801 crime against the media and journalists committed by Russia in the 2 years and 10 months of the full-scale war
In the 2 years and 10 months since the start of the full-scale invasion Russia committed 801 crimes against journalists and the media in Ukraine.
This is evidenced by the monthly monitoring study of Russia's crimes against journalists and the media by the Institute of Mass Information.
In November–December 2024, the IMI recorded 39 crimes against the media and journalists committed by Russia. These included shelling strikes on journalists, death threats and intimidation, damage to media offices, legal pressure, cyber attacks, and a media outlet closing down due to the Russian invasion.
Two media professionals turned soldiers were killed in action during this period:
- Andriy Buchak, Luhansk journalist who had been fighting on the front line since 2014. Andriy Buchak went missing in action on August 13, 2024 near Vodyane village (Donetsk oblast). His death was reported by his wife Olena on November 24, 2024. In the 2000s, Andriy Buchak worked in the Luhansk newspaper Kuryer.
- Oleh Sarelo, soldier and film editor for the project Realna Istoria. His death was announced by his wife Olena on December 9, 2024. Oleh enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces six months before. He served in the separate mechanized brigade No. 72.
Russia's crimes against the media and journalists in Ukraine
Hromadske journalist Ksenia Savoskina and cameraman Oleksiy Nikulin were targeted by Russian drones while filming a news story near Kupyansk. The journalists were filming the evacuation of animals from the left bank together with the Kharkiv Animal Rescue initiative when they heard drone sounds. The Russians targeted their car, which caught fire. They had to hide from the drones several times. The journalists were unharmed.
Furthermore, a Russian shelling strike significantly damaged the pavilion where STB's show MasterChef is filmed. There were no casualties.
Multiple media outlets and journalists received two waves of identical emails (on November 16 and December 12) claiming that bombs had been planted in the buildings of various institutions across Ukraine, as well as in the media offices. The emails arrived to both national and regional (Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Volyn, Kropyvnytskyi, Poltava) media outlets.
Espreso TV sustained a cyber attack: the hackers gained unauthorized access to the channel’s server and attempted to stream a video clip parroting the Russian psyop narratives about Ukraine’s mobilization effort. Hackers also targeted a telecom provider and streamed pro-Russian clips on Ukrainian channels.
Chernihiv-based online media outlet Cheline also suffered a cyber attack: the website and the admin system went down. The team believes Russian hackers to be involved in the incident.
Russia arrested two foreign journalists and one Ukrainian reporter in absentia for reporting from Kursk oblast:
- France 24 journalist Catherine Norris Trent;
- DW journalist Nicholas Connolly;
- Hromadske journalist Diana Butsko.
Russia’s FSB had previously opened cases against them for illegally crossing Russia’s border.
Ukrainian media outlets continue to close down as a result of Russia’s aggression. In November, Zhytomyr-based Krok Radio, which had operated in the city since 2002, stopped broadcasting. The team says that the closure was mainly caused by financial difficulties and lack of staff, which were exacerbated by the start of the full-scale war.
Read the full monitoring below:
Murder – 12 (94)
1. Live TV cameraman dies during shelling of Kyiv TV tower
01.03.2022 Live TV cameraman Yevheniy Sakun was killed in the shelling of a TV tower in Kyiv on March 1.
The report on the death of the TV channel worker was later confirmed by the National Police, according to Novyny.LIVE.
"Now we have a personal account with the invaders," Yevheniy Sakun's colleagues wrote. Novyny.LIVE editorial staff expresses their sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.
As IMI has reported, on March 1, russian troops shelled the Kyiv TV tower; the channels had temporarily gone off air as a result.
The Shevchenkivsky District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv has launched a criminal investigation into the shelling attack on Kyiv TV tower, which resulted in the death of several people (violation of the laws and customs of war) (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
2. russian terrorists kill journalist Brent Renaud in Irpin
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 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.
3. Photojournalist Max Levin killed by russian troops – Prosecutor's Office
02.03.2022 Photojournalist Maxim Levin, who had gone missing while carrying out his journalistic duties in March in Kyiv region, has been found dead. This was reported to the Institute of Mass Information by Prosecutor General's Office.
“The journalist's body was found in the village of Huta Mezhyhirska in Vyshhorod district. According to preliminary information, Maxim Levin, unarmed, was killed by the russian armed forces personnel, shot twice from a light weapon,” the report reads.
The police found the photojournalist's body on April 1.
The Vyshhorod District Prosecutor's Office has opened criminal proceedings for violation of laws and customs of war (Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
According to LB.ua, where Max had worked for a long time, he and Oleksiy Chernyshov, a serviceman and formerly a photographer, went to document the outcomes of russian aggression. The fate of Oleksiy Chernyshov is currently unknown.
Max Levin is survived by four underage sons, a wife and elderly parents.
As IMI reported, photojournalist Maxim Levin went missing on the front line in the Vyshhorod district outside Kyiv, where he was performing his professional duties and covering the war. The last time he was in touch was on March 13.
Maksym Levin was born in 1981 in Kyiv region. He had worked as a photojournalist, documentary photographer and cameraman for many Ukrainian and international publications, had collaborated with Reuters, BBC, TRT World, Associated Press, LB.ua, Hromadske. His photos were published by such publications as the Wall Street Journal, TIME, Break.
4. Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova killed by russian troops near Kyiv
15.03.2022 Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova was killed in an artillery shelling by russian troops in Horenka village, Kyiv region. Fox News cameraman, Irish citizen Pierre Zakrzewski, was killed with her. The adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Herashchenko reported this.
IMI has got a photo of a badge issued to Oleksandra Kuvshynova by Fox News.
Fox News have also covered their cameraman's death in their story. According to the channel, Zakrzewski and Kuvshynova were working with correspondent Benjamin Hall. They had been in the car when russians fired upon them.
The day before, on March 14, it became known that Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall had been wounded in the leg while filming a report near Kyiv.
According to Herashchenko, a part of Benjamin Hall's thigh has been amputated.
5. Fox News cameraman killed by russian troops
15.03.2022 Fox News cameraman, Irish citizen Pierre Zakrzewski has been killed in an artillery shelling by russian troops in Horenka village, Kyiv region. Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova was killed with him. The adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Herashchenko reported this. Fox News have also covered their cameraman's death in their story. According to them, Zakrzewski and Kuvshynova had been working with correspondent Benjamin Hall. They had been in the car when russians fired upon them.
6. Journalist for The Insider killed in a shelling in Kyiv
23.03.2022 The Insider journalist Oksana Baulina died on March 23 in a russian shelling attack on Kyiv while carrying out an editorial assignment.
This was reported on the media's website.
According to the newspaper, Oksana Baulina had been filming the destruction after the russian troops fired on the Podol district of the capital and she came under new missile strike. Another civilian was killed with her, and two people who had been accompanying her were injured and hospitalized.
Before joining The Insider, Oksana had been working for Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation. After the organization was added to the extremist list, she was forced to leave russia.
As a correspondent, Oksana went to Ukraine, where she managed to make several reports from Lviv and Kyiv before her death.
The periodical stated that it will continue covering the war in Ukraine, namely such russian war crimes as "indiscriminate shelling of residential areas that is killing civillians and journalists."
7. russians kill Lithuanian documentarist Mantas Kvedaravičius in Mariupol
03.04.2022 In Mariupol, the russian military killed Lithuanian filmmaker and documentarist Mantas Kvedaravičius, as it was reported by "Army Inform," russian filmmaker Vitaly Mansky, and Lithuanian media.
"Army Inform" notes that the director died as he was trying to leave the city. According to Lithuanian media, his car might have been hit by a missile.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has already expressed his condolences over the death of Kvedaravičius, delfi.lt reports.
"Not only Lithuania, but the whole world has lost a famous artist who, despite the danger, had been working in Ukraine, which was attacked by russia. I wish much, much strength to his family, friends and all those who appreciate Kvedaravičius' talent," said the Lithuanian President.
Later, Ukrainian journalist Albina Lvutina, who had known the filmmaker, said that Mantas Kvedaravičius had been shot dead by the russian troops. "The heartless russian soldiers captured Mantas and killed him. And then just left him out there. His heroic wife did the unbelievable. Under shelling, she was able to find his body in Mariupol and take him to his native Lithuania. It was necessary to keep this information a secret so that she wouldn't be killed herself and that russians wouldn't destroy the body," the journalist wrote. According to her, Mantas died not on April 2, but earlier. At that point, his wife was already trying to take his body away through russia. The death of Kvedaravičius in the occupied Mariupol became known on April 3.
The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova also reported on the circumstances of Mantas Kvedaravičius' death in Mariupol.
According to the Commissioner, he had been taken prisoner by ruscists, who later shot him. "The occupiers threw the filmmaker's body out into the street. His wife, risking her life, took the body out of the blockaded city and brought it to Lithuania. The real cause of the filmmaker's death has not been announced before for the sake of her safety," the statement reads.
Mantas Kvedaravičius was born in 1976. He received a Master's degree in cultural anthropology in Oxford University. In 2011, he made the documentary "Barzah" about the war-torn Chechnya. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and won the Amnesty International Award.
In 2016, he made a documentary "Mariupol" about the city, which had been at the forefront of the russian-Ukrainian war a year before. The film was screened at the Berlin Film Festival.
8. French journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff killed by russian shelling in Luhansk region
30.05.2022 On May 30, journalist for the French BFMTV channel Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff was killed in a russian shelling attack in Luhansk region.
Head of the Luhansk regional military-civil administration Serhiy Haidai announced this.
According to Haidai, russian troops fired on an evacuation vehicle that was on its way to pick up people.
The journalist received a fatal neck wound.
"Today, our armored evacuation vehicle was going to pick up 10 people from the region and came under enemy fire. Shrapnel from the shells pierced the car's armor, an accredited French journalist who had been covering the event received a fatal neck wound, a patrol policeman was saved by his helmet," Haidai wrote and announced the cessation of the evacuation.
9. Ukrainian producer for La Repubblica, Bohdan Bitik, killed by a Russian attack in Kherson
26.04.2023 The Russian attack on Kherson on April 26 killed the Ukrainian producer of the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Bohdan Bitik, who was working together with the newspaper's correspondent Corrado Zunino. The newspaper reported this on its website.
According to IMI's sources in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Ukrainian man was part of the filming crew helmed by Corrado Zunino, who was wounded in the attack.
IMI's sources say that the Ukrainian had no bulletproof vest and was wearing only a vest with a "Press" nadge. The Italian correspondent, however, was wearing a bulletproof vest.
"We regard this situation as a war crime against journalists, committed by the Russians," said IMI executive Oksana Romaniuk.
According to the newspaper, the journalists were ambushed by Russian snipers near the bridge. Both had "Press" badges. According to Corrado, he was wearing a bulletproof vest with the inscription "Press".
"We passed three checkpoints, Bohdan talked to the Ukrainian military, they let us through without any issues. This was not a combat area. Then we were hit, I heard a hiss and saw Bohdan on the ground, he was not moving. I crawled out of the firing line. I ran until I saw a civilian car. I was covered in blood, they took me to the Kherson hospital. I have four wounds, but they gave me excellent treatment. I tried to call him several times. Bohdan, he did not pick up the phone. He was a great friend of mine," Corrado said.
Bohdan Bitik is survived by his wife and son.
According to IMI, Bohdan Bitik became the 54th media worker to die as a result of Russia's aggression (and the ninth media worker to die while performing journalistic work).
As reported by IMI, on April 26, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported that their correspondent Corrado Zunino had been wounded in a Russian attack. At the time of the attack, he was with a fixer.
Law enforcers have started a pre-trial investigation into the wounding of Corrado Zunino, a reporter with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. A case for violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) has been opened.
According to the investigation, on April 26, Russian troops opened fire in the area of the Antonivsky Bridge near Kherson, resulting in the death of a civilian. A foreign publication's correspondent who was working on a report about life in the city received a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
10. AFP reporter Arman Soldin dies in Ukraine's east
09.05.2023 Arman Soldin, a video reporter for the French news agency AFP, was killed by roket fire in the east of Ukraine on May 9.
This was reported on Twitter by AFP.
"We are devastated to learn of the death of AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in eastern Ukraine today. All of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones," the post reads.
The agency does not report the circumstances of the journalist's death.
Arman Soldin was killed by rocket fire near Chasiv Yar, according to his colleagues who witnessed the incident. The attack took place on the outskirts of the town near Bakhmut.
According to Lemonde, Arman Soldin and his colleagues from the AFP came under fire while they were with a group of Ukrainian soldiers. The attack happened at around 4:30 pm.
Soldin, 32, was killed when a rocket struck close to where he was lying. The rest of the team was uninjured.
"The whole agency is devastated by the loss of Arman," AFP chairman Fabrice Fries said. "His death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers faced by journalists every day covering the conflict in Ukraine."
Born in Sarajevo, Soldin was a French national who began working for AFP as an intern in its Rome bureau in 2015 and was later hired in London. He was part of the first AFP team to be sent to Ukraine following the start of Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, arriving on the following day. Soldin had been living in Ukraine since September, leading the team's video coverage and travelling regularly to the front lines in the east and south.
According to IMI, Arman Soldin is the 57th media worker to die as a result of Russia's aggression, and the 10th journalist to die while reporting.
11. Reuters crew member Ryan Evans killed by the Kramatorsk hotel strike
24.08.2024 Ryan Evans, a safety advisor with the UK news agency Reuters, was killed in a Russian strike on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk, reports Reuters.
Evans was staying at the hotel as part of a six-person team when a missile hit it.
Other two journalists from the Reuters crew were injured and have been hospitalized. One of them was severely wounded.
"We are urgently seeking more information about the attack, including by working with the authorities in Kramatorsk, and we are supporting our colleagues and their families," Reuters says.
Evans, a former British soldier, had been working with Reuters since 2022 and advised its journalists on safety around the world including in Ukraine, Israel and at the Paris Olympics. He was 38.
"We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to Ryan's family and loved ones. Ryan has helped so many of our journalists cover events around the world; we will miss him terribly," Reuters writes.
The three other members of the Reuters team who were in the hotel at the time of the strike are safe, the agency reports.
As reported earlier, the body of a UK journalist was retreived by emergency responders from under the rubble of a Kramatorsk hotel on the evening of August 25.
According to law enforcers, the casualties inlcuded four injured reporters: citizens of the USA, Germany, Latvia, and Ukraine. The injured journalists, aged 38, 40, 41 and 46, were provided with medical assistance. Two of them have been hospitalized, the others are being treated on an outpatient basis.
The National Police notes that Russia struck the hotel where a crew of foreign reporters was staying with an Iskander-M missile.
According to the IMI, Ryan Evans is the 85th media worker to die in Ukraine as a result of Russia's full-scale aggression.
12. Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna dies in Russian detention
10.10.2024 Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, said that he had official documentary confirmation of the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna from Russia's side.
He announced this on October 10 on Telegram.
"Once again, a person whose detention in a prison in Russia has been confirmed by the ICRC dies in Russian captivity! Why the young woman died in Russian detention is unclear," he wrote.
He reminded that Victoria went missing in Ukraine's TOT in August 2023. In September of the same year, Roshchyna's family appealed to the authorities with a request for a search. The Commissioner's Office also received an appeal from the family. It was as late as May 2024 that Russia confirmed that she had been detained and was kept in Russia. There was also confirmation from the ICRC.
Lubinets reported Victoria's death to the UN and the ICRC so that they would record the death of a civilian unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation.
"Unlawful detentions and abductions of journalists are Russia's weapon against freedom of speech! Russia has once again violated the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. The international community must put pressure on Russia so that all perpetrators are brought to justice!" the Commissioner wrote.
The death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna in Russian detention was reported on October 10, 2024. The news of her death was confirmed by Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, reported that Victoria Roshchyna had been on the prisoner swap lists.
Earlier, Russia admitted detaining Victoria Roshchyna, who had gone missing on August 3, 2023 in the temporarily occupied territory. Victoria was held in Russia.
Assassination attempts – 2
1. FSB agents preparing sabotage operations, Dmytro Gordon's assassination detained in Kyiv – SBU
03.09.2024 Four agents of Russia's FSB, coordinated by an ex-deputy of the outlawed "Party of Regions", were detained in Kyiv while preparing sabotage operations and collecting data on Ukraine's public figures, including the Ukrainian media personality Dmytro Gordon, for assassination purposes, reports the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
According to the investigators, the agent network was engaged in reconnaisance and subversion in Ukraine. It had a hierarchical structure with clearly defined roles. In addition to the ex-deputy as their curator, it included a saboteur, a supplier of explosive devices, and an agent specializing in external surveillance.
The agents were planning a series of detonations on Ukrzaliznytsia's railway tracks to disrupt the Defense Forces logistics. Namely, they were to blow up a Kyiv oblast track which the Ukrainian Armed Forces use to transport equipment and personnel to the frontline. However, the SBU managed to prevent this.
The agents were also tasked with collecting data on Ukrainian public figures of interest to the FSB with the aim of their assassination. In particular, the FSB tried to obtain data on where certain individuals live and visit, their daily schedule and social circle. According to the SBU, Dmytro Gordon was one of the people whose assassination the Russian special services were preparing.
The detainees were searched and their communication devices and digital gadgets were seized.
All four detainees are in custody. They have been notified of suspicion under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Art. 111 (treason); Art. 113 (sabotage); Art. 258 (terrorism).
2. Group conspiring to murder activists and journalists detained in Odesa
19.09.2024 The leaders of an Odesa group which calls itself "Templars" were detained on suspicion of creating illegal armed formations and conspiring to seize power, reports "Dumska", citing its own sources in the police.
According to the publication's source, Oleh Maltsev and his closest associate Kostyantyn Slobodyaniuk were detained on September 12. The court ruled to detain them without bail.
According to the investigation data cited by "Dumska", the men created a militant structure (an "operational combat unit") after the start of the full-scale war. The unit was supposed to arrange sabotage, murder activists, etc. if Russian troops come close to the city.
According to the Institute of Mass Information's own sources, their hit list included several local journalists. As reported by "Dumska", Maltsev himself expected to chair the occupation administration of Odesa or become a high-ranking official.
"The terrorist group included stormtroopers, snipers, scouts, and signalmen. They bought a lot of firearms and ammunition, which were seized by the police during searches," the newspaper writes, citing their sources in the law enforcement agencies.
In 2015, Oleh Maltsev publicly threatened the "Channel 7" and "Tretiy Tsifrovyi" journalists who released an investigation mentioning him, announcing a "hunt" for them.
Missing – 14
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, IMI has recorded at least 14 Mariupol journalists who had gone missing or out of contact. According to IMI, all 14 journalists managed to survive. Some have already left Mariupol – either to the territory controlled by Ukraine or abroad.
Capture and abduction of journalists – 29
05.03.2022 On March 5, the russian military abducted Nikita (name changed), Radio France fixer, in a village in central Ukraine, tortured him, and held him captive for nine days.
This was announced on March 21 by the human rights organization Reporters Without Borders, whose representatives spoke with the fixer after his release from captivity.
According to the organization, on March 8, they received a signal from Radio France about the disappearance of the fixer and began searching for him.
According to Nikita, he was beaten, felt his teeth crumble in his mouth, was tortured with electric shocks, kept in an ice-cold waterlogged cellar, interrogated, not given food for 48 hours. He was also thrown into a ditch next to a dead dog and went through a mock-execution: a soldier standing over a ditch fired and a bullet grazed his head. He was later taken to a forest and tied to a tree and interrogated for five days. He was then released.
According to doctors, Nikita suffered hematomas in the head and all over the body, swelling of the right leg and numbness of the limbs due to electric shocks. Noting that the injuries were caused by the russian army, the doctor concluded that Nikita had received a "criminal injury." He is recovering, and his family managed to flee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
23.08.2022 In the temporarily occupied Kherson, the russian military has kidnapped patriotic TikTok blogger and kindergarten teacher Olena Naumova. Her son Mykola told Suspilne about this.
The man says that they heard nothing from his mother for two days.
"I know that people in uniform and carrying machine guns came and took her away. She is an ordinary person, I don't know what is there to demand from her. I know for sure that it was a kidnapping, because the neighbors saw it," said Mykola Naumov.
According to the son, his mother was kidnapped from her own home around 11:00 on August 23.
Olena Naumova filmed TikTok videos in which she talked about life under occupation and also expressed support for Ukraine.
Nothing is known about the woman's fate.
On September 7, the woman was released, as reported by journalist Osman Pashayev and her son Mykola Naumov.
"Olena has been released. I ask you not to visit her, because, first of all, she is not at home. And secondly, she is being stalked, and visits will create problems," Naumov wrote.
He once again urged not to look for her and not to draw attention to her in the city, as she is preparing to leave the occupied Kherson.
12.09.2022 UNIAN journalist Dmytro Khylyuk, who went missiong in Kyiv oblast in spring the Russian occupation, is being held in a pre-trial detention center in Bryansk, Russian Federation.
Media Initiative for Human Rights coordinator Olha Reshetylova spoke with Hromadske about this.
"After interviewing Volodymyr Khrypun, a Red Cross volunteer who had been released from captivity, we found out that journalist Dmytro Khylyuk is being held in a detention center in Bryansk. Volodymyr heard his last name at a roll call, he didn't even see him. But when we started making this information public, the Russians stopped calling them by their last names and assigned them numbers instead," said Olha Reshetylova.
The International Committee of the Red Cross should have confirmed the whereabouts of the prisoners, but its representatives do not have access to the colonies and pretrial detention centers where Ukrainians are being illegally held.
