Ukraine at war, Ukraine in struggle...

In Kyiv, on the initiative of some forty organisations, pickets against land corruption in the city were organised last month. The protesters are demanding the dismissal of the 17 officials involved in these cases and have initiated the establishment of public oversight boards. [1] In Odessa, the Centre for Civil Liberties organizes citizen control of the city’s bomb shelters, in order to check their condition and accessibility for the population.

Battle against health sector privatisation

For its part, the Free Trade Union of Health Workers is organising a campaign against the ongoing medical reform, which aims to further privatize the sector and "turn patients into customers of the private medical sector". In Kyiv, a rally was held to protest against street attacks on LGBT people. Under the slogan "My tradition is love", the protesters are demanding that Parliament pass a law against hate crimes. A few weeks earlier, the far right had tried, unsuccessfully, to prevent a queer festival.

In western Donbass, the Regional Union of the Independent Union of Miners of Ukraine has organised a delivery of equipment to support soldiers at the front. Among the objects delivered, which soldiers often lack, are metal parts for the manufacture of anti-drone barbecues. The same union recalls that "[the aid given] to those who defend Ukraine against the Russian enemy invasion, could become much more important if miners who are on the front lines of work receive decent and high wages".

Fight for wages and democratic rights

At the Derazhny City Multipurpose Hospital, the Soyez trade union was successful in convicting the director of non-payment of wages and securing their payment. The health staff and their union believe that the director should be removed from his position. In the village of Slavske, 20 municipal councillors were dismissed following a meeting organised by the inhabitants. The latter consider that "[they] ignore their duties towards the voters and [point] to the lack of working meetings with them".

These are just a few examples of the myriads of initiatives in war-torn Ukraine. They reveal the vitality of a population that, through its resistance to Putin’s invasion as well as to the policies of the Ukrainian oligarchy, continues to fight for its social and democratic rights. It is to them, above all, that we bring our unconditional solidarity.

29 May 2025

Translated by International Viewpoint from l’Anticapitaliste.