Ukrainian Dialogues, Copenhagen (2026)

14/06/2026

Due to the Russian war of aggression, thousands of Ukrainians have been affected by captivity: not only those behind bars, but their families, friends, and relatives. And women, among them, are especially vulnerable and less visible in captivity.

Discussion about them was at the heart of the panel that Ukrainian Dialogues co-organized at Folkemødet in partnership with POV International and WomenforUkraine. Our speakers from Ukraine brought first-hand experience: one documenting human rights violations in Russian captivity, the other representing families waiting for the release of their relatives. Joined by the Danish experts, they covered various angles of this problem.

Maria Klymyk from Медійна ініціатива за права людини (Media Initiative for Human Rights) highlighted that we still don't know what happened to many Ukrainians abducted or detained since 2014. Women in captivity face legal limbo, fabricated charges, sexual offense, psychological pressure, and threats against their families. Maria stressed that women released from captivity don't want pure revenge, for it brings nothing; instead, they demand justice for all of the war crimes committed.

Daria Halchenko, sister of a POW captured in Mariupol, spoke from lived experience: "I live in the information hell." Each morning for her begins with scanning chats, videos, and news for any trace of her brother. She had to orient herself to international law and become a voice for her brother and other detainees in russian captivity.

Thea Pedersen, Danish war correspondent and photographer, brought into focus the double burden carried by Ukrainian women: fighting for relatives in captivity while raising children largely alone, with few resources. They strive not to lose themselves in these battles.

Liv Maria Baastrup Detlif from Amnesty International Danmark confirmed that women in captivity are often mistreated, receive inadequate medical care, and face heightened risk of offense. She pointed out that Denmark's adoption of the universal jurisdiction principle is a concrete step that allows Danish courts to prosecute russian war crimes committed in another country.

A huge thank you to Søren Liborius for moderating with such care, rigor, and sensitivity, and to everyone who showed up and engaged with such a difficult but necessary topic.

12/06/2026

This week, Skripnik, Head of the Crimean Human Rights Group, published the summary of the growing persecution of women under Russian occupation. These recent updates from Olha are a reminder of why we at Ukrainian Dialogues have been consistently working to raise awareness about the realities of occupation, political imprisonment, and captivity in Denmark and across the Nordic region.

In May, we welcomed Olha Skrypnyk as a speaker at the Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit, co-organised by our team, where she spoke about repression and arrests in occupied Crimea.

And these days, together with WomenforUkraine, we are continuing this work in Bornholm at Folkemødet , Denmark's largest democracy and political festival, which brings together citizens, politicians, civil actors, and international guests. Daria and Maria from Ukraine - among Folkemodet speakers this year.
Halchenko, a civil society activist and sister of a Ukrainian POW captured during the siege of Mariupol, speaks about the families left behind - mothers, sisters, wives, and children whose lives become defined by years of uncertainty and waiting.
Klymyk from the Initiative for Human Rights shares her expertise in documenting war crimes, investigating places of detention, and working with testimonies from Ukrainian prisoners of war and their families.

According to the Кримська правозахисна група / Crimean Human Rights Group, the persecution of women in occupied territories has intensified dramatically since Russia's full-scale invasion. While before 2022 there were only around five female political prisoners in occupied Crimea, by early 2026 the number had risen to more than 80. Many of these women are mothers or sole caregivers for elderly relatives. Human rights monitors have documented widespread conflict-related sexual violence, including r**e, sexual torture, forced nudity, and other forms of abuse in detention facilities across occupied Ukrainian territories. Reports also indicate a disturbing trend of women being unlawfully detained and subjected to sexual exploitation by Russian forces. At the same time, Ukrainian authorities estimate that Russia is currently holding around 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war and between 10,000 and 20,000 civilian detainees and hostages. More than 95% of released Ukrainian POWs report torture or ill-treatment in captivity, highlighting the systematic nature of abuses committed in Russian detention facilities.

We are confident that such topics must be raised in any democratic community, as they not only support those in captivity but also sharpen our sense of justice and accountability for crimes against humanity.

25/05/2026

2-й Корпус НГУ «Хартія» був представлений у двох знакових заходах у Копенгагені.

