Adapting protection work following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Since its establishment in 2014, Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv (EHRHC) has supported human rights defenders and journalists at risk through its Protection Program. Until 2020, the organisation primarily worked with human rights defenders from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan, and other countries whose authoritarian regimes persecuted activists and forced people to leave their home countries. Following the crackdown on civil society in Belarus after 2020 Presidential elections, EHRHC and its partners provided emergency assistance to over 1,000 Belarusian human rights defenders, journalists and activists who were forced to flee their home.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, EHRHC adapted its work to the emerging situational needs, while the Protection Program expanded to include Ukrainian human rights defenders, journalists, civic activists, and their families. Between March 2022 and November 2024, the Program supported over 1,500 individuals.
The Protection Program’s primary objective is to help human rights defenders, journalists and activists in critical situations so that they can continue their civic activities. In some cases this support has meant saving people’s lives.
The Program provides urgent assistance with relocation, including from the frontline and Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territories, professional support through internships and micro-grants for human rights-related projects, and psycho-social rehabilitation activities and support to help activists recover and build resilience.
“At the start of the full-scale invasion, those urgently evacuating often had nothing—not even the ability to buy a toothbrush, food, or medicine,” Vypynashko recalls. “We addressed such needs at the emergency hub in Lviv, where people could also stay for a few days to determine their next steps.”
Later, as the situation stabilised, the Program expanded to include capacity development support, while a high demand for housing and medical expense support remained.
“Health is a separate issue—both psychological and physical health have been deeply affected for everyone.”
Emergency support for civil society
Vypynashko initially joined EHRHC as a coordinator for professional support for human rights defenders in early February 2022 shifting from his occupation in the Ukraine’s judicial system.
“My first interactions with human rights defenders and activists in exile, at that time from Belarus and Chechnya, were very inspiring, we were trying to help them to sustain. However, everything changed with the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, when Chernihiv came under fire.”
“The EHRHC team relocated to safer places at different times, and by the end of March 2022, we began processing emergency support applications,” he shares. “The team handled these applications in turns because there were so many. Part of the team focused on documenting war crimes, and I volunteered to coordinate the emergency support efforts because I saw a great need for it.”
Supporting civil society at risk is a critical task. The war continues, and activists, journalists, and human rights defenders relentlessly work to demand accountability and bring change to society. It is our duty to support them.
Vypynashko’s motivation is deeply personal. “I remember how difficult it was for my family. I constantly recall the events when [during the siege of Chernihiv] we were left without electricity, without heat, in a basement, not knowing how long it would last [while the evacuation was unsafe]. My wife was pregnant at the time. I queued for seven hours to buy bread because of airstrikes nearby [and stores not operating]. Knowing that lists of civic activists, including our team, were being targeted in case of occupation – this later on motivated me to help those in similar situations.”
“I also understood how difficult it is to become an internally displaced person (IDP) after forced relocation.”
For Vypynashko, working on emergency support has always been particularly meaningful—especially helping those whose homes were destroyed or damaged. He recalls his own experience:
“In August 2022, a Russian Iskander missile struck the dormitory building across from my family home, completely destroying it and killing people. My grandmother was lucky to lean down, the windows were momentarily shattered by missile fragments and miraculously she remained unharmed. My house sustained significant damage.
“Kharkiv continues to be under constant shelling, and I don’t know when I will be able to return there with my daughter to show her my home and introduce her to part of the family.”
These thoughts didn’t bring despair or sadness but instead fueled a need to act and help others. This strongly motivated me to do everything possible to support human rights defenders who found themselves in extremely challenging circumstances.
Stories of impact from Ukrainian civil society at risk
“Each case resonates in its own way, and over time, we’ve gathered many remarkable stories,” Vypynashko says. “Every time we receive feedback expressing gratitude or news that someone was able to keep living, working, and continuing their civic activism is very special for our team.”
One example is journalist Maryna Savchenko, who lived and worked under occupation in Kherson before escaping and receiving the Program’s support. Savchenko shared that the assistance was extremely important and allowed her “to afford to keep working normally after relocating”. [Read more about Maryna Savchenko’s story.]
Another notable case was the support of Olena Tsyhipa, an activist of the NGO Civilians in Captivity, and the project “Please, Free the Birds”, advocating for the release of civilian hostages, including her husband, a journalist and political prisoner Serhiy Tsyhipa, sentenced to 13 years on espionage charges by Russia.
