428 media crimes committed by russia in five months since the start of the invasion – IMI

Reporters note that the recorder's testimony was verified in a conversation with another prisoner released together with Nikita, Nikita's family, and Radio France journalists with whom Nikita worked before the abduction. The RSF will provide this testimony to the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor in addition to the two complaints they filed on March 4 and 16.

“Nikita has given us a chilling testimony that confirms the intensity of the war crimes perpetrated by the russian army against journalists,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “Passing his testimony on to the ICC prosecutor is the least we can do for this courageous young fixer.”

RSF shared Nikita's story:

On March 5, Nikita accompanied a visiting Radio France crew on a reporting trip in the centre of the country, not far from the village where his family had sought refuge. At the hotel where they stayed, he learned that the road to his family’s village was open. As the bombardments were intense in the region, he decided to make a quick trip to see if his family was still there and to evacuate them. He borrowed the crew’s car after removing all the equipment. He had to cross three villages to reach his destination. 

Nikita was ambushed by a russian reconnaissance unit on the edge of a roadside forest while driving with a “Press” sign displayed on the front of the car. He recounts between 30 and 40 shots being fired to his car by automatic weapons. Lying on his side, he accelerated with the aim of getting away but hit a tree. Saved by his airbag, he shouted that he was a civilian, showed his hands to prove that he was unarmed and got out of the car. He counted six soldiers with a white ribbon tied around their legs. They seized him and threw him to the ground, searched and beat him. He was mistaken for a soldier who inspected the area to adjust artillery fire.

The soldiers pulled a hat over his eyes and took him to a house a few minutes away from the place of detention. Searching his phone, they found information related to his work as a fixer – about looking for bulletproof vests and plotting routes – that made them suspicious. They pulled him from the house, slammed him up against an outside wall, pulled up his cap, brushed his eye with a knife blade, ran it down his cheek, and threatened to cut his face. He explained that he was a fixer and interpreter for foreign journalists, but they hit him repeatedly with automatic rifle butts, on the face and body. Nikita felt pieces of teeth in his mouth and coughed up blood. The soldiers threw him into a ditch, next to a dead dog, and subjected him to a mock execution:  a soldier pretended that he wanted to check that his gun worked and fired a shot that grazed Nikita's head.

The soldiers then took him to their camp in the forest about ten minutes' walk away. With his cap pulled over his eyes again, Nikita could not see but from what he heard the camp seemed to consist of more than 100 soldiers, armoured vehicles and artillery. They tied him to a tree, stole his wedding ring, and removed his shoes. That afternoon, the soldiers beat Nikita again with rifle butts and steel bars on his legs. He lost consciousness several times. He said the soldiers seemed to be doing this for amusement.

Blindfolded, half-stunned, Nikita was moved and tied to another tree, and later to yet another one. He spent nearly three days in the forest, tied with his hands behind his back to trees. On 6 March, he was interrogated by a soldier he understands to be a Colonel. Nikita was asked about his activities. He spent another two days tied up in the forest. They stopped beating him, and other civilians were tied next to him. One of them, who was later released at the same time as Nikita, was contacted by RSF and helped to corroborate his account.

Nikita, this other prisoner and a third one were taken in an armoured car on 8 March to a place about 40 minutes away. On arrival, soldiers pulled him out of the vehicle, threw him to the ground,  a soldier sat on his back and he was asked the same questions as in the forest. The soldiers thought he was a spy who was using his job as a fixer as a cover.

A soldier rolled Nikita’s right trouser up to the knee and another gave him electric shocks. With his face pressed to the ground, Nikita was unable to see what instrument was used to administer the electric shocks, but he counted three or four shocks, each lasting five to ten seconds. The pain was such that every second felt like an eternity. The other two civilians were also tortured. The one RSF contacted said that a bag was put over his head to prevent him from breathing, and that he was beaten very violently.

The soldiers forced Nikita to write and sign a letter in which he declared his support for the russian army and the invasion of Ukraine. He and the other two civilians were then taken – tied and blindfolded – to the basement of a house whose floor was filled with water. They were left there for two days until, after begging their guards to take them to a less cold place, they were finally moved. On 10 March, they were taken to the basement of another house, where they were joined by another prisoner, a former senior Ukrainian civil servant.

In this house, the four prisoners are interrogated by a different kind of soldier. Nikita was only able to see their legs and boots but this was enough for him to realise they were not members of combat units. Their clean, polished boots and ironed trousers suggested they might be FSB or GRU members.

On 12 March, the prisoners were told they would be released the next day. And on the 13th they were indeed driven away. Nikita was released in a forest after an hour’s drive. He thought they were going to execute him and he ran. But he heard no shots and reached a road. After being stopped by other russian soldiers on the road, he feared he was going to be kidnapped again. But he managed to get into a car of Ukrainian civilians. “If you don't take him,” a soldier told the reluctant civilians, “we'll shoot him on the spot."

Nikita still has bruises all over his body, a swollen leg and difficulty moving his hands as a result of the electric shocks. The doctor who examined him found hematomas on his head and body, a swelling of the right leg, and numbness of the limbs that could be the result of electric shocks. Noting that Nikita’s injuries were inflicted by the russian army, the doctor went so far as to conclude that he had sustained “criminal trauma.” Nikita is now recovering. His family was able to escape.

2. russian occupiers hold several British journalists hostage – Reznikov

08.03.2022 The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov said that the russian occupiers were holding foreign journalists hostage. This is stated in his address.

According to him, the journalists are being held hostage in Kyiv region.

"The occupiers are holding journalists hostage: British citizens are currently being held in the town of Stoyanka-2. A group was fired upon and another journalist, a British citizen, was wounded. One more journalist, a Swiss citizen, was fired upon and robbed in Mykolaiv region. Sadly, you still allow the occupiers to do so," the minister noted.

3. Journalist Oleh Baturyn goes missing in Kherson region

12.03.2022 Tonight in Kakhovka (Kherson region), local journalist Oleh Baturyn went missing.

His wife reported it to the regional representative of the Institute of Mass Information.

According to her, at about 4 pm, an acquaintance called Oleh and proposed to meet him near a bus station which is located near the journalist's house.

"Around 4:30 pm, Oleg went to meet him, leaving his phone and documents at home. He promised to come back in 20 minutes. But he did not come back," she said.

According to local group chats, at about 4:50 p.m. on that day, russian troops were spotted near the bus station.

Oleh Baturyn works as a journalist for the "Novy Den" newspaper. 

We remind that in Kakhovka, there is no permanent russian troop presence, but the neighboring town Nova Kakhovka has been occupied. There, the invaders are attempting to create a military-civilian administration controlled by the russians.

4. Hromadske journalist Victoria Roshchina could be in russian captivity

18.03.2022 Hromadske journalist Victoria Roshchina is probably a prisoner of the russian invaders. The publication calls on the Ukrainian and international community to join efforts on the information field and by actions to contribute to the journalist's release, as Hromadske reported.

According to the publication, Roshchina has been filming videos and writing stories from hotspots in eastern and southern Ukraine every day of the russian-Ukrainian war. On March 11, the media posted an article in which she described the life of the temporarily occupied Enerhodar.

"These days, the journalist has been working on stories about military actions in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. She was going to travel all the way to Mariupol to talk about what was really going on in the city, which has been shelled by russian troops every day for more than two weeks. On the evening of March 11, Victoria Roshchina was probably on her way from Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol and had poor connection, so we could hardly speak on the phone. All that was known was that she had already left Enerhodar at that time," the newspaper reported.

On March 12, the editorial office was unable to contact Victoria. Some eye-witnesses, whom the publication did not name for the sake of their safety, said that she was in the temporarily occupied Berdyansk at the time.

On March 16, Hromadske learned that the day before (probably on March 15) Victoria Roshchina was detained by the FSB. 

"Currently, nothing is known about her whereabouts. Since last two days, we made every effort to release the journalist in a private manner. But it turned out to be ineffective," the publication notes. 

As reported by IMI, on March 8, Victoria Roshchina said that she came under russian fire in Zaporizhzhia. Her car, in which she was, was robbed.

5. In Melitopol, invaders kidnap Melitopolski Vidomosti journalists

21.03.2022 In Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, representatives of the occupation authorities abducted several employees of the "Melitopolski Vidomosti" (MV), according to the local newspaper RIA-Melitopol.

“Armed persons came to the houses of journalists Yulia Olkhovska and Lyubov Chaika, publisher Mykhailo Kumok, and editor-in-chief of the 'Melitopolski Vidomosti' newspaper Yevhenia Boryan, abducted them and took them away to an unknown destination. The russians are trying to force them into collaboration,” the report on the MV website reads. 

The MV website is currently down, but the media reported the abduction on their Telegram channel.

Representatives of the holding company appeal to the authorities in the city and the country, colleagues from the Ukrainian and international media to speak up in defense of Melitopol press representatives.

Update. According to IMI, the occupiers have already released Yevheniya Boryan. She had been taken away, interrogated, and then she came back.

The publication "Mistsevi Visti – Melitopol" reported on Facebook that the occupiers have released three MV female journalists after having talked to them about collaboration. "The whereabouts of Mykhailo Kumok are still unknown," the newspaper wrote.

We will remind, Melitopol is under the control of the russian troops. The city regularly protests against the russian invasion.

Earlier, the occupiers abducted Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov and public figure Olha Haisumova.

6. "RIA-Melitopol" journalist's father taken hostage by the invaders

23.03.2022 In Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia region), the russian invaders took hostage the father of Svitlana Zalizetska, director of the “Holovna Gazeta Melitopolya” (Melitopol Main Newspaper) and the RIA-Melitopol website. The journalist asked IMI to make this incident public.

According to RIA-Melitopol, three invaders came to the journalist's house with a search at 7 am on March 23.

Retired parents - mother and father - were in the house. One of the occupiers was in civilian clothes, and two soldiers with machine guns. Everything was turned upside down in the house. They took the 75-year-old father of Zalizetsky, Yosyp Stanislavovych, in an unknown direction. The only requirement is to return home only after the daughter comes to them. The occupiers ignored the explanation that their daughter was not in the city. Relatives are trying to find out whereabouts of Svitlana Zalizetska's father, but nobody is willing to talk to them about this.

"I regard such actions of the occupying forces of the russian federation as terrorism. When they abducted my old father, they try to make me collaborate or demand that the site be shut down. The occupiers found documents – a Karta Poliaka – and began to ask my mother everything about relatives in Poland. Earlier, Halyna Danylchenko (a collaborator, head of the occupation administration of the city of Melitopol. - Ed. ) рad a preliminary "preventive" talk with me. The next meeting was to be with the commandant. The outcome was predictable, so I left the town. Otherwise, I would be sitting in the torture chambers of the occupiers' casemates, such as Mayor Ivan Fedorov, public activist Olha Haisumova and Serhiy Pryima, who is still being held captive," Svitlana Zalizetska said.

She appealed to all colleagues from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and international organizations to make the incident public and to help release her father from captivity. 

"He suffered a stroke, his mother suffered a major heart attack with cardiac arrest. I consider such methods of influence to be the Nazist ones. If something happens to my parents, it will be on the conscience of the occupiers, "said Svitlana Zalizetska.