As IMI reported, on March 28, journalist Natalia Bohuta reported that Dmytro Khylyuk had gone missing and was probably being held captive by the Russian military. Despite the Kyiv oblast having been liberated from the Russian occupiers, UNIAN journalist Dmytro Khylyuk was not found, and there has been no contact with him since early March of this year.
19.09.2022 Russian troops kidnapped Zhanna Kyselyova, the editor of the Kakhovska Zorya newspaper. This was reported by the Kakhovka city territorial community.
Along with Kyselova, the Russians also kidnapped local resident Iryna Razumey.
They were kidnapped in the morning of September 19 from their apartments in the same building in the center of Kakhovka.
Zhanna Kyselyova headed the district newspaper for many years and fought for its denationalization.
In 2020, she was elected a Kakhovka City Council deputy.
According to the regional representative of IMI, as of yesterday morning, her fate remained unknown.
We remind that Kakhovka, Kherson oblast, has been under Russian occupation since March.
22.09.2022 While occupying new territories of Luhansk oblast, the Russian troops detained a journalist from a local media oultet and kept her in the premises of the so-called "LPR MSS" for several days.
The detained journalist, whose name we are withholding for safety reasons, told an IMI representative about this in a private conversation.
According to the journalist, she stopped working immediately after her town was occupied in February. However, this did not save her from being detained. After a few weeks of occupation, the Russians took her to Luhansk for questioning and kept her there for some time, only letting her go back to her town later.
According to the journalist, the occupiers mainly asked her about her other colleagues from her town or others.
The occupiers offered her three options: prison, deportation, collaboration.
Out of fear, the woman chose "collaboration." However, as soon as she was released, she was able to tell her colleagues in the free territory what had happened to her. In a few months, the journalist managed to escape from the occupation.
The journalist is not ready to tell her story publicly yet due to fear for her family. The town is still occupied.
22.09.2022 While occupying new territories of Luhansk oblast, the Russian troops detained a journalist from a local media oultet and kept her in the premises of the so-called "LPR MSS" for several days.
One of the detained journalists, whose name we are withholding for safety reasons, told an IMI representative about this in a private conversation.
According to the journalist, her colleague is also from a small town. The Russian occupiers detained her outside her home in April and told her to follow them. Others took the phones and working equipment from her home. She was taken to the local "LPR MSS" branch, and later to Luhansk. They spent six hours questioning her about her life, work, salary, and social circle. After the interrogation, she ended up in a cell with her colleague, the third journalist whose detention is now known.
As soon as they were released, they were able to tell their colleagues in the free territory what had happened to them. In a few months, the women managed to escape from the occupation.
Our colleagues are not ready to tell their stories publicly yet due to fear for their families. These towns are still occupied.
22.09.2022 While occupying new territories of Luhansk oblast, the Russian troops detained another (third) journalist from a local media oultet and kept her in the premises of the so-called "LPR MSS" for several days.
One of the detained journalists, whose name we are withholding for safety reasons, told an IMI representative about this in a private conversation.
After the interrogation, she ended up in a cell with her colleague, the third journalist whose detention is now known.
The occupiers offered the women three options: prison, deportation, collaboration.
As soon as they were released, the journalists were able to tell their colleagues in the free territory what had happened to them. In a few months, the women managed to escape from the occupation.
Our colleagues are not ready to tell their stories publicly yet due to fear for their families. These towns are still occupied.
23.09.2022 Russians in Kherson kidnapped patriotic blogger Olena Naumova, who filmed TikTok videos in which she talked about life under occupation and also expressed support for Ukraine, again. The occupiers forced her to record a video of herself "repenting."
Valery Komahorov and his girlfriend, whom the propaganda channel's host calls "Olegivna 29," are also among the abducted. Propaganda TV channel Perviy Respublikansky, which speaks from occupied Donetsk, called them online extremists.
On August 23, the Russian military kidnapped Olena Naumova from her home in temporarily occupied Kherson. She was released on September 6.
Her son has confirmed that she has been kidnapped again. According to Mykola, on September 19, representatives of the occupation authorities (Mykola calls them "curators") asked Olena if she was ready to leave for the free Ukrainian territory. The woman agreed, and her relatives have not seen her since.
In the propaganda video, Naumova, a bruise under her eye, apologizes for insulting the Russian military – in Russian, which has been uncharacteristic for her lately.
"The actions of the mentioned persons were not detrimental to the 'state security of Kherson oblast,' therefore, after an according talk, they were issued an official warning," the host said.
We remind that Olena Naumova filmed TikTok videos in which she talked about life under occupation and also expressed support for Ukraine.
23.09.2022 Russians in Kherson kidnapped blogger Valery Komahorov who had been running a pro-Ukrainian TikTok channel koshmarik_olegivna29 together with his girlfriend, another blogger called Olegivna 29.
Propaganda TV channel Perviy Respublikansky, which speaks from occupied Donetsk, called the kidnapped online extremists. They ran a blog on Instagram, which is banned in Russia; the host called it "a hotbed of Russophobia and Ukrainian extremism." Later, they made TikTok accounts.
Their blog was quite popular, and their videos were getting a lot of views.
"The actions of the mentioned persons were not detrimental to the 'state security of Kherson oblast,' therefore, after an according talk, they were issued an official warning," the host said.
He also added that in case of further "public activity" they would face criminal liability.
23.09.2022 Russians in Kherson kidnapped blogger Olegivna 29 who had been running a pro-Ukrainian TikTok channel koshmarik_olegivna29 together with her boyfriend, another blogger called Valery Komahorov.
Propaganda TV channel Perviy Respublikansky, which speaks from occupied Donetsk, called the kidnapped online extremists. They ran a blog on Instagram, which is banned in Russia; the host called it "a hotbed of Russophobia and Ukrainian extremism." Later, they made TikTok accounts.
Their blog was quite popular, and their videos were getting a lot of views.
"The actions of the mentioned persons were not detrimental to the 'state security of Kherson oblast,' therefore, after an according talk, they were issued an official warning," the host said.
He also added that in case of further "public activity" they would face criminal liability.
13.10.2022 In temporarily occupied Starobilsk, militants of the "LPR" group have kidnapped Yulia Rybalka, who once was the press secretary of the Luhansk Energy Association LLC.
This is reported by Starobilski Novyny.
The militants accuse the woman of "leaking information for directing missile attacks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine."
This is reported by Russian propaganda resources, which published a video of Yulia answering the invaders' questions during an interrogation.
According to pro-Russian propaganda media, the woman is being accused of "gathering information for the Ukrainian special services," namely "for the purpose of aiming the fire to hit civilian objects" in the "LPR." The occupiers threaten the woman with 20 years in prison.
As IMI reported, Russia has officially confirmed the detention of human rights activist Maksym Butkevych.
10.11.2022 Angela Slobodyan, journalist for the now closed TRC "Ukraina", said that she had been kept in a Russian isolated cell in occupied Kherson and spoke about the invaders abusing their captives and torturing Ukrainian POWs.
She wrote about it on her Facebook page. Angela Slobodyan confirmed to IMI that she consents to the story of her Russian captivity being published, but without the details.
She spent about a month in a Kherson detention center which the Russians turned into a torture camp. "Psych ward No. 6. That's what we called our cell No. 6 in the Kherson detention center. Faina, Olya, Svitlana, Natalya, and I as the patients, supervised by our torturers. No, they did not beat us. They had other kinds of 'injections' for women. They tried to humiliate and crush us. Ruthlessly," she wrote.
According to Slobodyan, they could hear the occupiers kill a prisoner and then wrap his body in plastic (the Kadyrovites "overdid it" while interrogating him), could hear them raping men outside the cell door.
"We knew where our lads were being tortured with electric current, where they were being beaten and where they were being forced to talk. Black shadows in the moonlight. They don't know what pain is. They inject droplets of their toxins into everything that lives. Wretched creatures. Horrifying experience. To live... We, the Psych Ward No.6 patients, started every new day with the thought that WE MUST SURVIVE. Not everyone did," Angela Slobodyan recalls.
The girl said that her 66-year-old roommate Faina had a stroke and died. The woman had been taken prisoner because her son was a volunteer.
Two more women were detained "because of who their husband and brother were."
"Svitlanka. We shared a bunk bed with her. There were three beds for five people. Svitlana had been 'taken away' because of her husband. They let her go because 'they didn't need her anymore.' Took her out for questioning and said, 'your husband has been killed, you are free to go.' Another life broken. Olya. A teacher. They released her on day 33. Didn't question her once. She was being held captive because of her brother," the journalist said.
Angela was released from the detention center after 30 days in captivity. "I was constantly imagining myself getting out, no longer hearing the noise of the metal gate... leaving everything behind... The next day, I was standing at the gate. Took a friend along and brought a 'package' for my folks. Natalya. They kept her there for almost 4 months. Bogus accusations. Today I learned that she had gotten out of the torture camp. Now we are in different cities in Ukraine. Our Psych Ward No. 6 will meet again, albeit not in full. But we will for sure. In our Kherson, freed from evil. We have faith!" she added.
According to the journalist's information, which she received from those who had been "evacuated" from the Kherson detention center, the Kherson Mayor, Ihor Kolykhayev, is currently in custody in Kalanchak. He lost a lot of weight, has some health problems.
She was also told that 36 people were "evacuated" from the Kherson detention center. "From Hola Prystan to Novotroitske. Took them two weeks to move everybody. As they were doing it, they left 3 women in Kherson, I know their names, I will pass them on to the Prosecutor's office. People are being held in the police station. The occupiers are letting the detainees go without documents, money, or phones," Angela Slobodyan wrote.
16.01.2023 The Russian occupiers had been holding Anatoliy Garagatyi, a 69 year old video blogger from the Savyntsi hromada (Kharkiv oblast), captive, reports "Slobidskyi Kray".
On March 2, he filmed a Russian tank convoy entering Savintsy and posted the video on social media. His wife, who always supported him in everything, started persuading him to stop filming the consequences of the Russians' stay in Savintsy. But Anatoly did not agree to this. Still, he moved to his dacha, hoping that the occupiers would not find him there.
The man was detained on May 28 at 6 a.m. He was visited by eight armed Russian soldiers with their faces covered.
The man managed to run into the barn and hide behind a pile of firewood. However, the Russians still found him and searched every corner of both his dacha and his apartment. They took away his video equipment and everything that caught their eye. They accused Anatoliy of adjusting the UAF artillery fire. The man denied the accusations.
He was first interrogated in the village council's garage, where he was thrown with a promise that an investigator would arrive soon. The investigator, unlike the men who had searched Anatoliy's home, had his face open and asked Anatoliy whether he had been giving the Russian troops' coordinates to the Ukrainian military. Unable to get the right answer out of him, the investigator ordered for electric wires to be attached to Anatoliy Gargatyi's toes and for the man to be tased through them. After the second "shock", Garagatyi fainted.
As soon as the man came to his senses, a sack was thrown over his head, and he was thrown into a car and driven to another barn – in Balaklia.
"My wife, having found out where I am, made five unsuccessful attempts to send me food and personal hygiene items. The Russians only approved of the last two packages. To top it all off, our fellow villagers turned their backs on her, afraid to taint their reputation by ties with the wife of an "undesirable" person and thereby share his fate. She became socially isolated. It was hard to bear the sidelong glances, the ostentatious silence, the outright silent treatment," the man recalls.
Cell No.3 in the Balaklia detention center at the local police department became Anatoliy's place of imprisonment for 100 days. The occupiers put eight prisoners in a cell designed for three people. In the summer, the cell was suffocating and cramped. The prisoners were fed plain porridge. They saw the sun for five minutes a day, while being taken to the toilet. Anatoliy Gargatyi lost 10 kilograms of weight during his captivity. Before being kidnapped, he weighed over 70 kg. On September 4, two days before the liberation of Balaklia, Anatoliy Gargatyi and another man from their cell were unexpectedly released. At the same time, the Russians threatened the blogger with death if he picked up a video camera even once.
Anatoliy Gorgatyi's home, like those of most Savintsy residents, remained intact.
"Of course, one can't forget living without gas for five months and cooking food in the open air, having no electricity for a month and a half in a row and living on generators. But that's all in the past now. Even my dacha survived. There were 'hits' indeed. A five-story building downtown was damaged, but the suburbs suffered more. There are many houses with crushed roofs. Three houses near the railway, where the Russian occupiers made a checkpoint, have also been significantly damaged. The 'Russian world' left a 'noticeable trace' in a village named Rakivka as well," the man says.
30.05.2023 Local journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr have been kidnapped in temporarily occupied Melitopol (Zaporizhia oblast). This information was confirmed by IMI's own sources in the city.
According to the sources, the occupiers detained the couple on the street, first keeping them together and then separating them. Their current whereabouts are unknown. Iryna and her husband have been retired for several years.
Iryna's sister, Olena Rudenko, told the Center for Journalistic Investigations that the couple has not been in contact since May 6.
According to Olena, the couple's acquaintances started searching for the Levchenkos after they stopped getting in touch. Another difficulty in finding out what happened to the family is that the occupiers require the people coming to the "commandant's office" to ask questions about the abducted to be their close relatives. Iryna and Oleksandr have none in the occupied area.
The Levchenkos were last in contact on May 5. It was probable that Iryna and Oleksandr had gone to their dacha in the Melitopol suburbs for the weekend and have no mobile connection, or to the cemetery on the city's outskirts to tend to the graves of their relatives, or that they had just gone for a ride. So it was only three days later that the relatives started sounding the alarm.
"We went to their dacha – there was no one there. The apartments are locked, the bicycles are in place. We can't know for sure what happened to Iryna and Sasha!" said Olena.
Their friends tried to learn something about the Levchenkos' fate from the occupying "law enforcers", but they were told that this information will only be provided to close relatives. All their relatives have left the occupied territories, however.
Currently, the family has fairly approximate information about the fate of the abducted couple. On the first day, the Levchenkos were supposedly kept in a building on Chernyshevsky Street, where the occupiers are using as an office for one of their law enforcement structures.
Then Iryna was taken somewhere else, and Oleksandr remained. He is allegedly accused of "terrorism".
The relatives did not report on the disappearance of the Levchenkos at first, hoping that they would be released, but now they are asking for maximum publicity, as they consider all the accusations to be absurd.
"Of course, it's nonsense, what kind of terrorism a couple of retirees could have committed", say the family's friends, who do not lose hope that Iryna and Oleksandr will come back home shortly.
Iryna Levchenko has been a journalist since 1981. She worked for large-circulation newspapers, for the Melitopol district newspaper "Novy Den", was a correspondent for regional and national printed media.
She has not been working as a journalist in recent years due to family circumstances, and is now in retirement.
Oleksandr Levchenko used to work at the Melitopol tractor hydraulic units factory and an engine factory. After retirement, he devoted most of his time to the dacha.
As IMI reported, on March 13, 2022, the Melitopol city and district newspaper "Novy Den" stopped printing. As IMI learned later, the occupiers eventually appropriated the editorial office.
Information about the disappearance of Iryna Levchenko and her husband has also been posted by the Telegram channel "Missing in Melitopol".
04.10.2023 Ukrainian reporter Victoria Roshchyna went missing on her trip to the occupied territories, reports The Daily Beast.
Family and friends say they have not heard from Victoria Roshchyna, 26, since August 3, when she was returning to Russian-occupied territory.
Her family fears she is being held by the Russians.
“To my daughter, journalism was the most important thing in her life, she was very devoted to her profession,” Volodymyr Roshchyn told The Daily Beast. “I asked her to slow down after her first captivity, I said, ‘Vika, I can pay your salary, just please don’t go to the front’ but she was firm, unstoppable—she was not able to stop covering the news of this war on the occupied territories for her readers.”
According to her father, Roshchyna set off from Ukraine to Poland on July 27 and was expected to reach Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine—via Russia—three days later. When they spoke to her on August 3 she told them she had made it through days of border checks but did not tell them exactly where she was. She was first reported missing to the Ukrainian authorities on August 12. The family has also filed an official missing case with the Security Service of Ukraine, Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories of Ukraine, and the Ombudsman on September 21.
“The Ukrainian security service confirms to us that Victoria has been captured by Russia. Public officials tell us that there are many ‘frozen’ Ukrainian detainees in Russian jails, she might be among them,” Roshchyn told The Daily Beast.
Russian veteran campaigner Svetlana Gannushkina—one of the founders of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Memorial human rights organization—said she had requested the whereabouts of Roshchyna from the office of Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Tatyana Moskalkova. “Unfortunately, I have not received any response, yet,” she told The Daily Beast. “The answer can take more than a month, there are many requests.”
Sevgil Musaieva, the editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Pravda, has worked with Roshchyna over the past year and calls for the Ukrainian authorities to do everything in their power to find the journalist.
“She is a brave journalist, she commits to report the most controversial topics, which require courage,” she told The Daily Beast. “She is not a spy, she is a real journalist; she is not indifferent to the fate of people who remained in the occupied territories. It is important for her to tell their stories. I am calling for Ukrainian authorities to do everything to find her and for Russian authorities to immediately release journalist Victoria Roshchyna.”
As IMI reported, on March 11, 2022, Hromadske posted an article by Roshchyna reporting on the life in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar.
Back then, the journalist covered the combat operations in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts. She planned to go all the way to Mariupol to report on what was really happening in the city, which had been under daily Russian shelling for over three weeks.
On March 16, it was reported that Victoria had been detained, probably by the Russian FSB. According to witnesses, at that time the journalist was in temporarily occupied Berdyansk.
On March 21, 2022, the Russian occupiers released the Hromadske journalist Victoria Roshchyna.
In November 2022, Victoria Roshchyna was shortlisted for the Courage in Journalism Awards.
31.10.2023 The Russians have been holding the administrators of the Telegram channels "RIA-Melitopol" and "Melitopol is Ukraine" captive for two months, accusing them of terrorism.
The occupiers only released a video of them in detention in their propaganda media and on Telegram on October 29, even though they had been arrested on August 20.
According to the Ukrainian Telegram channel "RIA Melitopol South", the fate of the detainees had been unknown for over two months. However, on October 29, the occupiers released a detailed report about the captured administrators, publishing it on the prominent Russian propaganda outlets and in Telegram channels.
"FSB officers in balaclavas, armed with machine guns, jump over fences, break down doors, grab people and take them out of the house handcuffed. Then, the propagandists film their remorse and confessions, which were extorted in a well-known way. There is even a 19-year-old girl and a boy with schizophrenia among the prisoners," the Ukrainian Telegram channel reports.
Now, RIA Melitopol South reports, the occupiers have released the names of the detainees: Oleksandr Malyshev, Heorhiy Levchenko, Maksym Rupchov, Yana Suvorova, Mark Kaliush, Kostiantyn Zinovkin. All of them are charged under several articles of the Russian criminal code: public calls for terrorist attacks, treason, espionage. They face 12 to 20 years in prison.
The propaganda outlet "Vesti.ru" also made a lengthy report on the detention. The occupiers talk about the detention of "three large intelligence groups controlled by the Ukrainian special services."
"As a result of the operation, the administrators of the fake media resource 'RIA-Melitopol' and the enemy's Telegram chat 'Melitopol is Ukraine', who were persuading locals to do espionage, were detained," the propagandists say, without informing the audience that the administrators of the Telegram channels were detained in late August. This, in turn, was reported by RIA Melitopol South, whose website, RIA-Melitopol, was hacked by the occupiers on August 20 and has been hosting their propaganda since then.
In their "Vesti.ru" report, the propagandists savor the potential prison terms awaiting the Telegram administrators, even using children: "The Levchenko's child (Heorhiy Levchenko, one of the detained administrators – Author) is 11. If everything goes well, she will be 23 the next time the man will see her."
Also, the propagandists stress in every possible way that all the detainees "had an epiphany as soon as the bracelets clicked shut on their wrists." They released a video of Yana Suvorova (aged 19) and Mark Kalush, a boy with schizophrenia, "confessing". Kostyantyn Zinovkin, 32, who is also considered a terrorist and was detained in early May 2023, is also featured in the report.
As the IMI reported, on the night of August 21, 2023, the Russians hacked the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian media outlet "RIA Melitopol", which continued to work even after Melitopol (Zaporizhia oblast) was occupied. According to Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov, the occupiers also hacked several other pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels which have been "tirelessly reporting the terrible truth about the life in the TOT while facing constant threats from the occupiers" since the first day of the war.
In early August, local journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr, who have both been retired for years, were kidnapped in temporarily occupied Melitopol (Zaporizhia oblast). According to the sources, the occupiers detained the couple on the street, first keeping them together and then separating them. Their current whereabouts are unknown.
10.04.2024 RIA Melitopol (RIA Pivden) journalist Anastasia Hlukhovska, who was detained by Russia together with the channel's administrators in August 2023, has been in detention for almost eight months; her whereabouts are unknown, announced the RIA Pivden (RIA Melitopol) chief editor Svitlana Zalizetska at the international Council of Europe conference on April 9 in Kyiv, IMI correspondent reports.
The Russians detained Anastasia and the administrators of the Telegram channels "RIA Melitopol" and "Melitopol is Ukraine" on August 20, 2023.
The journalist's name had not been revealed until now out of safety considerations, as requested by her mother.
To date, Zalizetska noted, the family's attempts to find Anastasia have yielded no result. The occupiers give out no information on the whereabouts of the Melitopol journalist.
On October 23, 2023, the Russian media released a news story about the detention of the RIA-Melitopol and "Melitopol is Ukraine" Telegram channel administrators, which happened two months prior. The administrators were charged with terrorism.
