Official Position of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia Regarding the Article Published in Rus.Postimees

Dear partners, members of the Ukrainian community, volunteers, and friends of Ukraine,

We consider it necessary to publish the official position of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia in connection with a recent article published by Rus.Postimees concerning the activities of our organization.

We have profound respect for freedom of expression, the right of journalists to ask questions, and the public’s right to receive answers. For this reason, we have always remained open to constructive dialogue, treated criticism with respect, and stood ready to provide the necessary explanations to competent authorities, partners, and the public within the framework of applicable law.

At the same time, we must note that the publication does not provide readers with a complete and balanced understanding of the circumstances. The article combines individual subjective statements, assumptions, value judgements, and events that are not directly connected. As a result, it creates a negative impression of the Association’s activities, although it does not present a single established fact of any violation of the law.

KEY FACTS CONCERNING THE SITUATION
To date, no court, public authority, or supervisory body has established any misuse of public funds, misappropriation of assets, fraud, or other financial misconduct by the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia or its governing bodies.
The legal dispute referred to in the article concerns exclusively a legal question regarding the procedure and scope for providing information under the laws of the Republic of Estonia. It is not connected with the establishment of any financial misconduct. The judgment of the court of first instance is currently under appeal and is not final.
Our legal position is that transparency in the use of public funds must be properly balanced against the protection of the personal data of volunteers, donors, partners, and direct recipients of assistance. The matter concerns a considerable volume of documents containing confidential information that requires appropriate legal assessment and processing before any possible disclosure.
All of the Association’s annual reports are submitted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Estonia and are publicly available in the relevant state registers:
Teatmik.ee – Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia

Estonian e-Business Register – Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia

The Association regularly implements projects supported by national and municipal institutions. Grant funding is used in accordance with the relevant funding conditions, while reports submitted to grant providers undergo the prescribed control and verification procedures. The relevant screenshots are attached to this statement.
THE CONTENT AND PRESENTATION OF THE ARTICLE
Of particular concern is the fact that the publication combines several different and unrelated matters: a legal dispute concerning access to information, questions about an individual vehicle, the activities of a media project, relations with contractors, and statements made many years ago. Combining these subjects creates the impression of a systemic problem, although the article provides no verified facts supporting such a conclusion.
Part of the article is also based on statements made by individual persons whose identities were not disclosed by the editorial office. Their positions are presented as evidence supporting an overall negative conclusion about the Association’s activities, although readers are not given sufficient information to assess those individuals’ knowledge of the circumstances or their impartiality.
The headline of the article is a separate cause for concern because it creates the impression that the Association categorically refuses to provide information. In reality, the legal dispute is not about concealing information. It concerns determining the scope of the documents that may be provided while complying with requirements concerning personal data protection, confidential third-party information, and the safety of assistance recipients. The Association has never opposed the principle of transparency or refused to cooperate with public authorities.
The matter is therefore currently being addressed exclusively through legal procedures.

RESULTS OF OUR ACTIVITIES AND REPORTING TO PARTNERS
The Association cooperates with public authorities, local governments, international organizations, charitable foundations, and civil society initiatives. Within this cooperation, the organization regularly reports to grant providers and partners in accordance with the applicable requirements.
During the past eighteen months alone, approximately EUR 8,000 has been raised through various community-supported events for humanitarian needs and the support of Ukrainian military units. Information about these fundraising campaigns and their results is publicly available. Links to the fundraising campaigns and supported initiatives are provided below.
Because the article raises matters that may be of public interest, while some explanations and additional context were not included in the publication, we consider it necessary to provide further clarification.

ASSISTANCE TO THE DEFENCE FORCES OF UKRAINE AND HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
We believe that matters relating to support for Ukraine and assistance to the Defence Forces of Ukraine must be assessed on the basis of documents and verified facts, rather than assumptions or public speculation.

All humanitarian consignments, vehicles, and charitable assistance transferred with the Association’s involvement had a defined intended purpose, and their delivery to the respective recipients is supported by documentary evidence.

Nevertheless, the article raises doubts about the subsequent fate of one particular vehicle, a Volkswagen Transporter Kasten. The Association possesses documents confirming that the vehicle was transferred to a unit of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. We are prepared to provide the vehicle acceptance and transfer certificate upon request.

Following publication of the article, we additionally contacted the person who had provided the vehicle and asked which specific documents or explanations were of interest. No response had been received by the time this statement was prepared.

Consequently, suggestions that the vehicle may have disappeared or been used for purposes other than those intended are not supported by the available documents and constitute an unfounded and manipulative assertion.

INTERNAL PROJECTS AND MEDIA INITIATIVES
All decisions concerning the activities of individual projects, changes to the composition of the Management Board, or changes to the organizational structure were made in accordance with the procedures established by the Association’s articles of association and the laws of the Republic of Estonia.

Operational disagreements, staff changes, or changes to operating formats are common in the nonprofit sector and cannot in themselves be regarded as evidence of misconduct.

We would also like to point out that the article creates the impression that Radio drUzi has ceased operating. This is not true. Radio drUzi continues to operate as an online radio station. It broadcasts online, maintains its own website and editorial team, and continues to produce new content.

The radio station did discontinue FM broadcasting during the summer of last year. This decision was caused by objective financial circumstances and the high cost of technical services. The organization repeatedly informed the public about the project’s difficult financial position and appealed to the community and potential donors to support Ukrainian radio in Estonia:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1NaMHdNUmq/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GV6frcpEC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Accordingly, the interpretation that FM broadcasting was discontinued because of the personal views or beliefs of the organization’s management does not correspond to reality.

RELATIONS WITH CONTRACTORS
The article also refers to certain commercial relations with contractors.

