- Members’ Stories
As spring comes around, Ukraine emerges from another bitter winter with temperatures reaching up to –25°C and Russian attacks relentlessly continuing. But the country and its people are far from being out of the woods. Just last week, the Kremlin orchestrated one of its largest missile attacks on the country within a 24-hour period since the beginning of the war, striking a UNESCO World Heritage monastery in Lviv, energy facilities, and civilian areas in multiple cities.
Despite winter coming to an end, Ukraine’s civil society organisations (CSOs) continue to face harsh working conditions that put their lives in danger. Amidst enemy fire, civil society actors across the country have shown remarkable resilience and dedication in defending their sovereignty, democracy and European future. Amongst them are two representatives of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) – Igor Stukalenko, Head of Energy Programs of the Centre for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”, and Tetiana Tymoshenko, President of the Ukrainian Federation of Employers in Tourism – who share their experiences of working under these challenging conditions.
Working amidst drone attacks, power cuts and lack of heating
Civil society in Ukraine continues to face, first and foremost, daily physical risks to their lives. Civilian areas and infrastructure, such as office and residential buildings, are repeatedly targeted by Russia, putting staff in harm’s way. In one instance, debris from an enemy drone fell on the house of one of Tetiana’s colleagues, damaging the building and windows.
Public transport, including stations, railway and tram tracks, and train depots, is also targeted by missile attacks, making it difficult to travel around certain cities or regions of the country. Beyond the constant threat to personal safety, these conditions result in significant time loss and ongoing logistical challenges for CSOs nationwide.
Energy infrastructure and facilities are equally heavily targeted by Russia. Recurring drone strikes on power stations, nuclear facilities, and electricity grids result in erratic power outages of unpredictable duration. The consequences include a lack of internet connection, as well as lighting and heating in homes and workspaces alike which make for harsh, unpredictable work environments. “Due to infrastructure damage, indoor temperatures in homes and offices were 10–12°C,” explains Igor.
Relying on remote work, emergency power generators and hope
Despite being pushed to the brink of survival, Ukrainian civil society continues to fight for peace and provide humanitarian assistance, support displaced people, document violations of international law by the Russia, counter disinformation and uphold democratic governance.
One way for CSOs to keep functioning is through remote work, though Tetiana mentions that this significantly reduces the quality and efficiency of their interactions and affects both their work and its outcomes. Emergency power generators also provide quick fixes to restore power during outages. Tetiana explains that, in some cases, organisations were able to heat their premises thanks to assistance from donors and sponsors.
Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure are designed to deprive Ukrainians of necessities and break their spirit. We asked Igor and Tetiana what keeps their hope alive during such times. The idea that their work is essential to advancing societal values, along with the solidarity of other countries, are among the things that help them feel hopeful about the future. Being members of the EaP CSF also provides Igor’s organisation with an opportunity to promote the position of CGS “Strategy XXI” on important issues, particularly energy security.
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Summit’s 2025 Resolution reaffirms that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues to be the primary threat to Eastern Partnership countries and EU Member States. The resolution calls for the EU, its Member States, and the international community to provide sustained political, humanitarian, military, and financial support to Ukraine to achieve long-lasting peace. Igor highlights this resolution as a source of hope for the future.
The resolution also emphasises the urgent need to begin accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova. It notes that “delays by certain Member States have taken hostage the opening of the ‘fundamentals’ cluster” and urges stakeholders to “find a way to overcome the current political blockage caused by a single Member State”.
In our statement condemning the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we also called on the EU to urgently adopt the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, “ensuring it remains robust and comprehensive, and to refrain from any unilateral actions that would delay or dilute the EU’s unified response”.
Going forward, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum will continue to support organisations such as those led by Tetiana and Igor, amplifying their voices and advocating for sustained, targeted support for Ukrainian civil society from the EU and its Member States.
