"This is a recognition of our work with Ukrainian soldiers"

"I see it as a recognition of the work we do with Ukrainian soldiers," says Ole Kvåle.

The leader of Ukrainian Freedom Convoys was on his way to Kyiv when the Barents Observer contacted him. He was behind the wheel of a car, the 561st vehicle the organisation is donating to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Kvåle was not aware of the inclusion in Moscow’s so-called list of undesirable organisations and does not fully understand the reason.

"It seems like some kind of coincidence," he says.

None of the other Norwegian organisations involved in supporting Ukraine, such as Fritt Ukraina (Free Ukraine), have been included in the list so far.

Kvåle says the inclusion in the list of undesirables will not have any consequences for the work of Ukrainian Freedom Convoys. He adds that he is not aware of any individuals with Russian citizenship involved in the organisation’s work.

Russians could face criminal charges for cooperating with an "undesirable organisation." The list is deliberately used by Moscow as a tool to spread fear and self-censorship among Russians.

"We cannot let this [the Russian designation] affect us," Kvåle emphasises. "We continue to have our eyes on the target."

Ukrainian Freedom Convoys was established shortly after Russia started its full-scale war against Ukraine. The organisation collects donations and purchases four-wheel-drive vehicles—primarily pickups, SUVs, and vans. Each vehicle is prepared in Norway before being driven in convoy from Norway to Ukraine by dedicated volunteer drivers. In Ukraine, the vehicles are delivered directly to soldiers or via Ukrainian organisations, as reported on the organisation’s website.

According to Kvåle, there is an "extreme demand" for vehicles in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

He describes a situation that is increasingly positive for the Ukrainian side. "There is a cautiously positive mood in the country, although there is no clear end to the war."

Among the positive trends are successful Ukrainian attacks several hundred kilometres into Russian territory. Over the last few days alone, the Ukrainians have hit Wildberries warehouses in St Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, the Avitek plant in Kirov, and a number of other targets.

"The Ukrainians we work with say that they have no choice but to fight and that they will never give up," Ole Kvåle says.

Ukrainian Freedom Convoys is the eighth Norwegian organisation added to Russia’s list of so-called "undesirable organisations." The other organisations are: Bellona, the Human Rights House, Nature and Youth, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the Norwegian Barents Secretariat, and Små Rodina.

The latter was declared "undesirable" at the same time as Ukrainian Freedom Convoys.

The Barents Observer is also a so-called "undesirable organisation." The newspaper was added to the list on 7 February 2025.