Just a heads up on what the Wikimedia Foundation is currently doing regarding the crisis in Ukraine. I would like to draw everyone's attention to one paragraph in the below forwarded email:

"The Wikimedia Foundation has also received a letter from Roskomnadzor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Service_for_Supervision_of_Communications,_Information_Technology_and_Mass_Media, the Russian government regulator for media, asking for the removal of an article on Russian Wikipedia about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some of you may have seen this notice https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/ru/a/a9/493650-%D0%9D%D0%92-%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5.pdf online as it was also shared by Russian Wikipedia."

I seriously doubt that the community will take down the article but it is worth noting.

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gregory Varnum gvarnum@wikimedia.org Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2022 at 22:11 Subject: [MoveCom]Information sharing on the situation in Ukraine To: Movement communications group mailing list movecom@lists.wikimedia.org

OVERVIEW: Below is an update on what the Foundation has been doing in response to the crisis in Ukraine. Please let us know what you are up to as well.

Hi everyone,

As you may have already seen, the Foundation issued a statement https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2022/03/01/wikimedia-foundation-calls-for-continued-access-to-free-and-open-knowledge-as-ukraine-crisis-continues/ yesterday on the crisis in Ukraine. We share the movement’s concern for the ongoing danger for our community members in Ukraine and Russia. We are actively investigating and developing methods for supporting our communities as this crisis continues to unfold. The Foundation's staff also recognizes the immediate impact and long-term threat this situation presents to our global mission to share free and open knowledge. We will continue to monitor for any cyber attacks or threats of disinformation.

The Wikimedia Foundation has also received a letter from Roskomnadzor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Service_for_Supervision_of_Communications,_Information_Technology_and_Mass_Media, the Russian government regulator for media, asking for the removal of an article on Russian Wikipedia about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some of you may have seen this notice https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/ru/a/a9/493650-%D0%9D%D0%92-%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5.pdf online as it was also shared by Russian Wikipedia.

As of now, we do not know if access to Wikipedia in Russia will be restricted, but we are actively monitoring the situation. The Foundation is working on a response plan. This is still in development given how quickly things have happened over the last couple of days. We will share messaging and draft social media posts as they become ready with all of you so that we can amplify our calls for Wikipedia to be unblocked should Russia proceed with a block.

While many of us had rough plans in place to respond to situations like this, I know personally that putting these plans into action has been frightening and challenging. Within the Foundation we have been focused on the immediate threats to our staff, Board, affiliates, and of course volunteers in the regions impacted. We have also been actively monitoring the cyber and disinformation attacks occurring all across the internet.

I recognize that many people have been doing a lot to engage on this issue. Thank you all for the work underway around the world supporting our communities and collective mission. We would greatly appreciate hearing more about what you all may be working on or hearing from the media regarding this crisis. Please utilize this list to help stay coordinated on any responses, media inquiries, or important questions you may be getting. Remember that you can invite others to join https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contact/movecomsignup - we have just processed a batch of new members and are adding some support to the process to help bring more movement communications folks on during this effort. In addition to this list, you can also reach out to our press team directly at press@wikimedia.org.

Again, thank you all for the important work you are doing. I find great comfort in the sense of community we find within our movement at times like these, and hope you are all taking the actions you need to stay well.

-greg