Four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is now entering its fifth year. Since 2022, emergency alarms, drone attacks, and constant wartime conditions have shaped the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Yet the flame of resistance continues to burn brightly. Since the beginning of the war, Civil Rights Defenders has supported the brave human rights defenders who keep this struggle alive, and we will continue to do so.

Across the country, from Lviv to Luhansk, journalists, lawyers, and activists are fighting for justice. Many risk their lives to document war crimes, ensuring that the truth is not lost, and that accountability remains possible. With recurring power outages, their work has become both more demanding and more dangerous.

Sergiy is one of them

“Massive and repeated attacks on energy infrastructure continue to cause long and unpredictable blackouts. Working conditions remain very challenging, but we are holding on and continuing to support journalists across the country as best as we can.”

Together with the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, he works to ensure that journalists can continue their work, both on the frontlines and when the power grid goes down. The organisation provides reporters with protective equipment, technical and psychological support, training, and documentation of abuses against the media. They also support families of journalists who have been captured.

Anna is driven by her dedication to safeguarding the rights of children and young people

Anna fights every day to ensure that every Ukrainian child who has been taken can return home and reclaim their stolen childhood. Through her work with the organisation Almenda, she documents testimonies of forced deportations and indoctrination, gathering evidence that may one day hold perpetrators accountable. Once focused primarily on educational support, the organisation was forced to shift toward systematic documentation so that the truth could be used in future legal processes.

“We work under constant surveillance and disinformation campaigns. At the same time, we face the emotional burden of documenting violations against children.”

The war must not silence their voices. For Anna, Sergiy, and hundreds of other human rights defenders to continue their work, they need something as basic as access to electricity. With portable batteries, charging stations, and other equipment, they can keep cameras, computers, and communication running, even when the power fails again and again. Right now, this is absolutely essential.

Thanks to our Emergency Fund, we have been able to support several Ukrainian partner organisations working in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, where heat, electricity, and running water are often scarce.

Donate to Civil Rights Defenders and help us continue securing electricity, safety, and support for those who defend the human rights of Ukrainians every single day. Every contribution makes a difference, sometimes the difference between life and death, and between the truth being documented or disappearing.