“Tsyhipa approached us several times and received support through internship, mentorship, and psychological help and this trust in our Program means a lot,” shares Vypynashko, “She shared with us that the mentoring sessions helped her articulate and work through anxieties and to gain techniques for grounding in the ‘here and now.’”
The situations faced by human rights defenders and journalists due to the war, as well as the help they need, vary greatly—sometimes its firewood to endure winter.
Vypynashko recounts supporting a journalist and civic activist Oleksandr Maksymenko, who survived Russian captivity in Kherson and now supports the network of former male prisoners and torture survivors “Alumni”. The Program provided firewood to ensure he could endure the winter and continue his work and activism.
“I am particularly proud of the results of our psychosocial rehabilitation programs, as many participants shared how the support positively impacted their work, their organisations, and their resilience in critical conditions,” shares Vypynashko.
Among supported micro-projects, the relocation of the newspaper Vorskla stands out. Operating near the Russian border, the newspaper’s office was severely damaged earlier this year. With support from EHRHC and ZMINA, the team relocated and resumed journalistic activities, providing vital information to displaced populations.
“This newspaper was the only source of information for many in the border region, covering evacuation procedures, finding missing relatives, accessing pensions for displaced persons, etc, while countering Russian propaganda,” shared Vypynashko.
Reflecting on the outcome, I felt this was the very reason our Program exists—to help overcome critical moments and continue supporting people.
Reflecting on the experience, Oleksii Pasiuha, the Chief Editor of Vorskla, shared: “Support for the ‘Relocated Newspaper Vorskla for IDPs’ was crucial for our team and its publication. Having lost our premises, with some equipment destroyed by enemy shelling, and facing the loss of subscribers and advertisers while in evacuation, we were uncertain about resuming operations. This project became a lifeline, enabling us to sustain our work, continue publishing… and had a significant impact on the lives of IDPs [and the affected population] by delivering vital information”.
Making hard decisions as demand for support increases
“Unfortunately, there have been many difficult decisions due to the criteria or funding limitations,” Vypynashko admits. “In October, we received applications from a civil society organisation in Pokrovsk operating in an active combat zone. They provide various types of support, including consultations, evacuation, and humanitarian assistance to affected populations. Due to the Program’s criteria, we could only support three out of seven requests, taking into account factors such as proximity to combat zones, the level of risk to life, and the ability to continue civic activities.”
When someone has lost everything and doesn’t know what comes next, they need a firm point to lean on.
“However, we do not leave people without hope. In such cases, we try to redirect them to organisations that can help. For instance, to evacuate a volunteer from Bakhmut—a city that no longer exists—we contacted colleagues from East SOS. Recently, we also received a request for temporary relocation abroad so that a human rights defender could change their surroundings and recover emotionally. We referred this request to Front Line Defenders, and I am very grateful to FLD for their work and micro-grants, which also help civil society in Ukraine.”
The collaboration and coordination of support among organisations implementing other protection programs in Ukraine are vital. The decision for each support case involves thorough verification, consultations, and approval by a committee comprising representatives from multiple organisations.
“For instance, my experience also assists me in my role as a member of the verification council for ZMINA’s emergency support fund for activists, which includes representatives from the Institute of Mass Information, Independent media outlet “Graty”, and Human Rights House Crimea.”
Vypynashko notes an increasing demand for support: “I believe the biggest factor influencing the number of support requests is the frontline. The larger the frontline, the more territories are captured, and the more shelling occurs, the greater the number of people seeking help.”
He explains that spikes in applications often coincide with missile attacks or sudden advancements in hostilities near areas where human rights defenders or journalists are active. “Such developments force them to make difficult decisions—whether to continue their work under such conditions, stay, or leave, which leads to a variety of types of support requests.”
From September to mid-November 2024, the Program received over 70 emergency support requests related to safety. “Unfortunately, funding was only sufficient to cover 43 of these requests,” Vypynashko notes.
Building resilience and capacities
“The feedback we receive uplifts us. Often, we get messages later on, which serve as a powerful reminder that our work is meaningful and impactful. Recently, I came across a Facebook post by my colleague Lyudmyla Yankina about the evacuation of people from occupied territories whom we tried to help a year ago but then lost contact with. Learning this was incredible news for me,” Vypynashko says.