Щорічна конференція Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit (NUAS) 2026, яка відбулася у парламенті Данії, зібрала 150 учасників з України, держав Скандинавії та Балтії — представників неурядового та державного сектору.

На панелі Nordic Response to Hybrid Threats представник «Хартії» поділився практичним досвідом у сфері когнітивної війни та протидії спробам ворога посіяти розкол між суспільством, владою й армією. Учасники форуму дізналися, як Сили безпеки й оборони України зміцнюють суспільну стійкість і критичне мислення як у військових, так і у цивільних.

На саміті Copenhagen Democracy Summit на запрошення Alliance of Democracies Foundation хартійці взяли участь у дискусії «Майбутнє європейської безпеки», присвяченій доктрині тотальної оборони: досвід Нордичних країн та українська реальність. Від 2014 року Україна де-факто реалізує цю доктрину в умовах реальної війни — і цей досвід є безцінним для побудови мостів між Україною та Європою.

Дякуємо організаторам за можливість представляти українську цивільно-військову перспективу на міжнародному рівні.

21/05/2026

Dialogue, knowledge exchange, stronger connections, and deeper understanding make our societies more resilient and better prepared to collaborate, even in times of crisis.

We hope the NUAS network will continue growing, creating meaningful impact in Ukraine and the Nordics for years to come.

by Yevhenii Klusovskyi

21/05/2026

Last week, Ukrainian Dialogues hosted the annual CSO Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit 2026 in Copenhagen. With the summit now concluded, we look back on its key moments.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has united civic activists and strengthened civil society networks across the Nordics, driving collective action to support Ukrainian resilience and regional democratic security. Today, as these organisations shape public discourse, advocate for democratic responses, deliver humanitarian assistance, and bring first-hand Ukrainian experience into international discussions, Nordic Ukraine Forum's has become an essential platform for their cooperation and long-term strategic planning.

For Ukrainian Dialogues, hosting NUAS 2026 was both an honour and a responsibility. As a result, the Summit brought together in Copenhagen over 150 participants from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, and reached far outside the meeting rooms, with 20 media publications across 6 countries and international platforms, including Politiken, the Council of Europe, УКРІНФОРМ, and the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine / Міністерство соціальної політики, сім'ї та єдності України.

Important messages were shared by the speakers on May 10, when CSOs' representatives became the voices of the summit. Antonia Golis, Alyona Kashyna, Foss, Vitaliy Zabolotskyy — shared practical tools for cross-border regional initiatives. Yet we also understood that, while we are so similar, we need to put in much more effort to facilitate cooperation and explore new frameworks.

That is why communication with the Nordic Cooperation Secretariat was essential, and Kristina Hafoss’ participation in the Summit proved that we have much to learn from each other. Civil society organisations are part of the civic foundation that has long held Nordic trust together, and supporting their fortitude is also supporting society’s readiness to withstand crises.

And that is why it was crucial to address what stands behind CSOs’ dedication to supporting Ukraine: unjust aggression, the blind spots and weaknesses of international law, dependence on “great” democracies, and Ukraine’s will for freedom and dignity. These shaped the discussions on international accountability for war crimes and hybrid influence from anti-democratic regimes in the Nordic region.

In the panel with Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Grue Christensen, Schack and Skripnik, moderated by Wind, it became clear that more can — and must — be done to ensure accountability for Russian crimes in Ukraine. As Rasmus Grue Christensen from DIGNITY - Danish Institute Against Torture said, “Peace without justice is not peace. It is only the preparation for the next crime.” And as Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and recent European Order of Merit laureate, reminded us in her special video message, “We must break the circle of impunity.”

In the panel with Michael Jarlner, Salo, Serritzlev underlined that “all actions have a cognitive effect. Whether it is physical sabotage, cyberattacks, or information threats, they serve the same objective: to disrupt and weaken our societies and our cohesion.”

In addition, the Summit coincided with the dates marking the end of World War II, making the parallels with today’s Russian occupation of Ukrainian lands even more visible. As Skripnik reminded us, “between three and five million people remain under occupation and suffer daily from massive human rights violations.”