The Russians disclosed the names of the following detainees: Oleksandr Malyshev, Heorhiy Levchenko, Maksym Rupchov, Yana Suvorova, Mark Kaliush, Kostiantyn Zinovkin. RIA Melitopol journalist Anastasia Hlukhovska who continued to work in the temporarily occupied city, was recognized as one of the other detainees in the video.
All of them are charged under several articles of the Russian criminal code: public calls for terrorist attacks, treason, espionage. They face 12 to 20 years in prison.
In early May 2023, Melitopol journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr were kidnapped in the temporarily occupied city (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Both have been in retirement for years. The occupiers detained the couple on the street, first keeping them together and then separating them. Their current whereabouts are unknown.
28.05.2024 Another chat administrator of the Ukrainian Telegram channel "Melitopol is Ukraine", Vladyslav Hershon, has been in Russian detention since August 20, 2023. His name was announced by the service "Kidnapped from Melitopol" on May 3, 2024, reports RIA Pivden.
Vladyslav Hershon was detained in the occupied Melitopol on August 20, 2023. On that day, the Russians detained some administrators of the Telegram channel "RIA Melitopol" and appropriated "Melitopol is Ukraine".
The occupiers only released the video showing the administrators being detained in their propaganda media and Telegram channels on October 29, 2023. Vladyslav’s relatives recognized him in one of the videos.
According to RIA Pivden, the Russian TV report shows Hershon being led out of his cell, searched, handcuffed and taken to an interview with a Russian propagandist, who tells him that no one will swap him and that he will be in prison for 20 years.
All Telegram admins detained on August 20, 2023 are being charged under multiple articles of Russia’s criminal code: public calls for terrorism, high treason, and espionage. They face 12 to 20 years in prison.
On the night of August 21, the Russians hacked the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian media outlet "RIA Melitopol", which continued to work even after Melitopol (Zaporizhia oblast) was occupied. According to Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov, the occupiers also hacked several other pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels which have been "tirelessly reporting the terrible truth about the life in the TOT while facing constant threats from the occupiers" since the first day of the war.
RIA Melitopol (RIA Pivden) journalist Anastasia Hlukhovska, who was detained together with several Telegram channel administrators in August 2023, has been detained by Russia in an undisclosed location for almost ten months.
In early May 2023, Melitopol journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr were kidnapped in the temporarily occupied city (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Both have been in retirement for years. The occupiers detained the couple on the street, first keeping them together and then separating them. Their current whereabouts are unknown.
06.06.2024 Volodymyr Martynov, a journalist from Novoaidar (Luhansk oblast), was taken prisoner by the Russian occupiers in December 2022. He confirmed this to the representative of the Institute of Mass Information in Luhansk oblast.
He says that Russian troops broke into his house on December 10, 2022. While "searching" the place, they packed various things away and broke his music instruments.
"One of them, probably the commander, said: 'You will tell us everything now, or we will take you away.' I say: 'What should I tell you? Take me, if you have something to report.' They let me put on my jacket and shoes. They put a bag over my head. Twisted my arms behind my back and shoved me into the car. I prayed and tried to guess where I was being taken," Volodymyr recalls.
He was taken to Luhansk, but he never realized where exactly. He heard the city noise and a sound similar to a tram. He was kept "in the cellar" for 18 days.
According to the journalist, no investigators visited him during this time, he was never interrogated or charged.
They kept him in a cell together with another man. He was never allowed to shower during the entire time. His cellmate and he had a bucket for a toilet, which would only be replaced when it was full.
On December 28, no lunch was brought to the prisoners, and later people in camouflage and masks entered the cell and ordered Volodymyr to come out.
He and, as it turned out, another man, were taken to an unknown destination with their hands tied and told that they had to untie themselves and get home in 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, Volodymyr freed himself and saw his acquaintance next to him. The other man had also been detained on December 10. Volodymyr managed to get to his sister, and then went back to Novoaidar. Over time, left the occupied territory with some help.
Now he lives in Pristina (Kosovo) on a program for Ukrainian journalists and works as a freelance reporter.
Volodymyr suspects that an acquaintance who would quarrel with him and hold opposing views snitched on him to the Russians.
According to IMI, 29 Ukrainian journalists are currently in Russian captivity.
27.06.2024 The Russian troops kidnapped local journalist Zhanna Kyselyova for the second time in the temporarily occupied Kakhovka (Kherson oblast), reports the Kakhovka City Military Administration.
According to the administration, the journalist was kidnapped from her own apartment on June 27.
Zhanna Kyselyova's whereabouts are currently unknown.
As reported by the Institute of Mass Information, the Russian troops have already kidnapped Zhanna Kyselyova in September 2022 and kept her in a torture cellar for almost a month. After being released, she stayed in the occupied city.
Zhanna Kyselyova ran the district newspaper "Kakhovska Zorya" for many years and fought for its denationalization.
In 2020, she was elected a Kakhovka City Council deputy.
Kakhovka city has been under Russian occupation since February 2022.
05.08.2024 While investigating into disappearances of several Ukrainian journalists in the Russian-occupied Melitopol, "Reporters Without Borders" (RSF) learned of Yevhenii Ilchenko, who was arrested for creating a Telegram channel that reported on the Russian occupation of his city.
Ilchenko has endured torture and forced labour, including digging trenches for his captors, writes the RSF.
Before the Russian invasion of 2022 Ilchenko was a lawyer in Melitopol. On May 3, 2022, without informing his family, Yevhenii launched a Telegram channel called @Mitopol. He stated his intentions clearly with the very first message, which announced: "Analysis, events and facts." llchenko took a great personal risk to keep the public informed despite his lack of previous journalistic experience, demonstrating a real commitment to reporting on the day-to-day life of his city and its inhabitants, the RSF reports.
llchenko’s reports were almost exclusively devoted to local news, as he covered supply problems in supermarkets, the presence of occupiers in the streets of Melitopol, and the corruption of certain local authorities in issuing traffic permits.
@Mitopol's last report was posted on 10 July 2022. Its images, which llchenko filmed the day before with his cell phone, show the long queues to obtain administrative documents that have become commonplace since the invasion. "The reality of occupation in the absence of Ukrainian authorities,"read Ilchenko’s caption, published at 8:02 AM.
Two hours later, four Russian soldiers in uniform came to Ilchenko's home. His apartment was turned upside down, and jewellery and documents were stolen. Ilchenko, who had been out for a walk, was arrested in his garden on his return on accusations of "terrorism."
Messages that Ilchenko managed to send to one of his relatives, which RSF has seen, described how he was first detained for several weeks in Melitopol with some 15 other Ukrainians. According to the messages, acts of torture were commonplace. Prisoners were regularly electrocuted, particularly on their genitals. Sometimes, the prisoners were driven into a forest, naked, at night, for a mock execution before being brought back, terrorised, to their jail. "I didn't crack, but not everyone is as strong," he wrote to his contact. The worst, however, was yet to come.
Starting in September 2022, after the Russians had suffered months of military setbacks, Yevhenii Ilchenko was subjected to forced labour. Photos sent by Ilchenko during his captivity, seen by RSF, show that he was forced to help build trenches for the Russian forces and clean their soldiers' weapons for several months. At the time, Ilchenko was held a few dozen kilometres from Melitopol, which was on the front line, near the Ukrainian village Verbove in the Zaporizhzhya region. Ilchenko also managed to send a photo of a fellow Ukrainian, shovel in hand, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison a few months after the photo was taken.
Arnaud Froger, Head of RSF’s Investigation Desk, says that this is the first case of slavery recorded by the organization in the forty years of defending journalism.
“Captured, tortured and then enslaved… This is the first time, in nearly forty years of defending journalism, that RSF has documented a journalist, blogger or whistleblower subject to total slavery and forced to participate in a war effort against their own country. Because this man chose to keep the public informed, he has not only been held captive for two years but forced into hard labour. We have gone from arbitrariness to barbarism. Yevhenii Ilchenko must immediately be released," says Froger.
Yevhenii Ilchenko returned to prison after several months of digging defensive lines for his captors. According to one of RSF's sources, he may now be held in Taganrog, in conditions that remain harsh. An ex-prisoner in Taganrog told RSF that walks are only allowed once every two months, and that the lights are always on in order to torture the prisoners.
Journalists wounded – 41
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
20.12.2022 Italian journalists Claudio Locatelli and Niccolò Celesti came under Russian fire in Kherson on December 19, ANSA reports.
They said their vehicle had been targetted "intentionally" but they had managed to get away safely.
One projectile "damaged the car, we remained trapped under fire before succeeding in getting away safely, I lost some blood but the wound is slight," said reporter Claudio Locatelli in a video with colleague Niccolò Celesti.
"If I had opened the door I would have lost a leg or worse. The car is well flagged (as carrying journalists). The attack against us, considering the place and the dynamics, was intentional. The fire came from the riverbank on the other side of the Dnieper, where the Russian army is," the journalist said.
Claudio Locatelli posted the video of the shelling on Facebook. The attack took place on December 19. The journalists said his ear has been injured by window shards.
As IMI reported, 21-year-old Dmytro Sydorko, who ran the "Ukrainsky Nastup" Telegram channel, died in a battle with the Russian occupiers near Bakhmut.
31.12.2022 A journalist from Japan has been wounded in a Russian missile attack on Kyiv on December 31. This was reported by Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.
According to him, the journalist was wounded in the Pechersk district.
"He is being hospitalized. As of now, there are already 8 victims in total," Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
According to ZN.ua, the injured journalist is Wataru Sekita. The publication posted a video of the journalist receiving medical assistance.
As reported by the Asahi Shimbun, where Wataru Sekita works, he was wounded in the leg. Two reporters of the publication stayed in downtown Kyiv, in the hotel that was damaged by Russian missiles.
Sekita is currently in the hospital.
According to him, he was outside the hotel when the shelling began and the debris fell down on him, injuring his right leg.
According to another Asahi Shimbun reporter, Norito Kunisue, who was in his room, he heard two missiles explode near the hotel around 2:00 p.m. After that, there was a loud crash, and the window in the room shattered into pieces.
According to the media, the missiles damaged the Alfavito Hotel Kyiv, which is located near the Palats Ukraina subway station.
We remind that Russia conducted a mass shelling attack on Ukraine on December 31.
02.01.2023 Bild reporter Bjorn Stritzel has been injured by shrapnel in a Russian shelling attack on Druzhkivka town (Donetsk oblast) on January 2. This is reported on the publication's website.
Stritzel was sitting by the window when an explosion went off in the town, so he was slightly injured by a glass shard. The door of the house did not withstand the explosion. The glass shattered all over the room, Bild writes.
The journalist himself tweeted that he had been on his forehead by a glass splinter while having dinner at his hotel.
"I am fine, just a cut on the forehead most likely by glass splinter. Was having dinner when the blast happened (not quite sure about the ordnance, haven’t found any debris yet). Was sitting behind the window here. My best guess is it was some part of missile coming down close by," he wrote.
The journalist supposed that the enemy was targeting the railway station, which is around the corner from the hotel where he was staying. He also wrote that there had been several explosions, and that his French colleagues had filmed one of the first blasts, which damaged the hotel where he was staying in.
The Bild team, which is in Druzhkivka and filming a report there, is feeling well, the publication notes.
26.04.2023 Corrado Zunino, a correspondent for the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, was wounded by a Russian strike on Kherson today, April 26. This was reported on the media outlet's website and announced by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.
The journalist was wounded in the shoulder during a drone attack. He was in the car with his fixer at the time.
According to the media outlet, Corrado was provided with assistance and is being treated in the Kherson hospital. As of now, there has been no news about the fate of his colleague.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Antonio Tajani, noted that Zunino was doing well and the Italian Embassy in Kyiv was monitoring him.
The Kherson RMA refused to disclose the details of the incident to IMI's regional representative.
27.06.2023 A British freelance photographer, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, was injured in the Russian shelling attack on Kramatorsk (Donetsk oblast) on June 27.
As Anastasia Taylor-Lind told The New York Times, she was dining inside a downtown cafe. At 19.30 the place was "pretty busy". It was supposed to close in about half an hour.
Later, she heard a “roaring” noise and knew it was an incoming missile. Then there was an explosion.
“I felt hot air and the sound of breaking glass and debris flying, clattering and tinkering,” she said. “It went on and on and on.”
According to the photographer, she and her colleague slid off their chairs and made it to the basement, fearful of another strike. Both were bleeding. A member of the wait staff washed the blood off her face, Ms. Taylor-Lind said, and also helped her colleague.
As BBC Ukraine reports, citing Aguanta Ucraina (Hang on, Ukraine – a Ukraine support group in South America), three Colombian citizens were wounded by the shelling in downtown Kramatorsk: the founder of the organization, Colombian MP Sergio Jaramillo, writer Héctor Abad Faciolince and journalist Catalina Gómez. They have minor injuries.
They were accompanied by a Ukrainian writer, who has been severely wounded.
It will be recalled that Russian troops launched a missile strike on Kramatorsk in the evening of June 27. One "Iskander" missile hit a pizzeria in the city center, where patrons, including journalists, were dining, and another one hit Bilenke village. According to the State Emergency Service, as of 10:00 a.m. on June 28, the bodies of 9 dead people (including 3 children) were recovere from the rubble, and 56 people were injured (including 1 child, born in 2022).
27.06.2023 A journalist from South America, Catalina Gómez, was injured in the Russian shelling attack on Kramatorsk (Donetsk oblast) on June 27.
As BBC Ukraine reports, citing Aguanta Ucraina (Hold on Ukraine – a Ukraine support group in South America), three Colombian citizens were wounded by the shelling in downtown Kramatorsk: the founder of the organization, Colombian MP Sergio Jaramillo, writer Héctor Abad Faciolince and journalist Catalina Gómez. They have minor injuries.
They were accompanied by a Ukrainian writer, who has been severely wounded.
It will be recalled that Russian troops launched a missile strike on Kramatorsk in the evening of June 27. One "Iskander" missile hit a pizzeria in the city center, where patrons, including journalists, were dining, and another one hit Bilenke village. According to the State Emergency Service, as of 10:00 a.m. on June 28, the bodies of 9 dead people (including 3 children) were recovere from the rubble, and 56 people were injured (including 1 child, born in 2022).
27.06.2023 Dmytro, an interpreter accompanying a foreign journalist, was injured in the Russian strike on Kramatorsk on June 27.
Dmytro told IMI about this.
According to him, they were in the restaurant that was hit by the missile. Dmytro and the journalist have minor injuries. He and his colleague feel normal, they refused to be hospitalized.
"I have relatively light physical injuries and now, on the second day, I got a headache. But this, as I understand it, is how concussion normally goes. I hope it will pass," the interpreter said.
Dmytro asked not to disclose his name because he does not want his relatives to learn about his injuries.
Recalling the moment of the shelling, Dmytro said he and the reporter were sitting on the summer terrace. The restaurant was busy that evening.
"A kind of a roar, like a fighter jet engine, but it all happened very quickly, and then – an explosion. Just like that, very simple. Everything in my view became shaky. Sparks, flashes. It was all over in a few seconds. I got up from the table, realized that I still got my arms and legs, I was very happy about that, and we went to the basement," Dmytro recalled the moment of the impact.
He added that as he was walking down to the basement, he felt something very hot on his head. It was blood; he was given first aid in the basement.
After that, Dmytro noted, he suggested that his colleague leave the restaurant, as he assumed that the Russians could hit it again in about 20 minutes.
"We left, got up. I dug out my bag, my car keys. My power bank. She took her bag, and we headed to the spot where I had parked my car. The car is destroyed almost completely, like a tin can – everything is squished to the inside. There were no windows, but the engine did start," said Dmytro.
Then, they went to the hospital, where Dmytro got his face injury stitched up and his hand and head bandaged.
It will be recalled that Russian troops launched a missile strike on Kramatorsk in the evening of June 27. One "Iskander" missile hit a pizzeria in the city center, where patrons, including journalists, were dining.
Two reporters were injured – a British freelance photographer, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, and a journalist from South America, Catalina Gómez.
On June 28, SBU counter-intelligence detained a Russian agent who helped aim the Russian missile strike on a cafe in downtown Kramatorsk.
19.07.2023 TSN correspondent Yulia Kiriyenko suffered a concussion on July 19 in the combat zone in Donetsk oblast, where she was filming a material about the Ukrainian defenders, report TSN and Detector Media.
Yulia clarified that it happened at the UAF positions.
"The Russians opened targeted fire either from a tank or from a howitzer – we didn't have time to process it. We felt five hits, two aimed at the dugout where we were hiding. Fortunately, while they were reloading their weapon, we managed to get into the car and drive away from the shelling," the journalist said.
According to her, she realized she was feeling unwell while on the way back. The soldiers took her to the doctors at the stabilization point, who confirmed that she had a mild concussion.
"Well, hello, first combat injury. A Russian tank or a howitzer gave me a concussion. Now I am also a stabilization point patient. P.S. They gave me oxygen. Now I'm feeling better," the reporter wrote on Facebook.
On July 19, TSN aired a report by Yulia Kiriyenko about Ukrainian troops destroying Russian equipment on one of the segments of the frontline and the work of medics at a stabilization point near Bakhmut.
Yulia Kiriyenko is a war correspondent who has been working on the front line since 2014, covering the hot spots. Yulia's husband has been defending Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces since the first days of the war. In March 2022, he was awarded the medal "For Courage". It was he who hit the first tank in the convoy approaching Brovary at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
As IMI reported, in March 2022, the TSN filming crew (reporter Yuliya Kiriyenko and cameraman Volodymyr Rybachok) came under Russian artillery fire in Kyiv oblast.
22.07.2023 Deutsche Welle (DW) cameraman Yevhen Shylko received a shrapnel wound on July 22, when Russians shelled Druzhkivka (Donetsk oblast) with cluster bombs, DW reports.
The DW filming crew came under Russian fire around 12:10 p.m. while filming Ukrainian soldiers at a training camp near Druzhkivka. One Ukrainian soldier was killed in the attack, and several others were seriously wounded.
Shylko was taken to a hospital. His condition is stable now. DW correspondent Mathias Böhlinger and the security team accompanying the filming crew were intact. The journalists' car was damaged.
"We were filming the Ukrainian army during a shooting practice when suddenly we heard several explosions. We dropped down to the ground, several more explosions rang out, we saw that some people were wounded. Later, the Ukrainian army confirmed that we had been fired upon with cluster munitions," Böhlinger said.
DW CEO Peter Limbourg expressed his deep respect and gratitude to the reporters who continue to do their job covering the war despite the shelling and the risk to their lives. "Despite all the safety measures taken and the distance from the Russian front, the work of our colleagues in the war zone remains dangerous," he said and wished Shylko a speedy recovery.
24.07.2023 A reporter for the French news agency AFP was wounded by a drone strike near Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast, on July 24, reports Le Figaro, citing AFP.
Dylan Collins, 35, received multiple shrapnel wounds in a wooded area while filming a report on the work of Ukrainian artillerymen.
He was evacuated to the nearest hospital, where he is being treated. The doctors said that there is no threat to the journalist's life. He is conscious and in touch with his colleagues.
Director of AFP in Europe, Christine Buhagiar, said that they were looking into the details of the incident. "Our thoughts are with Dylan and his loved ones," she said.
Dylan Collins is a US citizen who lives in Lebanon but currently works in Ukraine. Collins has been with AFP since 2018 and is currently the news agency's video coordinator in Lebanon and Syria. Collins has worked in conflict areas in the Middle East and covered the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he has frequently visited Ukraine for work.
As IMI reported, AFP video reporter Arman Soldin was killed by Russian shelling near Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast) on May 9, 2023. Soldin and his colleagues from the AFP came under fire while they were with a group of Ukrainian soldiers.
French prosecutors opened a war crime investigation into AFP reporter Arman Soldin's death in Ukraine.
22.12.2023 Photographer and Ukrinform's "Kramatorsk Station" host, Vlada Liberova, was wounded near the front line in Donetsk oblast.
This was announced on Instagram by her husband, photographer and co-host of the above-mentioned program Kostyantyn Liberov, reports Ukrinform.
The video shows the injured Liberova discussing her injury with other people: namely the affected spot on her body. Kostyantyn himself noted in an Instagram story that "today is a second birthday for us all."
Later, Vlada Liberova reported that she was in the hospital, has taken all the examinations, the fragment is lodged in her soft tissues and is four centimeters large.
"We were driving towards Avdiivka and a Grad round went off over our car. Of all the possible scenarios, this is the best, because it could have been much worse. And, to be honest, I am very happy that everything ended the way it did," said Liberova.
She added that her husband will work without her for the time being, as she cannot move on her own.
The TV hosts regularly make trips to the front line and post photos on their social media.
As reported by IMI, on December 12, Ukrinform and the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council launched a new project titled "Kramatorsk Station". It was hosted by a married couple of photographers – Kostyantyn Liberov and Vlada Liberova.
30.12.2023 A Ukrainian interpreter for the German TV channel ZDF was injured in the Russian shelling strike on Kharkiv on December 30. At the time of the explosion, the channel's team was in the Kharkiv Palace Hotel, which was hit by a Russian missile.
According to the ZDF, the channel's reporter Alica Jung, who was staying at the hotel, reported this.
She says that, at the moment of the attack, three employees of the channel were on the fifth floor, one was in the lobby, and another one was on the 11th floor. The interpreter was wounded in the hall: she broke a rib and three vertebrae. The journalist added that it was a miracle that everyone survived.
According to the hotel manager, a total of 15 rooms were given out, of which at least 10 were given to journalists.
The ZDF condemned the attack on the hotel where the journalists were staying. "This is another attack on the free press by Russia. We hope that our injured colleagues recover quickly. The ZDF will continue to report on the war against the Ukrainian civilian population," ZDF Editor-in-Chief Bettina Schausten said.
