Local and hyperlocal media remain among the most vulnerable media actors in Ukraine’s media landscape amid Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, they are very often the primary source of news from frontline areas, territories temporarily occupied by Russia and areas affected by hostilities, as well as the voices of small communities facing major challenges.
As Ukraine once again enters the autumn and winter period amid uncertainty both regarding the security situation and the availability of electricity and heating, the Council of Europe project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – Phase II” will provide power banks to a number of representatives of local and hyperlocal media.
Eligibility criteria for receiving a power bank:
- Be a Ukrainian citizen and reside in Ukraine.
- Be officially employed or work as a freelancer for a local or hyperlocal media in Ukraine.
- Adhere to professional and ethical standards in your work, including those set out in the Code of Ethics of Ukrainian Journalists.
- Provide up to 10 links to your own work published during the past four years.
- Cover the cost of delivery of the power bank.
The application form is available here: Application for support to representatives of local and hyperlocal media with power banks – Google Forms
Deadline: 22:00, 17 September 2026.
The project team will notify applicants of the outcome no later than 19:00 on 22 September 2026.
The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in Ukraine – Phase II” (SFEM-UA - Phase II) is implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.