For us outside Ukraine, this leaves a difficult task: to recognise these threats and respond with action, while continuing to value everyday life and support those who make that life possible, as Ukrainians do.

Therefore, we value and are grateful to our friends, Summit partners, and participants, who have proven that unity is not about sameness, but about a shared goal and constant dialogue. And this dialogue of understanding, where full inclusion leaves no “weak” link, is possible. NUAS 2026 showed once again that support for Ukraine has grown from reaction into a system, from solidarity into responsibility, and from separate efforts into shared cross-border infrastructure.

We are proud that Ukrainian Dialogues could help bring this platform to Copenhagen, and we hope that we were able to add something to its development from our whole hearts, as we are not just discussing tomorrow - we are shaping it.

Photos by Samorodov

15/05/2026

On May 10–11, the fourth Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit (NUAS) 2026 took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Summit brought together advocacy organizations from Ukraine, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, united in their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and Nordic security integration.

The Summit was designed as a two-day format, moving from collaboration to coordination — strengthening a connected and mutually supportive advocacy community, while building trust within civic society in the region, fostering societal resilience and self-organized civil society initiatives.

Day 1 was held at the Ukraine Culture House and focused on collaboration and exchange. Representatives from civil society organisations across the Nordics, Baltics, and Ukraine connected, shared experiences, and developed practical ideas for joint cooperation through interactive team-building workshops. The day concluded with a networking dinner, creating space for informal dialogue and partnership-building.

Day 2 took place at the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) and focused on coordination and strategic dialogue. The program opened with remarks from the hosts and organisers, followed by three high-level panel discussions with international experts, representatives of civil society and policymakers, accompanied by Q&A sessions:
- Ensuring a Just Peace: This panel focused on Russian war crimes in occupied Ukrainian territories and the importance of accountability. Speakers discussed the deportation of Ukrainian children, the millions still living under occupation, and the extensive documentation of human rights abuses. They emphasized that while evidence of crimes is abundant, international responses and legal consequences remain too slow. The panel concluded that justice and accountability are essential foundations for lasting peace and must be pursued during the war, not only afterward.
- Nordic Response to Hybrid Threats: The second panel examined how Nordic countries and Ukraine can respond to hybrid threats such as disinformation, psychological warfare, and attacks on democratic cohesion. Participants stressed the need for stronger strategic communication, public resilience, media literacy, and proactive deterrence. Speakers highlighted how Russia uses information warfare to divide societies and undermine trust, while emphasizing that critical thinking, fact-checking, and societal unity are key defenses against these transnational threats.
- Nordic-Ukraine Civic Axis: The final panel explored long-term cooperation between Nordic and Ukrainian civil society organizations to strengthen resilience and democratic security. Speakers highlighted Ukraine’s effective and highly organized civil society during wartime, the value of partnerships instead of donor-recipient relationships, and the importance of cooperation among governments, businesses, militaries, and civic groups. The discussion emphasized shared democratic values, localization of humanitarian support, and the Nordic “total defense” model as inspirations for building durable regional resilience and trust.

Distinguished speakers at the Summit included, among others:
- Anne Valentina Berthelsen (DK), Member of the Danish Parliament, Socialist People's Party, the host
- keynote video address from Oleksandra Matviichuk (Ukraine), Head of the Center for Civil Liberties / Центр громадянських свобод, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2022
- Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir (IS), Special Envoy of the Council of Europe on Ukrainian children
- Olha Skrypnyk (UA), Head of the Board, Crimean Human Rights Group Кримська правозахисна група / Crimean Human Rights Group
- Rasmus Grue Christensen (DK), CEO, DIGNITY - Danish Institute Against Torture, Chair, Danish Human Rights Council
- Marc Schack (DK), Associate Professor of International Law and National Security, University of Copenhagen
- Magnus Hjort (SE), Director General, Swedish Psychological Defence Agency / Myndigheten för psykologiskt försvar
- Jeanette Serritzlev (DK), Military Analyst, Royal Danish Defence College
- Mikko Salo (FI), Founder, Faktabaari
- Volodymyr Dehtyarov (UA), Public Affairs Officer, 2nd Corps "Khartiia" Корпус «Хартія», National Guard of Ukraine
- Kristina Háfoss (FO), Secretary General, Nordisk Råd / Nordic Council
- Christian Friis Bach (DK), Former Member of Parliament, Former Executive Secretary, UNECE
- Jorun Sigrid Nossum (NO), Director, Norad, Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine
- Lo**ta Cigane (LV), Senior Adviser on EU Integration, EU Advisory Mission Ukraine
- Orest Bilous (UA), CEO, Boryviter Centre of Excellence / Боривітер
- Tymofiy Brik (UA), Rector, Kyiv School of Economics
- Marlene Wind (DK), Professor of European Politics, University of Copenhagen, as moderator
- Michael Jarlner (DK), International Commentator, Politiken, as moderator
- Alina Zubkovych (SE), Head, Nordic Ukraine Forum, as moderator

