2025 – A Year of Public Presence and Sustained Engagement

The year 2025 marked a period of active and consistent public engagement for Vitsche in Germany.

Throughout the year, we worked on issues related to war, peace, culture, and memory, making Ukrainian perspectives audible, understandable, and visible – not only to policymakers and experts, but also to the wider public.

Vitsche acted not only reactively, but strategically. We initiated long-term campaigns, continuously brought complex issues back into public debate, and emphasized responsibility – cultural, political, and institutional. In 2025, Vitsche further established itself as an organization capable of working simultaneously with civil society, media, cultural institutions, and political partners.

Campaigns in 2025

February 24 / Wählt die Ukraine

A campaign marking the third anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Outcomes:

• a sustained communication campaign throughout January and February;
• a demonstration in Berlin with approximately 10,000 participants;
• broad media coverage, including Tagesspiegel, FAZ, RBB, France 24, DW, and others;
• the campaign became a key reference point in public discussions about the war and European security.

No Peace at Any Price

An advocacy campaign opposing simplified and dangerous notions of “peace at any cost” that ignore the reality of russia’s aggression.

Outcomes:

• a public performance in the form of a symbolic “referendum” using peace doves;
• participation in public debates surrounding the Ostermarsch;
• ongoing communication work explaining why “peace” without justice and security is not a neutral position;
• a shift in public discourse from abstract pacifism toward questions of responsibility and security.

8.05 Ukraine in Memory

A campaign dedicated to the Ukrainian experience of World War II – an experience that often remains invisible within German memory culture.

Outcomes:

• a commemorative action on May 8;
• accompanying educational events and public contributions;
• stronger integration of Ukrainian perspectives into Germany’s public memory discourse.

No Stage for Putin Supporters

This campaign opposed the normalization of russian cultural presence in Europe during russia’s war of aggression, particularly the appearances of Anna Netrebko on state-funded stages in Berlin.

Outcomes:

• repeated written appeals to the Staatsoper Berlin requesting a public response;
• in the absence of an institutional reply, several public demonstrations held throughout the year;
• a broad wave of media coverage (Die Zeit, taz, ntv, DW, BZ, RBB, among others);
• a tangible civic impact: during one protest, a man who held a ticket to an Anna Netrebko performance publicly tore it up and chose not to attend, as a conscious act of refusal;
• the campaign demonstrated that public action can influence not only discourse, but also individual decisions.

Demonstrations and Public Actions

In 2025, Vitsche initiated or participated in 11 demonstrations, marches, and public actions in Berlin. These activities took place throughout the year and were connected both to long-term campaigns and to responses to specific events.

The actions were carried out in cooperation with German and international partners, including Fridays for Future, Campact, Fellas for Europe, RazomWeStand, Allianz Ukrainischer Organisationen, and others.

For Vitsche, these actions were not isolated gestures, but part of a continuous presence in Germany’s public space.

Events, Lectures, and Public Formats

In addition to street actions, Vitsche actively developed spaces for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and exchange throughout 2025.

Over the course of the year, we organized or co-organized more than 20 events, including:

• public lectures and panel discussions;
• conferences;
• film screenings;
• workshops and educational formats;
• book presentations and public conversations with researchers, journalists, and cultural practitioners.

Vitsche Talks

In 2025, we successfully expanded the Vitsche Talks format – intimate public conversations with 15–20 participants.

• nearly all sessions were fully booked;
• the format became recognizable and highly sought after;
• many participants returned multiple times.

Vitsche Talks demonstrated a strong demand for deeper conversations about Ukraine, war, memory, and culture – without slogans, but with attention to substance. We have heard this demand and plan to continue the format in the coming year.

Media Presence and Partnerships

In 2025, Vitsche’s work was regularly featured in German and international media, including DW, FAZ, Die Zeit, Tagesspiegel, RBB, taz, ntv, BZ, Deutschlandfunk, France 24, among others.

Media coverage included:

• interviews;
• commentary;
• analytical pieces;
• references in connection with campaigns and demonstrations.

At the same time, Vitsche expanded and deepened its network of partnerships. In 2025, we collaborated with:

• civil society initiatives and NGOs;
• academic institutions and researchers;
• cultural organizations;
• diplomatic missions and foundations;
• media outlets and journalists.

These partnerships enabled not only joint actions and events, but also the development of trust and long-term cooperation.

Closing Reflections

The year 2025 demonstrated that public presence matters when it is consistent, grounded, and oriented toward people. 

For Vitsche, this year confirmed that combining street actions, campaigns, educational work, and media engagement can generate real societal impact – and help create a space in which Ukrainian voices do not fade away, but are heard clearly and with dignity.