However, the work can be emotionally draining. It affects one’s state of mind and, consequently, the effectiveness of support provided to those in need. Vypynashko highlights the importance of psychosocial rehabilitation, self-awareness, and team support for those working with providing support to others.
Retreats organised by Tbilisi Shelter City, People in Need, and AHALAR over the last two and a half years have been invaluable for restoring balance for Vypynashko. “Each of these was vital for restoring balance, which often erodes between life and work, especially when working hours are undefined. During these retreats, you also share experiences and learn from others’ insights about working in critical situations and stabilising yourself and activists.”
Taking breaks is a must – there should be time to “exhale” and decompress. There is nothing good about accumulating heavy emotions or helplessness within oneself. After all, how can I help others if I can’t take care of myself?
“I try to focus on self-observation while working with beneficiaries: noting what emotions arise, what I feel in the moment, whether I can truly support the person here and now, or if I need to take a pause or simply remain silent, while being present for those who need it. This approach benefits not only the person but also yourself.” [Read more about building resilience of civil society in Ukraine.]
Finalising implementation of the Emergency Support Ukraine (ESU) project as part of the Protection Program, Vypynashko received support via therapy sessions with his colleague, who worked directly with the support cases. “It was crucial to process and “contain” all the information received from those we supported, so that it would not become overwhelming. I see the positive results of these sessions and think it is very important.”
Vypynashko also participated in an English language course for human rights defenders from the Network of Human Rights Houses supported within ESU.
“I can already see the difference and growth in my ability to express myself so that colleagues not only from the region where I directly work but also on the international level could understand me and I could understand them.”
Participants work in groups with other colleagues from the Network of Human Rights Houses. He adds, “This is particularly important when you have colleagues like Taciana Niadbaj, [Chair of the Board of the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House and Chair of PEN Belarus], a human rights defender and writer whose principled stance inspires me a lot.”
Vypynashko says that International support and experience-sharing are crucial to protection work. Working with colleagues from the Human Rights House Foundation and the Network of Human Rights Houses, often helped to determine the best way to address situations while offering a fresh perspective.
“A highlight for me was participating in the international trips where we could showcase the results of our work and exchange experience with colleagues during the Network Meeting and Protection Seminar in Warsaw in 2023 and the final meeting with ESU project partners in Lyon in 2024. These trips were incredibly enriching. Feeling the solidarity and support of the Protection Program from the international civil society community left me inspired and energised upon returning.”
Hope for the future: affected civil society and support for the Program
Reflecting on those who need support of protection programs, Vypynashko says:
They could be a human rights defender, volunteer, civic activist, journalist, someone advocating for the release of civilians from captivity, or assisting IDPs. They might be IDPs themselves, working in hard-to-reach areas, in active combat zones, grey zones, or areas under constant shelling. They might face various risks and pressures, including having survived captivity and torture, dealing with health issues, enduring unregulated workloads, personal problems, or obstructions from state authorities.
Vypynashko emphasises the importance of outreach and support: “HRDs and activists should not be left alone. I want them to feel they can reach out and receive support. I urge everyone in such situations: if you feel unwell, if troubling thoughts fill your head, if you doubt yourself or feel lost, please seek help. We live in a developed society where there are people who will understand and who can help.”
Speaking about the Protection Program and emergency support, he notes,
“In such challenging and uncertain times, I personally long for some stability, something to lean on. Such programs cannot completely eliminate risks and challenges—such a goal is impossible right now—but they undeniably help to prevent collapse.”
When we survey beneficiaries [of Protection Program] and ask whether they were able to continue their civic activities after receiving support, over 90% say yes. This prompts reflection—how many wouldn’t have managed without the support or if it had been less comprehensive? I believe only about 30% would.
He concludes, “Funding such programs is extremely important. They often meet the urgent needs of affected members of civil society, especially when working in coordination with other organisations to provide comprehensive support.”
When people remain empowered to bring change, those changes will happen.
“Without such people or without support for them, what changes could we possibly talk about?”
Top photo: Hennadii Vypynashko photographed by Ukrainian war photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov in September 2024.
Educational Human Rights House Protection Program operates with the support of Human Rights House Foundation. From June 2022 until November 2024 it was implemented within the ESU project.
Emergency Support Ukraine is a regional project that provides opportunities for emergency support for Ukrainian civil society and independent media in the wake of the full-scale Russian invasion. ESU is funded by the European Union and implemented by ERIM-led coalition of partners including Human Rights House Foundation.
