#StandwithUkraine

As news arrives about the possible suspension of U.S. aid to Ukraine, we send a message of unwavering support to Ukraine and to journalists reporting from the war in that country. From day one, both the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists and the Croatian journalists' association have stood with our colleagues in Ukraine—we have sent all available assistance, and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has established six solidarity centers for journalists. We are especially pleased that at the Voices Festival, we hosted Ukrainian journalist Valeriia Muskharina and Lina Kushch, Secretary General of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NSJU), who spoke at the festival about key issues journalists face in war conditions. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, print media in eastern and southern Ukraine have become crucial for residents of war-affected areas. Printed newspapers have become almost the only source of verified information with television and radio channels under attack and controlled by the aggressor. Local journalists work under extremely difficult conditions, often without electricity or internet, but they continue to fulfill their mission—to inform people. Lina Kushch spoke about how local journalists operate, and during the Voices Festival, at Voices Cinema, we had the opportunity to watch the documentary On the Frontline, which portrays the daily life of journalists in war-affected areas. In Kharkiv, a city that lost electricity after a Russian attack, the printing press runs for only twenty minutes to print newspapers. Journalists then travel to the most remote villages, where newspapers are often the only way for people to get the latest news. The film illustrates the courage and dedication of journalists who risk their own lives to uphold the right to truth. Lina Kushch also presented a psychological support program for journalists during the war. Journalistic work requires constant presence, working under stressful deadlines, and dealing with traumatic stories. In war conditions, emotional exhaustion and professional burnout become even more pronounced. The Journalist Solidarity Centers provide psychological assistance and support to colleagues reporting from the most challenging areas, helping them maintain their mental health and continue their work. Kushch also introduced the work of the Network of Journalist Solidarity Centers. This initiative of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, implemented in collaboration with the EFJ, UNESCO, and supported by Japan, has provided assistance to more than 4,000 journalists, both Ukrainian and international. The centers offer safety, logistical support, equipment, and resources to journalists reporting from the field every day. At Voices, colleagues from across Europe—Germany, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Belarus, Austria, Greece, Portugal, and North Macedonia—expressed their solidarity with their Ukrainian peers. Together, we showed that they are not alone in this fight, and that we stand with Ukraine!