We will remind, on March 21 the russian occupiers abducted all staff edition of MV-holding then its head Mikhail Kumok made the decision to suspend work of all holding.

7. russian invaders capture Zaporizhzhia journalist Iryna Dubchenko

28.03.2022 Zaporizhzhia journalist Iryna Dubchenko has been detained by the russian occupiers and taken to Donetsk. She was arrested in Rozivka, where she had been looking after her old grandmother. This was reported by journalist Yakov Noskov.

Dubchenko is accused of assisting and hiding Ukrainian soldiers. According to Noskov, she had been ratted out to the occupiers by locals.

"Ira is accused of assisting and hiding Ukrainian soldiers. They say that earlier, the DPR people massacred several UAF soldiers who were being treated at a local medical institution. Ira was ratted out by locals. At present, she has been sent out to Donetsk for some “investigative measures,” as Noskov reported.

Irina Dubchenko worked for the newspapers "Subota plus", "Politsovet", Depo.Zaporizhzhia website, and the UNIAN news agency. 

8. Invaders abduct journalist Oleksander Hunko in Kherson region

03.04.2022 On April 3, in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, russian invaders abducted and deported Oleksander Hunko, a local journalist and writer, editor of the "Nova Kakhovka City" online media, and took him away in an unknown direction.

The journalist’s daughter Oksana Hunko told it, according to the head of the regional organization of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine who said it on Facebook.

According to the daughter, prior to that, the journalist's apartment had been searched.

A few hours before the arrival of the armed russians, the publication "New Kakhovka City" had published a story about the violent suppression of a peaceful rally in Kakhovka by the invaders.

9. russian occupiers abduct "Suspilne Kherson" engineer Oleksiy Vorontsov

18.05.2022 On May 16 in the temporarily occupied Kherson, the occupying forces of the russian federation abducted "Suspilne Kherson" engineer Oleksiy Vorontsov from his apartment. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

This was reported to the company's management by Oleksiy's wife, according to Suspilne.

The public broadcaster appeals to the Ukrainian authorities and the international community to comprehensively and in all possible ways facilitate the release of Oleksiy Vorontsov.

The company filed a criminal offense report to the Joint Center for Coordination of Search and Release of Persons Illegally Imprisoned as a Result of Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation and to the District Prosecutor's Office of Kherson region.

Suspilne notes that since March 2, 2022, the UA: Kherson team has been working remotely and is the one Ukrainian media in the region which continues to provide the residents of the temporarily occupied territories with truthful information.

As of now, the premises of "Suspilne Kherson" are controlled by the occupying russian forces. The occupiers have repeatedly attempted a search for the branch employees' personal files in order to recruit, interrogate and obtain information from them.

As IMI reported, the russian troops robbed the Kherson branch of Suspilne and are now setting up a propaganda channel.

On March 3 in Kherson, the occupiers took over the premises of Suspilne branch, the staff continues to work remotely. Armed men set up trip wires around the building. In addition, the occupiers, who had seized the television studio and the TV center, cut off the Ukrainian television signal.

The Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office has launched a criminal investigation into the seizure and mining of the Kherson branch of Suspilne Broadcaster by russian security forces. The proceedings have been opened under Art. 341, part 1 of Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: seizure of state or public buildings, facilities, as well as for violations of the laws and customs of war.

Wounded journalists – 14

1. Danish journalist shot in Sumy region

26.02.2022 A journalist of the Danish tabloid Ekstra-Bladet Stefan Weichert was wounded while reporting from eastern Ukraine on Saturday, Reuters reported.

He came under fire together with his colleage, photographer Emil Filtenborg Mikkelsen, while driving in Okhtyrka, about 90 km northwest of Kharkiv, Ekstra-Bladet reported.

"This is a terrible reminder of the danger that journalists in Ukraine face every day to document the horrors of war," Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod wrote on Twitter.

The journalists were taken to the Poltava Regional Clinical Hospital, where they underwent surgery.

According to the head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration Dmitry Lunin, the citizens of Denmark had received moderate injuries. Currently their condition is stable.

According to "Fakty," the journalists had been wearing bulletproof vests. They were in the Okhtyrka area when their car came under fire.

Weichert and Mikkelsen have been living in Ukraine for two years. Both are experienced journalists and have received the necessary safety training in Denmark.

According to the National Guard, representatives of the Danish embassy were informed about the state of health of the foreign journalists.

2. Danish photographer shot in Sumy region

26.02.2022 A photographer for the Danish tabloid Ekstra-Bladet Emil Filtenborg Mikkelsen was wounded while reporting from eastern Ukraine on Saturday, Reuters reported.

He came under fire together with his colleage, journalist Stefan Weichert, while driving in Okhtyrka, about 90 km northwest of Kharkiv, Ekstra-Bladet reported.

3. Sky News correspondent Stuart Ramsay wounded by russian fire in Kyiv region

28.02.2022 russian troops fired at foreign journalists near the village of Stoyanka in Kyiv region.

This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to the regional police on Facebook. 

"On February 28, at about 4 pm, the russian military fired at a car with five employees of the British TV channel Sky News. It happened near Stoyanka village in the Bucha district," the report said.

It is noted that the media workers immediately jumped out of the car and hid in the nearest shelter, from which they were later evacuated by employees of the Bucha District Police Department.

One of the media representatives was taken to hospital by police, where he received first aid. He later joined his colleagues.

The police clarified that the group of journalists includes four citizens of Great Britain and one citizen of Ukraine.

A correspondent of the British TV channel Sky News Stuart Ramsay was injured in a shelling by russian troops in Bucha, Kyiv region, on February 28. The channel's cameraman Richie Mokler was saved by his bulletproof vest.

This was reported by Suspilne with reference to Sky News.

"Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his team were attacked near Kyiv. Cameraman Richie Mokler received two shots in a bulletproof vest, Stuart was wounded," the channel writes. A group of five media persons has already been sent to the UK.

Journalists said that after the trip to Bucha they tried to find a way back to Kyiv.

"The windshield cracked from the first shot. Cameraman Richie Mokler shrank in the front passenger's legroom. Then we came under full attack. Bullets pierced the entire car, tracers, flashes of bullets – the windshield, the plastic seats, the steering wheel, and the dashboard shattered," the media said.

At first they thought they were under false fire from a Ukrainian checkpoint. However, the Ukrainians later explained to reporters that they had been ambushed by russian saboteurs.

In the end, all five members of the film crew managed to survive and reach a safe place by hiding behind the concrete fence of a neighboring building.

"Their experience illustrates the scale of the chaos and violence as the russian invasion enters a new and more deadly phase," the paper said.

4. Swiss journalist Guillaume Briquet wounded by russian gunfire

06.03.2022 The head of the Kirovohrad regional state administration Maria Chorna reported that the occupiers had attacked Swiss journalist Guillaume Briquet: the militants had fired on his car and took his belongings.

Maria Chorna reported about it on Telegram, Hromadske writes.

The russian military fired at the journalist near the settlement of Vodiano-Lorine, Mykolaiv region.

According to Briquet, after crossing the Ukrainian checkpoint, he headed south in his official car and was fired upon by the occupying forces from close range just a few minutes later. At the same time, the occupiers could clearly see the "press" sign on the car.

After the shooting, the journalist immediately turned to the roadside. The russian troops approached him, named themselves and searched him. The passport, 3,000 euros in cash, personal belongings, the helmet, the camera footage and the laptop were taken from the media person.

After that, the journalist was released, got into the car and drove in the direction of Kropyvnytskyy to receive medical treatment. According to the head of the regional state administration, the journalist had shrapnel wounds. He arrived at Kropyvnytskyy Hospital in the evening of March 6.

According to the National Police, several bullets hit the glass as a result of the shooting, injuring the journalist. He suffered injuries to his face and forearms.

The russian troops fired at his armored car when he was driving towards Mykolaiv. After the car was stopped, the russian invaders took the documents, money, photos, video equipment, the laptop and other valuable things from the Swiss citizen and released him.

The injured journalist left for the Kirovohrad region as soon as possible. The wounded man was met at the checkpoint by Kropyvnytskyy police, who helped the man to get to a medical facility where he was provided with medical care.

5. Radio Liberty correspondent Maryan Kushnir injured in a missile strike

11.03.2022 Radio Liberty correspondent Maryan Kushnir was injured in a missile strike near Kyiv. He announced this on his Instagram on the morning of March 11.

"This is the current situation in Kyiv region, we will try to get out," Maryan said in a seconds-long video which was captioned "Alive. Everything is ok."

The video shows blood trickling from his ear.

A few hours later, Maryan recorded another video, where he said that he had been injured, and received help from doctors. Feels fine, keeps working.

According to Radio Liberty, Maryan Kushnir was injured in a strike by russian troops in Kyiv region.

According to Kushnir, the missile strike or air strike took place at about 3:00 am on March 11 in Baryshivka. There are other victims of the attack, but the exact number is unknown. No one was killed.

Army medics and Baryshivka doctors provided first aid to the Radio Liberty correspondent. Now his condition is satisfactory.

Maryan Kushnir has been working for Radio Liberty since 2015, and is now actively covering events related to the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, particularly in Kyiv region.

6. russian terrorists wound American journalist Juan Arredondo

13.03.2022 In Irpin, near Kyiv, the russian invaders shot dead The New York Times correspondent Brent Renaud and wounded another journalist. This was reported by Kyiv Police Chief Andriy Nebytov.

"Today, a 51-year-old correspondent working for the world-famous New York Times was shot dead in Irpin. Another journalist was wounded. Now the victim is being taken away from the combat zone. Naturally, the journalist's profession involves some risks, but the US citizen Brent Renaud paid the price of his life for trying to cover the villainy, cruelty, and ruthlessness of the aggressor," Andriy Nebytov wrote.

According to the Okhmatdyt Hospital's spokeswoman Anastasia Magerramova, the injured journalist, American citizen Juan Diego Herrera Arredondo, 46 years old, was conscious. The man received a shrapnel wound in his thigh. He has been operated by Okhmatdyt medics. He does not know of his colleague's fate yet. The last thing he remembers is Brent Renaud being shot in the neck at a russian checkpoint.

7. Fox News journalist gets legs broken by russian shelling

14.03.2022 Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall, who has been covering the war in Ukraine for the past weeks, was hospitalized with wounds sustained on March 14 while reporting on the developments near Kyiv.

This was announced by Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, as European Pravda reported.

"We have a minimal level of details right now, but Ben is hospitalized and our teams on the ground are working to gather additional information as the situation quickly unfolds," Suzanne Scott said.

"The safety of our entire team of journalists in Ukraine and the surrounding regions is our top priority and extremely important," Scott added. 

Earlier, Fox News presenter John Roberts reported about the journalist's injuries during the broadcast, Ukrinform reports.

"A Fox News journalist has been wounded while reporting from near Kyiv," Roberts said. He added that few details were known about the incident. The channel's team is trying to learn more.

In the evening of March 14, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova reported that a foreign journalist had received a shrapnel fracture on both legs as a result of shelling by russian troops. She published the journalist's ID showing the name of Fox News, an American television channel.

According to the Prosecutor General, the journalist is in intensive care at the hospital.