As the war in Ukraine continues, the Nordic-Baltic civil society stands resolute, united in purpose, and committed to ensuring that Ukraine's voice remains strong on the international stage. NUAS 2026 reinforced that support for Ukraine is not just a political stance, but a shared moral responsibility across borders.

The event was a result of a great collaboration between the founder of NUAS, Nordic Ukraine Forum, as well as hosting organisations Ukrainian Dialogues and AUD: Association af Ukrainere i Danmark / Асоціація Українців Данії, as well as the organisations that hosted NUAS previous years - Українська громада в Норвегії Den ukrainske forening i Norge, as well as to Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa ry / Асоціація українців у Фінляндії.

We would like to extend our gratitude to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Nordics, Embassy of Latvia in Denmark, Nordic Council of Ministers, Knud Højgaards Fond for their financial support, and Rasmussen Global for collaboration.

Many thanks to all the organizations that participated in the Summit!

Photos: Alex Samorodov

05/05/2026

In just a few days, the fourth annual Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit 2026 will take place in Copenhagen. As civil society activists shape public discourse, support democracy, deliver aid, and amplify Ukraine’s voice globally, the need for stronger regional coordination grows, requiring more horizontal connections for a comprehensive and systemic approach to democratic resilience.
The Summit is designed to hear from professional speakers who define discourse in their fields and equip participants with expert knowledge — helping to identify key systemic obstacles, understand how to navigate disinformation, and select advocacy themes that work best in the Nordic-Baltic region and will be most relevant for Ukraine.

With this in mind, we are pleased to introduce the speakers, moderators, and special guests of the Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit 2026:

Anne Valentina Berthelsen (DK), Member of the Danish Parliament, Socialist People's Party, the host
Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir (IS), Special Envoy of the Council of Europe on Ukrainian children
Olha Skrypnyk (UA), Head of the Board, Crimean Human Rights Group
Rasmus Grue Christensen (DK), CEO, DIGNITY - Danish Institute Against Torture, Chair, Danish Human Rights Council
Marc Schack (DK), Associate Professor of International Law and National Security, University of Copenhagen
Magnus Hjort (SE), Director General, Swedish Psychological Defence Agency
Jeanette Serritzlev (DK), Military Analyst, Royal Danish Defence College
Mikko Salo (FI), Founder, Faktabaari
Volodymyr Dehtyarov (UA), Public Affairs Officer, 2nd Corps "Khartiia", National Guard of Ukraine
Kristina Háfoss (FO), Secretary General, Nordic Council / Nordisk Råd
Christian Friis Bach (DK), Former Member of Parliament, Former Executive Secretary, UNECE
Jorun Sigrid Nossum (NO), Director, Norad, Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine
Lo**ta Cigane (LV), Senior Adviser on EU Integration, EU Advisory Mission Ukraine
Orest Bilous (UA), CEO, Boryviter Centre of Excellence
Tymofiy Brik (UA), Rector, Kyiv School of Economics
Marlene Wind (DK), Professor of European Politics, University of Copenhagen, as moderator
Michael Jarlner (DK), International Commentator, Politiken, as moderator
Alina Zubkovych (SE), Head, Nordic Ukraine Forum, as moderator

We look forward to meaningful discussions and new meetings that will help shape our work and vision for the next year. As democracy means shared responsibility, and it starts with a dialogue. Thus, see you in just six days in Copenhagen, to foster our dialogue and turn it into action.

