A Recap of Oleksandra Matviichuk’s UK Tour
10–12 OCTOBER 2026 · UNITED KINGDOM
Three events across Yorkshire and London brought Ukrainian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk together with journalists, faith communities and international leaders to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine and the people living through it.
THE HUMAN DIMENSION
“While this war turns people into numbers, what we are doing is giving people back their names.”
Oleksandra Matviichuk
Head of the Center for Civil Liberties · 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
10 OCTOBER · ESCRICK PARK ESTATE
A Journey to the Heart of the Red Zone
Oleksandra joined Insulate Ukraine founder and CEO Harry Blakiston Houston in a discussion moderated by Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent of The Sunday Times, at an event hosted by Charlie and Ros Forbes Adam and Mary Tate at The Little Theatre in Skipwith.
“Because the basis of our existence is dignity, not victimhood. And dignity is action.”
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Oleksandra argued that legal institutions and international security mechanisms have failed to prevent immense suffering, but that ordinary people retain the power to act. Her message was not simply one of resilience: it was a call for people beyond Ukraine to take responsibility for defending rights and demanding accountability.
“Ordinary people can do extraordinary things and change history.”
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Christina Lamb has spent nearly four decades reporting from conflict zones around the world. Reflecting on her experiences, she spoke of always searching for stories of people doing “remarkable things in dark places.”
During a visit to Kharkiv with Harry and the Insulate Ukraine team, Christina met Luba and Pasha, an elderly couple who had fled Kupiansk after their home was bombed twice. A drone attack had shattered 15 window panes in their new apartment, and the openings had been boarded up, leaving their home almost entirely dark.
Christina recalled Luba telling Harry, “I don’t know who you are, young man, but you have brought me heaven.”
“In almost 40 years of reporting I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it. I watched Harry and his team bring light back into people's homes, witnessing the difference they made again and again throughout the day. It was remarkable and I just thought this is the most fantastic project.”
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Insulate Ukraine demonstrates its latest window design to attendees during the event at Escrick Park Estate.
11 OCTOBER · AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE
Faith Under Fire
Hosted by the Ampleforth Society, Faith Under Fire examined the persecution of religious communities under Russian occupation, the suppression of religious freedom, and the experiences of those held in captivity.
“For 12 years, we have been documenting the horrific practices of Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories, where they deliberately target active members of local communities: mayors, journalists, children’s writers, teachers, environmentalists, priests, and anyone who plays an active role in their community.”
Oleksandra Matviichuk
Center for Civil Liberties
Alexi Guedroitz, CEO of Alternative Windows, shared accounts of religious persecution emerging from Russian-occupied territories.
“There used to be 61 Greek Catholic parishes in the currently occupied territories. None are open today. All the priests had to leave. It was too dangerous to stay.”
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Alexi also recounted the experience of Father Chudinovich, an Orthodox priest from Kherson who was detained, threatened with death and sexual violence, and whose family was threatened in an attempt to force his cooperation with Russian authorities. He miraculously escaped to Ukrainian-controlled territory, allowing his story to be told.
Our sincere thanks to the Ampleforth Society for hosting the event and to Father Cedd for moderating the conversation.
12 OCTOBER · LONDON
Resilience, Rights and Reconstruction in Ukraine
Our final event, co-hosted by British Expertise International and The D Group (Strategy International), brought Oleksandra together with leaders from business, government and international affairs to talk about Ukraine’s future.
In a fireside conversation with Robin MacKenzie, Managing Director of The D Group and CEO of Strategy International, Oleksandra explored the relationship between human rights, international accountability and reconstruction, emphasizing the importance of protecting fundamental freedoms while Ukraine continues to endure Russian attacks.
We were particularly grateful to Alistair Carns MP for sharing his perspectives on the UK’s role in supporting Ukraine, and to all those who attended for their thoughtful contributions to the conversation.
A MESSAGE THAT CONTINUES
The tour returned repeatedly to a central question in Oleksandra’s work: what can individuals do when institutions fail to protect people? From documenting abuses and advocating for prisoners and missing people to insisting on justice for survivors, her message was that solidarity provides the infrastructure from which we can draw the strength to act.
“We’ll survive with human solidarity, and through all these years of war I know that solidarity is not just words. Solidarity is infrastructure.”
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Your actions matter.
If there is one message we hope you take away from this tour, it is that you have the power as an individual to make a difference.
Whether through advocacy, raising awareness, supporting humanitarian work, or simply refusing to look away, each of us has a part to play.
“Hope, it’s not a confidence that everything will be fine. Hope is a profound understanding that all our efforts have a huge meaning.”
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With thanks
Our thanks to Oleksandra Matviichuk, Christina Lamb, Harry Blakiston Houston, Alexi Guedroitz, Father Cedd, and Robin MacKenzie for their contributions to these important conversations. We are equally grateful to Charlie and Ros Forbes Adam, Mary Tate, the Ampleforth Society, British Expertise International, and The D Group (Strategy International) for their hospitality and support. And to everyone who joined us, thank you for listening, engaging and standing with the people of Ukraine.
SUPPORT INSULATE UKRAINE
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