"Fragmentary fracture of the two lower extremities - "russian world" diagnosis made by Ukrainian doctors to a British journalist. The journalist is currently in intensive care under medical supervision. […] Once again, I would like to address our partners: a citizen of your country was on the territory of Ukraine, performing an editorial task. His diagnosis is above. This man was not at the military facility, which, according to russian officials, they are constantly targeting. While not at the military facility, he was seriously injured," Venediktova wrote. 

The information about the crime has been entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations (ERDR), and this procedure will be properly investigated, the Prosecutor General said

8. 1+1 journalist Andriy Tsaplienko receives a shell fragment wound

25.03.2022 "1+1" TV channel's “TSN. Tyzhden” journalist Andriy Tsaplienko received a shrapnel wound. He wrote about this on March 25 on Facebook, TSN reports.

According to him, the injury is not serious. He did not provide other details.

"Got myself into trouble. Got a small shrapnel wound. The doctor promised it would heal before the victory, ” the journalist wrote.

According to 1+1 media, Tsaplienko was wounded in the evening of March 25 during a shelling by russian troops of a column of civilians in the Chernihiv region. 

Foreign journalists from the English-language channel TRT World (Turkey) and a special correspondent of TSN (1+1), Honored Journalist of Ukraine Andriy Tsaplienko were in the fired column. They performed an editorial task, recording the holding of a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians to a safe area.

"It happened today, March 25, at about 4:50 p.m., during the shelling of the humanitarian corridor to Chernihiv. There were many civilians and cars waiting for permission to cross into Chernihiv to pick up their relatives. After the drone recorded a crowd, 15 minutes later the shelling began. First they started firing from Smerch (heavy multiple rocket launcher), then from 122 mm caliber artillery, then a mortar was connected, and at the final stage it was a tank. All this lasted at least an hour and a half," Andriy Tsaplienko said. 

Together with Tsaplienko there was the TV film crew of the English-language channel TRT World. "Despite the fact that their colleagues are experienced military journalists, they were shocked, because for the first time they found themselves under such heavy artillery fire. As well as shocked by the brutality of the russian military towards the civilian population," said the journalist. 

Now Andriy is on an IV: "The doctors said the wound was A-grade. This means that everything will be fine and I am very lucky."

We remind that, according to IMI, during a month of full-scale invasion of the russian federation into Ukraine (from February 24 to March 24) at least seven journalists were wounded as a result of attacks by the russian occupiers.

9. russian troops severely injure cameraman Oleksander Navrotskyy

26.93.2022 Cameraman Oleksander Navrotskyy received a severe leg injury on the front line. As he was filming, Navrotsky came under fire from the enemy's multiple rockets launcher "Grad" in Kyiv region. This was announced by director Volodymyr Sydko.

"Oleksander is now in a satisfactory condition at the hospital, but getting him on his feet – literally – requires expensive treatment and rehabilitation. We, his closest friends, will do everything possible to get him back in line, but we need your help. I ask you all, as I have never asked anyone: help! I understand that during this cynical war, not everyone can afford it, but even a few hryvnias will come in handy! Below are the bank details of Oleksander and his dad. Maximum repost! Endlessly grateful to all."

10. Fixer Mykola Pastukh injured by russian fire in Luhansk region

28.05.2022 Two foreign journalists and Ukrainian filmmaker Mykola Pastukh came under russian fire on May 28 near the bridge to Severodonetsk (Luhansk region). As a result of the shelling, Mykola Pastukh received a shrapnel wound to his right arm, and one of the journalists was injured.

Mykola Pastukh told IMI about this.

According to Mykola, he was working with foreign journalists Kaoru Ng (Hong Kong / UK) and Alex Chan Tsz Yuk (UK). Mykola was also filming a documentary about the work of foreign media at the frontline.

Journalists planned to cross the bridge to Severodonetsk and tried to find out if it was safe. At that time, the Ukrainian military approached them and warned of possible shelling. The shelling began just as they were talking to the military.

As a result of the shelling, Mykola was wounded, and Alex Chan Tsz Yuk was injured.

"It hit just as we decided to go back. A mine fell six or seven meters away from me. I received a severe shrapnel wound. I was wearing a bulletproof vest and a helmet. However, the explosion blew my helmet off. Everyone had medical tourniquets, but they could not be applied to the part where I was wounded, because it was too high," Mykola Pastukh said.

Mykola is currently in hospital in Lviv, awaiting surgery.

11. Foreign journalist receives concussion due to russian fire in Luhansk region

28.05.2022 Two foreign journalists and Ukrainian filmmaker Mykola Pastukh came under russian fire on May 28 near the bridge to Severodonetsk (Luhansk region). As a result of the shelling, Mykola Pastukh received a shrapnel wound to his right arm, and one of the journalists was injured.

Mykola Pastukh told IMI about this.

According to Mykola, he was working with foreign journalists Kaoru Ng (Hong Kong / UK) and Alex Chan Tsz Yuk (UK). Mykola was also filming a documentary about the work of foreign media at the frontline.

Journalists planned to cross the bridge to Severodonetsk and tried to find out if it was safe. At that time, the Ukrainian military approached them and warned of possible shelling. The shelling began just as they were talking to the military.

As a result of the shelling, Mykola was wounded, and Alex Chan Tsz Yuk was injured.

"It hit just as we decided to go back. A mine fell six or seven meters away from me. I received a severe shrapnel wound. I was wearing a bulletproof vest and a helmet. However, the explosion blew my helmet off. Everyone had medical tourniquets, but they could not be applied to the part where I was wounded, because it was too high," Mykola Pastukh said.

Mykola is currently in hospital in Lviv, awaiting surgery.

12. French BFMTV journalist Maxim Brandstetter wounded by russian shelling

30.05.2022 On May 30, journalist for the French BFMTV channel Maxim Brandstetter (French citizen), along with the channel's fixer Oksana Leuta (Ukrainian citizen), was injured due to a russian artillery strike on Lysychansk.

This was reported to IMI by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

They were in an evacuation vehicle together with fellow BFMTV journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, who, as IMI previously reported, was killed by the shelling.

According to investigators, the other two French channel representatives were also in the armored car during the shelling. As a result of the shelling, Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff received a shrapnel wound incompatible with life, Maxim Brandstetter suffered a shrapnel wound to the left thigh and a concussion, and Oksana Leuta received a concussion.

The information about this event has been submitted to the Unified Register of pre-trial investigations as a criminal offense under Part 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal code of Ukraine ("Violation of laws and customs of war").

We remind that journalist of the French BFMTV channel Frederic Leclerc Imhoff received a fatal neck wound while being in the armored evacuation vehicle. He was covering the evacuation of the local residents.

13. French BFMTV fixer Oksana Leuta suffers a concussion due to russian shelling

30.05.2022 On May 30, fixer for the French BFMTV channel Oksana Leuta (Ukrainian citizen), along with the channel's journalist Maxim Brandstetter (French citizen), was injured due to a russian artillery strike on Lysychansk.

This was reported to IMI by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

They were in an evacuation vehicle together with fellow BFMTV journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, who, as IMI previously reported, was killed by the shelling.

According to investigators, the other two French channel representatives were also in the armored car during the shelling. As a result of the shelling, Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff received a shrapnel wound incompatible with life, Maxim Brandstetter suffered a shrapnel wound to the left thigh and a concussion, and Oksana Leuta received a concussion.

The information about this event has been submitted to the Unified Register of pre-trial investigations as a criminal offense under Part 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal code of Ukraine ("Violation of laws and customs of war").

We remind that journalist of the French BFMTV channel Frederic Leclerc Imhoff received a fatal neck wound while being in the armored evacuation vehicle. He was covering the evacuation of the local residents.

14. Military journalist Danylo Ishchenko wounded in Kharkiv region during filming

01.06.2022 Danylo Ishchenko, military journalist with the Central Television and Radio Studio of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, was wounded in the line of duty.

This was announced by the Military Television of Ukraine on their Facebook page.

It is reported that the doctors decided to amputate the limb and prescribed appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.

Danylo Ishchenko's colleagues ask everyone who cares to join and support him and donate to the card of his mother E. Ishchenko: 5355075010938266.

In a comment to IMI, Acting Head of the Central Television and Radio Studio of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Serhiy Kaminskyy said that Danylo Ishchenko was wounded on June 1 in Kharkiv region while filming a russian breakthrough attempt.

"He was carrying out his duties as a military journalist. He was holding a camera, gathering information. The russians were attempting a breakthrough and there was mortar fire, about four mines fell near them. He almost managed to get into the shelter on time, but a mine fragment caught up with him," Kaminskyy said, adding that his leg could not be saved.

As IMI reported, on June 10, author of the "Recruit.UA" program, former head of "Armiya FM" and the Military Television of Ukraine Oleksiy Chubashev was killed in action. On February 24, 2022, he went back to serve in the UAF. Oleksiy was 30 years old, he was survived by his wife, young daughter and son, who was born in March this year.

Firing at journalists – 23

1. Czech Voxpot reporters came under fire from russian military

02.03.2022 Czech Voxpot reporters Majda Slamova and Vojtech Bohac came under fire along with Ukrainian media outlets in Makariv near Kyiv on March 2.

This was reported by the Voxpot journalists.

They said that they were alive, but as they tried to escape, russian militants deliberately shot at the journalists' cars.

Bullet holes from an AK-74 were found on the car door.

In his report, Vojtech Bohac mentioned that their car was marked with a "PRESS" sign and there were two Ukrainian reporters named Taras and Alyona with them.

2. russian troops shoot and rob a car with Hromadske journalist

08.03.2022 russian troops shot and robbed a car with Hromadske journalist Victoria Roshchina. She wrote about this on her Facebook page.

According to Victoria, she and the driver of the car came across a convoy of russian tanks in  Zaporizhzhia region.

"Then – the roaring of tanks, the white letter Z, the flag of the rf. They drove around the corner and moved in our direction. The driver and I backed off and tried to turn around. The russians began to fire actively on us. Bullets, and then hot projectiles. Fortunately, they were flying past us. I gave the command to stop, abandon the car and lie down in the field. But the convoys were coming towards us, and our rescue became an abandoned house behind which we waited for russian vehicles to pass by," she wrote.

"While we were hiding, our car was opened. There was a PRESS sticker. They took my laptop, camera, backpack, the driver's cigarettes, too," the journalist said.

She noted that she was left without phone connection and surrounded.

"Tanks on both sides of the village. We are surrounded and unable to pass information. The worst thing about occupation is the night. Dawn still gives you hope for the best. For us it did not start with shelling or the basement. About 150 russian vehicles moved towards our peaceful villages. "I went on a reconnaissance mission on foot. Because of the stress, I didn't feel tired, cold, or afraid. A lot happened after that. And there is definitely more to come," Roshchina wrote.

She also added that they were rescued by some good people.

"I went into the regions to tell the story of what was going on there and what the people who have been living without communication all this time, under the barrel of machine guns, hail and the roar of russian tanks, think. In small villages and towns, the occupiers feel like 'heroes.' They shoot civilians, set cars on fire, kill, loot, they turn people's lives into hell, they traumatize the psyche of children. I will never forgive russia. Never," the journalist wrote.

3. TSN TV crew came under fire from russian troops in Kyiv region

15.03.2022 The TSN filming crew of "1+1" channel came under artillery fire from the russian occupiers in Kyiv region on March 15, TSN reports.

