As the war in Ukraine intensifies, public service broadcasters across Europe have stepped up in a show of solidarity for the EBU’s Ukrainian Member UA:PBC.

Despite the many challenges and risks, the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:PBC has continued broadcasting since the Russian invasion began last week, providing vital news and information to citizens and sharing reports and eyewitness coverage with EBU Members.

EBU Members are also providing trusted news to audiences that include listeners and viewers in Ukraine and more than one million refugees who have fled the country. As part of resilience operations, broadcasters are using additional shortwave frequencies to deliver news bulletins to Ukraine and parts of Russia, while a growing number of Members are integrating UA:PBC radio and video feeds into their online services to reach displaced citizens and Ukrainians living abroad.

Beyond round-the-clock news updates, public service broadcasters are coming together to show support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. This morning, over 150 radio stations joined Germany’s RBB radioeins for a simultaneous broadcast of John Lennon’s iconic ‘Give Peace a Chance’ while, next week, radio stations will be invited to join Radio Romania to air Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and UA:PBC. 

Members from across the continent - including Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland - are organizing fund-raising concerts in collaboration with the Red Cross and other NGOs; with further initiatives including live vigils, special performances of Ukrainian music and regular broadcasts of the Ukrainian national anthem.

Behind the scenes, the EBU has also been co-ordinating technical support for UA:PBC and working, with assistance from Members, to ensure public service media can continue to broadcast and reach Ukrainian citizens.

EBU President and France Télévisions CEO Delphine Ernotte Cunci said: "This war in Ukraine shows to what extent communication is also a weapon. We all stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian public service media colleagues and we are doing our utmost to make their voices heard as well as to fight against disinformation in the name of press freedom for all Europeans."

Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board, UA:PBC said: “Access to independent news and information is never more important than in times of war. We’d like to pay tribute to our fellow broadcasters across the continent who have stood by us in these dark days – helping us to continue broadcasting to our citizens both at home and abroad.”