Russia has declared the French association Pour l’Ukraine, pour leur liberté et la nôtre as an “undesirable organization,” in yet another move to suppress independent voices and hide its crimes amid the ongoing war against Ukraine.
The Russian Prosecutor’s Office announced the decision on Monday, accusing the group of spreading “false information,” supporting Western sanctions against Russia, and opposing the participation of Russian athletes in international sports events.
However, the association, founded in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, primarily focuses on humanitarian aid and advocating for Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia.
Silencing Opposition and Independent Reporting
This latest ban is part of a larger effort by the Kremlin to eliminate foreign organizations that challenge its narrative. Since the start of the war, Russian authorities have declared more than 200 foreign organizations “undesirable,” effectively criminalizing any collaboration with them.
This crackdown extends beyond NGOs—news portals and independent media outlets that report on Russian war crimes or criticize the government are routinely blocked. The Kremlin has built an extensive censorship apparatus, banning foreign media outlets such as BBC Russian Service, Deutsche Welle, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Domestic independent media, such as Meduza and Novaya Gazeta, have also faced forced closures, while journalists risk imprisonment under draconian “fake news” laws for reporting on the realities of the war.
Russia’s Strategy: Propaganda and Denial
With independent news sources silenced, the Russian state-controlled media floods the public with propaganda.
Government-backed television channels and online platforms portray Russia as a victim of Western aggression, denying evidence of war crimes committed in Ukraine, including the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children.
Organizations like Pour l’Ukraine, pour leur liberté et la nôtre that expose these crimes are swiftly banned.
The group has been vocal about Russia’s illegal deportations of Ukrainian minors—an issue that has drawn condemnation from international organizations, including the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over these actions.
The Kremlin’s response has been to deny the allegations and block organizations working to uncover the truth.
Increasing Repression and Global Response
As Russia intensifies its war efforts, internal repression is escalating. The government is tightening control over the internet, criminalizing protests, and expanding its crackdown on civil society. Western governments and human rights organizations continue to condemn these actions, urging stronger measures to counter Russia’s suppression of information.
Despite the risks, groups like Pour l’Ukraine, pour leur liberté et la nôtre remain committed to supporting Ukraine and exposing Russia’s war crimes. The international community faces growing pressure to provide protection for such organizations and ensure the truth about the war is not erased by Kremlin propaganda.