) with testimonies of injured journalists Executed Free Speech, which made a deep impression on those present.
“As an honored guest of the Congress, I was given the floor to address my Swedish colleagues,” says Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the NUJU. “I shared with them the story of the recent russian missile attack on the newspaper’s office in the city of Izium, where journalist Mykola Kaliuzhnyi told me about the blood on the steps of their building and the dead civilians. Despite this terrible shelling, despite the blood and broken glass, the newspaper team gathered their strength and published the next issue…”
“The whole time of my being in Stockholm, I always felt at home,” Sergiy Tomilenko said in his speech at the congress. “And it’s not just because the colors of our flags are similar — blue and yellow. In this harsh northern region, I feel the warmth of your hearts, support for Ukraine, and our unity.”
The President of the NUJU told his Swedish colleagues about three important aspects of journalism in Ukraine today: 30 of our media workers are being illegally detained by russian security forces. Our captured colleagues are being tortured… 32 local newspapers continue to be published in the front-line regions (he demonstrated two of them – the Kherson newspaper, Novyi Den, and the Zaporizhzhia’s Holos Huliaipillia). These newspapers are becoming vital information lines. The network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers provides support to both Ukrainian and international journalists.
The audience was especially moved by the reminder of the deep traditions of freedom of speech in Sweden:
“Next year will mark 260 years since the first law in the world was adopted here that legally enshrined freedom of speech. We perceive this exciting experience of the formation and development of one of the freest media systems in the world as a guide for Ukraine,” said Sergiy Tomilenko. “Exactly six decades ago, the Swedish state created a unique system of subsidies for the printed press, designed to support pluralism and free competition of the media. It later became the basis for similar systems of financial support for the press in other European countries. Systemic efforts of the state preserved the popularity and influence of the Swedish press, and today, we are talking about the need to create a similar system in Ukraine.”
Sergiy Tomilenko expressed deep gratitude to Sweden for its extraordinary commitment to the survival of Ukraine – from providing powerful military aid packages worth billions of Swedish kronas to supporting civil society, including independent media.
The delegates were deeply impressed by the words that “the air raid alerts that wake Ukrainian children every morning may one day sound throughout Europe if we do not stop this aggression together. The battle for truth in Ukraine is a battle for democracy everywhere.”
“Take care of Ukraine in your articles, in your broadcasts, in your hearts. Your solidarity today strengthens our resilience tomorrow,” these words found a response in the hearts of the congress participants.
As a token of gratitude for the invaluable support, Sergiy Tomilenko presented the Swedish Journalists’ Union with a Special Award from the NUJU.
The Congress of the Swedish Journalists’ Union is taking place on March 4-6 at the Vår Gård conference center in Saltsjöbaden. As the Union‘s chair, Ulrika Hüllert, noted in her welcoming speech, “During these three days, we have a chance to discuss and make decisions that will make the media industry and, therefore, democracy better.”
After the Ukrainian section, a panel discussion on the use of artificial intelligence in journalism took place, where the future head of the BBC News AI department, Olle Zachrison, Aftonbladet AI editor Konrad Cronsioe, and the Swedish Union of Journalists’ lawyer for media law and freedom of speech Tove Carlén spoke. The issues of increasing the collective level of competence of journalists in AI and the importance of cooperation between trade Unions and employers in this direction were discussed.
Dag Idar Tryggestad, President of the Norwegian Union of Journalists, also spoke, emphasizing the importance of the Scandinavian Unions working together to support free and strong media and to confront disinformation and anti-democratic forces. The Norwegian colleague also emphasized:
“We must continue to demonstrate solidarity with our colleagues around the world, whether in Ukraine, Gaza, or in places where simply being a journalist is a threat to life and death.”
The Congress’ Guest of Honor is another friend of Ukrainian journalists, the president of the Danish Union of Journalists, Tine Johansen. The main sessions of the congress are broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Swedish Journalists’ Union.
NUJU President’s Speech for the Swedish Journalists’ Union Congress
Dear Swedish colleagues,
For the entire time I’ve been in Stockholm, I’ve had the feeling of being at home. And it’s not just because the colors of our flags are similar – blue and yellow. In this severe northern land, I feel the warmth of your hearts. I feel the support for Ukraine. I feel our unity. And first of all – I thank you for this, each and every one of you.