According to the IMI representative in the Kharkiv oblast, the victim has broken ribs and has already been taken to Kyiv.
As the IMI reported, on December 30 the Russians shelled Kharkiv city with rockets. The attack resulted in a British citizen working as a security advisor for a team of German journalists being injured.
The police opened a case for violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The rocket strike on downtown Kharkiv also severely damaged the Radio House, where the offices of "Suspilne. Kharkiv" and Ukrainian Radio are located.
30.12.2023 Today, December 30, the Russians shelled Kharkiv city with missiles. The attack resulted in a British citizen working as a security advisor for a team of German journalists being injured, reports the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office.
20 people were injured in the attack, including two boys aged 16 and 14.
According to the investigation, the Russian troops fired a series of rockets on the downtown part of Kharkiv on December 30, around 7:10 p.m.
The shelling damaged a hotel, several apartment buildings, a kindergarten, some administrative buildings, shops, restaurants, trade pavilions, cars, etc.
In particular, three rockets hit the ground in the city's Industrial District, one damaged a residential building on Hirshman Street, and another one hit the Kharkiv Palace Hotel, Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor Oleksandr Filchakov said.
The police opened a case for violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Nine people out of all the victims received assistance on the spot.
According to preliminary data, the Russians shelled the city with S-300 missiles fired from the Belgorod region of the Russia.
According to the IMI's sources, the British citizen has been taken to a hospital after being wounded, but refused hospitalization.
10.01.2024 Journalist Davit Kachkachishvili and photographer Özge Elif Kızıl of the Turkish news agency Anadolu were injured by the Russian shelling strike of the Park Hotel in Kharkiv on January 10, reports the news agency.
According to the media outlet, the upper floors of the hotel were completely destroyed. The journalist and the photographer were taken to a hospital for examination by an ambulance. Kachkachishvili has minor cuts on his hands.
The crew's car was destroyed, as were most of the cars parked nearby.
The head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov, said that the Russians fired two S-300 missiles at the hotel around 10:30 p.m.
According to the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, 13 people were injured by the shelling, including the two Anadolu employees, who are citizens of Turkiye and Georgia.
As of now, 10 people have been hospitalised, and three received medical assistance on the spot. The missiles are said to have been fired from the Belgorod region of Russia.
The police have opened a pre-trial investigation into violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov stressed that the strike was targeting civilian infrastructure, not a military facility.
Volodymyr Tymoshko, the head of the Main Office of the National Police in the Kharkiv oblast, said that Russia had shelled the hotel in Kharkiv deliberately and that all the victims were civilians.
"They are all civilians, including foreign journalists, they work in Kharkiv oblast, Donetsk oblast, reporting the truth about the crimes committed by the ruscists on Ukrainian soil. Russia hit the hotel deliberately – a 4-meter-deep crater was discovered on the spot, and a Russian rocket destroyed another building nearby," Tymoshko said.
In a comment to Suspilne, Tymoshko reported that the hotel struck by the Russians was predominantly used by foreign journalists.
"Soldiers have never stayed in this hotel, almost all of Kharkiv knows that. This hotel was used by journalists. It was a well-known fact. At the time of the attack, foreign journalists, namely from Turkiye, were staying in the hotel. This leads me to believe that the Russian Federation was targeting the mass media specifically," he said.
The journalists said that they were shocked by the audacity of the Russians, since this site was exclusively civilian and no military personnel were present.
10.01.2024 At the moment of the January 10 Russian shelling strike on the Park Hotel in Kharkiv, journalists for the TV channel France 2 were present in the building. The channel's Ukrainian fixer Violetta Pedorych was injured, Ukrinform reports.
The journalists were checking into the hotel and were in the hallway at the time of the strike. Although they remained unharmed, one of the members of the group, Violetta Pedorych, was injured: the galss shards cut her face and hand.
Violetta provided Ukrinform with a video she filmed immediately after the attack.
As Violetta told the IMI, she is feeling well overall, but has a glass shard stuck in her node bridge. The doctors will observe it for some time. "If everything heals and causes no trouble, they will leave it there. If the inflammation doesn't go away, they will try to look for it, they may have to cut out some tissue," she added. Violetta agrees that the occupiers are targeting hotels where journalists stay.
According to her, the crew, which besides her included journalist Anaïs Hanquet and camerawoman Valérie Lucas, was returning from Pokrovsk (Donetsk oblast) that day. They were on their way to Sumy, but since they were a little behind their schedule, they stopped for the night in Kharkiv. They have stayed at the Park Hotel several times before, so they went there on January 10 as well, as the hotel had vacant rooms.
"We arrived at approximately 10:20 p.m. I don't remember the exact time. We check in. We head to the elevator. Apparently, as we were in the elevator, there was an air raid alert that we did not hear. We come out on the third floor. Journalists were supposed to stay in one part of the hotel and I in another one. I already knew where my room was, but they were still looking for theirs," says Violetta.
According to her, she had enough time to enter the room and turn on the light. Then the first missile hit. Violetta says she immediately realised what was happening. She went out into the corridor with a flashlight, there she heard the voices of her colleagues. Then there was a second impact.
As the fixer notes, her colleagues were still in the corridor during the first blow, so they were unharmed. She, however, had already got to her room, and although she was far from the window, she was cut by glass shards.
"There was a lot of blood flowing down my face. But I could feel that I was okay. I mean that there was nothing to worry about," notes Violetta Pedorych.
Despite the panic, which was natural in that situation, Violetta and her colleagues found a way to go down to the first floor, and then got outside through a window.
The doctors who examined the media worker on the spot offered to hospitalize her, but she refused. Then she and her colleagues went to the subway, as the editorial management instructed them to protect their employees from further possible danger.
She added that their driver had friends in Kharkiv so he went to spend the night with them, which was why the team's car survived, unlike the car of the Turkish news agency Anadolu and multiple other cars parked next to the hotel.
"Speaking of Park Hotel, we did always meet crews from French ir American TV channels whenever we arrived. It was a well-known hotel among journalists. Representatives of international organizations also used to stay there," added Violetta.
17.01.2024 Dmytro Yevchyn, a reporter for Krym.Realii (a Radio Liberty project), was injured in the Zaporizhzhia oblast on the morning of January 17, reports Radio Liberty.
The filming crew consisting of journalist Dmytro Yevchyn and cameraman Mykyta Isayko came under artillery fire while filming a TV story in the Zaporizhzhia oblast. The journalists were working near the front line settlement Robotyne.
Dmytro Yevchyn received a shrapnel wound in the leg from mortar shelling. Ukrainian soldiers and the cameraman provided him with first aid and evacuated him to a stabilization point in a nearby village, later transporting him to a hospital in Zaporizhzhia.
According to the doctors, the surgery was completed successfully; Dmytro Yevchyn will remain in intensive care for the time being.
Dmytro Yevchyn has been working for Krym.Realii (Radio Liberty) since 2018, hosting TV programs and producing high-profile stories about life in Crimea under Russian occupation. Since the start of Russia's large-scale invasion into Ukraine in 2022, he has been covering the combat operations, working on the front line. Together with cameraman Mykita Isayko, he has been reporting from the front line in the southern segment of the Ukraine–Russia front.
04.04.2024 The Russian mass drone strike on Kharkiv on the night of April 4 injured Victor Pichuhin, a journalist with the "Nakypilo" Media Group, reported the IMI representative in the Kharkiv oblast.
The Russian strikes hit civilian infrastructure and apartment buildings. Victor was working side-by-side with the paramedics, filming their work and the aftermath of the strikes.
The journalist received a concussion and plans to go to a hospital for a full examination. Victor came under fire when the Russians "double tapped" an apartment building while rescuers were working after the first strike. This killed four people (three emergency workers and one civilian woman) and injured 12 more.
In the comment to the IMI representative, the journalist remarked that he was very lucky and considered this day his second birthday, since the explosion went off very close to him.
Victor said that he survived because he had headed out in time together with the paramedics and because they were wearing safety gear – bulletproof vests and helmets. He was wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest provided by the Institute of Mass Information.
They were also saved by an emergency service car that shielded them from the main blast. Three rescuers died in that car. In another 10 minutes, the air raid alarm sounded for the third time, and the police took everyone to the bomb shelter; the journalist spent the next 20–30 minutes there.
On another note, Victor stresses that his fellow journalists should not neglect the bulletproof vests, helmets and first-aid kits, as it is obvious that such "double taps" (repeated strike on the same spot) are specifically targeting the rescue workers saving people and the reporters documenting Russia's crimes in Ukraine and that the Russians have no reason not to keep doing this in the future.
On the night of April 4, 2024, Russia mass struck Kharkiv and the oblast with Shaded drones. The Kharkiv Prosecutor's Office found the inscription "For the Crocus City Hall" on one of the drones.
In the recent months, the Russians struck the Kharkiv Palace Hotel, injuring a ZDF interpreter. On January 10, the Russians struck the Park Hotel, injuring the reporters with the Turkish news agency Anadolu, who were staying there. On January 23, a strike on downtown Kharkiv injured a journalist from the "Nakypilo" Media Group, who was on her way home from the office. During the same period, the offices of the Ukrainian Radio and "Suspilne Kharkiv" and the Objektyv Media Group newsroom were affected.
04.04.2024 Russia's mass drone strike on Kharkiv on the night of April 4 injured a Novosti.Live and Belstat freelancer Yulia Boyko. She was diagnosed with aquabarotrauma and a mild concussion.
The journalist reported this to the IMI representative in the Kharkiv oblast.
At the time of the impact, the media worker was at home; she came downstairs after the first hit and started filming the aftermath on the spot.
According to Yulia, the drone dropped near her house and the explosion damaged the windows, the doors and the roof. Immediately after the first explosion, the journalist went down to do her job, but 10 minutes later, another air raid alarm sounded and she left to look for a bomb shelter. The drone was already somewhere nearby, and there was no time to take cover, so she dropped down onto the asphalt behind the curb. In the morning, she saw that she had been 5-7 meters awa from the epicenter of the explosion.
Russian troops struck civilian and residential buildings on the night of April 4, killing, three rescue workers and a civilian woman and injuring 12 more people. The impacts damaged apartment buildings and private houses.
Yulia Boyko was also saved by a State Emergency Service car, as was the injured Nakypilo reporter Victor Pichuhin.
Yulia was diagnosed with aquabarotrauma and a mild concussion; she has no flesh wounds, only scratches after dropping down onto the asphalt. The media worker feels fine, but notes that she is now afraid of sounds that are similar to the sounds of a drone.
05.04.2024 Ukrinform correspondent Olha Zvonaryova was injured by shelling in Zaporizhzhia on April 5, reports Ukrinform, citing their photo correspondent Dmytro Smolyenko.
"There was a strike, and it hit near us. Everything happened before my eyes. Olya was wounded in the leg. She is currently in the surgery room," Dmytro said.
The media outlet notes that over the course of the invasion, Olha Zvonaryova and Dmytro Smolyenko have prepared hundreds of reports from hot spots in the oblast.
According to the IMI representative in the Zaporizhzhia oblast, Olha Zvonaryova had a surgery. Her condition is stable.
As reported earlier, Russia's mass drone strike on Kharkiv on the night of April 4 injured a Novosti.Live reporter and Belstat freelancer Yulia Boyko. She was diagnosed with aquabarotrauma and a mild concussion.
05.04.2024 TSN journalist Kira Oves (1+1 TV) was injured by Russian shelling in Zaporizhzhia on April 5. She has had her temple stitched, TSN reports.
She was injured by a double tap strike. It happened when the reporters were filming the aftermath of the previous strike on the city.
"I'm actually feeling fine, but as my friends tell me, tomorrow what should have happened today will catch up with me," the journalist said.
According to her, at the moment of the second strike the crew was filming the aftermath of the enemy shelling, the shattered windows and the debris.
"I don't have the words to tell you what it was like, because you hear a whistle, you hear a roar, and it just explodes somewhere. We immediately started running away from the place, the police gave me first aid, and later we found out right there, on the spot, that my colleague was injured. She is in the hospital now, the doctors say nothing about her condition. So far I know that she is undergoing surgery," Kira Oves said.
When asked about the state of other victims, the journalist said that some people were lucky – they received minor injuries and did not need hospitalization.
"The ones I saw in the hospital sitting next to me are more or less in the same condition as me. Some refuse to take a sick leave... Everyone's heads are bandaged, some have bruised hands, legs, face. I also have two stitches and a shaved temple now, but overall I am very lucky," said Kira.
Ukrinform correspondent Olha Zvonaryova was wounded by shelling in Zaporizhzhia on April 5.
As the Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko wrote on his Telegram channel, both journalists came under a double tap strike while working at a shelling site.
"The enemy cynically strikes again just when the police, emergency workers, medics, and journalists arrive. At the moment when our units are trying to rescue the victims," Ihor Klymenko wrote.
On April 5, the Russians struck Zaporizhzhia twice. The attack killed three people and injured 19.
19.07.2024 Kharkiv photographer, project manager at the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, Olha Kovalyova, came under Russian artillery fire with her colleague Vladyslav Krasnoshchok in the Toretsk district of Donetsk oblast on July 19, reports the UAPP.
The photographers were working with UAF artillerymen. That day, the military fired several rounds at the enemy and hid in a dugout together with the journalists.
As Vladyslav Krasnoshchok says, while they were in the dugout with the soldiers, the Russians started firing back. According to him, 12 shots hit the field next to the positions, and the 13th fell right into the dugout.
Olha Kovalyova received shrapnel wounds in the axillary, supraclavicular, suprathoracic areas and the arm, and a rib cage fracture. She was hospitalized. Krasnoshchok and the soldiers received concussions.
"I have three shrapnel wounds. Two shell fragments were taken out from my body. All of them were near large blood vessels. However, the medics are currently not taking the risk of removing the third fragment, so as not to damage something. Currently, my right hand does not move at all," Olha said.
The military provided first aid to the photographer, then evacuated her to the hospital.
Olha Kovalyova said that the military medevac vehicle took her to the nearest field hospital, then to the military hospital in Pokrovsk, and then to a civilian hospital, where two of the three fragments were removed. Now she is in a hospital in Kharkiv. She is currently stable.
"Fortunately, the others who were in the dugout are safe. I was injured because I was sitting in the corner near the pipe – makeshift ventilation outlet, and the fragments flew out of it. I was saved by the bulletproof vest and the helmet. The shrapnel pierced the unprotected parts. It's a pity that this happened on the first day of our trip," Olha said.
19.07.2024 Kharkiv photographer Vladyslav Krasnoshchok came under Russian artillery fire with his colleague Olha Kovalyova in the Toretsk district of Donetsk oblast on July 19, reports the UAPP.
The photographers were working with UAF artillerymen. That day, the military fired several rounds at the enemy and hid in a dugout together with the journalists.
As Vladyslav Krasnoshchok says, while they were in the dugout with the soldiers, the Russians started firing back. According to him, 12 shots hit the field next to the positions, and the 13th fell right into the dugout.
Olha Kovalyova received shrapnel wounds in the axillary, supraclavicular, suprathoracic areas and the arm, and a rib cage fracture. She was hospitalized. Krasnoshchok and the soldiers received concussions.
"I have three shrapnel wounds. Two shell fragments were taken out from my body. All of them were near large blood vessels. However, the medics are currently not taking the risk of removing the third fragment, so as not to damage something. Currently, my right hand does not move at all," Olha said.
The military provided first aid to the photographer, then evacuated her to the hospital.
Olha Kovalyova said that the military medevac vehicle took her to the nearest field hospital, then to the military hospital in Pokrovsk, and then to a civilian hospital, where two of the three fragments were removed. Now she is in a hospital in Kharkiv. She is currently stable.
"Fortunately, the others who were in the dugout are safe. I was injured because I was sitting in the corner near the pipe – makeshift ventilation outlet, and the fragments flew out of it. I was saved by the bulletproof vest and the helmet. The shrapnel pierced the unprotected parts. It's a pity that this happened on the first day of our trip," Olha said.
24.08.2024 Reuters cameraman Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey was severely wounded by the Russian strike on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk on August 24, a source reports to the Institute of Mass Information.
According to the source, Ivan is in a hospital in Dnipro. He is in a serious condition on IVL, and has undergone a surgery.
As reported earlier, the Russian missile strike on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk killed Ryan Evans, a safety advisor with the British news agency Reuters.
The other two members of the Reuters team were injured and hospitalized. One of them was severely wounded. Reuters did not disclose their names.
According to law enforcers, the casualties inlcuded four injured reporters: citizens of the USA, Germany, Latvia, and Ukraine. The injured journalists, aged 38, 40, 41 and 46, were provided with medical assistance. Two of them have been hospitalized, the others are being treated on an outpatient basis.
The National Police notes that Russia struck the hotel where a crew of foreign reporters was staying with an Iskander-M missile.
24.08.2024 Reuters journalist Daniel Peleshchuk, who was injured as a result of the Russian missile strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk on August 24, received medical assistance and has already been discharged from the hospital, Reuters reported on August 26.
"Our other colleague, Ukraine correspondent Daniel Peleschuk, was treated and has left the hospital," Reuters says.
The Russian missile strike on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk on August 24, 2024 killed Ryan Evans, a safety advisor with the British news agency Reuters. Other two members of the Reuters team were injured and hospitalized. Reuters cameraman Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey was severely wounded. He is in a hospital in Dnipro. He is in a serious condition on IVL, and has undergone a surgery.
According to law enforcers, the casualties inlcuded four injured reporters: citizens of the USA, Germany, Latvia, and Ukraine. The injured journalists, aged 38, 40, 41 and 46, were provided with medical assistance. Two of them have been hospitalized, the others are being treated on an outpatient basis.
The National Police notes that Russia struck the hotel where a crew of foreign reporters was staying with an Iskander-M missile.
The international watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the Russian attack and called for a thorough investigation to identify the culprits and prosecute them.
24.08.2024 Polish reporter Monika Andruszewska was injured by Russian shelling in Kramatorsk on August 24, as reported by Suspilne and announced by Monika Andruszewska on Facebook.
The journalist says that she was driving past the site of the missile strike.
"My personal first blood shed for Ukraine – just on Independence Day. After 10 yrs of war. An Iskander right next to me. I got a tattoo on my right hand where I have a drawing of cornflowers intertwined with a grain stalk, deliberately in the colors of the Ukrainian flag," she wrote.
The journalist also posted a photo of the damaged car: “This is a photo of a person who was just driving through Kramatorsk in the evening, and another one that illustrates the interior of their car. This is what any person may look like in any part of Ukraine, wherever the Russians decide to strike with missiles. Not on the front line – just around a Donetsk oblast city where, despite Russia's genocidal actions, life still goes on, there are cafes, beauty salons, children on playgrounds."
"You are just driving around the city. You are just living. This is enough for the Russians to try to kill you and hit you with an Iskander right next to the road you are driving on, or even in a civilian building located 20 meters away," the journalist wrote.
"I'll take care of the cuts, they're nothing. I will fix the tattoo. I will get the glass shards out of my hair and hand. The car is in trouble, I will have new windows installed, after all, it is not my first time. But I will continue to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Monika said.
According to the TVP, Monika Andruszewska has been working and doing volunteer work in Ukraine since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. She rescued 30 Ukrainians who came under fire while fleeing from the northern city Irpin in 2022.
She now works with the Raphael Lemkin Center for Documenting Russian Crimes in Ukraine.
24.08.2024 Another Reuters journalist, Latvian citizen Victor Sayenko, was injured in the Russian missile strike on Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk on August 24, reports Delfi.
According to the media outlet, Sayenko's injuries are not life-threatening. The journalist has already informed his family about the incident.
Previously, Reuters has said that six of their staff had stayed in Sapphire Hotel.
The Russian missile strike on the Sapphire Hotel in Kramatorsk on August 24, 2024 killed Ryan Evans, a safety advisor with the British news agency Reuters.
Two more journalists with the Reuters crew, Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey and Daniel Peleshchuk, were injured.
Ivan Lyubysh-Kidrey was severely wounded. He is in a hospital in Dnipro. He is in a serious condition on IVL, and has undergone a surgery. Daniel Peleshchuk was treated and has left the hospital.
According to law enforcers, the casualties inlcuded four injured reporters: citizens of the USA, Germany, Latvia, and Ukraine. The injured journalists, aged 38, 40, 41 and 46, were provided with medical assistance. Two of them have been hospitalized, the others are being treated on an outpatient basis.
The National Police notes that Russia struck the hotel where a crew of foreign reporters was staying with an Iskander-M missile.
10.10.2024 A filming crew with the "Donbas Realii" project (Radio Liberty) came under fire on October 10 while filming the soldiers in Donetsk oblast near Bakhmut, reports the news outlet.
Correspondent Roman Pahulych and cameraman Pavlo Kholodov were filming the work of FPV operators when the Russian troops targeted the Ukrainian positions with barrel artillery.
The first shell fell next to the war reporter Roman Pahulych and the soldiers he was talking to. Roman Pahulych suffered a contusion (aquabarotrauma), two soldiers received minor injuries; the debris did not hit the cameraman Pavel Kholodov. All the victims were taken to a stabilization point and given first aid.
As Roman Pahulych said, the ballistic protection of the neck area on his body armor stopped one of the projectile fragments.
Currently, there is no threat to the lives of the injured soldiers and crew members.
Shelling strikes on journalists – 45
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
22.06.2022 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.
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.
31.07.2022 Donbas Frontliner journalists Andriy Dubchak and Danylo Dubchak came under russian cluster munition fire near Bakhmut, Donetsk region.
