Public Interest Journalism Lab

PIJLab is a honoree of the #DemocracyAward 2022 by @NEDemocracy. "PIJLab distills complex issues facing Ukrainian society with a new kind of storytelling". @ngumenyuk tells more about our work and mission⬇️ youtube.com/watch?v=75yU_m…

Kersti Kaljulaid @KerstiKaljulaid on Heraskevych’s “memory helmet,” Narva on Russia’s border, what NATO’s presence in Estonia really means, and how Russia targets Ukraine’s energy system. A sharp, honest conversation about security and responsibility. lifeinwar.com/en/publication…

In the new episode of When Everything Matters, Nataliya Gumenyuk speaks with Jeffrey Trimble about modern Russia, his experience reporting from the Soviet Union, and how the U.S. sees Ukraine today. journlab.online/en/everything-…

What is the risk that Moscow might disrupt future elections in Ukraine? "Russia is trying to use and sow division inside of Ukraine," argues @ngumenyuk the co-founder of @PIJLab. "I do still think that Ukrainian society is rather resilient." 🧵 4/5

We, together with @ECPMF, are opening a new call for fellowships for independent media and journalists in Ukraine for 2026. Priority goes to frontline regions, relocated newsrooms, and reporters working in high-risk conditions. journlab.online/en/post/public…

“In an entire city, it was Serhii who was killed,” his friend says. This is a story about a man who saved lives for decades — and was killed for doing his job. hromadske.ua/en/war/257710-…

Serhii was 56. For more than 25 years, he worked as a senior paramedic in Kakhovka, Kherson region. After the occupation, he kept working under constant danger. Later, his family fled to Kyiv.

On the night of January 9, during a Russian drone attack on Kyiv, paramedic Serhii Smoliak was killed while responding to an emergency call. He came to help people in a damaged residential building. A second strike followed.

Thank you for following our work. This newsletter offers a more detailed overview of November–December, as well as a reminder of what has been central to us this year. Read it now and subscribe to our Substack pijlab.substack.com/p/childrens-li…

Hasan al Hariri, @CIJAOnline Syria Director had the honour of joining Ukrainian human rights activists to discuss different approaches to war crimes documentation and justice organised by @syrianetf, @MadaniyaNetwork and @PIJlab. Drawing on CIJA s experience in both Syria and Ukraine, Hasan called for the shift of focus to rebuilding the national institutions in Syria which will ultimately bear the responsibility for delivering accountability and transitional justice. CIJA stands ready to support the Syrian efforts to design effective transitional justice mechanisms and is in discussion with the relevant authorities about concrete assistance that CIJA can provide in the short and long term.

You can now read Nataliya Gumenyuk’s @ngumenyuk in-depth conversation with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa @mariaressa—about the “war on drugs,” the machinery of fear, media persecution, and how disinformation rewires entire societies. Full text 👉 lifeinwar.com/en/publication…

New PIJL podcast: 124 journalists killed, 377 jailed in 2025. CPJ’s Jodie Ginsberg @jodieginsberg on how labeling reporters as “security threats” fuels violence — and how coverage of Gaza is starting to shift. 🎧 With Nataliya Gumenyuk @ngumenyuk. journlab.online/en/everything-…

“Pro-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland is much stronger than anti-Ukrainian,” says sociologist Sławomir Sierakowski — who helped raise €15M for Ukraine. In a talk with @ngumenyuk, he explains why Poland’s future depends on alliance, not divisions. journlab.online/en/everything-…

Our friends at @AguantaUcrania invite you to join the online discussion “Latin America and Europe in the Face of the Collapse of International Law: Ukraine, Gaza and Everything Else” — Nov 7, 3:30pm CET. With Oleksandra Matviichuk and leading voices from Latin America & Europe.

Russian drones are turning Kherson into a shooting range for civilians. They chase women walking dogs, cyclists, ambulances — and share videos online calling them “trophies.” Story by Viktoriia Balytska / The Reckoning Project for @infobae: infobae.com/america/mundo/…

25 years ago, journalist Georgiy Gongadze was murdered. His death became a symbol of the struggle for press freedom in Ukraine. We produced a documentary “The Murder of Gongadze. 20 Years of Searching for the Truth”, available in English. Watch here youtube.com/watch?v=cuj9Qy…

Farewell and memory, democracy as the key to resilience, and responsible reporting on occupation – PIJL news pijlab.substack.com/p/farewell-and…

“We don’t want to change Russia. We want to preserve Ukraine.” Nataliya Gumenyuk @ngumenyuk on trauma reporting, civilian hostages, drone warfare, and why occupation is worse than war. 🎧 Listen youtube.com/watch?v=LEI2Nq…

Some survivors of war crimes still don’t know they’re entitled to compensation. Others carry veteran IDs at 20. In our June newsletter: meetings with investigators, life in a shelled care home, young soldiers, podcasts, and more. open.substack.com/pub/pijlab/p/m…

Two years after Ukrainian writer #VictoriaAmelina was killed in Kramatorsk, we remember her courage and legacy. Listen to our podcast with Héctor Abad Faciolince, who was with her that day — and survived. journlab.online/en/everything-…

Trump was waiting for protests to justify deploying the military, says Washington Post editor Damir Marusic. Force was used not just for order, but to intimidate. His harsh immigration policy is deepening divisions in the U.S. Listen here journlab.online/en/everything-…