Our first meeting, organized by Alexander Vorbrugg, Angelina Davydova, and Mariia Fatulaeva brough together politically engaged researchers in environmental studies and politics (political ecology, sustainability studies, climate (impact) sciences etc.) who aim at societal impact and work in/on countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia affected by the Russian war and further recent political ruptures. It aimed at sharing and developing resources and strategies to continue and adapt our work under challenging new political circumstances. We see a particular need for this kind of exchange concerning societies and ecologies most directly affected by Russia’s war, namely in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, and other contexts witnessing “spillover” effects of these events, such as Kazakhstan. We are aware of these countries’ fundamentally different roles in the current war and the histories foregoing it and recognize that coming to one table on ecological issues will not be for everyone. Yet, we believe that related developments across these countries provide an urge, and possibly a chance, for jointly advancing strategies. We explicitly welcome participants with close ties and affiliations with these countries.