This is reported in Donbas Frontliner's story.
“Approximately five cassette bombs went off right above us. We were in a field, next to a cemetery, and the shelling covered a very large area. Good thing that that we survived," Andriy Dubchak said.
"The war is now more aggressive than it used to be. I already perceive the war as a part of my life, because we have had it since 2014," said Danylo Dubchak.
The journalists continued their work nonetheless and made a story about how the city of Bakhmut lives under constant enemy fire.
Andriy Dubchak told IMI that they came under cluster bombardment on July 31.
Andriy received minor injuries due to the shelling – cuts on his legs from ricocheting fragments.
In addition, five windows of their car were broken, two tires were completely destroyed, and the car's body had six holes in it.
Andrii does not rule out the possibility that they were being targeted deliberately, since their car was the only one parked near the field.
"Potentially, we could say yes (they were aiming deliberately – Ed.), the fire was being adjusted from an 'Orlan,' the artillery was working quite intensely. We were in blue bulletproof vests and we were alone there. Five cluster bombs exploded above us, and 20 minutes later they fired at the same spot. Our car could be seen, even though we tried to hide it under a tree," the journalist said.
Dubchak added that earlier, namely on July 30, they had come under artillery fire.
11.08.2022 The Ukrainian Witness filming crew came under fire in Avdiivka on Thursday, August 11. The media outlet reported this on their Facebook page. The journalists believe that the shelling was deliberately targeting them.
According to the journalists, the serviceman who accompanied the group heard the sound of a drone, and shortly after that, targeted fire was opened. Journalist Оleksiy Prodayvoda pulled out a fragment from his bulletproof vest. "We are alright. Oleksiy is safe, alive, and healthy. Cameraman Оleksandr Davydenko, too. Our escort was also not harmed," reports Ukrainian Witness.
The publication quotes journalist Oleksiy Prodayvoda: "The three of us lay there for a long time – me, Sanya, and the soldier. We watched the houses burn after being hit by shells during the day; they saw us from their drone and fired eight rounds at us. Just a few meters away. Fortunately, there was a ravine and a ditch nearby, so we lay down there. Under the trees, too. I take off the vest and this thing falls out – a fragment. The soldier says that it got there on the way out already."
Separately, the publication notes that the UW filming crew was equipped in accordance with international requirements. "With PRESS written in large letters wherever possible. We have every reason to believe that those who opened the fire realized that they were shooting at journalists, since there are no military personnel in the area where the shelling took place. They aimed at people dressed in bulletproof vests with large PRESS inscriptions. Only the locals live there, and the local authorities come with a humanitarian mission every now and then," Ukrainian Witness said.
The journalists managed to shoot a video which they plan to publish as part of the new UW report about Avdiivka.
Ukrainian Witness is a new media project whose aim is to document the terrible events in Ukraine. The project was initiated by public activist Vitaliy Deinega, founder of the Come Back Alive foundation.
06.09.2022 Fakty ICTV film crew came under russian fire in Senkivka village, Chernihiv oblast. Fakty ICTV reports this.
While the crew was working on a story about the aftermath of shelling in the village, explosives were dropped on the them from a drone. The journalist, the cameraman, and the drivers were unharmed.
The editors note that the enemy probably aimed at the TV channel's car. The fragments damaged the door and broke the window.
Senkivka is located on the border that Ukraine shares with russia and Belarus. Despite the fact that the enemy opens fire every once in a while, people continue to live there.
12.09.2022 TSN journalist Victoria Streltsova came under Russian fire on September 12 while holding a livestream from Kharkiv, ТSN reports.
Victoria was talking about the restoration of power supply in the city after the September 11 attacks when suddenly there was a powerful explosion.
She had to run for cover while livestreaming. When she got to the bomb shelter, she said that several explosions were heard in the city center. She could feel the shock wave herself.
As IMI reported, in early May, TSN crew (Oleksandr Zahorodny, Ivan Holovach, Vitaliy Ovsyannikov) of the 1+1 TV channel came under cluster bombing in Maryinka, Donetsk oblast, during the filming.
In late May, TSN filming crew came under Russian missile fire near Bakhmut in Donetsk oblast. This happened during a live report by journalist Oleksandr Zahorodny and cameraman Ivan Holovach.
27.09.2022 On September 27, Channel 5 filming crew came under fire while working in Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast.
The channel's editor and journalist Olha Kalinovska wrote about this on her Facebook page.
In her comment to an IMI representative, she said that they had arrived in Bakhmut around 1:00 p.m. At first, they worked on the outskirts, near the broken bridge.
"There, we we filming the people crossing it, recording their stories. There was constant shelling in the area, but it was on the outskirts. Then, we were filming people collecting water near the bridge. The shelling was coming closer," the journalist said.
According to her, later, the filming crew moved to the city center and talked to people there. At that time, the shelling was moving closer to the center.
"After all, we can distinguish the sound, how loud it is. The elderly man whom we were talking to packed his bags and left, and we worked for a little while more and started moving along the main road towards Kostyantynivka. It is near the city council. And when we almost reached the square near the city council, we first heard a whistle, saw the shell hit for the first time. It was not far from us. The cameraman had no time to film the first hit, so he started filming the smoke. And then we hear the second terrible whistle. The second shell fell closer to us," explained Olha Kalinovska.
After that, the Russians started shelling the center of Bakhmut indiscriminately.
"People were fleeing, and we filmed everyone running away. Everyone was running to the doorways, we wanted to hide between the houses, but then realized that this is a bad idea, because between the houses you can't hear where the shells are landing. On the road, we can at least see it. That's why we decided to leave. And while we were leaving, there was whistling, and the center itself was being bombed," the journalist said.
She emphasized: the shelling was targeted and massive.
"As the military explained to us, the Russians pick a 'square' and 'take it apart.' That is, the aiming is questionable (what's the point of shelling a road), they just shoot shells en masse. And they don't care whether there are troops or civilians there," added Olha Kalinovska.
05.12.2022 The Fakty ICTV filming crew (special correspondent Kostyantyn Melnykov and cameraman Dmytro Matvienko) came under Russian fire on December 5 near Kurdyumivka village, Bakhmut district, Donetsk oblast. Kostyantyn Melnykov reported this to IMI.
According to him, they were working with the military, filming the work of the infantry and the reinforcing of our positions. He added that while they were working, the enemy probably spotted them from a drone, as they were fired upon a few minutes later. Other filming crews included Suspilne and Sky News.
The journalists were not injured, but, Kostyantyn said, their car was damaged. "The shock wave and fragments knocked out the rear window, the side passenger window behind the driver, damaged the windshield. The fragments pierced the car's body," the journalist said.
Kostyantyn Melnykov does not rule out that the Russian military knew that they were firing at journalists. "Hard to say whether it was deliberate, we were working with the military, after all. But all media representatives had the press stickers our on body armor and helmets. And considering that we were most likely spotted from a drone, they knew they were shooting at journalists," he said.
The journalists waited out the shelling in a shelter and left the military positions as soon as the enemy stopped firing.
26.12.2022 "Telebachennya Toronto" journalist Alina Sheremeta and cameraman Oleh Arkhangorodsky came under fire while working in Donetsk oblast.
The media outlet issued a report about this.
The crew was working on a report about the Karpatska Sich Battalion, about the work of tankmen and aerial scouts, recording interviews with foreign fighters and medics setting out to the battlefield.
In her comment to an IMI representative, Alina Sheremeta noted that she does not think the shelling was because the Russians had noticed the journalists.
"The troops were returning from their positions and the enemy was firing at a military AFV," the journalist said.
As IMI reported, on November 17, Facebook deleted the "Telebachennya Toronto" page for alleged "hate speech" in their video about prominent Ukrainian historian Volodymyr Antonovych. A few days later, the "Telebachennya Toronto" Facebook page was restored.
02.01.2023 The filming crew of the French TV channel TMC witnessed a rocket attack during a live broadcast, report Télé-Loisirs and 24newsrecorder.
The channel's journalist Paul Gasnier had come to Druzhkivka (Donetsk oblast) to cover the war in Ukraine. On the evening of January 2, a few minutes after going live, his crew was knocked off their feet by an explosion.
At the time, reporters Paul Gasnier, Héloïse Grégoire, and Théo Palfray were only a few meters away from the explosion, which went off right behind them near Kramatorsk (Donetsk oblast).
In the video, the journalist is facing the camera with a microphone in his hand, followed by a sound of a Russian bomb going off, throwing him forward, and the camera falling to the ground. Immediately after that, the transmission was interrupted and, as it later turned out, the journalist ran to a bomb shelter together with the sound engineer.
Gasnier later explained how it had happened in his comment on the program: “It caught us by surprise. We were close to the explosions, and we could always hear them, but nothing like this has ever happened to us."
According to him, they were alone on the street, in the parking lot in front of their hotel.
"... it was very loud, we had dust in our eyes and mouth. Part of the hotel entrance collapsed on top of us, the windows were shattered. It was very thrilling. We don't know what happened exactly, we were very scared. But now we are all safe, everything is fine," the journalist said.
"I lost my microphone. Normally I should have had a red microphone, but I lost it in the explosion. Window shards were all around us, we were knocked off our feet, but we are fine," Gasnier said.
The filming crew managed to get to safety. "We were able to take cover in a church a little further away in another neighborhood. We are inside, we are alright, that's all that matters," he said.
As IMI reported, on January 2, Bild reporter Bjorn Stritzel has been injured by shrapnel in a Russian shelling attack on Druzhkivka town (Donetsk oblast).
The Bild team, which is in Druzhkivka and filming a report there, is feeling well, the publication notes.
02.01.2023 On January 2, the filming crew of "Dom" TV channel came under Russian fire near Nevske village, Luhansk oblast.
The channel's correspondent Anastasia Volkova spoke to an IMI representative about this.
"We were driving slowly and came under fire as we approached Nevske. Literally four shells landed next to us, 100 meters away from us. We filmed it, but it was very scary," Anastasia said.
According to her, the Russians were not targeting the media workers deliberately. They were probably aiming at the police cars that were moving in the same convoy with the journalists.
Both the filming crew and the car in which they were driving are intact.
26.01.2023 On January 26, the Russian military deliberately shelled a spot near Bakhmut (Donetsk oblast) where a Česká Televize crew was working together with their Ukrainian colleagues. The journalists themselves and their cars were branded with "PRESS" stickers.
This was reported to an IMI representative by a Ukrainian war correspondent, Česká Televize fixer Anastasia Zhuk.
"I'm 200% sure that it was deliberate, because there was a drone flying around beforehand, and the error couldn't have been significant. Perhaps they wanted to scare us, but, you know, the scattering of shards and fragments can not be overlooked, either. And firing at the press is a kind of 'entertainment,'" Anastasia said.
Describing the details, she noted that the journalists were about to enter Bakhmut. They stopped for 20 minutes away to take a panoramic shot of the explosions in Bakhmut, the work of the enemy's artillery, and to film the journalist in the frame.
"The explosions were coming non-stop. I saw Russian SUs flying around and dropping bombs on Yahidne village with my own eyes. A new pillar of white smoke would rise every five minutes. As my colleagues were filming a stand-up shot, I noticed a drone flying, but I'm not sure whose drone it was, since we were in the UAF-controlled territory. Unfortunately, it does not say on the drone whether it is Ukrainian or Russian. It flew around for some time. We were wearing helmets with the 'PRESS' marks, the car also had 'PRESS' stickers – both in front and on the back. When we were finished, the first shell hit 50 meters away from us. It was probably the artillery: they couldn't have gotten to us with the mortars, because we were on a raised surface. It was artillery, a 132-caliber – a self-propelled artillery system," Anastasia said.
According to her, she went to the car, where her colleagues were already waiting for her. At that time, another explosion went off – a shell hit the road 20 meters away from the car.
"My colleagues were very scared. We packed our things quickly, got into the car, and drove away. We got onto a concrete road, and literally a minute after we left the place, another hit from a 132-caliber. Approximately the same spot where our car had been parked," the journalist noted.
Anastasia Zhuk added that the journalists were not injured, merely frightened.
08.02.2023 On January 31, "Zaborona" filming crew came under Russian mortar fire on the road near Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast. Journalist Polina Vernyhor reported this on Facebook and gave a comment to IMI.
According to Polina, the mine fell next to their car and punctured the wheel.
"On the first day of the our trip, we went to Bakhmut and came under mortar fire a few kilometers from the city. Fortunately, it was just an ordinary mine, and not an anti-tank missile, which Russians are firing left and right around there. Fortunately, the debris did not hit the windows or the fuel tank. Fortunately, the car with a completely torn tire didn't just stop in the middle of the road," she wrote on Facebook.
Journalists were supposed to make a report about the Bakhmut children, who were forced to hide from the shelling in cellars.
In her comment to IMI, Vernyhor specified that there were three of them in the car: she, photographer Ivan Chernichkin, and cameraman Yevhen Zhulay. According to her, the shelling injured none of them, she only suffered a contusion in her right ear.
She also added that their car was marked with "PRESS" labels on the front and rear windows. At the same time, Vernyhor believes that the Russians were simply mass shelling the highway, not targeting the journalists.
12.02.2023 On February 12, the filming crew of the German Bild came under Russian fire in Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast. This was reported on the publication's website.
Journalists Paul Ronzheimer, Vadym Moysenko and Giorgos Moutafis were filming a story about the lives of Bakhmut locals who remain in the city despite the shelling.
According to the report, the filming crew witnessed Russian attacks while traveling through the city: "Russian soldiers are shooting with mortars at the neighbourhood where we have just been interviewing residents."
While filming the story and talking to locals, the filming crew came under fire and had to run for cover. As noted in the article, the explosion was "extreme" and not even 200 metres away from them.
"We run away while there are more explosions in our direct vicinity. It is sometimes only seconds that decide whether somebody is hit, or will continue to live," the article says.
After three hours in Bakhmut, which, as the journalists note, "has become hell in this war," the filming crew left the city.
17.03.2023 A BBC crew – reporter Victoria Zhuhan, cameraman Kevin McGregor, and producer Claire Press – came under Russian missile fire while reporting on aid workers in Mylove village, Kherson oblast, Daily Mail reports.
The journalists were following a group of volunteers. The attack happened as the volunteers were delivering aid packages to people in the deoccupied village.
As seen in the video, the journalists took cover near a wall first, and then ran towards the car. There were several explosions.
The volunteer Kostiantyn Tytarenko, who also filmed the aid drop, revealed in a video: "We are leaving. There was an artillery attack just now. It was so strong. I've never heard anything like it."
According to Daily Mail, it was the first aid that arrived in the small village of Mylove in the Kherson region in three weeks and people were visibly desperate to get their hands on much-needed supplies. Nobody was killed in the attacks according to Ukrainian authorities.
22.03.2023 Donbas.Realii correspondents came under Russian shelling near Bakhmut on March 22. This is reported on the project's Telegram channel.
According to the correspondent Yehor Loginov, they were filming the work of the Ukrainian military a few kilometers away from the front line, which is when the Russian troops started shelling the positions with mortars and "Grads".
"Our positions were under fire, but we made it to a dugout. We sat through the shelling and left," the journalist said.
According to Loginov, only the car was damaged. One of the fragments pierced the car door and the driver's seat and got stuck in the magazine "UAF Ground Forces", on a page depicting Valery Zaluzhny. "We can say that our Commander-in-chief can even stop shrapnel," Yehor added and showed the fragment stuck in the publication.
"Most importantly, everyone is alive," the journalist noted.
08.06.2023 The Russian military started shelling Kherson, where the civilians affected by the flood caused by the explosion of the Kakhovska HPP are being evacuated. Some journalists came under fire during the attack.
The strike was reported by "Graty" correspondent Stas Yurchenko.
There have been reports about journalists for the Spanish state television coming under fire as well.
"There were several filming crews on Korabeliv Square when the shelling happened. We know for sure that a Spanish state TV crew was there, their fixer Rodion Krasnovyd told me that they were hiding higher up, they saw the strikes. Now they are checking what the situation is, they say that some people have been injured. At the same time, there have been no reports about injured journalists at the moment. The Spaniards are fine, too," said Serhiy Nikitenko, the IMI representative in Kherson oblast.
"The Russians were firing from barrel artillery, GRAD shells were raining down. My colleagues and I lay in ditches for about an hour, then we left for a safer place," freelance reporter Stas Kozlyuk told IMI.
According to him, there were many journalists in the spot that came under fire. Among them are Stas Yurchenko, Lyubomyra Remazhevska, Yevheniy Savilov, Inna Varenytsia, the "Deutsche Welle" and "Suspilne" crews.
"Yesterday I was working near the water on the Korabeliv Square, today I decided to work in another spot, also near the water. I was talking to the evacuees arriving there by boats. All was quiet and peaceful. I just had just recorded the story of a family that had been taken to Kherson from the occupied territory. There were a lot of people around: volunteers from all over Ukraine, rescuers, medics, journalists from around the world. And then the shelling began. We ran at the speed of light and took cover. Fortunately, I was not at the Korabeliv Square. I had already left Kherson," freelance journalist Khrystyna Berdynskikh wrote on Facebook.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of 4:00 p.m., there no casualties have been reported; eight people have been injured.
We remind you that on the night of June 6, 2023, the Russian invaders blew up the Kakhovska HPP dam. Cities and villages downstream of the Dnipro started flooding, the locals are being evacuated en masse.
15.06.2023 A team of four media workers came under Russian fire in the recently liberated village of Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast).
Olha Kosova, a freelancer who works with Spanish media, reported this in a comment to IMI.
According to her, the occupiers opened fire with the "Grad" MLRS when they noticed people moving.
There were no casualties.
By now, the media workers have left the village of Blahodatne, Donetsk oblast.
30.08.2023 On August 30, a Radio Liberty filming crew came under rocket fire in the Donetsk oblast, the broadcaster reports on their website.
The incident happened while the crew (reporter Yevhenia Kytayiva and camerawoman Anna Kudryavtseva) was reporting. The group also included driver Volodymyr Yavniuk.
The shelling damaged the car they were driving. The crew was not injured.
RFE/RL notes that the journalists have recently joined their team as front-line correspondents. They have considerable experience working near the front line.
Anna Kudryavtseva has been filming at the front since 2014. Yevhenia Kytayiva has been working in combat areas since 2015. They have been working together for seven years.
Driver Volodymyr Yavniuk has been working with Radio Liberty since 2021.
19.09.2023 The filming crew of the Swedish TV4 came under fire from a Russian drone in Zaporizhzhia oblast on September 19, reports the broadcaster.
Reporter Johan Fredriksson and photographer Daniel Zdolsek were out of their car filming when it was hit by a drone. The journalists were unharmed.
However, their local producer Oleksandr Pavlov and two Ukrainian policemen accompanying the TV4 crew received minor injuries.
"This time we were lucky. A Russian strike drone hit the trunk of our car. Fortunately, the car was empty," said Johan Fredriksson.
The TV4 crew was going to film a report about the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The visit to the said area had been pre-planned and organized by the local police.
During the attack, the car they were traveling in and the filming equipment were destroyed.
"We are glad that nobody was injured. We were following the safety procedures prescribed by the editorial team. Both of our envoys have a lot of routine work and experience working in war zones, and this helped them quickly realise what was going on," said TV4 Nyheterna news director Fredrick Malmberg.
As the channel notes, the process of obtaining permission to accompany the patrol police started at the beginning of last week. Before setting off, the TV crew underwent a check that ensured they had the appropriate type of vehicle for the terrain and safety gear such as helmets and bulletproof vests.
The head of the Zaporizhia Oblast Council, Olena Zhuk, expressed concern over the attack on the channel's reporters.
"This is a blatant attack on the press," she told TV4 Nyheterna.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson considers the incident "absolutely terrible".
"I assume there will be a very thorough investigation into what's behind this. One can not deny that this is also a consequence that Russia wants to see. So that reporters do not dare to go there, so that they cover this war as little as possible," said the prime minister.
The lieutenant colonel of the Swedish Defense Academy, Joakim Paasikivi, noted that this was a deliberate attack on journalists.
A drone pilot observing a target sees what the camera on the drone sees, he said.
“He's deliberately aiming that drone at the target and seeing it all the way through to the hit, and that means the damage is pretty limited, as you can see on the car. Overall, the car's license plate and the inscription PRESS can be clearly seen on the safety vests," he said.
06.10.2023 The filming crew of the Portuguese TV channel RTP came under fire in Kharkiv, getting their car badly damaged.
The channel's Ukrainian producer, Andriy Kovalenko, spoke about this in his comment to IMI.
According to him, the crew arrived in Kharkiv yesterday, planning to shoot a report on the SES demining work today and go to Hroza village, where 51 people were previously killed by Russian shelling.
"But at 6.50 a.m. I woke up to very, very loud whistling. I didn't even feel the explosion at first – just saw the windows burst. I was crushed by the window frame. Dust, fire... I honestly thought I'd be burned alive, but my arms were under the blanket at that moment and it saved me. But the fire did come in with the shock wave," Andriy Kovalenko said.
Later, he recalls, he went out into the hallway, saw a man with a badly cut hand and gave him first aid.
"We met with my group. The siren only sounded after three minutes. At first there was none," Andriy Kovalenko added.
He noted that their team consists of three people: him and the Portuguese RTP reporter and cameraman. They were intact.
Andriy Kovalenko also stressed that there were no soldiers in the hotel where they stayed and no military facilities nearby.
30.08.2024 A Russian drone nearly hit the car of the "1+1" filming crew led by the journalist Oleksandr Motorny. It happened as the team accompanied an evacuation bus near Pokrovsk, TSN reports.
