Call for Applications: Life Under Occupation 2.0

More than four years into Russia's full-scale invasion, and more than a decade since Russia began occupying parts of Ukraine in 2014, the destruction continues. Russian attacks damage homes, power plants, heating systems, transport infrastructure and cultural landmarks. In territories that have lived under Russian occupation for years, the consequences reach deep into everyday life: access to Ukrainian education and independent information remains restricted, families are displaced, property is seized, and people face pressure to accept Russian documents and institutions.

For journalists, documenting these realities is both essential and extremely difficult. How can they tell the stories of people they cannot safely reach? How can they verify information, protect sources and report on traumatic experiences responsibly? And how can they make sure that life under occupation remains visible to audiences across Europe?

Following the first edition of Life Under Occupation in 2025, n-ost is launching a second edition of the cross-border journalism programme with support from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Together with its Ukrainian partner, the Public Interest Journalism Lab (PIJL), n-ost will bring together eight journalists from Ukraine, Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Moldova.

Four participants will be selected from Ukraine, alongside one participant from each of the other four countries. Through the workshops and networking meetings, they will form four teams. Each team will develop a joint investigation, feature, multimedia story, or podcast for publication in Ukrainian and European media.

The programme will begin in October 2026 with four online workshops. Their provisional themes will broadly cover the nature and everyday realities of occupation, trauma-sensitive reporting, security and safety, and reporting on Crimea.

Selected participants will receive editorial guidance and scholarships of EUR 900 to support their reporting.The project will also cover approved travel and accommodation expenses for a reporting trip to Ukraine.

Who can apply?

The programme is open to journalists from Ukraine, Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Moldova who have professional reporting experience and a demonstrated interest in Ukraine, occupied territories, human rights, conflict, security or related subjects.

Participants are expected to take part in the online programme, collaborate with an international colleague, contribute to a joint publication and be willing to travel to Ukraine, subject to the security situation. Travel to Russian-occupied territories will not be required or supported.

The working language of the programme will be English.

How to apply

Please submit your application using this form.

In the process, you will be asked to upload your CV and show examples of your work.

The deadline for applications is 20 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Applicants will be informed of the selection results by 30 September 2026. The online workshops and networking meetings will take place in October 2026. Participants will be expected to complete and publish their projects by the end of March 2027.

If you have any questions about the programme or the application process, please contact Oksana Mamchenkova at mamchenkova@n-ost.org.