Journalist Yulia Kiriyenko and cameraman Volodymyr Rybachok arrived at a post in Kyiv region to interview the Ukrainian servicemen on how they had detained some russian soldiers there the other day. They did not have time to begin filming, as the enemy began shelling from an occupied village. The shooting started as the TV crew was in the field and there was simply nowhere to hide. The only shelter for journalists was a ditch along the road.

During the pause, the group tried to escape by car, but due to the shelling they were forced to stop and hide in a private house.

"There were at least 10 explosions in those few minutes. The military was later told that an enemy drone had been operating. The occupiers had been adjusting the fire through it," Yulia Kiriyenko said.

"It helped me that you were praying. I just felt the power of the word," said Yulia's colleague, military correspondent Borys Sachalko.

"We are used to seeing such a picture in Donbass, but here... we still can't believe it's so close," said another military correspondent Oleg Kornienko.

According to the journalist, the enemy's shelling in this area of the front line has not stopped for several days. "The occupiers are furious after the insane defeat when the military smashed their tank column. That is why they are taking revenge – shelling from afar both villages and roads with civillian cars on them," Yulia Kiriyenko said.

4. ICTV's "Fakty" TV crew came under enemy fire together with the TSN crew

15.03.2022 The TV crew of ICTV's "Fakty" program came under artillery fire from the russian military on March 15 in Kyiv region, as they reported on ICTV.

Journalist Oleh Kornienko and cameraman Artur Turovych came under fire in the middle of a field. As soon as the journalists arrived at the spot, russians launched an artillery attack.

"It is virtually impossible to work at military posts. The enemy immediately opens fire and hits chaotically. We do not leave the shelter, because we hear explosions and shelling literally every minute," ICTV journalist Oleh Kornienko said.

Journalists managed to hide in a bomb shelter and wait for the shelling, which lasted more than an hour, to end. However, the UAF managed to eliminate enemy artillery and the military.

It should be noted that the film crew of the ICTV's "Fakty" program came under fire together with the TV crew of the TSN filming crew from "1+1" channel.

5. Current Time (RFE/RL) TV crew also came under russian shelling in Kyiv region

15.03.2022 The filming crew of the Current Time channel (RFE/RL) came under artillery fire from russian troops in the Kyiv region on March 15. This was reported on the channel's website.

According to the channel, the russian military targeted one of the villages in the northern area.

The shelling caught journalist Borys Sachalko and his cameraman in a field. They were in "PRESS" bulletproof vests and were able to reach cover. Borys lost his microphone but survived.

"The driver, the cameraman, and I are intact," Sachalko said after escaping.

It should be noted that the film crew of Current Time came under fire together with the film crews of the "Facty" ICTV program and "1+1" channel's TSN.

6. Journalists from the Turkish TRT World under fire

25.03.2022 Foreign journalists from the English-language channel TRT World (Turkey) and a special correspondent of TSN (1+1), Honored Journalist of Ukraine Andriy Tsaplienko came under russian fire in Chernihiv region on March 25. "1+1" channel's "TSN. Tyzhden" journalist Andriy Tsaplienko received a shrapnel wound.

According to 1+1 media, Tsaplienko was wounded in the evening of March 25 during a shelling by russian troops of a column of civilians in the Chernihiv region. 

Foreign journalists from the English-language channel TRT World (Turkey) and a special correspondent of TSN (1+1), Honored Journalist of Ukraine Andriy Tsaplienko were in the fired column. They were performing an editorial assignment, covering the opening of a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians to a safe place.

"It happened today, March 25, at about 4:50 p.m., during the shelling of the humanitarian corridor to Chernihiv. There were many civilians and cars waiting for permission to cross into Chernihiv to pick up their relatives. After the drone recorded a crowd, 15 minutes later the shelling began. First they started firing from Smerch (heavy multiple rocket launcher), then from 122 mm caliber artillery, then a mortar was connected, and at the final stage it was a tank. All this lasted at least an hour and a half," Andriy Tsaplienko said. 

Together with Tsaplienko there was the TV filming crew of the English-language channel TRT World. "Despite the fact that their colleagues are experienced military journalists, they were shocked, because for the first time they found themselves under such heavy artillery fire. As well as shocked by the brutality of the russian military towards the civilian population," said the journalist. 

Now Andriy is on an IV: "The doctors said the wound was A-grade. This means that everything will be fine and I am very lucky."

7. CNN team under russian fire near Mykolaiv

04.04.2022 CNN filming crew came under russian artillery fire on April 4. No one was injured, as CNN reported.

The crew first came under fire at a crossroads the the south of Mykolaiv, near Oleksandrivka village. The journalists' car was damaged.

CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman, producer Kareem Khadder, photojournalist John Torigoe, interpreter Valeriia Dubrovska and their team had stopped at the crossroads to speak with a few Ukrainian soldiers.

As Wedeman was filming a standup report there was an explosion approximately 150 meters away from their location. The team hit the ground as another round came in.

"We hugged the ground and then ran for the cars. We jumped in our Mitsubishi Pajero, but it was destroyed. The car wouldn’t start. At least two of the tires were flat. All the windows shattered. The tank was punctured and leaking diesel and other fluids," Wedeman reported. 

The team ran to their other vehicle, which also had damage due to shrapnel, got in and drove off.

We remind that on April 4, there were four fires in the Mykolaiv area as a result of the russian attacks: the granary, the house and cars burned down. Civilians received shrapnel wounds.

8. "Dom" TV channel correspondent comes under russian fire in Rubizhne

28.04.2022 Anastasia Volkova, a correspondent for the "Dom" TV channel, came under fire in the partially occupied Rubizhne, Luhansk region.

As Anastasia told an IMI representative, they arrived in the city on April 28 to film the evacuation of people. At this moment, the russians opened fire on the place where the evacuation was to begin.

“We had just arrived and five minutes later, they started to fire precisely at the square where we were. We crawled into the Palace of Culture on our stomacks, over broken glass, to survive the shelling. We heard the shells hit to the left, to the right, in front, behind the building, and the building itself. We heard a heavy mortar working," said Anastasia.

According to the journalist, she was wearing a bulletproof vest and a helmet with PRESS stickers.

She left when she realized that the occupiers had run out of ammunition and had a chance to take advantage of this lull. When the journalist had already arrived in Severodonetsk, she noted that she could hear the shelling resume in Rubizhne.

9. Hromadske crew comes under fire while filming a report about evacuation in Donetsk region

06.05.2022 Hromadske crew, under shelling by "Grads," filmed a report on how civilians of Lyman (Donetsk region) are being taken to Dnipro city, according to Detector Media.

The film crew included journalist Anastasia Stanko, videographer Kolyan Pastyko and driver Viktor Andrushchenko.

During the shooting on the road, three shells landed 200 meters away from the Hromadske team and the Lyman residents. Shortly after the evacuation of people, a russian missile hit the road bridge between Raihorodok and Lyman – the Hromadske journalists have traveled across it a dozen times. This route was also used to take the wounded out of Lyman.

In their report, the journalists focused on the work of the police, which evacuates people in need of assistance. "About twenty 200's, even more 300's," the policemen say of the losses during the full-scale war.

Every trip here is risky. "2014 was a walk in the park compared to this. Those who have been under the 'Grads' will understand," Dmytro Zaliznychnyk commented.

"Grads" hit the buses during evacuation. The police officers go to dilapidated houses in Lyman during intervals, when the russian occupiers reload their equipment. In the end, they manage to bring out a wounded man.

10. Estonian and German journalists come under russian fire in the Donbas

12.05.2022 Estonian ERR correspondents Anton Alekseev and Kristjan Svirgsden, Estonian Postimees journalists Jaanus Piirsalu and Dmitry Kotyukh, and German Welt correspondent Alfred Hackensberger came under russian fire in Donetsk region near Siversk, Detector Media reports.

A few kilometers away from the city, their cars had to stop because of the shelling.

"It was a UAV, we heard the whistling of a missile that fell and hit a residential area. And then it was the typical fireworks: individual bombs falling down for more than a minute," Alfred Hackensberger described the incident as he turned on the livestream from a safe place.

“From the place where we stopped, it was clear that the city was under heavy fire and many houses were already on fire. After lying under fire for 15 minutes, we decided to leave this unpleasant spot. Especially since the fragments of cluster munitions were already flying relatively close to us," Anton Alekseev said in his report.

As IMI reported, earlier, Hromadske crew came under fire while filming a report on the evacuation of civilians in Lyman, Donetsk region.

11. TSN filming crew comes under cluster bombing in Maryinka

12.05.2022 "1+1" TV channel's TSN filming crew came under cluster bombing in Maryinka, Donetsk region, during the filming, TSN reports.

The story goes that russian troops fire on the city every day from planes, helicopters, "Grads," and artillery.

“Within seconds, there are explosions are all over the central part of the city. Burly serviceman 'Hammer' orders us to lie down and not move. Explosive bits fall just in front of the journalists and the military. The cameraman captures the russians' crime on camera and the group, together with the military, urgently leaves the shelling," the story reads.

The journalists managed to talk to citizens who remain in Maryinka despite the shelling.

It was impossible to talk with them for a long time, because explosions were heard from Donetsk's direction again – the soldiers say that it was an enemy aircraft crushing the elevator and the industrial zone.

The TSN team that came under fire consisted of: Oleksandr Zahorodny, Ivan Holovach, and Vitaliy Ovsyannikov.

12. "Zaborona" journalists come under russian fire in Kharkiv region

16.05.2022 Journalists of the online publication "Zaborona" came under russian fire in Kharkiv region. No one was injured, the newspaper reported on their Telegram channel.

On May 15, "Zaborona" filming crew – cameraman Mykola Dondyuk, journalist Vira Myronova and photographer Ivan Chernichkin – came under heavy russian fire in the village of Cherkasky Tyshky, 25 km north of Kharkiv.

The shelling began during a video interview with a villager.

The publication also posted a video of the shelling.

Earlier, correspondents for Estonian ERR Anton Alekseev and Kristjan Svirgsden, as well as Postimees journalists Jaanus Piirsalu and Dmitry Kotyukh and German Welt correspondent Alfred Haberger, came under russian fire in Donetsk region near the city of Siversk.

The filming crew of "1+1" TV channel's TSN came under russian cluster bombing in the town of Maryinka in Donetsk region while filming a report.

13. ICTV filming crew comes under russian artillery fire in Donetsk region

18.05.2022 ICTV channel filming crew came under russian artillery fire in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region.

This was reported on "Fakty ICTV" website.

The enemy opened missile fire as journalists Tetyana Nakonechna, Yevhen Turta, and Oleh Tsymbalyuk were working on the story.

One of the missiles landed several dozen meters away. No one was injured.

14. AFP filming crew comes under fire on Bakhmut–Lysychansk highway

23.05.2022 AFP filming crew came under fire on their way from Bakhmut to Lysychansk, Hromadskе reports.

The according video was posted on Twitter on May 23 by the head of the AFP photo department in Greece, Aris Messinis, who had been in the car during the shooting. The video shows that the shelling is happening on both sides of the highway.

