The сivic movement "Vidsich" () is an active At parliament an action in support of the Law on language, Hromadske.TV (28 February 2019) Ukrainian nonviolent social movement created in 2010 as a reaction to the policies of then President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych and the "pro-Russian" tendencies associated with his administration. During his administration, Vidsich focused on protesting against Yanukovych's increasing authoritarianism as well as the policies his government enacted. During Euromaidan, Vidsich became one of the movement's leading groups.
As of 2022, Vidsich focuses on protecting human rights, civil liberties and constitutional freedoms. Since the Revolution of Dignity, the movement has also advocated for boycotts of Russian products and the promotion of Ukrainian culture.
Vidsich aims to unite activists who are convinced that people cannot be neutral with regard to the political and social situation in Ukraine. Vidsichs aim is in creating a strong national movement which can protect the interests of Ukrainians and Ukraine in general.
Founding After Victor Yanukovich won the 2010 presidential elections, citizens who supported his opposition, including many who had previously taken part in protests and campaigns, decided to gather and discuss the likely changes to the social and political situation in Ukraine in light of the handover of power.
This conference took place in Kyiv on 20 February 2010. This date is considered to be the Vidsich founding date as the conference led to decisions in favour of further self-organization and activity, with participants sketching out the principles and directions for the future of the nascent movement. In attendance were participants of previous opposition movements ("Granite revolution", "Ukraine without Kuchma" movement, civic committee "Za pravdu!" ("For truth"), civic campaigns "Pora!" ("It's time"), etc.), and other opposition-supporting members of Ukrainian society.
Principles of the movement Nonviolence Absence of leaders Openness No party affiliation / Non-partisan Consensus decision-making Sacrificion Copyleft
Actions and protest campaigns
From the March 2010, the civic movement "Vidsich" took part in hundreds of events (mostly street actions, warning strikes, sit down strikes, public hearings, round tables) in many cities of Ukraine, made either by ourselves, either in cooperation with other organizations.
Examples include:
"Campaign Against Tabachnyk" / "Anti-Tobacco Campaign" (, Russian: АнтиТабачная кампания) – aimed to protect Ukrainian education and science from the decisions made by the Minister of Education and Science Dmytro Tabachnyk, who had generated controversy amongst pro-European Ukrainians by having a history of making anti-Ukrainian, chauvinistic, pro-Russian, xenophobic statements.Акція-флешмоб "День боротьби з Табачником і нацизмом!" (фото) . UF. 22 June 2010Нагадаємо у День Незалежності, кому вона кісткою в горлі (video) . Vidsich. 8 January 2012"З Табачника реформ, як з козла молока!" . TVi. 4 September 2011 The campaign "No to Police State" (, Russian: Нет полицейскому государству) – demanded impartial investigation and worthy punishment of those, as well as an identification and prosecution of those guilty in the case of the student Ihor Indylo's death, in other cases and against police abuse. The campaign also sought to protest against Yanukovych's increasing authoritanism. A campaign against the "2450" bill, which would significantly decrease the freedom of peaceful assembly, and for protection of the right to peaceful protest.На Майдані у Києві утворили "резервацію" . The Ukrainian Week. 28 March 2012ГР "Відсіч" протестує проти законопроекту 2450. Alliance "Maidan". 22 March 2012 The campaign also held solidarity actions with the 2011–2013 Russian anti-Putin protestors, and Belarusian20-го липня біля білоруської амбасади українці провели акцію на підтримку білоруського народу . Vidsich 21 July 2011Українці під білоруським посольством підтримали опозицію (video) . Channel 24. 20 July 2011Донецька влада відрізала струм прихильникам білоруської опозиції . Radio Liberty 21 July 2011 anti-Lukashenko protestors, who aimed for the right to peaceful assembly in their countries. The campaign "Start the work, stop the talk!" (, Russian: Займитесь делом, а не языком!) – which sought to prevent the new legislation "On languages in Ukraine" #1015-3, "On the Principles of State Language Policy" #9073 and its modifications (main: Legislation on languages in Ukraine), which would have prioritised the Russian language in Ukraine over Ukrainian for the first time since 1991, instead of the two languages having previously been equal in status. Activists argued this would ignite a "language" conflict and reduce the status of the Ukrainian language in the public space and in the lives of Ukrainians. The campaign "Revenge for division of Ukraine" aimed at preventing the adoption of the Law "On the Principles of State Language Policy" (Bill No. 9073, Law No. 5029-VI) and later the elimination of its negative effects. It consisted of bringing down the poll numbers of the political parties and MPs who voted for this law and other persons who contributed to the adoption of this law.