UKRAINIAN WORKERS ARE FIGHTING FOR LIFE, FOR THE RIGHT TO WORK, AND FOR PEACE STATEMENT OF THE CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS OF UKRAINE (KVPU)

ON INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY 2026

On this International Workers’ Day, we address the world from a country where the right to work, to live, and to peace is being defended in struggle—by our Defenders, both women and men.

Ukrainian workers mark May 1 not under peaceful skies, but under daily missile and drone attacks. Every day, they continue to work—in mines and hospitals, on railways and at enterprises—saving lives, demining territories, sustaining the economy, and supporting internally displaced persons and defenders. At the same time, thousands of our union members are defending Ukraine at the front with weapons in their hands. Through their work and their struggle, Ukrainian workers are upholding the right to peace and to decent, safe work.

Today, we once again emphasise: peace and democracy have a high price. That price is the lives of our fallen brothers and sisters—workers and trade union members who fought against Russian occupiers for the future of Ukraine and of a peaceful Europe.

The Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine once again draws the attention of the international community to the scale of the ongoing war crimes. The Russian Federation continues its genocidal war, intensifying missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Residential areas, workplaces, and civilian infrastructure are deliberately destroyed by the Russian Forces.

Russia cynically violates international humanitarian law and ignores decisions of international institutions. It refuses to comply with UN General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1, which demands the full and immediate withdrawal of its troops from the territory of Ukraine, and also disregards the ILO resolution and ITUC statements calling for an end to the aggression.

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, in the first quarter of 2026 alone, 556 civilians were killed and 2,731 injured. According to operational data from the State Labour Service, as a result of Russian aggression, 66 Ukrainian workers were killed at their workplaces and 230 were injured to varying degrees of severity during the same period.

Workers are becoming targets. Members of the Free Trade Union of Medical Workers of Ukraine in Nikopol and Marhanets regularly report that they are working under constant Russian shelling, saving lives, including in the aftermath of Russian attacks. Transport infrastructure, which is critical for evacuation, logistics, and economic stability, is being systematically destroyed. From the beginning of March 2026 until April 23, the occupiers struck railway infrastructure 352 times. Despite everything, our railway workers continue to work under fire.

Russian forces continue to attack energy infrastructure. As a result, on April 29, consumers in Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia regions were left without electricity. We recall that on February 1, 2026, two Russian drones attacked a bus carrying miners, including members of the NPGU, after their shift in Ternivka, Dnipropetrovsk region—12 people were killed and 16 injured.

Trade union organizations are also under attack. Offices are destroyed, and workers are targeted on their way to and from work. On March 10, 2026, Russian forces struck the office of a primary organization of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU) at PJSC “DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia.” As a result of an FPV drone attack, a KVPU colleague and union member present in the office sustained serious injuries. On the same day, in the same region, a Russian drone attacked a bus transporting miners to their shift.

At the same time, Ukrainian workers and trade unionists continue to defend labour rights, standing up for workers’ interests and resisting regressive legislative initiatives.

Today, Ukrainian workers are defending not only their own rights. They are defending universal values—freedom, dignity, justice—and fighting for peace in Ukraine and in Europe.

On International Workers’ Day, May 1, KVPU calls on trade unions, workers, and democratic governments around the world to:

  • Strengthen international monitoring and publicly highlight the impact of Russian aggression on workers and trade unions in Ukraine;
  • Support solidarity campaigns for the release of civilians and trade union activists held in captivity in Russia, and for the return of abducted Ukrainian children;
  • Promote accountability for Russia’s crimes;
  • Support Ukraine’s struggle for freedom, peace, and democracy.

We thank the international trade union community, national trade union centres, and all unions for their solidarity actions and humanitarian assistance. Your support remains essential, as the war continues and is even intensifying. Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine

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