5 February 2026
Dear Colleagues in Ukraine,
February 24, 2022, remains etched in our hearts—a day that marked the beginning of a long and painful chapter that has now lasted nearly four years. As this date approaches once again, we want to acknowledge your remarkable courage, resilience, and dedication. Throughout these difficult years, and especially during the long and harsh winter months, you have continued to safeguard and preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage with incredible strength and commitment. Your work is not only vital but also a powerful source of hope and dignity.
We recognize your steadfast determination, the sacrifices you make, and the love you bring to your communities and to your mission. Please know that you are not forgotten. Your perseverance, professionalism, and humanity are greatly appreciated. In these uncertain and often challenging times, we want you to feel seen, valued, and cared for—not just as professional colleagues, but as individuals who matter and deserve rest, warmth, and peace.
Whether through professional exchange, advocacy, practical help, or simply standing in solidarity, CENL stands with you. If there is anything we can do—whether connecting you with resources, offering support, or helping to amplify your voices—please do not hesitate to reach out. Your voices matter, your work matters, and your well-being is important to us.
We hope you find moments of strength, warmth, and comfort amid the challenges you have to face. We remain hopeful for peace, justice, and a future in which your work can continue freely and safely, in the dignity it deserves. Until then, please know that we stand beside you with respect, care, and solidarity.
With warm regards and in solidarity,
Frank Scholze
CENL Chair
9 February 2026
Dear Frank Scholze,
Dear Colleagues at CENL,
Thank you very much for your kind, thoughtful, and deeply moving letter. Your words of solidarity, support, and understanding mean a great deal to us and are deeply appreciated by our colleagues in Ukraine.
We are sincerely grateful for your recognition of the work being done to protect and preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage under extremely difficult circumstances. Your encouragement gives us strength and reinforces our sense of purpose. Please forgive me for taking this step without prior permission, but I have decided to publish your warm letter of support on our website, so that our professional team and colleagues across Ukraine can know that our working conditions are understood and that we are not alone in these circumstances.
We highly appreciate CENL’s continued solidarity and readiness to support us through professional exchange, advocacy, and practical assistance. Knowing that we are not alone, and that our voices and well-being matter to our international colleagues, is a profound source of moral support.
In reality, the situation for our library has become increasingly difficult. Recently, during a massive missile attack, the windows of our administrative building were shattered, but we were able to address this damage. Most importantly, no one was injured. Although people are exhausted, they continue to work, and seeing their resilience gives me the strength to move forward as well. At present, our greatest challenges are related to power outages, which lead to a complete paralysis of staff work, severe cold inside the buildings, and serious inconveniences for readers who visit the library in person, as well as for those who try to use our electronic resources, since the servers do not function during outages. We constantly receive messages from users abroad who report that they cannot access our resources, and this makes me deeply sad, as the library is not able to afford a generator that could ensure uninterrupted operation and resolve many of these difficulties. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that we will be able to endure and continue our work during this difficult time.
Please accept our heartfelt thanks for your compassion, respect, and unwavering commitment to standing with Ukraine. We share your hope for peace, justice, and a future in which cultural institutions can work freely and safely. For us, these principles are critically important.
With sincere appreciation and warm regards,
Lyubov Dubrovina
on behalf of our colleagues in Ukraine
Following the Russian attack more than 8 months ago, the war in Ukraine is still going on. Among many others, librarians and libraries from all over Europe have been offering their support for the people in Ukraine, and for those who fled from their country. CENL set up this web page #StandWithUkraine with information from our members for those concerned.
The Federation of European Publishers (FEP) and the Frankfurt Book Fair invited international publishers and the book fair community to an event where the President of the Republic of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed all with a video message.
Zelensky called for unity in Europe, and encouraged the attendees to spread the word against the lack of knowledge which enables states like Russia to continue to oppress their people and others.
Knowledge is power! And in this respect libraries and librarians can be very powerful and supportive.
After Russia’s attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022 National libraries and their staff from all over Europe have looked into ways to support Ukrainian libraries and librarians through participation in existing initiatives or by forming their own support projects. After about a year CENL sought to gain a better overview about the measures being taken by European national libraries in support of Ukraine, its libraries and its cultural heritage. To achieve this a survey was conducted among the members of CENL from January to March 2023. Now, the results of this survey are available for download.
