Solidarity in the cold: An update from our friends in GEN Ukraine

Dear GEN Europe Community,

Today, we share a vital update from our friends and colleagues at GEN Ukraine. As the full-scale war continues, cities and critical infrastructure across the country are facing targeted attacks. In Kyiv, the situation is particularly dire; the energy system has been heavily damaged, leaving over 6,000 residential buildings without heat or electricity during the harshest months of winter.

In the face of these immense challenges, the ecovillage movement has shown incredible resilience. Starting in January, the GEN Ukraine network began “de-winterizing” and reopening the common spaces of ecovillages across the country to support those in crisis.

A message of hope and connection

The network’s leader, Maksym Zalevsky, recently published an appeal to Kyiv residents, inviting them to find refuge in these communal spaces. The response was overwhelming: the message received over 100,000 views and hundreds of shares, serving as a powerful voice of support for people in their most difficult moments.

Currently, at least five locations are active in the Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zhytomyr regions. These are not merely shelters or hotels; they are living communities based on mutual support and shared responsibility. They offer:

• Warmth and safety: A refuge from the freezing temperatures.
• Connection: The opportunity to work online and stay connected.
• A supportive environment: Alcohol- and substance-free spaces focused on psycho-emotional well-being.

How we can help

Our Ukrainian ecovillages have mobilized with extraordinary effort, but their resources are stretched thin. To keep these spaces running, the network is currently developing a winter transition guide for new residents and is urgently collecting funds for:

• Firewood and Insulation
• Generators and Fuel
• Basic Equipment for communal living

We are reaching out to you, our European family, to help GEN Ukraine sustain this vital lifeline.

How to Support the Initiative:

• Direct Donation (Monobank): https://send.monobank.ua/jar/A7c7StLSTa
• Organization: NGO “GME UKRAINE”, code 42452179
• IBAN: UA623052990000026007045026056 (PrivatBank)

We are deeply grateful for the courage of the Ukrainian eco-settlements and for the generosity of our global community. Please consider sharing this news within your own networks to help spread the warmth.

In community & solidarity,

The GEN Europe Team