The footage shows that the explosion went off in front of the journalists' car. TSN says that the media workers were unharmed.
18.10.2024 "Gvara Media" journalist Denys Klymenko came under Russian fire in Kharkiv oblast on October 18, Denys reports to the Institute of Mass Information representative Valentyna Troyan.
According to Denys, he came under fire while working with the "Khartia" brigade near Liptsi village.
"We were in the infantry positions, and as I was recording an interview with a soldier, they started shelling the forest where we were, which lasted for about an hour. The video actually shows several shells falling near the trench where we were sitting," the journalist said.
He added that no one was injured and everyone survived.
"It was probably the first heavy shelling I came under, it was scary, but everything ended well," said Denys.
The journalist added that they were noticed by a Russian drone that night and the shelling started again.
"We walked about 15 km that day overall, and as we were already leaving the positions along with some soldiers at night, we were noticed by a Russian drone and the shelling began again – this moment didn't make it onto the recording – about four shells whistled over us and fell nearby, but luckily no one was hurt and we reached the safe zone unscathed," said Denys Klymenko.
25.11.2024 Hromadske journalist Ksenia Savoskina and cameraman Oleksiy Nikulin were targeted by Russian drones while filming a news story near Kupyansk on November 25, reports Hromadske.
The journalists were filming the evacuation of animals from the left bank together with the Kharkiv Animal Rescue initiative. The two-car group was accompanied by a soldier, who noticed the horses that were about to be evacuated.
When the journalists started filming the evacuation, they heard drone sounds. The crew hid in a hangar. A few minutes later, an explosion went off. The car where the journalists had left a backpack with lenses caught fire.
Seeing as one of the cars burned down, the journalists had to go back on foot through the village. Ksenia says they walked three kilometers, or maybe a little more. They had to hide from the drones several times.
The journalists were not injured. The horses were successfully evacuated to Kharkiv.
Persecuting journalists, death threats, intimidation – 113
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
According to her, threats have been incoming for at least the last three weeks via email, private messages. The editor is also receiving threats via phone calls from unknown numbers.
The letters provided by Svitlana Zalizetska to IMI refer to the same threats of interrogation, torture, and imprisonment that the Zaporizhzhia websites 061.ua and inform.zp.ua systematically receive from russia. They traditionally speak of accountability for fakes and misinformation about the actions of the russian army in accordance with the russian law. Journalists are also advised to "learn prison jargon," threatened with tribunals and being sent to "correctional facilities" for "supporting the Nazis."
"It's a small part of what we get every day. They are simply spamming us from the territories controlled by the russian federation, from russia, and also collaborators have joined them. Basically, they are trying to pressure us psychologically," Svitlana Zalizetska said.
Also, according to the editor, some threats come in the comments from unknown people under their social media posts. They usually contain abusive devaluing vocabulary and threats about the journalist's health and life, such as: "... If because of you (curse word) a Tochka from the UAF strikes at the city, then wherever you and your grandfather live, I will take care of you and kill you myself (curse word)." The same comments contain threats about the journalist's father.
We remind that the russian occupants in Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia region) took hostage the father of Svitlana Zalizetska, editor of "Holovna Hazeta Melitopola" and the RIA-Melitopol website, on March 23. They demanded a meeting with the journalist as a condition for her father's release. However, on March 25, the russian invaders released her father from captivity.
25.04.2022 On April 25, the editorial office of Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua received another rhymed threatening email from the russian federation.
This was reported to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region by the website's staff.
Threats came from mail.ru from user "Sasha Isayev." The letter also contained a link to the Telegram channel of the NoName hacker group.
Namely, the message states: "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!"
We remind that earlier, the editorial office of the 061.ua website has already received similar threats – on March 25, March 26 and March 28, April 3, 4, April 7-11, April 17.
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."
28.04.2022 The editorial office of "Volyn Online" has already received 10 emails with threats from "russian world" advocates. The senders have signed as NoName057(16) group.
The media's editor Maryana Metelska shared this with the IMI representative in Volyn region.
According to her, the latest letter was received today, on April 28. Earlier, several letters have been sent in verse.
"We, the hacker group NoName057(16), warn you and other representatives of your 'media:' unless you stop the surge of fakes about the russian federation, we will keep downing your website. You will have to answer for all your crimes according to the law. Think before it's too late," the letter said.
At the same time, Metelska noted that there were no problems with the website or DDoS attacks.
It will be recalled that on April 24, the Volyn media outlets "Volyn Online," "Konkurent," and "Konkurent TV" received new threats via email. This time the senders signed as NoName057(16) group.
On April 22, "Detector Media" was targeted by hackers: the site suffered a DDoS attack. The group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for the cyberattack. The hackers called the editors enemies of russia and said they were attacking because the media "discredits the russian army and spreads russophobic fakes."
Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua has also received a letter from the NoName hacker group.
02.05.2022 Two Zaporizhzhia websites, infоrm.zp.ua and 061.ua, began receiving threats from the hacker group Noname057(16). The letters came from inbox.ru and list.ru email services. In the letters, the attackers threaten to hack the media websites.
This was reported to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region by the staff of the media outlets.
According to the infоrm.zp.ua editor-in-chief Eric Brynza, the threatening letter arrived at the editorial inbox on April 28. The subject of the letter stated: "Important info." "We, the hacker group NoName057(16), warn you and all other employees of your 'media:' until you stop the onslaught of fakes about the russian federation, we will keep downing your website. You will have to answer for all your crimes. Think before it's too late," the letter said.
The 061.ua editorial inbox received a letter from "Cheslava Solovei" on April 30. The content of the letter was even shorter: “You didn't get it the first time – we'll say it again. We will keep downing your websites if you do not stop the pipeline of fakes about russia."
Currently, both websites are functioning.
As IMI has reported, on April 22, "Detector Media" was attacked by hackers: the website suffered a DDoS attack. The group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for the cyberattack. The hackers called the journalists enemies of russia and said they were attacking because the media outlet was "discrediting the russian army and spreading russophobic fakes."
On April 24, Volyn media outlets Volyn Online, Konkurent, and Konkurent TV received new threats to their inboxes. This time, the senders signed as group NoName057(16). Volyn Online has already received 10 emails with threats from the NoName057(16) group.
The staff of Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua has also received a letter from the NoName057(16) hacker group.
02.05.2022 Volyn media continue to receive threats from the Noname057(16) hacker group. The letters have been received by Volyn Online, Racurs.ua, and Konkurent news agency on April 30.
This was reported by the website's editors to the IMI representative in Volyn region.
The letters were sent from the list.ru mail service, written in russian, and contained the following: “You didn't get it the first time – we'll say it again. We will keep downing your websites if you do not stop the pipeline of fakes about russia."
Andriy Luchyk, editor of the Konkurent news agency's website, told the IMI representative that a DDoS attack had been carried out on the website on the evening of May 1. The attack on the website was quickly repelled.
The editor of the Volyn Online website, Maryana Metelska, said that there had been no DDoS attacks on the website yet. The website works as usual.
We remind that similar letters from the Noname057(16) hacker group have also been received by two Zaporizhzhia websites – infоrm.zp.ua and 061.ua.
05.05.2022 On May 3, the editorial office Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua received another rhymed letter with threats sent from the russian federation.
The editorial staff reported this to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
The threats came from mail.ru email service and were sent by user "Irina Chukarova." The letter threatens criminal liability: "Russian troops are liberators, their operation saves lives and stability, and you, propaganda spreaders, will not escape criminal responsibility!"
We remind that earlier, the editors of the 061.ua website had already received similar threats – on March 25, March 26 and March 28, April 3, 4, April 7-11, April 17, April 25.
04.05.2022 A number of Kharkiv journalists received personal threats from the russian occupiers, and DDoS attacks are being carried out on the websites where they work.
The editors of KHARKIV Today, Slobidsky Krai, Nakypilo, InsiderNews, and 057.ua reported this to IMI representative in Kharkiv region.
"Or website is constantly under DDoS attacks. Once, a letter came from some scammers, i think they were threatening to bring the website down and were demanding $ 5,000. Roskomnadzor wrote to us, demanded to remove a post and threatened to block the website in russia, although they have already blocked us back in 2018, I believe," a KHARKIV Today journalist said.
A letter about a criminal case being opened and threats of interrogation and imprisonment was received by the edoitorial team of the Kharkiv city website 057.ua. In addition, the journalists are receiving calls from russian phone numbers threatening personal violence.
The published videos and photos of russia's crimes in Ukraine have led to threats against three members of the Nakypilo media group, as well as a DDoS attack on the website. The editorial team received the following message: "You didn't get it the first time, so we'll say it again. We will continue to bring down your websites unless you stop the pipeline of fakes about russia."
Slobidsky Krai and InsiderNews also suffered attacks on the websites. "Nobody wrote to us, there has been an attempt to hack the website's admin account in late February – early March. And then Roskomnadzor just blocked the website in russia," commented the editor-in-chief of InsiderNews.
All media outlets have taken additional digital security measures and continue their fight in the information field.
06.05.2022 Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received threats from the Noname057(16) hacker group again. Yet another email arrived on May 5 from an inbox.ru address.
The editorial staff reported this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
The sender of the letter signed as "Alexandrovich Tsisar." The letter contains a rhyme with the Latin letters used as symbols of the russian occupiers. "V is for VICTORY, Z is for OURZ! Game's over for you and your lying propagandist mouths! Regards from NoName057(16)!" the email reads.
As IMI reported, on April 22, Detector Media was attacked by hackers: the website suffered a DDoS attack. The NoName057(16) group claimed responsibility for the cyberattack. The hackers called the journalists enemies of russia and said they were attacking them because the media outlet "discredits the russian army and spreads russophobic fakes."
On April 24, Volyn media outlets Volyn Online, Konkurent, and Konkurent TV received new threats via email. This time, the senders signed as group NoName057(16). Volyn Online has already received 10 e-mails with threats from the group NoName057(16).
Also the NoName hacker group has sent emails to Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua and infоrm.zp.ua.
10.05.2022 The editors of Volyn.Online and Konkurent news agency received threats from the Noname057(16) hacker group again.
This was reported by the editors to the IMI representative in Volyn region.
Namely, on May 9, the editorial office of Volyn.Online received an email in russian with the following text: "Our grandfathers and great-grandfathers defeated the Nazis in 1945, and we will defeat the neo-Nazis in 2022! We are doing the right thing! The enemy will be defeated! Victory will be ours!"
According to journalist Maryana Metelska, this is the 15th email they've received from the "russian world" representatives. However, they do not always write new threats. Maryana Metelska has received the same threats from Noname057(16) three times.
Konkurent editor Andriy Luchyk said that on May 9, they received threats of the following content: "All of Hitler's accomplices had to answer for their actions. Don't you think that you will also have to answer for your russophobic fakes, discrediting the actions of the russian armed forces and lying to your own audience? And, perhaps, very soon."
According to Luchik, the editorial office has already received a dozen letters from the russians.
Earlier, russian hackers had threatened to "down the websites" of Racurs.ua, "Konkurent" news agency, and "Volyn Online."
10.05.2022 The editors of Volyn.Online and Konkurent news agency received threats from the Noname057(16) hacker group again.
This was reported by the editors to the IMI representative in Volyn region.
Namely, on May 9, the editorial office of Volyn.Online received an email in russian with the following text: "Our grandfathers and great-grandfathers defeated the Nazis in 1945, and we will defeat the neo-Nazis in 2022! We are doing the right thing! The enemy will be defeated! Victory will be ours!"
According to journalist Maryana Metelska, this is the 15th email they've received from the "russian world" representatives. However, they do not always write new threats. Maryana Metelska has received the same threats from Noname057(16) three times.
Konkurent editor Andriy Luchyk said that on May 9, they received threats of the following content: "All of Hitler's accomplices had to answer for their actions. Don't you think that you will also have to answer for your russophobic fakes, discrediting the actions of the russian armed forces and lying to your own audience? And, perhaps, very soon."
According to Luchik, the editorial office has already received a dozen letters from the russians.
Earlier, russian hackers had threatened to "down the websites" of Racurs.ua, "Konkurent" news agency, and "Volyn Online."
10.05.2022 On May 9, the editors of the Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua received an email from russians that contained a new rethoric. It mentions "Western donors" and "supervisors from the Ukrainian secret services."
This was reported by the staff members to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
Namely, an email from "Alexandrovich Tsisar" with the subject "Must be read", sent from the mail inbox.ru, reads:
"The money you receive for inciting hatred against russians will not save you. Your supervisors from the Ukrainian secret services and the government will forget you as soon as their own skins are in danger. Your Western donors, curators, and sponsors will not help you, either. You will just be thrown away as used things that aren't needed anymore." The letter was signed by the hacker group NoName057(16).
Earlier, russians had threatened a number of Volyn and Zaporizhzhia media outlets with imprisonment, interrogation, and torture.
10.05.2022 The editors of Zaporizhzhia website inform.zp.ua have received three new threatening letters between April 30 and May 5. Two of them were signed by the hacker group NoName057(16). This was reported by the editor-in-chief of the website Eric Brynza to IMI representative in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The letters came from mail.ru addresses. Namely, the letter dated April 30, from the sender Cheslava Solovei, says: "You didn't get it the first time – we'll say it again. We will keep downing your websites until you stop the pipeline of fakes about russia." The signature contained a link to the Telegram channel of the hacker group Noname057(16).
On May 2, the editorial office received another letter, this time from Iryna Chyurakova, with rhymed threats. The message read: "Russian troops are liberators, their operation saves lives and stability, and you, propaganda spreaders, will not escape criminal responsibility!"
And on May 5, the editorial mail received another threat from hackers Noname of the following content: "V is for VICTORY, Z is for OURZ! Game's over for you and your lying propagandist mouths! Regards from NoName057(16)!"
According to the website's editor-in-chief, threatening emails from russia come systematically. To reduce the flow of threats, the editorial office decided, in particular, to block all messages from unknown numbers on Telegram.
17.05.2022 On May 15, the editors of the of Zaporizhzhia city website 061.ua received another threatening email from russia, warning them of criminal responsibility under russian law.
The website's staff reported this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
Namely, the letter from user "Salavat Golovenkina" reads: “Have you heard that the Ukrainian authorities have already been issued a secret order to move all gold and currency reserves out of the country? Soon Zelensky will run away. And all those who supported the Ukrainian neo-Nazi regime, including informational support, will be held accountable for their crimes under the law of the russian federation. Get ready, propagandists!”
We remind that earlier, the editors of the 061.ua website had already received similar threats – on March 25, March 26 and March 28, April 3, 4, April 7-11, April 17, April 25.
The editorial team has also received several threats from NoName057(16) hacker group.
19.05.2022 The editors of the "Syla Pravdy" Center for Journalistic Investigations received threats about nuclear weapons from russia.
This was reported by "Syla Pravdy" manager Yuriy Horbach to the IMI representative in Volyn region.
The email in russian arrived to the editorial office on May 18: "You Banderites, Galicia and Volyn are our Russian land of the Ruriks. Your building is surrounded by FBS commandos! Resistance is useless! Come out with your hands up and put your hands on the ground! One attempt to sick the Jewish devil on our souls – and you're all dead! We will rip you apart and burn you with napalm, run you over with tanks! If the OUN-UPA resists, we will strike Galicia and Volyn with nuclear weapons, which we have and you don't!"
The sender of the letter is Pavel Ivanov-Ostoslavsky. The text was accompanied by various pictures depicting russian soldiers.
According to Horbach, this is the first time that the editorial team received such a letter.
Earlier, threats have been received by the editorial offices of Volyn.Online, Rakurs.ua, Konkurent news agency, and Konkurent TV. Most threats had to do with imprisonment, torture, and interrogation.
23.05.2022 The editorial office of Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received a new batch of threats from russia. Journalists are being threatened with lawsuits under russian law and with imprisonment for spreading "anti-russian fakes."
This was reported by the website's staff to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
Thus, on May 20, the editorial office received a letter from the bk.ru email service from Galimdzyan Tsvetnova with the following content: "By spreading anti-russian fakes against russia, you are paving the way to a prison cell for yourself, dear propagandists. You will not escape responsibility with all the severity of russian law."
The next day, May 21, the editorial office received another email with the topic "Responsibility is not far off!" from "Maram Kiryutina." The letter was sent from the list.ru email service. "You are all in the hands of russian law enforcement officers as accomplices in the crimes of the so-called Ukrainian authorities against civilians. When the russian army comes to your cities, you will have to answer to the court for all your offenses," the email said.
We remind that earlier, the editors of the 061.ua website had already received similar threats – on March 25, March 26 and March 28, April 3, 4, April 7-11, April 17, April 25, May 15. The editors have also been threatened by NoName057(16) hacker group.
24.05.2022 The editorial mail of the Zaporizhzhia website inform.zp.ua received another threatening message from russia. The employees of the online publication were told that russian law enforcement officers already have their personal details.
The website's editor-in-chief Eric Brynza told this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
According to him, an email from user "Raurd Zhukanova" has arrived from the inbox.ru email service on May 21. The email with the subject "Heads up, they are coming for you soon!" reads: "The personal details of all employees of your media have are long in the hands of russian authorities. That is why you will soon be held accountable for all the crimes you have committed in support of Zelenskyy's Banderite junta!"
According to the editor-in-chief, the number of such threats has decreased. If earlier, the editorial office used to receive them almost every day, now the number of such letters has significantly decreased.
We remind that the inform.zp.ua publication had been receiving threats from the russian federation regularly.
25.05.2022 The editorial office of Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received another batch of threats due to its journalistic activities. This time they were advised to start packing their warm clothes for Siberia. The editors reported this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
On May 25, the journalists received a letter like this from user Ulyana Gordeeva, sent via list.ru email service. It read: "None of those journalists and media workers who serve the criminal regime of Ukraine will escape punishment for violating the law on journalistic activities! You have a prison term waiting for you! Start packing your warm clothes: it's not so hot in russian prisons in the North and in Siberia!"
26.05.2022 Roskomnadzor demands that "Vilne Radio," which broadcasts in Bakhmut (Donetsk region) and the neighboring settlements, remove content about the russian army's crimes against civilians during the first month of the full-scale invasion. The russian institution's demand was expressed in an email to the editorial office, sent on April 14.
"They threatened to block our website," "Vilne Radio" editors said on their Facebook page.
The journalists note that after Roskomnadzor's letter, the number of readers from russia has significantly decreased.
"Yes, a lot of russians who probably liked to see quality content used to follow us," "Vilne Radio" said, adding:
“We can advise russians who want to read up-to-date and truthful information to follow our Telegram channel t.me/DONregion and set up a VPN. (you can learn how to do it here: cutt.ly/KH9iZQm)."
It should be noted that the russian register of banned websites currently contains information about the block of only one of "Vilne Radio's" articles, which was mentioned in Roskomnadzor's email.
It will be recalled that in March, the editorial office of "Vilne Radio," which broadcasts in Donetsk region, received threats via email.
02.06.2022 Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received yet another batch of threatening emails from russia. The media workers are being threatened with imprisonment and colonies in Siberia. The publication's journalists reported this to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
On June 2, the editorial office received an email from user Mikhail Kotov sent via the mail.ru (internet.ru) email service. "If you are not afraid of FPS RF'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 email reads.
On June 6, the editorial staff received an email from user Vladislav Pavlov with the content which the editors had already received at the end of May. It again informs the journalists about the fate of Ukraine's gold and currency reserves and threatens them with being imprisoned for their professional activities.
“Have you heard that the Ukrainian authorities have already been issued a secret order to move all gold and currency reserves out of the country? Soon Zelensky will run away. And all those who supported the Ukrainian neo-Nazi regime, including informational support, will be held accountable for their crimes under the law of the russian federation. Get ready, propagandists!” the letter reads.
10.06.2022 The editorial office of Volyn Online has received new threats from russia about interrogations and imprisonment. This is the 19th russian-language letter sent to the editorial team.
This was reported to IMI representative in Volyn region by "Volyn Online" editor Maryana Metelska.
According to her, on June 10, the website received a letter in russian from an unknown user "Valeriy Naumov" with the following content:
"The Investigative Committee of russia has opened a criminal case against all employees of your publication. The case was instituted under the 'Extremism' article of the Criminal Code. All your contacts and personal details have been submitted to russian authorities. After the russian army occupies the settlements where you live and work, you will face third degree interrogations and imprisonment. You can testify in the case and avoid this punishment if you resign from the media you work for right now."
On June 6, the editorial office received a letter suggesting that the current government was not going to stay in power for long and that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy was allegedly fleeing the country. In addition, the email threatened the editors with accountability under the laws of the russian federation for the content they publish.
Earlier, the "Volyn Online" editorial office received threats of prosecution for spreading "lies about the actions of the russian armed forces."
10.06.2022 The editorial email inbox of Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received another letter from russia containing threats of interrogations and imprisonment.
The editorial staff reported this to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
According to the journalists, the editorial team has received such emails before.
On June 10, the editors received an email from user "Anatoly Antonov," sent through the Internet.ru mail service. The letter, in particular, states: "The Investigative Committee of russia has opened a criminal case against all employees of your publication. The case was instituted under the 'Extremism' article of the Criminal Code. All your contacts and personal details have been submitted to russian authorities. After the russian army occupies the settlements where you live and work, you will face third degree interrogations and imprisonment. You can testify in the case and avoid this punishment if you resign from the media you work for right now."
- Little-known russian NoNames swear to take revenge on 061.ua editors for opening a case against them
16.06.2022 A little-known russian group of hackers who call themselves NoName057(16) threatens to punish the staff of Zaporizhzhia edition 061.ua for the fact that Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have opened criminal proceedings against the group.