It is by this road that people are being evacuated every day, Hromadske reports. According to the publication, russian troops have been shelling the highway for more than two weeks. They are 7-8 km away from Popasna and are trying to cut this road to encircle the Ukrainian forces in Luhansk region. 

In addition, Aris Messinis published photos from the cities of Soledar and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.

As IMI reported, on May 18, ICTV filming crew came under russian fire in Donetsk region.

Earlier, Estonian ERR correspondents Anton Alekseev and Kristjan Svirgsden, Estonian Postimees journalists Jaanus Piirsalu and Dmitry Kotyukh, and German Welt correspondent Alfred Hackensberger came under russian fire in Donetsk region, near the city of Siversk.

1+1 channel's TSN filming crew came under russian cluster bombing in Maryinka, Donetsk region, while filming a story.

15. Radio Liberty journalists come under fire while filming the hostilities in the Donbas

28.05.2022 Radio Liberty correspondent Maryan Kushnir and photographer Serhiy Nuzhnenko came under fire by russian troops near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on May 28. Journalists had been filming a story about the Ukrainian army's counterattack, and the positions of the UAF were fired upon by russian artillery.

This was stated by Maryan Kushnir in a comment to IMI.

He said that the blast had damaged the windshield of his car, which had been parked nearby.

"I was filming the Ukrainian military counterattacking. Artillery was firing at them. I was nearby, my car was nearby. In this hell, a shell landed nest to me. Damaged the glass. They didn't shoot at me purposefully. I have been in battles before. Obviously, there is shooting there. In fact, no one fired at me. Everyone was being fired on because it is the active phase of the hostilities. I was just there," he said, adding that the car was hidden, but it just so happened that a shell fell nearby.

Maryan Kushnir provided IMI with the video he had filmed with his colleague that day.

As IMI reported, on March 11, Maryan Kushnir suffered a concussion as a result of a russian attack in Kyiv region.

16. The occupiers start shelling Bakhmut as journalist records an interview with local residents

28.05.2022 In Bakhmut (Donetsk region) on May 28, the russian occupiers opened fire while Oleksiy Matsuka, journalist and editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian foreign language broadcasting channel UA, was recording his conversation with local residents.

The journalist reported it for Dom channel from the site.

Two Bakhmut residents had been telling the journalist how they survived in a wartime city. And at that moment, the sound of an explosion came.

No casualties were reported, as there was a shelter nearby.

17. TSN filming crew comes under the enemy's fire during a live report

29.05.2022 The TSN filming crew came under russian missile fire near Bakhmut in Donetsk region, TSN reports.

This happened on May 29 during a live report performed by journalist Oleksandr Zahorodniy and cameraman Ivan Holovach.

The journalist was speaking on air about the shelling of the Bakhmut–Lysychansk highway, by which the locals are trying to escape the fire, but fall into traps. About the difficult conditions in which they manage to break through.

At this time, enemy missiles began to hit the place where the filming crew was. The filming crew began to take cover in a shelter. While lying down already, the journalist had to finish the broadcast.

Oleksandr Zahorodniy and Ivan Holovach were not injured during the shelling.

As IMI reported, in early May, "1+1" TV channel's TSN filming crew (Oleksandr Zahorodniy, Ivan Holovach, Vitaliy Ovsyannikov) came under cluster bombing in Maryinka, Donetsk region, while filming a report.

18. BBC filming crew comes under russian fire in the Donbas

07.06.2022 BBC correspondent Orla Guerin, along with her filming crew, came under russian fire in the Donbas, ВВС reports.

When the shelling began, the journalists hid in an armored car.

"We just had to take more cover, get more protection inside our armored car, there was an incoming attack. The troops say it was a cluster bomb, and it landed less than a mile away. Now, the last half an hour or so there have been constant warnings about incoming fire, we had to run and take cover, the troops have taken cover, and we have heard plenty outgoing fire," the journalist said.

"It is very clear that the war in this area is extremely active, and the russians are trying hard to push forward," said Guerin.

Ukrainian troops told her that the russians had taken the experience of defeat near Kyiv into account and were now covering the Donbas with artillery fire. However, they are not going to stop resisting, because, as serviceman Ivan put it, russia has already seized Ukrainian territory half the size of Italy.

19. Radio Liberty correspondent comes under russian fire along with a soldier

10.06.2022 On June 10, Radio Liberty correspondent Serhiy Horbatenko, along with Roman Ternovsky, a soldier of the 122nd Battalion of the Izyum District Territorial Defense, came under russian fire in Donetsk region, Radio Liberty reports.

They left Slovyansk in the direction of Lysychansk to deliver a backpack from volunteers to a military medic. They drove to the Bakhmut–Lysychansk highway and came under fire by russian troops.

When the journalist asked if they were being targeted, the military said yes.

"Here you saw what the so-called 'road of life' from Bakhmut to Lysychansk looks like right now. Fortunately, we stopped on time and turned around, and, as Roman says, as we were already leaving, there right behind us a shell landed and exploded. In other words, a russian artillery spotter is sitting somewhere nearby and directing the fire on everyone who moves on this road," Serhiy Horbatenko said.

After that, the journalist and the military drove to the city of Siversk, which is being constantly shelled by russian troops. Upon arrival, he saw smoke and no people on the streets.

Later, the journalist and the military managed to take the backpack to the military doctor.

As IMI reported, on May 28, Radio Liberty correspondent Maryan Kushnir and photographer Serhiy Nuzhnenko came under fire by russian troops near Bakhmut, Donetsk region. Journalists had been filming a story about the Ukrainian army's counterattack, and the positions of the UAF were fired upon by russian artillery.

20. Suspilne journalists come under fire in Lysychansk

13.06.2022 Suspilne journalists Khrystyna Havryliuk and Taras Ibrahimov came under fire in the center of Lysychansk along with their colleagues, Suspilne reports.

They were evacuated by the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As the journalists reported, none of them have been injured.

According to the Ukrainian military, russian troops fire on Lysychansk almost every day. They say that due to the significant advantage in artillery, the russian army can "cover" entire districts of the city. About 15,000 civilians remain in such conditions.

21. Bild journalists come under fire while leaving Lysychansk

22.06.2022 On June 22, journalists of the German Bild came under russian fire on the way out of Lysychansk (Luhansk region). This was reported on the Bild website.

According to the newspaper, Bild reporter Paul Ronzheimer, along with photographer Giorgos Moutafis and Vadym Moisenko, came under fire while trying to leave Lysychansk, which has been almost completely surrounded by the russian army.

None of them was injured. Only the car was damaged – a broken window.

The newspaper does not know whether the journalists had been targeted, but notes that the road to and from Lysychansk has been repeatedly attacked in recent weeks.

"The attack once again shows that the russian army does not differentiate between military and civilian targets, but simply bombs everything," Ronzheimer said.

22. Bild journalists come under fire while leaving Lysychansk

22.06.2022 On June 22, journalists of the German Bild came under russian fire on the way out of Lysychansk (Luhansk region). This was reported on the Bild website.

According to the newspaper, Bild reporter Paul Ronzheimer, along with photographer Giorgos Moutafis and Vadym Moisenko, came under fire while trying to leave Lysychansk, which has been almost completely surrounded by the russian army.

None of them was injured. Only the car was damaged – a broken window.

The newspaper does not know whether the journalists had been targeted, but notes that the road to and from Lysychansk has been repeatedly attacked in recent weeks.

"The attack once again shows that the russian army does not differentiate between military and civilian targets, but simply bombs everything," Ronzheimer said.

23. France 24 journalists come under russian fire in Slovyansk

03.07.2022 Journalists of the French TV channel FRANCE 24 came under russian fire while working on a story about the work of Ukrainian rescuers in Donetsk region, the State Emergency Service announced.

"The work of the journalists of the French TV channel FRANCE 24 about the work of Ukrainian rescuers in Donetsk region was interrupted by the enraged russians' shelling."

"Among those who came under fire are locals who had come for the water delivered by the emergency workers, our boys, and the French journalists," the message says.

The State Emergency Service noted that the journalists did not cut the footage of russian shelling from the story: "So you can see the conditions that the rescuers of Donetsk region have to work under every day."

From a brief to the FRANCE 24 report, it became known that the journalists came under fire on July 3 in Sloviansk, along with rescuers and local residents. "The city came under intense fire on Sunday. The residents who stayed there despite the bombing suffer from drinking water shortage in particular. Our special correspondents in the Donbas followed a brigade of firefighters not far from the front line, who are trying to at least somehow supply it to civilians," the caption to the report says.

Persecution of journalists, threats, intimidation – 64

1. Roskomnadzor threatens to block access to Krym.realii (RFE/RL) because of reporting on russia's war against Ukraine

26.02.2022 Roskomnadzor threatens to restrict access to the Krym.Realii (RFE/RL) website, accusing the Radio Svoboda project of "spreading an inaccurate information" about russia's new invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by Krym.Realii with reference to the russian department's press office.

"In compliance with the requirements of the Prosecutor General's Office, Roskomnadzor sent a notification about the need to restrict access to inaccurate information to the resources "Echo Moskvy," "InoSMI," "Mediazona," "New Times," "Dozhd," "Svobodnaya Pressa," "Krym.Realii," "Novaya Gazeta," "Journalist," "Lenizdat," the message says.

Roskomnadzor claimed that the sources contained allegedly some inaccurate reports "about the shelling of Ukrainian cities and the deaths of civilians in Ukraine as a result of the actions of the russian Army, as well as materials describing the operation as an attack, invasion or declaration of war."

"Roskomnadzor has also launched an administrative investigation into the dissemination of inaccurate socially significant information in these media. This offense entails liability under Article 13.15 of the Administrative Code, as an administrative fine of up to 5 million rubles," - said in a statement.

As IMI reported, in February, Roskomnadzor demanded from Krym.Realii (RFE/RL project) to take down the news with the comment of the russian opposition politician Garry Kasparov and stories on the russian military conscription in Crimea.

2. In Kherson, collaborationists threaten journalists with torture chambers

4.03.2022 Well-known local collaborationist Kyrylo Stremousov threatens "dissidents" in occupied Kherson with russian tortures chambers. This was reported to IMI by local journalists.

"Everyone who is against the 'russian world', i.e. patriots, activists, journalists, is in danger here. Because Stremousov promises cleansing operations and jail," one of the journalists who remained in the regional center told IMI. 

Namely, in his video address, Stremousov promised a "census" and punishment for "those who lived off grants."

At the same time Stremousov cites the deputy of the russian Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, who said that on March 4 the Duma may pass a law under which all media and even contributors to social networks face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 5 million rubles if they report events in the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine are something different from the rhetoric of russian state channels.

In the video, Stremousov calls himself a "russian" who has suffered from "Nazis" and "SSU provocations" for many years. He also lied that the SSU had arrested him. In fact, he was never detained by police, even after the attack on the SSU convoy.

3. Odesa media receive letters threatening them for "complicity in Nazism"

4.03.2022 Odesa media began to receive anonymous letters from the sender "russian Odessa" in russian, titled "Your chance to be savend" (spelling replicated) and contatining threats and a call to "abandon anti-russian activities."

Namely, the receipt of such a letter is confirmed by "Pushkinskaya" chief editor Natalia Korshak. The copy list includes e-mails of other local media: "Media-Inform," "Reporter," "Third Digital," "Dumskaya," 048, "Volnorez," all.news.

