Blog
What Russian occupation really means for Ukrainians
When politicians discuss occupied territories during peace negotiations, they speak as if these are empty spaces. But millions of Ukrainians live there. These people are caught in a gray zone with no tools to defend their rights, freedom, property, lives, children, or loved ones.
Oleksandra Matviichuk
Ukrainian human rights lawyer and the head of the Center for Civil Liberties.
How do you survive winter in Kharkiv?
I am sitting in the passenger seat next to my friend Ivanka. Suddenly she says: “Don’t put on your seatbelt.” I laugh. “Is that a new law in Kharkiv?” She answers seriously: “It depends what you’re more afraid of – a car accident or not being able to get out of the car quickly enough during a Russian drone strike.” We laugh. But we don’t buckle up.
Kseniia Levadna
Public Relations Officer
Belarus: the consequences of choosing freedom.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Belarus in 2020 to protest against the authoritarian rule of Alexander Lukashenko. They chose freedom. Today, half a decade later, many of them are paying a heavy price. In Belarus, waving a flag once can turn your whole life upside down.
Ken McBain
LIBERECO Representative in the UK
The light disappears, the life goes on.
Russia is systematically attacking Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure. Attacks on power plants and substations are causing massive electricity, heating and water outages and are deliberately targeting the civilian population. Around 60,000 households in Kyiv alone are without electricity, with outside temperatures at -15 degrees.
Kseniia Levadna
Public Relations Officer
Letters of hope: what former prisoners want you to know
We spoke with former political prisoners from Belarus to find out if postcards matter to them. Their answers are moving and show how much a simple act of solidarity can mean. Read their thoughts and join our upcoming letter-writing events!
Kseniia Levadna
Public Relations Officer
Keeping the memory alive: Interview with our president Lars Bünger
In an in-depth interview with The Philanthropist, our founding member and president Lars Bünger talks about the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, the work of Libereco, and why every letter counts.
Lars Bünger
President
Imprisoned and ill – my life in prison
Belarusian journalist Kseniya Lutskina was arrested in 2020 after joining the protests against election fraud and repression. She was later sentenced to eight years in prison for helping to establish independent media. In her blog, she writes about the bad medical situation in pre-trial detention.
Kseniya Lutskina
Journalist, former political prisoner
#WeStandBYyou: Five years of European solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus
2025 marks the 5th anniversary of our international campaign for political prisoners in Belarus. Over the past years, #WeStandBYyou has developed from an emergency solidarity initiative into an international advocacy movement.
Emma Simpson
Member
Prayers in the basement
The most recent attacks on residential buildings in Dnipro show how crucial it is to continue providing humanitarian aid to the affected civilian population.
Ira Ganzhorn
Humanitarian Aid Officer
In the Carpathians: our somatic summer program begins
Through deep rest, body-based practices, and honest conversations, we strengthened our team and supported frontline professionals working with veterans, returned POWs, and families of the missing. Self-care, safety, and connection were at the heart of it all.
Imke Hansen
Vice Executive Director & Program Manager MHPSS