Помста за розкол країни, Retrieved The campaign "Against degradation of education" (, Russian: Против деградации образования) - sought to prevent the adoption of the Bill "On Higher Education"" (#7486-1, #9655 and else), which would have lowered the civil liberties of students, as well as reducing their social protection. Vidsich also argued the law allowed for corruption in educational facilities. Advocacy of External independent testing (EIT) – against the adoption of draft laws No. 1187 and No. 2060а minimizing the significance and function of EIT. The organisation of protests against the new Tax Code, which forced the government to cancel its immediate adoption (it was adopted later with revisions) as well as refuse the idea of swift embranchment of the Housing, Labour, and Pension Codes. Calling for action against censorship and for freedom of speech, which became a particularly divisive issue during Yanukovych's presidency. In particular – against frequency lowering for channels "5" and "TVi", "STB", and for commemorating the memory of dead journalists since Ukrainian independence. Campaign for commemoration of the famine genocide Holodomor victims of 1932–1933, promotion of rename the toponyms, which cares the names of organizers and executors of genocide. Campaign "Do not buy Russian goods!" is a campaign to boycott Russian goods after the trade export blockade against Ukraine by Russia, started in August 2013;У соцмережах українців закликають бойкотувати російські товари. Український тиждень. 15 August 2013 Януковича закликали не вважати Росію дружньою державою. Радіо Свобода. 22 August 2013 Покупцям роздають листівки із закликом не купувати російські товари. Майдан. 27 August 2013 later – in response to the military invasion of Russia in Ukraine, started in March 2014.Українці захищаються від росіян бойкотом їх товарів. ТСН. 1+1. 6 March 2014 Campaign "Boycott Russian Films". At the end of September 2014 the campaign on Russian cinema boycott started spreading. Particularly it is about boycott of films and serials, produced in Russia and broadcast on Ukrainian television and shown in the cinemas – first of all those, in which Russian security structures are popularized or signs of ukrainophobia are present. Activists also called to boycott Russian actors and directors, who supported Vladimir Putin's policy concerning warfare in Ukraine in 2014.Деятели культуры России — в поддержку позиции Президента по Украине и Крыму . Ministry for Culture of Russia. 11 March 2014 During September activists conducted several monitorings on presence of Russian content in the Ukrainian television."Не пустимо в хату російську вату" — театралізована акція під Держкіно. Radio Liberty. 4 September 2014 В Україні оголошено "Бойкот російського кіно". Zaxid.net. 22 September 2014 Українські канали показують у день по 7,5 годин російських передач. Твоє місто. 23 September 2014 Активисты нашли предателей среди украинских телеканалов. Вести UA. 8 September 2014 Кількість російського контенту на українських екранах збільшується, – дослідження. espreso.tv. 30 September 2014 Participation in "Euromaidan"', including the organization of student strikesБлокування університетів: як воно відбувається і до чого приводить? Тарас Саламанюк. Корреспондент. 6 December 2013 Українські студенти підтримали Євромайдан. У Києві та регіонах – страйки — NEWSru.ua, 26 листопада 2013Студентський Євромайдан: КРОВ і ГРІМ — ZN.UA, 6 грудня 2013Активісти закликають студентів записуватись до "Студентської сотні" — День, 11 грудня 2013 and campaign of boycott Party of Regions.Активісти Євромайдану вчора пікетували "Епіцентр" на Воскресенці. ФОТО . Ні корупції. 3 February 2014 During Euromaidan "Vidsich" in Kyiv formed a sotnia joined to Self-Defense of the Maidan, where received the 16th number.На третій барикаді. Як тендітна дівчина керує "Нічною вартою" (спецпроект Механізм Майдану). Тексти. 13 January 2014 Events organized for raising funds,. Vidsich. 9 September 2014 gathering of products,. Vidsich. 18 August 2014 . Відсіч. 26 August 2014 equipment etc. for Ukrainian military forces (particularly – for 95th OAMBrАкція на підтримку 95-ої Житомирської аеромобільної бригади. 24 channel. 21 September 2014 Активісти мерзли заради бійців 95-ї бригади. ФОТО. 1.zt.ua. 3 October 2014 ) that are fighting in the east of Ukraine.Vidsich. Base of approved volunteers and organizations Славянск вяртаецца да нармальнага жыцьця. Radio Liberty. 14 August 2014 () Also – demand actions for: returning control of eastern Ukraine and Crimea;Активісти створили мапу втрат України. 24 channel. 30.04.14 setting requirements to the Ukrainian government to provide all necessary items and services for Ukrainian military forces;Під АП жінки вимагали забезпечити військових усім необхідним (Доповнено фото). UNN. 7 June 2014 Міліція завадила жінкам провести біля ВР пікет на підтримку бійців АТО. LB. 7 June 2014Міліція та самооборона розігнали демонстрацію руху Відсіч під Радою. 2 фото. Спротив. 8 June 2014 "Stop "Ze" Revanch" campaign against Volodymyr Zelenskyy, then a candidate in the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election. Consisted mainly of mass spreading of leaflets, stickers and other materials with information criticising the candidate.. Vidsich. 6 April 2019 Поліція відпустила активіста, який роздавав листівки з інформацією про Зеленського. Ukrinform. 7 April 2018 Порошенко на стадіоні і Зеленський в онлайні: головне про дебати на "Олімпійському" 14 квітня. 24 Chanel. 14 April 2019