A screenshot of the letter was posted on Facebook by Strat Yurchenko, a Graty newspaper journalist.

"Your outlet has performed poorly during the Ukrainian occupation of the city. Your last chance to mitigate the inevitable punishment for complicity in Nazism is to post the attached banner and immediately abandon any anti-russian activities. Retribution is near. There may be no other chance," the letter states.

The banner contains the word "OdeZZa." Letter Z is the symbol marking russian vehicles that have invaded the territory of Ukraine, as well as some russian propaganda content.

4. Paratroopers publish personal information of a Ukrainian journalist

08.03.2022 Pro-russian paratroopers published personal information of a journalist from one of the regions of Ukraine.

This was reported to IMI by informed sources.

Her phone number, passport details, and address were posted on the Internet. The information is only partially true.

The journalist herself notes that this is the first time she found herself in such a situation. He considers the actions of the paratroopers as an act of intimidation and pressure so that she leaves the city and there are no representatives of the Ukrainian media left.

5. Berdyansk journalists ordered to broadcast russian propaganda at gunpoint

09.03.2022 In the temporarily occupied Berdyansk, russian occupiers are forcing local journalists to broadcast russian propaganda at gunpoint.

This was stated by the head of the Zaporizhzhia RSA Alexander Starukh in a video comment posted on  the region administration's YouTube channel, according to LB.ua.

"They wrote down their addresses, their relatives' addresses, and forced them to broadcast all sorts of garbage. They bring, for example, humanitarian aid. It must be distributed – no one came. There are two buses are 'grannies on duty.' They come out, receive it, say how good it feels to live in russia, and they film this as usual and show it on their television. This happened in Melitopol, in particular," said Starukh.

As IMI reported, on March 8, the russian occupiers seized the "Azovska khvylia" radio station in Berdyansk.

Also on March 8, the russian military seized the building of the local media holding PRO100 in Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

6. russians threaten the photo journalist who covered the maternity hospital bombing in Mariupol

11.03.2022 A number of russian social media accounts have published threats targeting Ukrainian photojournalist Yevhen Maloletka, who photographed the aftermath of the March 9 bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol. The russian troops' crime resulted in the death of three people (including a child), and 17 were injured.

Yevhen Maloletka, who works with international photo agencies, published photos of the ruins and the victims. Immediately, russian propaganda began to spread the narrative that the pictures are all staged and to call Yevhen Maloletka an "anti-russian propagandist."

Immediately after the airstrike, russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged the bombing and said there had been "no patients" at the hospital because it had been "captured by Azov paratroopers." After this, the russians found the social media of the pregnant girl pictured in the photos, found out she was a model, and began claiming that the photos were fabricated and harassing her in the comments. The "faking" allegations were even posted on social media by the rf's embassy in Grread Britain. On March 11, it became known that the girl gave birth to a child.

7. russian occupiers threaten Kherson journalist

12.03.2022 russian occupiers threaten to kill Kherson journalist Iryna Staroselets. Iryna Staroselets, Ukrinform's correspondent in the Kherson region, stated this on her Facebook page, "IRS-Henichesk" reports.

The journalist also confirmed this information to the IMI representative in the region.

"The russians are calling and threatening me. They say my name and explain what they are going to do to me," the journalist said.

According to the media, the journalist is actively covering the events in the russian-occupied Kherson region.

We remind that in the occupied territory of the Kherson region, the russian troops make attempts to establish a system of commandant's offices.

8. russian occupiers persecute and intimidate journalists in Berdyansk

13.03.2022 In the temporarily occupied Berdyansk, invaders threaten journalists and their families, forcing them to work for russian propaganda.

This was announced by the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh during the #UARAZOM telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"In Berdyansk, the occupiers have written down the addresses of journalists and their relatives. They are forcing them to work for russian propaganda. They are threatening their children, parents, and wives. That is, they are trying to perform terror and total intimidation," Starukh said.

He also said that there were many kidnappings in the region. In particular, Mayor Yevhen Matveev was abducted in Dniprorudnyy this morning, Ivan Fedorov in Melitopol, and civil activist Olha Haisumova.

There are cases of abduction in other areas as well.

"There is some information about the mayor of Dniprorudnyy, but none about Ivan Fedorov. We are all working to find him and bring him back to Ukraine, at least to snatch him from the clutches of terrorists," Starukh said.

It will be recalled that in Berdyansk, Melitopol, and Enerhodar, the invaders blocked the Ukrainian media.

9. russia to sue "1+1" TV host Natalia Moseychuk

21.03.2022 The chairman of the Investigative Committee of the russian Federation  Aleksander Bastrykin instructed to initiate a case against the Ukrainian TV host of the 1+1 TV channel Natalia Moseychuk, DM reports, citing the department's press office.

They will try to bring the TV host to justice and put her on the international wanted list. The reason was that she "verbally threatened russian pilots and their relatives on air." According to the Investigative Committee, Natalia Moseychuk  "expressed a misanthropic position and real threats."

According to russian media, the video of the broadcast from Moseychuk became public after it was spread on the telegram channel by ex-MP Ilya Kiva.

Recently, during the United News’s telethon, Natalia Moseychuk made comments as to reports of another bombing of Ukraine. She reminded of the responsibility of the military and their relatives. In particular, Natalia Moseichuk said that the wives of the russian invaders should be "afraid and understand that sooner or later" they will be widowed. She advised the fiancées of russian pilots to "find black headscarfs."

It should be noted that on March 20, the russian Telegram channel Troika announced a "hunt" for Moseychuk. The channel's admins urged subscribers to send any information to the host's relatives and friends, and "we will entertain you with news about their fate in the near future."

In the evening of the same day, the Telegram channel published the personal data of the host.

"Moseychuk Natalia Nikolaevna… how much cryptocurrency do you think our citizens can throw so that when you out of your apartment… in Kyiv ... you get your head cracked through with an ice axe for your message to the families of our pilots? We think that there are people in your Sumeria who will do it for half a Bitcoin and live stream it)" written in the channel.

It should be noted that this Telegram channel also publishes personal data of Ukrainian servicemen.

10. russian invaders break into the house of Tokmak newspaper editor

21.03.2022 Late in the evening on March 21, the russian invaders broke into the home of the editor of a local newspaper "Nashe Misto-Tokmak" (Zaporizhzhia region) Vitaly Holod. He reported this on his Facebook page. 

According to him, the invaders came to his house at about 10 pm.

“Yesterday, March 21, at about 10 pm, the ruscists (russian+fascists – n/tr) broke into my house. Because I was absent, the door was broken, things and documents were searched, and the computer system block was stolen," the editor wrote. 

As Vitaliy Holod told the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region, he had been informed of the break-in by his neighbours.

"There were not soldiers, but representatives of the Interior Ministry or the FSB. I know all their soldiers, because every day since February 28 we have been holding rallies against the occupation. The soldiers behaved appropriately," he said.

According to him, on March 21, at 9.30 pm, deputy Plaksina was abducted, and at 10.10 pm they came to him.

“As my neighbors told me, at first they knocked on the door like everyone else, then knocked forcefully, and then followed the mounts or crowbars. My acquaintances have already sent me a photo of the broken door. We know that the computer and documents were confiscated. But I don't know what documents they took," Vitaliy Holod said.

According to Vitaliy Holod, he was not injured and is currently outside the occupied city.

11. Invaders come to the home of Melitopol journalist's parents

21.03.2022 The russian invaders came to the place of the parents of Kateryna Danylina-Levochko, the correspondent for the "Industrialnoe Zaporizhzhia" editorial office in Melitopol, on March 21 at 4 a.m. 

The journalist reported it to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region. 

"Yesterday, March 21, at 4 am, the occupiers came to my parents' apartment, where I have not lived for nine years. Only my father was at home, my mother left the city the day before the war. They were looking for me. It is unclear why they came there. At the same time, they didn’t come to our apartment of me and my husband. They searched the parents' house and checked the father's phone," Kateryna said.

According to her, her father was asked whom she worked for, as well as information about the owner of the Melitopol Information Department, Mykhailo Kumok. Probably, the journalist notes, this was due to the fact that she had been working for that media.

According to Kateryna Danylina-Levochko, she is currently safe outside Melitopol.

12. European Pravda receives threatening letter about "tough interrogation and prison terms"

25.03.2022 The online edition European Pravda received an e-mail threatening the staff with "tough interrogations and prison terms" in case of russian occupation.

The editor-in-chief of the edition Serhiy Sydorenko reported about it on Facebook.

The journalist told IMI that the letter had reached the editorial office and had been signed by some Mesrop Bryzgalov.

The letter said that russia's Investigative Committee had opened criminal cases against all journalists under the article "extremism."

"All your contacts and personal data have been handed over to russian law enforcement authorities," the letter read.

The anonymous promised that when the russian army would take the settlements where journalists live, they will face "tough interrogations rounds and prison terms." Journalists are also offered to resign "right now" to witness and avoid a "real punishment."

Serhiy Sydorenko posted a screenshot of the letter on Facebook.

As IMI reported, in early March, Kherson collaborator Kirill Stremousov threatened the "dissidents" in occupied Kherson with russian imprisonment.

Odesa media received anonymous letters from the sender "Russkaya Odessa" in russian with the topic "Your chance to be savend" (spelling replicated) with threats and a call to "give up anti-russian activities."

13. Zaporizhzhia 061.ua website receives threats

25.03.2022 The editorial board of Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received a threatening letter. The letter was signed "Aizon Atayev" and sent from mail.ru, which is banned in Ukraine.

This was reported to the regional representative of IMI by the staff of the site.

The letter, in particular, read: "All data of your media staff are leaked to FSB officers in  russia. Each of you who does not stop cooperating on the Ukrainian propaganda of the Zelenskyy regime will be punished under Article 205 'Terrorism' of the Criminal Code."

The letter offers to find out for yourself what prison terms will be threatened under this article in the near future, in particular, by reading the Criminal Code of the russian Federation.

As IMI reported, a similar letter was received on March 25 by the online publication Europeyska Pravda, and journalists were threatened with interrogation and imprisonment.

14. Anonymous user threatens Hlavkom journalists with imprisonment for "terrorism"

25.03.2022 Staff of Hlavkom began receiving anonymous e-mail threats. 

According to Hlavkom, the threatening letter was signed by the user Akmol Plastinkin and came from the email address [email protected].

"All the data of the staff of your media has been leaked to the officers of FSB of russia," the user wrote.

The anonymous author said that every employee of the Hlavkom who "does not stop working for the Ukrainian propaganda of the Zelenskyy regime" will be punished under Article 205 "Terrorism" of the Criminal Code of the russian federation.

"Akmol Plastinkin" also threatened that Hlavkom employees would face imprisonment "in the near future."

The journalists believe that they are threatened because of reporting on russian-Ukrainian war.

15. Another Zaporizhzhia newspaper received letter threatening with tortures

25.03.2022 On March 25, the Zaporizhzhia website inform.zp.ua received a letter to the editorial office with threats and demands to the editorial staff to resign, otherwise they would be subjected to interrogations and torture.