This was reported to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region by members of the editorial team.
On June 16, the editorial inbox received a letter from hackers with the subject "On a criminal case against russian hackers," sent through russian email service bk.ru. In the letter, sent on behalf of Eva Yudina, the NoName group is being outraged by the criminal proceedings against them and says that the journalists will be held accountable for "crimes against humanity." In the email, the NoNames use scans of the news published on the IMI website as confirmation of the criminal proceedings having been initiated.
The email initially recognizes Ukrainian law enforcement officers, but later calls them "pseudo-law enforcement officers," and call the Ukrainian "propagandists."
The NoNames admit that they have sent threats to the Ukrainian media, calling them a "warning" about the responsibility they would face for "spreading anti-russian fakes, discrediting russia's actions in Ukraine, and inciting ethnicity-based hatred against russians."
"Cowardly and lying propagandists were so frightened by emails from russian hackers that they immediately ran to snitch to the authorities. Instead of opening criminal proceedings against their own propagandist compatriots, Ukrainian pseudo-law enforcement officers accused group NoName057(16) of 'violating the rules of warfare' for some reason. On behalf of NoName057(16) we declare that there is and can be no justice in Ukraine, and all the lying 'journalists' and their supervisers from neo-Nazi structures who opened criminal proceedings against us are just serving the criminal regime of a former Soviet republic and a Banderite junta, which had seized power after the so-called Euromaidan. Sooner or later, they will be held accountable for all their crimes against humanity and will receive a just punishment. Hackers from NoName057(16)," the email reads.
As IMI reported, Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua has been receiving threatening emails from russians since March. The letters are signed by various users and contain threats of punishment, torture, imprisonment, interrogation. The editorial board has also been repeatedly threatened by the group NoName057(16).
The authorities have opened criminal proceedings for email threats received by Zaporizhzhia editorial offices from russia. The criminal proceedings have been instituted under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code “Violation of the laws or customs of war.” The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for a term of eight to twelve years.
16.06.2022 A group of russian hackers calling themselves NoName057(16) is threatening another Zaporizhzhia newspaper, inform.zp.ua, with punishment for Ukrainian authorities instituting a criminal case against the group.
This was reported by inform.zp.ua editor-in-chief Eric Brynza to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
An email with the topic "On the criminal case against russian hackers" arrived to the newspaper's editorial inbox on June 16. In the letter, signed by Myroslava Alekseeva and sent through inbox.ru email service, the hackers are being outraged that a criminal case has been opened against them and claim that the journalists will be held accountable for "crimes against humanity."
"The Ukrainian authorities have opened a criminal case for an email newsletter to employees of the Ukrainian media, in which the hacker group NoName057(16) warned them of their responsibility for spreading anti-russian fakes, discrediting russia's actions in Ukraine, and inciting ethnic hatred. The cowardly and lying propagandists were so frightened by emails from russian hackers that they immediately ran to snitch to the authorities. Instead of opening criminal proceedings against their own propagandist compatriots, Ukrainian pseudo-law enforcement officers accused group NoName057(16) of 'violating the rules of warfare' for some reason. On behalf of NoName057(16) we declare that there is and can be no justice in Ukraine, and all the lying 'journalists' and their supervisers from neo-Nazi structures who opened criminal proceedings against us are just serving the criminal regime of a former Soviet republic and a Banderite junta, which had seized power after the so-called Euromaidan. Sooner or later, they will be held accountable for all their crimes against humanity and will receive a just punishment. Hackers from NoName057(16)," the email reads.
As IMI reported, on June 16, the little-known group sent an identical threatening email to the editors of Zaporizhzhia's 061.ua.
The authorities have opened criminal proceedings for email threats received by Zaporizhzhia editorial offices from russia. The criminal proceedings have been instituted under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code “Violation of the laws or customs of war.” The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for a term of eight to twelve years.
29.06.2022 The editors of Zaporizhzhia website 061.ua received two emails with threats about imprisonment for "spreading fakes" from russia. The employees of the editorial office told this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
The editorial team received two emails from russia. On June 29, user "Alyona Pakhomova" sent them threats about imprisonment for their activities via the internet.ru mail service. The letter had the following content: "Deceiving the public with your agenda, spreading fakes for your propaganda, don’t you get a suspicion that Zelensky is a liar? Are you ready, through capitulation, with penal institutions as the place of your emigration, to meet such a shameful end?"
The next day, June 30, the journalists of the editorial office received another email that mentioned Judas, "Vlasovites," and "Motherland betrayers."
29.06.2022 The editors of Zaporizhzhia website inform.zp.ua received new threats about imprisonment for "spreading fakes" from russia. The employees of the editorial office told this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
On June 29, the inform.zp.ua editorial inbox received a short email from user "Elmira Afanasyeva," sent via russian mail service inbox.ru. The rhymed letter read, in particular: "russian troops are liberators, their operation saves lives and stability. And you, propaganda spreaders, will not escape criminal responsibility!"
01.07.2022 Last week, the editors of Zaporizhzhia's inform.zp.ua received two emails with rhymed threats from russia.
The website's editor-in-chief Eric Brynza informed the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region about this.
On July 1, an email from user "Elmira Afanasyeva" with the subject "Very important!" arrived to the editorial inbox from the russian mail service inbox.ru. In it, the author threatened the staff of the editorial office with criminal responsibility for their journalistic activities – in rhymed form again. In particular, the letter stated: "russian troops are liberators, their operation saves lives and stability. And you, propaganda spreaders, will not escape criminal responsibility!"
Not long after, on July 4, the editors received another email from "Yana Vlasova" with the subject "Reminder." In the email, also sent through russian mail service inbox.ru, the author "reminded" of the following: "V is for 'victory,' Z is for 'ourz!' Game's over for you and your lying propagandist mouths!"
According to inform.zp.ua editor-in-chief, they have already received emails with identical content before.
01.07.2022 Zaporizhzhia media outlet 061.ua received two threatening emails from russia. The editorial team reported this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
On July 1 and 4, 061.ua editorial team members received two emails with threats. The first letter with the subject "Important!" was sent by "Evdokia Eliseeva" from mail.ru. The letter contained a link to the group noname057(16), which is famous for its moralizing slogans, insults, and rhymed poem-threats. This time, journalists were told the following: "Propagandist, your path is sad. Deceiving the population is the first step, not even hiding that you're an Ukronazi. But the second step is your imprisonment! noname057(16)".
In the second email, dated July 4, the journalists were promised that "the game is over" for their "lying propagandist mouths." The letter was sent from the inbox.ru mailbox with the subject "Reminder" from "Nina Egorova."
07.07.2022 Zaporizhzhia media outlet inform.zp.ua received a threatening email from russia. The editorial team reported this to the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region.
The inform.zp.ua editorial inbox received a letter with the subject "Responsibility notice," sent from the russian mail service inbox.ru by user "Rudolf Kubekin" on July 7. In particular, it read: "The Investigative Committee of russia has opened a criminal case against all employees of your publication. The case was instituted under the 'Extremism' article of the Criminal Code. All your contacts and personal details have been submitted to russian authorities. After the russian army occupies the settlements where you live and work, you will face third degree interrogations and imprisonment. You can testify in the case and avoid this punishment if you resign from the media you work for right now."
Such emails with threats about the occupation of all cities, torture, and imprisonment have already reached the editorial offices several times.
12.07.2022 Employees of the Zaporizhzhia website inform.zp.ua received yet another threatening email about imprisonment in the colonies of Siberia from the russian federation.
The website's editor-in-chief Eric Brynza informed the IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region about this.
The email was sent to the editorial inbox on July 12 via the russian post service bk.ru, signed by "Shomurod Miroshyn." In the letter, the author reported that the journalists have become subjects of criminal cases for "spreading, under the guise of reliable reports, of unreliable information about the actions of the armed forces of the russian federation."
The email also states that "in the near future, after the russian army occupies your city, you will be forcibly taken to one of the nearest courts of the russian federation for a sentencing process. After that, a prison term in one of the penal facilities of the russian FPS, which is located in the Siberian Federal District, awaits you."
The occupier offers to sign an "agreement on voluntary cooperation with the authorities of the russian federation".
As reported by IMI, Zaporizhzhia media outlets have been receiving threats from russia since March. The last time inform.zp.ua received threats from russia was on July 7.
15.08.2022 On August 15, the editors of Volyn Online received an email demanding they "do not spread fakes about russia." The website's editor-in-chief Maryana Metelska informed the regional representative of the Institute of Mass Information about this.
A user signed as Mylo Korpachan sent an email of the following content to the editorial inbox:
"You do understand that as soon as Zelensky's Banderite junta is in a pinch, they will all flee and leave you to take responsibility for the crimes you committed together? Before it's too late, sabotage the orders of the Ukrainian Nazis who are forcing you to write untrue articles and spread fakes against russia."
This is not the first threatening message that Volyn Online has received from russia. The website's editor Maryana Metelska has received threats, even in rhyme. According to the editor, on August 15, she received the 20th letter of similar content.
15.08.2022 On August 15, the editors of Volyn Online received an email demanding they "do not spread fakes about russia." The website's editor-in-chief Maryana Metelska informed the regional representative of the Institute of Mass Information about this.
A user signed as Mylo Korpachan sent an email of the following content to the editorial inbox:
"You do understand that as soon as Zelensky's Banderite junta is in a pinch, they will all flee and leave you to take responsibility for the crimes you committed together? Before it's too late, sabotage the orders of the Ukrainian Nazis who are forcing you to write untrue articles and spread fakes against russia."
This is not the first threatening message that Volyn Online has received from russia. The website's editor Maryana Metelska has received threats, even in rhyme. According to the editor, on August 15, she received the 20th letter of similar content.
22.08.2022 After a long break, Zaporizhzhia online media inform.zp.ua received another email with threats from russia, related to the website's professional activities. The letter threatens the editorial team with interrogation and imprisonment for supporting "Zelensky's neonazi regime."
This was reported to the regional IMI representative by the website's editor-in-chief Eric Brynza.
The letter to the editors came on August 22 from "Zhanna Prokshina" and had been sent via russian email service bk.ru. "Spreading disinformation about the actions of russian troops will result in administrative and criminal punishment. Soon, all journalists who support Zelensky’s neonazi regime will be sent to investigating authorities to be questioned and charged, with subsequent deployment to penal facilities," the email reads.
Let us remind you that Zaporizhzhia media outlets, in particular 061.ua and inform.zp.ua, have started receiving threatening emails in March, 2022. These emails threaten the journalists with torture, imprisonment, and deportation to Siberia for content that "discredits the russian army" and "supports Zelensky's fascist/neonazi regime." Almost no letters were received in July and August.
18.12.2023 The Dnipro online media outlet "Dnipro Operatyvny" received three messages claiming that explosives have been planted at their office.
The editor-in-chief Olesya Antoshkina reported this to the regional representative of the IMI.
According to her, messages about the alleged mining were sent to the editorial inbox on December 15, 16, and 17.
"We are tired of these messages. This time we called the police again, one time it was at night – we spent half the night on the phone to resolve it. This one was another false claim, but we can't not call the police," said Olesya Antoshkina.
The editor believes these messages have to do with the Russians.
IMI lawyer Roman Holovenko explains that such actions may fall under Part 1 of Article 345-1 of the Criminal Code: death threats, threatening violence, destruction or damage to property upon a journalist, their close relatives or family members due to their legal reporting. Such actions are punishable by up to two years of community service, arrest for up to six months, restriction of liberty for up to three years, or imprisonment for up to three years.
A report by the Dnipro City Council also says that there have been messages claiming some metro stations and several large shops in the city have been mined.
As reported by the IMI, "Dnipro Operatyvny" received several messages about explosives allegedly being planted at their office over the course of this year. For instance, such incidents happened on August 9 and May 21. However, the police found no explosives after examining the office.
19.04.2024 The Russian occupiers on Telegram are urging the administrators of the Ukrainian media outlet RIA Melitopol to surrender, reports the regional representative of the IMI in the Zaporizhzhia oblast.
The post, shared by the propaganda channel "New Melitopol. Zaporizhzhia Region", among others, offers the journalists to "go out into the Victory Square" in "liberated Melitopol" and surrender.
The post with the call features a World War 2 era photo of German Nazi occupiers surrendering as prisoners, and contains hate speech towards Ukrainians. It calls on the administrators to "choose the right side and stand up for the truth."
"If you are in the liberated Melitopol, you have a chance. Go out to Victory Square or call the city commandant's office and say that you are an administrator of the RIA Melitopol channel. After all steps, you will be assigned an appointment. You will be asked to switch to a Russian media outlet, where you will receive a salary. Choose the right path," the post reads.
The RIA Pviden (RIA Melitopol) chief editor Svitlana Zalizetska considers the propaganda resources working in the temporarily occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia oblast making such posts about the media outlet to be part of an information campaign targeting the entire team.
Zalizetska and her team have been receiving numerous threats since their refusal to work with the occupiers in March 2022. The screenshots spread by the occupiers on social media contain death threats, including calls for murder, which target her, her parents, and children.
In August 2023, the Russians hacked the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian media outlet RIA Melitopol, which kept working even after the temporary occupation of Melitopol (Zaporizhia oblast). The channel's administrator Heorhiy Levchenko was detained. On October 23, 2023, the Russian media released a news story about the detention of the RIA-Melitopol and "Melitopol is Ukraine" Telegram channel administrators, which happened two months prior. The administrators were charged with terrorism. RIA Melitopol journalist Anastasia Hlukhovska, who continued to work in the temporarily occupied city, was recognized as one of the other detainees in the video. All of them are charged under several articles of the Russian criminal code: public calls for terrorist attacks, treason, espionage. They face 12 to 20 years in prison.
In early May 2023, Melitopol journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr were kidnapped in the temporarily occupied city (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Both have been in retirement for years. The occupiers detained the couple on the street, first keeping them together and then separating them. Their current whereabouts are unknown.
14.10.2024 Chernivtsi-based journalist Maria Bodnarashek (news outlet "0372") received an email with bomb threats, similar to those received by multiple other media and journalists, the 0372 communications manager Anna Sotska reports to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Chernivtsi oblast, Alyona Chorniy.
According to her, the email seems to have been automatically translated and says that the building has been mined and could be blown up shortly. The sender mentions that the "terrorist group Fire Cells Group" is to blame for the terrorism.
"Good afternoon, we received information about a possible terrorism threat which may pose a danger to your life. I told you that you will not inspect the house well, soon I will activate the explosive device!! It was in the ceiling! Allah akbar!", the email said.
In the comment to the IMI representative, Maria Bodnarashek said that she was not scared upon receiving the bomb warning because she was busy and did not know about the identical messages that arrived to other newsrooms. The team responded to the email by contacting the police.
"Despite the fact that similar letters have already been sent to other journalists, we played it safe and called the police. They told us that there had been a lot of such emails and they were also sent to the police every now and then. Everything is being checked and nothing has been confirmed," said Anna Sotska.
14.10.2024 The Zaporizhia media outlet 061.ua received bomb threats on October 14, as reported to the Institute of Mass Information by the outlet’s journalist Elmira Shahabudtdynova.
The letter is similar to those received by other media. In the letter, "Fire Cells Group representative Assaliuk Oleksandr Vitaliyovych" lists three Radio Liberty journalists as the ones to blame for the "bombings".
As reported earlier, multiple Ukrainian media outlets received bomb warnings to their corporate inboxes on October 14. The letters list the Ukrainian journalists whom the sender blames for the possible bombings. The sender asks to place all responsibility on "the terrorist group Fire Cells Group".
The journalists in question are Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk, who are the authors of the Radio Liberty investigation into the FSB's recruitment of Ukrainian children to set fire to UAF cars, released on October 8.
14.10.2024 "Kremenchutskyi Telegraf" (Poltava oblast) received bomb threats via email on October 14, as reported to Nadia Kucher, the IMI representative in Poltava oblast, by the chief editor Lesya Lazarenko.
According to Lazarenko, the office received two letters with threats.
"The letters arrived at the editorial inbox, but the business day ended at 6:00 p.m. That's why I only received them today at 9 a.m.," said the editor.
The letter mentioned bombs being planted in the offices of RBC-Ukraine and the Ukrainian Radio Liberty service, as well as the US Embassy.
As reported earlier, multiple Ukrainian media outlets received bomb warnings to their corporate inboxes on October 14. The letters list the Ukrainian journalists whom the sender blames for the possible bombings. The sender asks to place all responsibility on "the terrorist group Fire Cells Group".
The journalists in question are Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk, who are the authors of the Radio Liberty investigation into the FSB's recruitment of Ukrainian children to set fire to UAF cars, released on October 8.
14.10.2024 PTV.UA channel host Oleksandr Krumin received bomb threats via email on October 14, which he reported to Nadia Kucher, the IMI representative in Poltava oblast.
According to the journalist, the letter claimed that bombs had been planted in his house and office, not listing either address. The sender mentioned the Radio Liberty journalists Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk, whom they ask to blame for the terrorist act.
"On October 14, the day of the mass ‘bombing’ of state buildings, I saw this letter in my spam folder. Noteworthily, my full name is listed, but the addresses of the house and office where ‘bombs have been planted’ are not. I did not contact the police because I understand that this is a fake threat through spam mail. I take note of how actively the Russian Federation is waging a hybrid, namely informational, war against us," Oleksandr Krumin said.
14.10.2024 The newspaper "Poltavska Dumka" received bomb threats via email on October 14, as reported to Nadia Kucher, the IMI representative in Poltava oblast, by the chief editor Diana Strashko.
According to Strashko, the email mentioned that bombs had been planted in the buildings of the Radio Liberty office and the Ministry of Finance as well. She added that the email came from a user named Oleksandr Vitaliyovych Assauliuk.
As reported earlier, multiple Ukrainian media outlets received bomb warnings to their corporate inboxes on October 14. The letters list the Ukrainian journalists whom the sender blames for the possible bombings. The sender asks to place all responsibility on "the terrorist group Fire Cells Group".
The journalists in question are Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk, who are the authors of the Radio Liberty investigation into the FSB's recruitment of Ukrainian children to set fire to UAF cars, released on October 8.
14.10.2024 The online news outlet Ukrainska Pravda received bomb threats via email on October 14, as reported on their website.
As reported earlier, multiple Ukrainian media outlets received bomb warnings to their corporate inboxes on October 14. The letters list the Ukrainian journalists whom the sender blames for the possible bombings. The sender asks to place all responsibility on "the terrorist group Fire Cells Group".
The journalists in question are Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk, who are the authors of the Radio Liberty investigation into the FSB's recruitment of Ukrainian children to set fire to UAF cars, released on October 8.
14.10.2024 The online news outlet Detector Media received bomb threats via email on October 14, as reported on their website.
The letter that arrived in the "Detector Media" inbox claimed that the sender had planted explosives in the office building and intended to blow it up. The sender wrote that explosives had been planted in the offices of RBC-Ukraine and the Ukrainian Radio Liberty service, as well as the US Embassy, the Ministry of Finance, and the Verkhovna Rada.
The author of the letter, who introduced himself as Oleksandr Assauliuk, asks that the "terrorist group Fire Cells Group" be considered responsible for the bombs.
The letters mention Ukrainian journalists whom the sender blames for terrorist attack.
14.10.2024 LIGA.net journalist Volodymyr Fomichov receiving bomb threats to the media outlet's corporate inbox on October 14, which he reported on Facebook.
"The wannabe terrorists mentioned our colleagues from Radio Liberty: Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk, as the people to blame. And I actually think there is a reason for this. Valeria, Ira and Yulia recently released a large investigation into Russia's GRU recruiting our citizens and asking them to blow up military vehicles for a small payment," Fomichov said.
He assumed that in this way the authors of the email want to intimidate the active citizens.
"So that nothing prevents the Russians from damaging the vehicles of our soldiers, so that we do not draw the attention of our compatriots to this and they may continute to recruit them in peace. This is just my guess, but maybe it's true," Fomichov added.
14.10.2024 The Rivne branch of the National Public Broadcasting Company "Suspilne Rivne" received a warning about a bomb attack. The staff were evacuated, and an hour later it was reported that no explosive devices had been found in the building.
Suspilne Rivne manager Lyudmyla Khoma reported this to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Rivne oblast, Hanna Kalaur.
According to Khoma, the bomb warnings first began to arrive at Suspilne branches in other oblasts.
“I told the chief editor to keep a close eye on the inbox. At 15:59, I believe, he called me and said he got a message. I called the police and gave an order to evacuate the staff," Lyudmyla Khoma said.
She added that the police had already carried out all the work in the branch's office and found no explosive devices. According to Lyudmyla, such messages are part of Russia's information and psychological warfare.
"This is an informational and psychological war, this is an attempt to destabilize the situation, this is pressure on everyone overall. There were over 30 such warnings in our city today and the emergency services were practically overloaded. People are emotionally exhausted and upset by this. This is much more than obstruction of reporting. This is a component of hybrid warfare. I am sure that this is what our enemy is doing," commented Lyudmyla Khoma.
The Suspilne journalist Hanna Kalaur, who is also the IMI representative in Rivne oblast, also received two warnings about a bomb allegedly planted in the building. Hanna Kalaur works in the Suspilne Rivne office.
Both letters have many spelling errors, their author provides a list of the buildings they claimed to have mined. They say that their goal is to kill the journalists who are there. The sender also blames the journalists Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk, who are the authors of the Radio Liberty investigation into the FSB's recruitment of Ukrainian children to set fire to UAF cars, for the bombs.
"Good afternoon, I want to inform you about the possible terrorism threat which may affect your personal safety," is how one of the letters opens.
