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February 24, 2026 – Ukraine –
Journalist advocacy organisations are calling for urgent international backing to sustain a network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers across Ukraine, which are providing critical safety, legal, and technical support to reporters working amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion. The appeal, endorsed by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in late February 2026, emphasises that the centers are now facing a significant funding gap that threatens their continued operation as frontline press support hubs.
Established in 2022 in partnership between the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) and the IFJ/EFJ Safety Fund, the six Solidarity Centers — located in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv — provide a range of services to Ukrainian and international journalists navigating wartime conditions. These services include free rental of protective gear, drone-detection devices, safety and first-aid training, emergency relocation assistance, legal and psychological consultations, as well as secure, electricity-equipped workspaces that help reporters maintain communications and file dispatches even amid infrastructure disruptions.
According to recent NUJU data, demand for services has surged sharply: requests for drone detection equipment grew fivefold, demand for stable workspaces tripled, and needs for safety training and psychological support have risen markedly as conflict-related risks persist. At the same time, core institutional funding previously provided through partnerships with entities such as UNESCO has ended, leaving the network without a stable financial foundation just as conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate.
EFJ President Maja Sever described the Solidarity Centers as “a vital safety net for reporters working in one of the world’s most dangerous conflicts,” urging journalists’ unions, media organisations, and civic allies worldwide to contribute to the appeal to avoid service disruption. IFJ President Dominique Pradalié also highlighted the urgency of sustained support, noting that the Centers “demonstrate what international solidarity looks like in action” but cannot function without continued funding. Every contribution, she said, will directly sustain life-saving services such as protective gear, training, generators, and legal support that enable journalists to continue reporting independently from war zones.
The IFJ is encouraging affiliates and partner bodies to donate directly to NUJU’s accounts to help maintain the Centers’ infrastructure and operations. The call for resources underscores broader concerns about the safety and operational viability of independent journalism during protracted conflicts, as media professionals face ongoing threats to personal security and structural obstacles to newsgathering under fire.
Reference –
Ukraine: Journalists’ Solidarity Centers need support to keep protecting reporters under fire