Last updated: 17-10-2022
Austria
Bundesministerium Inneres: https://www.bmi.gv.at/Ukraine/ (German)
OeAD, Agentur für Bildung und Internationalisierung: http://www.oead.at/ukraineinfo (German and English).
On this website the Agency for Education and Internationalization of the OeAD has collected Information for Ukrainian Students and researchers.
Belgium
Website about the situation in Ukraine: https://info-ukraine.be/en (English)
https://info-ukraine.be/uk (Українська)
Croatia
Web page Croatia for Ukraine: https://hrvatskazaukrajinu.gov.hr/ (Croatian)
and https://hrvatskazaukrajinu.gov.hr/ua (Ukrainian) – daily updated
Free phone number: 114
Red Cross, Croatia: https://www.hck.hr/novosti/letak-s-korisnim-informacijama-za-izbjeglice-iz-ukrajine/11225
Information leaflet in Croatian
Information leaflet in Ukraininan
Estonia
Estonian Refugee Council: https://www.pagulasabi.ee/en (English)
https://www.pagulasabi.ee/uk (Українська)
Information to Ukrainian war refugees https://kriis.ee/en/security-situation-europe/ukrainian-war-refugees
France
Ministère de l’intérieur: https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/dossiers/situation-en-ukraine/information-for-ukrainian-displaced-people-and-seeking-to (French)
https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/dossiers/situation-en-ukraine/you-wish-to-apply-for-temporary-protection-in-france (English)
https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/dossiers/situation-en-ukraine/vi-bazhaete-podati-zayavu-na-timchasoviy-zakhist-u-francii (Українська)
Bibliothèque Nationale de France: https://www.bnf.fr/fr/solidarite-avec-le-peuple-ukrainien
Germany
Germany4Ukraine: https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-de (German)
https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-en (English)
https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-ua (Українська)
Deutscher Bibliotheksverband: https://www.bibliotheksverband.de/ukraine (German)
Deutscher Kulturrat: http://www.kulturrat.de/ukraine/ (German)
Goethe-Institut: https://www.goethe.de/prj/mwd/de/ukraine.html (German)
https://www.goethe.de/prj/mwd/uk/ukraine.html (Українська)
Information about health insurance for refugees in Germany (English):
Greece
https://migration.gov.gr/ukraina_ukr/
Information in Ukranian, English and Greek language for displaced persons from Ukraine.
Iнформація для переміщених осіб з україни.
Latvia
Unified contact point for Ukrainians coming to Latvia https://www.ukraine-latvia.com/ (English)
https://www.ukraine-latvia.com/uk (Українська)
Luxembourg
Website of the Luxembourg Government: https://gouvernement.lu/en/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2022/03-mars/03-accueil-ukraine.html (English)
Website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs: Arrivals in Luxembourg – Ukraine – Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs // The Luxembourg Government (gouvernement.lu) (English)
Website of the Ukrainian Community in Luxembourg: https://www.ukrainians.lu/
Consular questions from people trying to leave Ukraine or in transit from Ukraine should be addressed to the Consular assistance of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs: assistance.consulaire@mae.etat.lu or +352 2478 2386
Moldova
Dopomoga.gov.md – the main website for Ukrainian refugees, set up by Moldovan government, includes information about: banking facilities, housing (including free options), so-me support, info for medical care, support for kids, employment, food, etc.).
Poland
The main government website for Ukrainian war refugees (in Ukrainian): https://www.gov.pl/web/ua
United Kingdom
UK Government advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-family-members-of-british-nationals-in-ukraine-and-ukrainian-nationals-in-ukraine-and-the-uk
Ukraine Advice Project UK offers free UK immigration advice for people fleeing Ukraine: https://advice-ukraine.co.uk/
The Ukrainian Institute London has lots of helpful links too: https://ukrainianinstitute.org.uk/russias-war-against-ukraine-what-can-you-do-to-support-ukraine-ukrainians/
Other
https://www.safetydetectives.com/blog/supporting-ukrainian-businesses-charities/