The first three months of this year have been very active at the Estonian Refugee Council, with our programmes in Estonia focusing on supporting Ukrainian refugee youth in learning Estonian and building their future here.

The Estonian Refugee Council’s portrait exhibition "Voices from Crises: Stories of Displaced People" presents the stories of people with refugee backgrounds living in Estonia. The exhibition will open as part of Gallery Night vol. 18 at the Aparaaditehas Corridor Gallery (door no. 2, 2nd floor) on 10 April and will be open from 18:00 to 23:00 during the event.

The Estonian Refugee Council is preparing to support people affected by the war in the Middle East and neighbouring countries in response to the growing humanitarian needs in the region.

24 February 2026, marks four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That is almost one and a half thousand days of fear, uncertainty, and instability. During this time, millions of Ukrainians have had to adapt to attacks and extreme conditions, and for many, even leave their homes. Kristin Västra, private donations specialist at the Estonian Refugee Council, spoke with young Ukrainian musician Bohdana on a train to Kharkiv at the end of January about what the war means for Ukrainians and how they are coping.

In Estonia, we are collecting donations to purchase generators, fuel, and other essential items for crisis and evacuation centres, so that they can continue their work under extreme conditions. Part of the campaign, on 26 and 28 February, charity group winter swimming events in support of Ukraine will take place in Tallinn, at Logisaun and Lennusulpsus respectively. Further information is available on Pagulasabi’s website and Facebook page. As of the end of January, we have provided cash assistance in Ukraine to more than 317,000 people, totalling over €59 million. In Ukraine, we conducted a series of online business training sessions for nearly 280 entrepreneurs in vulnerable situations, helping those affected by the war to create sustainable sources of income. In Estonia, 190 people participated in adaptation training sessions. Courses on residence permits continued to generate the greatest interest. In Armenia, in Yerevan and Abovyan, two new groups began an 8-day programme supporting the mental wellbeing of people with a refugee background and providing practical skills for independent living.

In 2025 we helped more than 55,000 people with emergency response, economic recovery and protection and empowerment programmes. We supported crisis-affected people in Ukraine, Estonia, Armenia, Georgia, Jordan, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory.

In the midst of ongoing war and mass displacement, access to mental health support can be a lifeline. Last spring, in collaboration with the Ukrainian National Psychological Association, the Estonian Refugee Council relaunched its mental health support hotline, providing psychological assistance to Ukrainians both in Ukraine and across 20 other European countries. Olha, one of the helpline’s consultants, opens up about her work helping others while confronting the personal challenges brought on by the war.