Of course, we are all shocked by what’s happening in the USA right now. Trump is suddenly stopping aid to Ukraine and saying he wants to be friends with Putin… Just last month, while the world was discussing peace and watching russian-American diplomatic moves, I received devastating news from Izium – a city in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine. russian rockets hit the city center, targeting a building where the local newspaper had its office. My colleague Mykola Kaliuzhnyi called me, his voice shaking, as he described the blood on the stairs of their office building and the civilian casualties he witnessed. It was particularly painful for me because I had visited this city after its liberation and seen their previous editorial office completely destroyed by russian forces. Yet despite this new attack, despite the blood and broken glass, the newspaper team gathered their strength and published their next issue. This is the reality Ukrainian journalists live with every day, and this is their extraordinary resilience.
I am Sergiy Tomilenko, president of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, representing the largest professional community of journalists in my country. Today, I stand before you from a nation that continues to fight not only for its territory but also for truth itself.
Let me share three crucial realities about journalism in Ukraine today:
First, the human cost is devastating. Thirty journalists and media workers are detained by russian forces. They face daily torture and are charged with false accusations of “terrorism” and “extremism.” Five of them are women. One of them, Victoria Roshchyna, died in russian detention at the end of last year. She never made it to a prisoner exchange. Behind each number is a person, a colleague, whose only “crime” was a commitment to truth.
Second, in the face of constant danger, 32 local newspapers persist in publishing across our front-line regions. When bombs cut electricity, when the internet fails, and when russian propaganda floods the airwaves, these printed newspapers become vital information lifelines. As one editor told me, “People wait for each issue like bread. They gather in bomb shelters during air raids, sharing and reading our papers together.”
Third, we’ve built a network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers that provides essential support for both Ukrainian and international media workers. These centers don’t just provide bulletproof vests and helmets – they’re safe havens where journalists can work, receive emergency support, attend safety training sessions and mental health workshops, and know they’re not alone.
Solidarity – this is what underlies the network of centers for journalists that we deployed in various cities of Ukraine immediately after the start of the full-scale russian invasion. The International and European Federations of Journalists, as well as UNESCO, supported us in this. Any Ukrainian journalist regardless of place of residence, or any foreign journalist working in Ukraine can contact such centers.
So if, for example, a Swedish journalist comes to Ukraine to cover the events of the war, you can be confident that your colleague will receive protective equipment, help with accreditation, a workspace with internet access, and simply warm support from colleagues at one of our centers, which is so important for journalists in wartime conditions.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Sweden. Your country has shown extraordinary commitment to Ukraine’s survival – from providing powerful military support packages worth billions of kronor to maintaining vital assistance for civil society, including independent media. Your solidarity has helped sustain our journalism community during these darkest hours.
We are fascinated by Sweden’s example, where freedom of speech has deep historical roots. Next year will mark 260 years since the world’s first law was passed here that legally secured freedom of speech. We perceive this captivating experience of the formation and development of one of the most free media systems in the world as a guidepost for Ukraine.
Exactly six decades ago, the Swedish state created a unique system of subsidies for the print press designed to support pluralism and free competition in media. It later became the basis for similar systems of financial support for the press in other European countries. The state’s systematic efforts preserved the popularity. They supported the influence of the Swedish press, and today, we are talking about the need to create a similar system in Ukraine.
Our recent international conference brought together over 130 participants from leading global press freedom organizations. The resulting Resolution highlighted an urgent challenge: while our journalists face increasing physical dangers, they’re also battling a severe financial crisis as war drains our media sector’s resources.
We now face a critical moment. UNESCO, our key institutional partner, will end their funding for our Solidarity Centers on March 15th. The NUJU is grateful that the Swedish Union of Journalists supported emergency assistance to Ukrainian journalists after the invasion with donations. But now we face new critical times, and we need help… These Centers have become essential lifelines in our most dangerous regions. They represent not just practical support but hope that the international journalism community stands united against aggression.
Our research reveals a powerful truth: while 86% of people have access to social media for news, local newspapers command a remarkable 90% trust rate among their readers – far higher than any other information source. This shows why maintaining professional local media is crucial for fighting disinformation.
Across front-line cities like Izium, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, brave editors and journalists risk their lives daily to deliver verified information. A teacher from a front-line village told us, “Of course, we care about all of Ukraine, but news about our own communities touches our hearts most deeply. These papers help us stay connected, stay informed, stay human.”
Dear friends, the air raid sirens that wake Ukrainian children each morning could one day sound across Europe if we don’t stop this aggression together. The battle for truth in Ukraine is a battle for democracy everywhere.
I urge you to keep Ukraine in your stories, in your broadcasts, in your hearts. Your solidarity today strengthens our resilience tomorrow.
And now, with deep appreciation for your unwavering support during these challenging times, I would like to present the Swedish Union of Journalists with a Special Recognition Award from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.
Because journalists are important!
Thank you.
NUJU Information Service
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