The website's chief editor told this to the IMI representative in the Zaporizhzhia region.

According to him, the letter came in the afternoon from the user "Abdulhamid Govorov" from the banned mail in Ukraine mail.ua. The letter, in particular, states that the investigative committee of russia has opened a criminal case against all employees of the publication. 

"The case has been opened under the article "Extremism." All your contact and personal data have been handed over to russian law enforcement. After the russian army occupies the settlements where you live and work, you will be interrogated with tortures and imprisonment," the letter said.

It also emphasizes that media workers can appear as witnesses in the case and avoid "real punishment" if they "immediately resign from the media" in which they work. A photo of torture of civilians by people in military uniform and masks was also attached to the letter.

As IMI reported, two editions have already received similar letters – "European Truth" and the Zaporizhzhia site 061.ua. They are also threatened with interrogation and imprisonment under the articles "extremism" and "terrorism." Employees of Hlavkom have also received anonymous e-mail threats.

16. Krym.Realii receives threats about imprisonment in Siberia

27.03.2022 "Krym.Realii" media outlet received an e-mail with threats of imprisonment in Siberia for "spreadinf fakes about the russian army."

The editorial staff of Krym.Realii reported this to IMI.

The letter came from the user "Andrian Sudiropoulo" through the mail.ru mail service (banned in Ukraine).

The letter, in particular, states that the russian army "will soon occupy all cities of Ukraine and a military tribunal will be established to investigate the war crimes of Zelenskyy's regime and its accomplices."

"All journalists and Ukrainian media persons who promote the neo-Nazis and spread fakes against the russian army will be prosecuted and given real prison terms. It is not too late to resign, sabotage the orders of your leadership and side with russia. Otherwise, penal colonies of the FBS of the russian federation in the territory of the Siberian Federal District are waiting for you," the anonymous user's letter reads.

17. Vilne Radio editorial staff receives email threats

28.03.2022 The editorial office of Vilne Radio in Donetsk region received email threats. This was announced by Vilne Radio's director Anastasia Shibiko on her Facebook page.

"Vilne Radio's email box receives different things: people ask to find their relatives, take them out of the occupation, change the mayor, find weapons, food, etc., make a name for themselves, punish someone. But there are also things like this," Anastasia wrote.

In a comment to the IMI representative, Anastasia noted that she did not know who wrote the threats. "No, I do not know. This is sent via the feedback form on the radio's website. We simply googled the email, it says that it belongs to some Moscow company. But idk, to be honest, it's very superficial," said Anastasia Shibiko.

The editorial office has not yet decided how they will react to these letters.

"I don't know how to react, to be honest. It looks more like an attempt to intimidate me than real threats. But if there is a place to send a statement, I will definitely send it," Anastasia added.

18. Zaporizhzhia site 061.ua under threats again. This time threats of prison in Siberia

28.03.2022 On March 26, Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received another letter with threats and demands to resign. The regional representative of IMI was told about it by the staff of the website.

This time the letter was signed by "Radiy Ryzhkov" and sent from the mail.ru, which is banned in Ukraine, again.

The letter, in particular, says that soon the russian army "will occupy all cities of Ukraine, the interim authority would be established in Ukraine and the military tribunal to investigate the war crimes of the Zelenskyy regime is to be set up." 

"All journalists and employees of the Ukrainian media who were engaged in propaganda to please the neo-Nazis and spread fakes against the russian army will be prosecuted and sentenced to real prison terms," ​​the letter reads.

The author of the letter urges the editorial staff to "resign immediately until it's too late", recommends to sabotage the orders from the media leadership and "switch to russian side". If these conditions are not met, journalists are threatened with correctional labor in russian colonies in the Siberian Federal District.

We remind on March 25, several Ukrainian media have already received similar letters – "European Pravda," "Hlavkom," and the Zaporizhzhia sites 061.ua and inform.zp.ua. They were also threatened with interrogation and imprisonment under the articles "extremism" and "terrorism."

Krym.Realii media outlet has received an email containing threats of imprisonment in Siberia for "spreading fakes about russian army."

19. For the third time, Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua threatened by russia

28.03.2022 The website 061.ua in Zaporizhzhia received the third letter of threats on March 28. This was reported to the regional representative of IMI in the Zaporizhzhia region by the staff of the site. The letter was sent from the mail.ru which is banned in Ukraine from "Lilia Bragina." The subject of the letter reads in Ukrainian: "Look, this is important!"

In particular, the letter reads: "Soon the law of the russian federation will come into force in your city, and all accomplices of the neo-Nazi regime of Ukraine, including Ukrainian media, will be prosecuted for criminal actions in support of Zelenskyy's Banderite regime."

The report urges journalists to refrain from replicating anti-russian fakes about the russian military, "it's not too late."

It will be recalled that on March 25, several Ukrainian media received anonymous letters with threats – European Pravda, Hlavkom and Zaporizhzhia sites 061.ua and inform.zp.ua. They are threatened with interrogation and imprisonment under the articles "extremism" and "terrorism."

"Krym.Realii" media outlet received an e-mail with threats of imprisonment in Siberia for "spreading fakes about the russian army."

20. Editor-in-chief of Zaporizhzhia site threatened with jail

30.03.2022 The editor-in-chief of the Zaporizhzhia website inform.zp.ua Eric Brynza receives threats from russian numbers in his telegram messenger. He reported about it to the representative of IMI in the Zaporizhzya region.

Eric Brynza said he had received the first message from an unknown number with the code of the russian federation on March 30. In particular, it read: “In fact, every piece published on your resource constitutes a crime under several articles of the Criminal Code. When russian troops occupy your city and liberate it from the Banderites, you will be held accountable for the crimes of the trash hole you work for. Get ready, it will happen soon. "

The next day, on March 31, the editor-in-chief received a new message from another issue of the russian federation, saying that "russian soldiers" would soon be in the city, releasing him from the "Banderites" again. To do this, the author writes, "the russian army is regrouping its troops in Kyiv and Chernihiv regions and then will go on the offensive." "You will have to answer for the replication of anti-russian fakes and for discrediting the russian federation. You will be responsible for all this under russian law. Your curators from the SSU and Zelensky's gang will not help you. You will be in jail! ” threatened the sender.

On April 3, Eric Brynza received a new message, following the same pattern. "Every time you publish anti-russian fakes in the pages of your "media" in favor of the neo-Nazi propaganda of Zelensky's puppet regime, remember that soon the russian army will establish control over all liberated cities of Ukraine and you will have to answer for their criminal actions," it is said in the message.

21. Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua keeps receiving threats from russia

03.04.2022 Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua keeps receiving threats from russia – the editorial team received three more threatening letters between April 7 and 9.

The team shared this with IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.

The letters were sent from the mail.ru service. The emails' topics read: "For reading. IMPORTANT," "Read and think," "Must read." They are yet again about facing criminal responsibility for "spreading fakes and lies."

"All the staff of Ukrainian media and websites who spread fake news and lies about the actions of russian troops on Ukranian territory and cover for the banderites will face criminal prosecution in the nearest future. No one will go unpunished," says the email sent on April 7 by user "Alexander Medvedev."

The next email, from Artem Krasilnikov, recommends the editoial staff to "learn some prison slang, for you have very few moments of freedom left."

On April 9, the team received another letter from Artem Osipov that briefly informs that "every media person spreading propagandist fakes will soon be held accountable with all the severity of russian federation's law."

On April 11, the team received a letter from Artem Krasilnikov again, threatening interrogation and incarceration. The email states that "soon all the journalists who support Zelenskyy’s neonazi regime will be sent to investigating authorities to be questioned and charged, with subsequent deployment to penal facilities."

22. Roskomnadzor threatens to block "Trybun" media after a news report about russian shellings of Rubizhne and Popasna

06.04.2022 Rubizhne newspaper "Trybun" (Luhansk region) received a letter from Roskomnadzor demanding to delete the news report about the shelling of Rubizhne and Popasna by the russian occupiers.

This was announced by the editor-in-chief of "Trybun" Oleksiy Artyukh.

If the editorial office refuses, Roskomnadzor threatens to block the media in russia.

Oleksiy Artyukh notes that "a compromise solution has been proposed." He added a screenshot of the response of the editors, in russian:

“We offer a compromise option. There are two chairs: one with upturned pikes, the other with half-liter bottles. Which one will you sit on, and which one will you seat putin on? Russian warship, go fuck yourself! Glory to Ukraine! With contempt, the editorial board of the socio-political columnist 'Trybun.'"

Despite the fighting in the Luhansk region, 'Trybun' does not stop working and continues to cover events in the region.

23. Two Volyn media outlets receive threats from russia

07.04.2022 Two Volyn media outlets received emails with threats from russia.

The editorial staff of "Volyn Online" and "Konkurent" shared this with the IMI representative.

The letters were sent from the mail.ru email service (banned in Ukraine) and contain threats of criminal prosecution for "fakes and lies about the actions of russian armed forces in Ukraine."

As the editor of the "Volyn Online" news website Maryana Metelska, on April 7 in the afternoon a letter in russian has been sent to the editorial staff's email by the user "Vladislav Yefremov."

This email read: "All the staff of Ukrainian media and websites who spread fake news and lies about the actions of russian troops on Ukranian territory and cover for the banderites will face criminal prosecution in the nearest future. No one will go unpunished."

The journalist told that she has not received such letters before. Maryana Metelska attempted to reply to the letter and advise the sender to follow the russian warship. However, she could not send the email, as an error message popped up that the mail.ua domain address was not found.

The editor of "Konkurent" news agency Andriy Luchik has also received a similar letter. The email was sent by the user "Konstantin Lavrentiev."

The journalist stated that before the letter arrived, a man with a Moscow phone number had called him, offering certain website maintenance services, to which the editor replied, "What do you need, moskalyk?" and sent the man after the russian warship.

24. "Novyny Poltavshchyny" editors receive threats from occupiers via email

07.04.2022 On April 7, the editorial staff of "Novyny Poltavshchyny" communal informational agency received an email threatening criminal accountability for alleged spreading of fake news and lying about the russian troops' actions on Ukraninan territory.

The head of "Novyny Poltavshchyny" Yurii Nikolaev reported this to the IMI representative in Poltava region.

According to him, the editorial staff received the first letter from user "Ilya Nekrasov," the second one – from "Artem Krasilnikov," both sent from mail.ru addresses.

"All the staff of Ukrainian media and websites who spread fake news and lies about the actions of russian troops on Ukranian territory and cover for the banderites will face criminal prosecution in the nearest future. No one will go unpunished," – such message, but written in russian, was sent to the editorial team.

According to the journalist, the editorial team had received such threatening letters before, around 5-6 times in total.

"I tried to tell them to follow the russian warship's course, but the email would not go through. I tried twice," said Yurii Nikolaev.

25. Volyn media keeps receiving threats from russia

11.04.2022 Volyn's "Konkurent TV" channel and "Volyn Online" website received threatening emails sent from russia. The emails contain "recommendations" concerning the journalists' responsibility for covering the actions of the aggressor state and its army.

The media's editors shared this with IMI's representative in Volyn oblast.