27/04/2026

Civil society, policy experts, and security specialists to gather in Copenhagen at Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit 2026

This year’s annual Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit will take place on May 10th and May 11th in Copenhagen. The event is organised by us at Nordic Ukraine Forum, together with Ukrainian Dialogues and AUD: Association af Ukrainere i Danmark / Асоціація Українців Данії, as well as the Українська громада в Норвегії Den ukrainske forening i Norge, Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa ry / Асоціація українців у Фінляндії, and with support from The Nordic Council of Ministers, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Knud Højgaards Fond, and in collaboration with Rasmussen Global.

The summit focuses on how Nordic civic society supports democratic resilience, contributes to security efforts, and can cooperate with each other, professional institutions, and local government to ensure a just and durable peace in Ukraine. It also explores how the Nordic–Ukraine partnership can move from ad hoc cooperation to a scaled, coordinated system linking civil society, independent media, cultural actors, diaspora networks, and policymakers.

Programme overview:
May 10, Sunday, day 1 of Summit: Collaboration and exchange.
The first day will bring together representatives from civil society organisations from the Nordics, Baltics, and Ukraine to connect, share experiences, exchange knowledge, and develop practical ideas for joint cooperation.
May 11, Monday, day 2 of Summit: Coordination and strategic dialogue.
Multi-panel forum focusing on coordination and long-term impact with high-level speakers from Denmark, across the Nordics, Baltic countries, and Ukraine, with moderated panels, focused on:
- Ensuring a just peace, addressing Russia’s war crimes in the temporarily occupied territories, and the international response;
- Nordic response to hybrid threats, focusing on Nordic approaches to societal security and democratic resilience in the face of hybrid threats and disinformation.
- The Nordic–Ukraine civic axis: exploring the integration of Nordic CSOs into a Nordic support system for Ukraine.

Learn more at: https://nuforum.se/what_we_do/nordic-ukraine-advocacy-summit/nuas-2026

17/01/2026

Ukrainian Dialogues stands in solidarity with the people of Greenland 🇬🇱
We strongly condemn any attempt to assert control over Greenlanders' land through coercion or threats.

International law, the rules-based global order, and shared security are upheld through reliable partnerships, respect, and existing alliances - not through pressure or destabilization.
It is precisely threats to both Europe and America that erode trust and undermine collective security, making all actors more vulnerable.
Greenland’s security is part of Europe’s security.
The answer to this destabilization must be in unity, resilience, and cooperation for our common peaceful future.

24/12/2025

“𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎…”

Today, ahead of Christmas, as people wait for the celebration, we think of every Ukrainian prisoner of war, and we wait for each of them to return home.
This symbolic Christmas table by a Copenhagen canal serves as a reminder to all of us: as the world waits for Christmas, they wait for freedom.

Every day and every night, at least 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers are being starved and violently beaten in Russian captivity. They experience cold, hunger, humiliation, and constant physical pain. They die.
International observers and human rights organizations report widespread, systematic torture and inhuman treatment of Ukrainian POWs in Russian custody, including unlawful executions. Human Rights Watch from December 2025 says Russian forces torture and abuse Ukrainian POWs from the moment of capture through detention, and OSCE reports the same pattern, citing allegations of killings, torture, sexual violence, and broad ill-treatment.

We wish this post were about holidays, celebrations, and hope. Instead, it is about shame - a shame we all share. We allow Russia to torture Ukrainian prisoners of war every single day, because we still lack the effective mechanisms required to stop Russian crimes and ensure full accountability. Therefore, with each small campaign like this, we push for big changes.

Ukrainian POWs are the people who defended our peaceful lives in Europe. The vast majority are ordinary men from numerous professions who joined the fight against the Russian war. And this Christmas, we repeat one more time: freedom is the only gift that matters.
Free Ukrainian POWs now

Ukrainian Dialogues

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25/05/2026

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15/05/2026

05/05/2026

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