The Association fulfils its contractual and financial obligations to partners and counterparties in good faith. Individual commercial issues that may arise during the implementation of major projects or events do not in themselves constitute evidence of financial misconduct.

As an example, the article refers to an alleged debt of approximately EUR 5,000 owed to one contractor. However, the available documents and the contractor’s own public statements indicate a different amount—EUR 1,263.53—and confirm that it was subsequently paid. All financial settlements between the parties were completed:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BJUAkHJLT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18kZ5LvzGX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia has operated for more than twenty-five years, supporting the development of the Ukrainian language, culture, education, and community in Estonia.

During this time, dozens of cultural, educational, youth, and humanitarian projects have been implemented, and hundreds of events have been organized for the Ukrainian community. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression, thousands of people have participated in our humanitarian, cultural, educational, and charitable initiatives.

We cooperate with Estonian and Ukrainian public authorities, local governments, international partners, schools, cultural institutions, and civil society organizations.

We remain open to cooperation with civil society, public authorities, journalists, partners, and representatives of the Ukrainian community. We believe that all questions concerning the activities of civil society organizations must be considered on the basis of verified facts and documents and within the framework of established legal procedures.

At the same time, we consider it unacceptable for unverified assumptions, personal conflicts, or the manipulation of information to be used by the media to discredit the Ukrainian community in Estonia, volunteer work, or civil society initiatives. Public discussion concerning the activities of any Ukrainian organization in Estonia must be based on responsibility, good faith, and respect for facts.

In view of the circumstances described above, the Association is preparing submissions to journalistic self-regulatory bodies and other competent institutions. The purpose is to obtain a proper assessment of both the content of this publication and the systematic dissemination of information that may damage the reputation of the organization, its governing bodies, and its representatives.

We believe that freedom of expression is one of the fundamental values of democracy. However, it is inseparably linked to responsibility for the accuracy of the information being disseminated.

The Association therefore reserves the right to use all legal mechanisms available to protect the honour, dignity, reputation, and legitimate interests of the organization and its officers in cases where the dissemination of false information, manipulative statements, or actions aimed at unjustified discrediting becomes systematic and causes harm to the Association’s work and to the Ukrainian community it represents.

We are convinced that all disputed matters must be resolved exclusively on the basis of facts and documents and within the framework of the law.

Our principles remain unchanged:

✔ transparency — yes;

✔ legality — yes;

✔ accountability — yes;

✔ protection of personal data and people’s safety — yes;

✔ respect for the right of the press and the public to receive information — yes;

✖ manipulation, premature conclusions, and division within the community — no.

We thank all our partners, volunteers, teachers, parents, Ukrainian organizations, and friends of Ukraine for their trust, support, and shared work.

Today, as Ukraine continues to fight for its freedom and independence, we believe that the Ukrainian community in Estonia must remain united around our shared values: support for Ukraine, mutual respect, responsibility, and trust. These are the principles on which the Association has relied throughout its years of activity and on which it will continue to rely in the future.

For everyone wishing to learn more about the Association’s activities, projects, reports, events, and public information, we provide links to publicly available resources.

Official information channels of the Association
Official website of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia:
https://ukraine.ee/ee

Official Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/eesti.ukrainlased

Telegram channel “Ukrainians in Estonia”:
https://t.me/eestiukrainlased

Facebook group “Events for Ukrainians in Estonia”:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/659010032770800

Facebook page “Ukrainian Film Club in Estonia”:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1002270754218036/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/eesti.ukrainlased/

YouTube channel “House of Friends of Ukraine / Ukraina Sõprade Maja”:
https://youtube.com/@house_of_friends_of_ukraine?si=htaugpZfnB4HwRsD

Official Radio drUzi website:
https://druzi.ee/

Public information and annual reports
https://www.teatmik.ee/en/personlegal/80127690-Ukraina-Organisatsioonide-Assotsiatsioon-Eestis

https://ariregister.rik.ee/eng/company/80127690/Ukraina-Organisatsioonide-Assotsiatsioon-Eestis

Fundraising campaigns and supported initiatives
Links to posts on the Association’s Facebook page concerning fundraising for humanitarian needs and support for Ukrainian military units during the past eighteen months:

Fundraising and a charity auction held during the “Vyshyvanka Unites 2026” festival in support of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky and interceptor drones under the “United Fundraiser” initiative of the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B7RMrdHqu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FcYihPyFd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fundraising during the “Vyshyvanka Unites 2025” festival for the Phoenix unit of the Pomsta Combat Brigade, the 3rd Luhansk Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The fundraiser was initiated by performers from the Song and Dance Ensemble of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine:

https://www.facebook.com/100080257516610/posts/712316418120269/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=dgbfhoAVvv7iiv1A#

Fundraising for a generator for the Good People inclusive community:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jaLaoXUJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fundraising for the soldiers of the Vyrii Unmanned Systems Company of the 241st Separate Territorial Defence Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a screening of the documentary film “A Simple Soldier”:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17pskZVQ2H/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fundraising in support of the 5th Sumy Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine during a concert by ROMAX:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DBTLxxojb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fundraising for humanitarian support for military personnel and civilians during a screening of the film “Hutsulka Ksenia”:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BxzgGnU1h/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fundraising and a charity auction during the 2025 Christmas Eve celebration to purchase technical equipment for soldiers from the Sumy region currently defending Ukraine:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1N49wbQgNQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Shipment of humanitarian aid to Ukraine consisting of 1,600,000 medical syringes:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DxD6p5xm6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Summary of the Association’s activities in 2025:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HLjUsWeMQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We deliberately provide public links to state registers, the Association’s official resources, and our projects so that everyone may independently verify the facts, review the reports, and reach conclusions based on documents rather than assumptions.

Respectfully,

Management Board
Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia

18 June 2026