As "Konkurant TV" editor Oleksandra Kruteyeva stated, on April 8 the editorial email address received a letter from user "Nikolai Petukhov." The letter contained a message in russian: "Soon all the journalists and media persons will have to answer according to all the severity of russian law, because russian troops are already moving towards Kyiv. I recommend you learn some prison slang, for you have few moments of freedom left."

The "Volyn Online" editor Maryana Metelska received a similar letter on April 8. On April 9, she received the thrid threatening letter. "For spreading misleading information about the actions of russian troops and promoting Zelenskyy's regime, all journalists will face criminal responsibility with subsequent deployment to penal facilities," the email says.

On April 11, Maryana Metelska received the fourth letter from russians. This letter, written in russian by user "Artem Krasilnikov," was threatening that all journalists who support Zelenskyy's "neonazi" regime will be sent for questioning and charged, with subsequent deployment to penal facilities."

We remind that on April 7, two Volyn media outlets – "Konkurent" and "Volyn Online" information agencies – received threatening emails sent from russia. In these emails, journalists are threatened with criminal responsibility for "fakes and lies about the actions of russian armed forces in Ukraine."

26. Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua keeps receiving threats from russia

11.04.2022 Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua keeps receiving threats from russia – the editorial team received three more threatening letters between April 7 and 9.

The team shared this with IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.

The letters were sent from the mail.ru service. The emails' topics read: "For reading. IMPORTANT," "Read and think," "Must read." They are yet again about facing criminal responsibility for "spreading fakes and lies."

"All the staff of Ukrainian media and websites who spread fake news and lies about the actions of russian troops on Ukranian territory and cover for the banderites will face criminal prosecution in the nearest future. No one will go unpunished," says the email sent on April 7 by user "Alexander Medvedev."

The next email, from Artem Krasilnikov, recommends the editoial staff to "learn some prison slang, for you have very few moments of freedom left."

On April 9, the team received another letter from Artem Osipov that briefly informs that "every media person spreading propagandist fakes will soon be held accountable with all the severity of russian federation's law."

On April 11, the team received a letter from Artem Krasilnikov again, threatening interrogation and incarceration. The email states that "soon all the journalists who support Zelenskyy’s neonazi regime will be sent to investigating authorities to be questioned and charged, with subsequent deployment to penal facilities."

27. Journalists from Zaporizhzhia's inform.zp.ua website receive threats of interrogation and incarceration sent from rf

12.04.2022 More than six messages with threats were sent from russia to the editorial email address of Zaporizhzhia’s inform.zp.ua website, as well as to its chief editor Erik Brynza privately, from April 6 to 11. Some of the emails are written in verse.

Eric Brynza shared this with IMI’s representative in Zaporizhzhia region.

According to him, the editorial email account received two such letters lately. The first one is from "Artem Osipov," the second one from "Artem Krasilnikov." Both letters were sent from mail.ru addresses on April 8 and 11 respectively. In these emails, the authors are threatening the editors’ team with criminal prosecution in accordance with russian federation’s laws on "promoting fakes," "supporting Zelenskyy’s neonazi regime," and "spreading misinformation about the actions of russian army."

According to the website’s editor, he received four private messages with threats via Telegram on April 6, 7, 8, and 9. All were sent from russian phone numbers, two were written in verse and contained threats about criminal prosecution, interrogations, and incarceration. For example, one message reads: "Deceiving the public with your agenda, spreading fakes for your propaganda, don’t you get a suspicion that Zelenskyy is a liar? Are you ready, through capitulation, with penal institutions as the place of your emigration, to meet such a shameful end?" The private messages also repeatedly state that all the journalists who "support Zelenskyy’s neonazi regime" will be sent "to investigating authorities to be questioned and charged, with subsequent deployment to penal facilities."

28. russians keep threatening Volyn journalists

13.04.2022 "Konkurent" news agency and "Volyn Online" website received threatening emails from russia again.

The media's editorial teams shared this with IMI representative in Volyn region.

Namely, on April 11, "Konkurent" editorial email address received a letter from user "Artem Krasilnikov" written in russian. The letter threatens interrogation and incarceration upon all journalists who support Zelenskyy's "neonazi" regime.

On April 13, "Volyn Online" editor Maryana Metelska received a rhymed email in russian with such contents:

Prepare to change your microphone

Prepare to change your camera

For obscene criminal jargon

And a dirty prison chamber.

We remind that in April, several threatening emails have been sent to the editorial staff of the "Konkurent" website, "Konkurent TV" channel, and "Volyn Online."

29. "Volyn Online" editorial staff receives poem-threats from rf

15.04.2022 "Volyn Online" website editor Maryana Metelska received the sixth threatening letter from russia.

She shared this with the IMI representative in Volynska oblast.

On April 15, the editorial email address received a message from user "Alexei Sazonov" written in russian and containing the following poem:

russian troops are liberators

Their operation saves lives and stability

And you, propaganda spreaders,

Will not escape criminal responsibility.

We remind that on April 13 the editor of the "Volyn Online" website Maryana Metelska received a poem via email that contained threats of incarceration.

Earlier, threatening emails have been sent to the editorial staff of the "Konkurent" website, "Konkurent TV" channel, "Volyn Online," and Racurs.ua.

30. Zaporizhzhia 061.ua website editors also receive poem-threats from rf

15.04.2022 Editors of Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua received new threats about incarceration of journalists. This time the threats, written in verse, were sent on April 13 and 15.

The website's staff shared this with the IMI representative.

The April 13 email, signed "Artem Osipov" and sent from a mail.ru address, reads: "Prepare to change your microphone, prepare to change your camera for obscene criminal jargon and a dirty prison chamber!"

Shortly after, on April 15, the editors received one more letter from Alexei Sazonov with the call "Think carefully!" and a different rhyme: "Deceiving the public with your agenda, spreading fakes for your propaganda, don’t you get a suspicion that Zelenskyy is a liar? Are you ready, through capitulation, with penal institutions as the place of your emigration, to meet such a shameful end."

We remind that on April 15 the "Volyn Online" website editor Maryana Metelska received the sixth threatening email from russia, in verse this time.

Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua keeps receiving threats from russia: four emails threatening incarceration have been sent to the staff on April 7 to 11.

31. Volyn journalist receives 11 incarceration threats from rf during the month

16.04.2022 Since March 15, "Racurs.ua" journalist Yurii Konkevych has received 11 emails that contained incarceration threats.

He has shared this with the IMI representative in the Volyn region.

According to the journalist, he had first received rhymed threats from user "Alexei Sazonov" on April 15.

"Deceiving the public with your agenda, spreading fakes for your propaganda, don’t you get a suspicion that Zelenskyy is a liar? Are you ready, through capitulation, with penal institutions as the place of your emigration, to meet such a shameful end?"

The  journalist noted that earlier, the editorial staff's email address had received messages stating that virtually every article on the website where he works constituted violation of several articles of the Criminal Code of rf.

We remind that on April 15, the editor of the "Volyn Online" website Maryana Metelska received the sixth threatening email sent from russia. Such emails have also been sent by different users to the editorial staff of "Konkurent" website and "Konkurent TV" channel.

32. russian occupiers threaten Oleh Baturyn's family

16.04.2022 "Novy den" (Kakhovka, Kherson region) journalist Oleh Baturyn reported that the russian occupiers are threatening his family members that stayed on the temporarily occupied territory.

Baturyn shared this on April 16 on his Facebook page.

"My relatives that stayed on the temporarily occupied territory began to receive threats. Such 'regards' are being passed to them from the russian occupiers. My family is very scared. The russians demand that I cease my professional work in journalism," the journalist wrote.

As IMI has reported, on March 12, Oleh Baturyn, a journalist from Kakhovka (Kherson region) had gone missing. He had been released on March 20.

Law enforcers began criminal proceedings for alleged abduction of Oleh Baturyn by the russian occupiers in Kherson region. The case has been opened for violation of laws and customs of warfare (Article 438 p. 1 of the CC of Ukraine).

Oleh Baturyn is convinced that he had been abducted and held captive for eight days because of his journalist work and active citizenship.

33. Zaporizhzhia's 061.ua website threatened with tribunal yet again

17.04.2022 Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua keeps receiving threats from russia – a new email to the editors arrived on April 17.

The editorial staff reported this to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.

The email has been sent by "Nikolai Petukhov" from a mail.ru address. Again, it threatens the journalists that russia is going to occupy large Ukrainian cities very quickly and the media is going face a tribunal.

"After russia occupies all Ukrainian cities, it will establish a war tribunal for everybody who supported the nazis' regime led by Zelenskyy. All journalists will be held accountable for spreading fakes about the rf and promoting the ukronazi regime," the letter says.

34. Mariupol 0629.com.ua receives threats about imprisonment in Siberia

20.04.2022 The editorial staff of Mariupol city website 0629.com.ua received an email threatening them with imprisonment in Siberia. The website's editor Anna Murlykina reported this.

She posted a screenshot. The letter was sent from [email protected] address by user "Dima Burov."

"If you are not afraid of RF FBS's penal colonies in Siberian federal district, you may keep promoting the Ukrainian regime. But prepare some warm clothes at least, for your lengthy vacation to jail is going to be a cold one!" the letter reads.

In her comment, Anna Murlykina told IMI representative that they were receiving similar emails every day. Sometimes several messages a day. They are being sent from different email addresses.

The editorial staff has informed the SSU about this, and the SSU has investigated the addresses from which the emails are being sent. Most of them are tied to russian phone numbers and already blocked.

Murlykina says that usually these letters contain obscene language and open aggression, and this one is different in content and tone, so she decided to share it on her social media.

We remind that on April 16, the 0629 editorial staff reported that they had been under constant cyber attacks for the last three weeks. russian hackers tried to change the website's logo into a russian flag.

35. Volyn media starts receiving threats from russian NoName hackers

25.04.2022 Volyn media outlets "Volyn Online," "Konkurent," and "Konkurent TV" received new threats via email. This time, the senders signed as group NoName057(16).

This is reported by IMI representative in Volyn region.

Namely, on April 24, the editors received letters in russian with the following content:

"V is for VICTORY, Z is for OURZ, game's over for you and your lying propagandist mouths."

On April 25, the editorial team received another poem:

"Once there was a little journalist, a propagandist, a conformist. And his fascist nazi of a daddy was a comedian and a drug addict. For the dad there was always a lot to be done: to gather his gang, do a shelling or two, for the son to note it all down, go online and post the hullabaloo. It has been going on for some months in a row, and all around, lies and swastikas have grown. Daddy was very glad you could not go back. But soon came liberators, fascism fighters and truth proliferators, with one hand they captured the fascist father, and his little son they grabbed with the other. Think carefully, journalists, apply all your reason – neither you nor zelenskyy will evade prison!"

Earlier, the media outlet had received threats of interrogation an imprisonment.

We remind that on April 22, "Detector Media" was targeted by hackers: the site sustained DDoS attacks. The group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for the cyberattack. The hackers called them enemies of russia and said they were attacking because the publication was "discrediting the russian army and spreading russophobic fakes."

The editors of Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua have also received threats from the NoName hacker group.

36. RIA-Melitopol editor has been receiving threats from rf for three weeks

25.04.2022 Svitlana Zalizetska, editor of "Holovna Hazeta Melitopola" and the RIA-Melitopol website, has been receiving threats in comments and private messages for three weeks now. She told this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.