Suspilne Rivne reports a total of 33 building mining claims in the oblast today. These include state, educational, and healthcare facilities. According to Maria Yustytska, the oblast police spokeswoman, the first such reports began to arrive at approximately 1:00 p.m.
14.10.2024 Alyona Bereza, a journalist with the Khmelnytskyi media outlet Zhar.Info and the Institute of Mass Information representative in Khmelnytskyi oblast, received an email with bomb threats.
According to her, she received two such letters – at around 1:00 p.m. and at 4:00 p.m. Both emails have dubious sender addresses and the text has spelling errors and looks as if it was translated automatically. The sender asks to place all responsibility on the "terrorist group Fire Cells Group".
The Khmelnytskyi oblast police received a total of nearly 50 reports about bombs planted in various facilities. These includd: state institutions, educational institutions, communal and private companies, reported Inna Hleha, the chief of communications at the Khmelnytskyi Oblast National Police HQ, to Suspilne Khmelnytskyi.
According to her, the letters started arriving to the institutions' emails at lunchtime.
14.10.2024 Valentyna Kuts, a journalist at the Lutsk Center for Investigative Journalism "Syla Pravdy", received an email with a threat to blow up the building. The email mentions Ukrainian journalists whom the sender blames for the terrorist attack.
Valentyna Kuts reported this to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Volyn oblast, Maya Holub,.
The journalist said that she received the letter today, October 14, to her personal inbox, which she uses for work. The email arrived from the address <[email protected]> and was signed as Zalozetska Yavdokha Sarmativna. The sender asks to place all responsibility on the "terrorist group Fire Cells Group".
The letter mentions the threat of an act of terrorism that would endanger people's lives. The sender claims to have made a high-quality explosive device which they plan to activate during the busines day.
In the emails, the sender blames three journalists for the planted bomb: Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and Yulia Khymeryk. These journalists are the authors of the new Radio Liberty investigation into Russia's FSB recruiting Ukrainian children to set fire to UAF cars, which was released on October 8.
14.10.2024 Today, October 14, the state-owned International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine received emails saying a bomb had been planted on the company's premises, the company's press service reported to the Institute of Mass Information.
The threatening emails were sent to the company's official email address from different mailboxes, but contain the same text and signature.
In addition to threats about planted bombs and explosions, the emails also contained signs of incitement to religious enmity and mention several Ukrainian journalists who do not work at the company.
The MBPU staff was evacuated from the potentially mined office.
All information about the event has been handed over to the police. The law enforcement agencies and emergency services are working on the ground.
"Dim TV" and FREEDOM TV broadcast as scheduled.
The SE International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine includes FreeDom, Dim, UATV English, UATV Arabic, UATV Español, and The Gaze.
14.10.2024 The online news outlet "Pershyi Kryvorizkyi" (Kryvyi Rih) received a bomb warning to their editorial email, the outlet's executive director Sofia Skyba reported to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Dnipropetrovsk oblast, Olha Vasylets.
According to her, the email arrived at 12:42. The team currently works in a hybrid format (part in the office, part remotely), so the threat did not affect the work of the team.
The police and first responders immediately contacted the media office over the possible bomb threat.
"From the words of the police and the emergency workers, we understood that there had been multiple such calls. I'm not a security expert, but we've seen these kinds of reports over the past five years, in waves. Sometimes bombs were 'planted' at shopping malls, then schools, then somewhere else. I think it could well be the Russians, but it could also be some domestic affair. The email does not mention our team. Even though we understand that this is most likely a campaign aimed to scare people throughout the country, it is still disturbing to receive such messages," said Sofia Skyba.
The email mentions Ukrainian journalists who do not work with the media outlet.
The Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council chair Mykola Lukashuk responded to the bombing emails. He wrote on Telegram that the Oblast Council had received a call about a planted bomb, but the threat was not confirmed.
"Today we have witnessed destabilization attempts throughout the country such as fake reports about bombs planted in state institutions and local self-government bodies. The purpose of this is to disrupt the operation of important structures in the country and to sow panic among the people," Mykola Lukashuk wrote.
14.10.2024 The Cherkasy branch of Suspilne received a bomb warning to their corporate inbox, the branch's manager Vita Kayuk reports to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Cherkasy oblast, Yelena Shchepak.
According to her, the email claimed that explosives had been planted in TV channel's office.
"It also said that if this information was not taken into account, innocent people and property would suffer," Kayuk added.
After receiving the email, Vita Kayuk contacted the central Suspilne office and called the police. The channel's staff left the premises. The police are already working on the spot.
"This is the first such warning during the full-scale invasion," adds the Suspilne Cherkasy manager. "This affects the team psychologically, plus we are forced to break away from our work, which is extremely important now."
She says that the team continues to operate. One of the filming crews is away on assignment, the digital department works remotely. "Everyone is looking for a network access point to keep working," adds Vita Kayuk.
26.11.2024 Multiple Ukrainian media workers and media offices received emails from unknown individuals claiming that various institutions across Ukraine had been mined. Namely, such letters were received by the Vilne Radio CEO Anastasia Shybiko and the chief editor of the Kharkiv media outlet Dumka Yuriy Larin, which they reported to the Institute of Mass Information representative Valentyna Troyan.
The letters were sent from different email addresses and signed with different names.
The Institute of Mass Information representative received two such letters. In one, the sender claims to be an ATO veteran, and in the other, they pose as an experienced soldier, but both say they are a "mines and explosives specialist."
The letters included a list of institutions where bombs had allegedly been planted, with the addresses. However, the listed addresses do not match the mentioned institutions, notes Valentyna Troyan.
The sender says that they left a vacuum-packed device containing explosives within a building and mentions the address of a building that has allegedly been blown up already.
The letter contains threats of explosions in “a school, a media office, a hotel, and an Administration”.
The senders claim that the motive behind their terrorist attacks is "the abuse faced by of Ukraine's combat and ATO veterans."
The IMI representative reported the letters to the Security Service of Ukraine.
26.11.2024 Multiple Ukrainian media workers and media offices received emails from unknown individuals claiming that various institutions across Ukraine had been mined. Namely, such letters were received by the Vilne Radio CEO Anastasia Shybiko and the chief editor of the Kharkiv media outlet Dumka Yuriy Larin, which they reported to the Institute of Mass Information representative Valentyna Troyan.
The letters were sent from different email addresses and signed with different names.
The Institute of Mass Information representative received two such letters. In one, the sender claims to be an ATO veteran, and in the other, they pose as an experienced soldier, but both say they are a "mines and explosives specialist."
The letters included a list of institutions where bombs had allegedly been planted, with the addresses. However, the listed addresses do not match the mentioned institutions, notes Valentyna Troyan.
The sender says that they left a vacuum-packed device containing explosives within a building and mentions the address of a building that has allegedly been blown up already.
The letter contains threats of explosions in “a school, a media office, a hotel, and an Administration”.
The senders claim that the motive behind their terrorist attacks is "the abuse faced by of Ukraine's combat and ATO veterans."
The IMI representative reported the letters to the Security Service of Ukraine.
26.11.2024 The media outlets The Page and Speka also received emails about bombs being planted in multiple facilities in Kyiv and Lviv and the senders' intent to orchestrate explosions in public places. The sender also called themselves an ATO veteran, Speka reports. The news outlet points out that some of the addresses are listed incorrectly and some objects, such as the Pulsar mall on Sofiivska Street in Kyiv, do not exist at all.
The sender blames the society for treating combatants unfairly. They threaten to continue bomb attacks “every three to four days,” targeting schools, administrations, media outlets, and public transport.
26.11.2024 The media outlets The Page and Speka also received emails about bombs being planted in multiple facilities in Kyiv and Lviv and the senders' intent to orchestrate explosions in public places. The sender also called themselves an ATO veteran, Speka reports. The news outlet points out that some of the addresses are listed incorrectly and some objects, such as the Pulsar mall on Sofiivska Street in Kyiv, do not exist at all.
The sender blames the society for treating combatants unfairly. They threaten to continue bomb attacks “every three to four days,” targeting schools, administrations, media outlets, and public transport.
26.11.2024 Yuriy Horbach, the director of the Investigative Journalism Center for "Syla Pravdy", received an email threatening bomb attacks in Kyiv and Odesa oblasts to his personal inbox.
He reported this to Maya Holub, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Volyn oblast.
According to Yuriy, the sender called themselves “Ilya Ustimovych Yizhak” and the letter with the subject line “Outgoing No. 7633” came from the address [email protected]. The sender wrote that they had planted an explosive device and listed the addresses of seven buildings in Kyiv and one in Odesa, including the Indonesian embassy in Kyiv, two shopping malls, the Channel 5 office, school No. 86 in Odesa, a hospital in Kyiv, and one building in Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district.
The letter closed with a threat to plant 30 explosive devices at the other addresses.
26.11.2024 The staff of Suspilne's Uzhhorod branch were evacuated due to a bomb warning targeting their office on November 26, reports Suspilne Uzhhorod.
An email claiming that the branch has been mined was sent to the editorial inbox.
National Police spokeswoman Yulia Girdvilis said in a comment to Suspilne that she did not rule out that this was an attempt by Russia to destabilize the situation across Ukraine through psyops.
The police inspected all facilities where bombs were said to be planted.
As reported, on November 26, 2024, several Ukrainian media outlets and media offices received anonymous emails warning of bombs planted in various institutions across Ukraine. In particular, such letters were received by the Vilne Radio CEO Anastasia Shybiko, the chief editor of Kharkiv's news outlet Dumka Yuriy Larin, the IMI representative Valentyna Troyan, the media outlets The Page and Speka, as well as Yuriy Horbach, the director of the Center for Investigative Journalism "Syla Pravdy".
26.11.2024 Chernivtsi-based journalist with the news outlet 0372, Maria Bodnarashek, received an email warning of explosions across Ukraine, similar to the threats received by multiple other media outlets and journalists, the 0372 communications manager Anna Sotska reported to Alyona Chorna, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Chernivtsi oblast.
According to Sotska, the team has already contacted the police and is waiting for a response from the law enforcers.
Anna Sotska says that the sender claimed to be an ATO veteran and a “mine detonation specialist.” They also wrote that, having given everything for the country, they were left without family or support. The letter contains a list of institutions where bombs have allegedly already been planted. Furthermore, the sender assures that their intentions are serious and notes that they have already blown up one of the apartments listed.
The letter to 0372 says that the sender had left a toy with 8 kilograms of explosives in the building. “All the toys are made well, wrapped in vacuum packaging, which prevents sniffer dogs from finding them. I am a professional, I will be blowing up one building every 3-4 days,” the letter says.
In a comment to the IMI representative, Maria Bodnarashek remarked that such letters with threats should be thoroughly investigated by the police.
“Such threats have a strong impact on the mental and emotional state and the safety of each of us. In my place could be a person with a weaker psyche and this could have poorly affected their health and mood. We hope the cyber police will find the senders of these letters,” says Maria.
26.11.2024 Detector Media reports receiving emails claiming that a bomb has been planted in the editorial office and multiple other facilities.
The media outlet says that five letters of almost identical content arrived in the editorial inbox from the same domain, but signed with different names. The author of each email claims to be a combat veteran specializing in mines and explosives.
The senders claim to have hidden a homemade explosive device, wrapped in vacuum packaging, “right in your building.”
Moreover, each letter lists seven more addresses in different cities across Ukraine that were allegedly mined as well, including embassies, schools, shopping malls, hospitals, etc. The list also includes the TV channel Novyny 24, radio Europe Plus Ukraine, the newspaper Naddnipryanska Pravda, radio Transformator. However, the addresses of some of these media outlets are listed incorrectly, and some other media outlets do not exist.
The sender asks to blame Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak and deputy Minister of Finance Svitlana Vorobey for the deed.
26.11.2024 The state-owned International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine (FREEDOM, Dim, UATV English, UATV Arabic, UATV Español, The Gaze) and its individual employees received emails threatening to set off bombs in the company’s premises on November 26, according to a media release obtained by the Institute of Mass Information.
“The threatening letters were sent to the company's official inbox and corporate email addresses of its individual employees from different mailboxes. The almost identical texts claimed that an explosive device had been planted in the company's premises and threatened to explode other institutions, public facilities and transport,” the company noted.
The letters also contained personal death threats to Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak and deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Svitlana Vorobey.
The media outlet stressed that all information has been passed on to law enforcement agencies.
They added that no explosives were found in the premises of the IMBPU and that Dim and FREEDOM were speaking as scheduled.
The state-owned company International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine has already received similar bomb threats in October 2024.
26.11.2024 Online media outlet Pershyi Zaporizkyi received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on November 26, chif editor Andriy Vavilov confirmed to the Institute of Mass Information representative Natalia Vyhovska.
The emails mention Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak, whom the senders blame for the terrorist attacks they claim are going to take place in Kyiv and Odesa.
“On November 26, our colleagues and we received letters similar to those sent to other Ukrainian media outlets. They say that an army serviceperson experienced with mines is warning us that they will blow up multiple buildings in Kyiv and Odesa,” he said.
The emails also mention the upcoming explosions that will "go off in a school, a media office, a hotel, and an administration."
The two almost identical letters sent to Zaporizhzhia media outlets were mailed out to 26 different addressees. They were sent by Orimir Fyodorovich Erstenyuk and Yegor Azarovich Kurylovich. Erstenyuk's email service, 114.co.jp, links to the website of the Japanese vegetable processing company Greenfield Okinawa. Kurylovich's service, ibakou.jp, also links to a Japanese company: Ibaraki Kousei, which builds pipelines.
The letters contain numerous Russian loanwords and punctuation errors. The emails' broken style indicates that they were translated into Ukrainian from another language.
26.11.2024 Online media outlet 061.ua received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on November 26, the team confirmed to the Institute of Mass Information representative Natalia Vyhovska.
The emails mention Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak, whom the senders blame for the terrorist attacks they claim are going to take place in Kyiv and Odesa.
The emails also mention the upcoming explosions that will "go off in a school, a media office, a hotel, and an administration."
The two almost identical letters sent to Zaporizhzhia media outlets were mailed out to 26 different addressees. They were sent by Orimir Fyodorovich Erstenyuk and Yegor Azarovich Kurylovich. Erstenyuk's email service, 114.co.jp, links to the website of the Japanese vegetable processing company Greenfield Okinawa. Kurylovich's service, ibakou.jp, also links to a Japanese company: Ibaraki Kousei, which builds pipelines.
The letters contain numerous Russian loanwords and punctuation errors. The emails' broken style indicates that they were translated into Ukrainian from another language.
26.11.2024 Online media outlet Accent received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on November 26, chief editor Oleksandr Chubukin reported to the Institute of Mass Information representative Natalia Vyhovska.
The emails mention Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak, whom the senders blame for the terrorist attacks they claim are going to take place in Kyiv and Odesa.
The emails also mention the upcoming explosions that will "go off in a school, a media office, a hotel, and an administration."
The two almost identical letters sent to Zaporizhzhia media outlets were mailed out to 26 different addressees. They were sent by Orimir Fyodorovich Erstenyuk and Yegor Azarovich Kurylovich. Erstenyuk's email service, 114.co.jp, links to the website of the Japanese vegetable processing company Greenfield Okinawa. Kurylovich's service, ibakou.jp, also links to a Japanese company: Ibaraki Kousei, which builds pipelines.
The letters contain numerous Russian loanwords and punctuation errors. The emails' broken style indicates that they were translated into Ukrainian from another language.
26.11.2024 Online media outlet inform.zp.ua received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on November 26, deputy editor Elmira Shahabudtdynova reported to the Institute of Mass Information representative Natalia Vyhovska.
The emails mention Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak, whom the senders blame for the terrorist attacks they claim are going to take place in Kyiv and Odesa.
The emails also mention the upcoming explosions that will "go off in a school, a media office, a hotel, and an administration."
The two almost identical letters sent to Zaporizhzhia media outlets were mailed out to 26 different addressees. They were sent by Orimir Fyodorovich Erstenyuk and Yegor Azarovich Kurylovich. Erstenyuk's email service, 114.co.jp, links to the website of the Japanese vegetable processing company Greenfield Okinawa. Kurylovich's service, ibakou.jp, also links to a Japanese company: Ibaraki Kousei, which builds pipelines.
The letters contain numerous Russian loanwords and punctuation errors. The emails' broken style indicates that they were translated into Ukrainian from another language.
26.11.2024 Multiple Hromadske Radio represenatives and the Institute of Mass Information representative Valentyna Troyan received letters threatening to blow up the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on November 27.
The letter resembles the one that media workers and representatives of other organizations had received on November 26, with the sender claiming to be a soldier who is familiar with mines and explosives. It contained a list of institutions that the sender threatened to blow up, explaining their motive for the crimes in the same way: “Abuse faced by Ukrainian combat veterans and ATO participants.”
However, the November 27 letter is different in that the sender listed the specific persons they ask to blame for the crimes: the Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak and Ukraine's deputy Minister of Finance Svitlana Vorobey.
The letter also contains an attachment – a photo of a plastic bottle stuffed with screws, pieces of what looks to be plastic explosives, and a walkie-talkie. These items are taped together and placed on an A4 paper sheet saying, in Russian: “For Svetlana Vorobey.”
As reported, on November 26, 2024, several Ukrainian media outlets and media offices received anonymous emails warning of bombs planted in various institutions across Ukraine. In particular, such letters were received by the Vilne Radio CEO Anastasia Shybiko, the chief editor of Kharkiv's news outlet Dumka Yuriy Larin, the IMI representative Valentyna Troyan, the media outlets The Page and Speka, as well as Yuriy Horbach, the director of the Center for Investigative Journalism "Syla Pravdy".
In addition, in Uzhhorod, employees of the local Suspilne branch were evacuated due to a bomb threat on November 26.
02.12.2024 Kremenchutskyi Telegraf (Poltava oblast) received another letter claiming that a bomb has been planted in their office, reported chief editor Lesya Lazorenko on Facebook on December 2, sharing the details with the regional Institute of Mass Information representative Nadiya Kucher.
“Another air raid alert. A bomb in the office. Coordinating the journalists' work outside the office. Waiting for the police out in the cold. And making sure to have some sweets in my pocket, because the bomb-sniffing dog Karat will be there and he does his job well. The investigator asked why exactly would someone plant a bomb in our Kremenchuk office, paralyzing the team's work. What can I reply, I suppose someone considers it worthwhile. And it is on those asking this question to find the answer. Maybe when they realize the reason, the answer will become clear,” the journalist wrote.
In her comment to the IMI representative, Lesya Lazorenko said that the bomb threat letter had been sent to the editorial inbox.
“The message is quite clever, stylistically. Signed by the War and ATO Veterans Association. They sent greetings to a Finance Ministry lady and added a photo of the device with a card attached,” said Lazorenko (the photo shows the card saying "For Svitlana Vorobey", Deputy Minister of Finance – author’s note).
This is the fourth time this year that the Kremenchutskyi Telegraf office received a bombing threat, says Lesya Lazorenko. She adds that the letter did not mention or allude to any content produced by the media outlet.
On October 14, multiple Ukrainian media outlets received bomb threats. Namely, Kremenchutskyi Telegraf received two emails claiming a bomb had been planted in their office.
On November 26, several Ukrainian media outlets and media offices received anonymous emails warning of bombs planted in various institutions across Ukraine. In particular, the letters to Detector Media and the International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine asked to blame Radio Liberty journalist Iryna Sysak and deputy Minister of Finance Svitlana Vorobey of the crime.
12.12.2024 Hanna Kalaur, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Rivne oblast, received an email from an unknown sender claiming that bombs had been planted in multiple buildings.
This is the fifth such email in the last three months, says Hanna Kalaur.
The sender calls themselves “Yulia Bilyak” and claims to be a combat veteran with a disability who is dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the country, namely with the work of the SBU, the National Police, and the enlistment centers. The sender calls for a rally against the authorities' abuse of power on December 14, 2024 and calls for an "overthrow", announcing a series of terrorist attacks.
The message specifies that the sender has planted bombs in the building where the IMI representative works and in others, including the Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 15, the Lviv Polytechnic, the Embassy of Argentina, etc.
“I planted a bomb in your building, there is a makeshift explosive device in your building, I will activate it remotely within 5 days. [...] I spent 2 weeks planting explosive devices in different oblasts and buildings across Ukraine and will detonate them once every 5 days. They were abandoned,” the threatening email says.
The message contains several other demands and intimidating statements, as well as a thank you to the drug cartel Khimprom and other hacker organizations that allegedly helped organize the terrorist attacks. The sender closes the email by calling on the receivers to join their initiative by clicking on dubious links that may be phishing.
As the IMI reported, Ukrainian media outlets and government bodies across the country have been receiving bomb threats en masse since October 2024. There have been several such waves so far. Ukrainian police and media professionals assume that Russia is involved in creating the messages, seeking to destabilize the situation in Ukraine in this way.
12.12.2024 Suspilne Rivne, the Rivne branch of the National Public Broadcasting Company, received an email claiming that a bomb had been planted in the office and had to temporarily evacuate the staff today, December 12. This is the third such message received by the branch in the last three months, reports Suspilne Rivne manager Lyudmyla Khoma to Hanna Kalaur, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Rivne oblast.
According to Lyudmyla, they received an email about the bombs at about 10:30 a.m., which forced the branch to contact the police and evacuate the staff while the office was being inspected.
“The employees were evacuated until the police finished inspecting the premises and gave us permission to go back to work. This, of course, has a somewhat difficult impact on our work, as on everyone else in our country.
"This is an element of the hybrid war that the enemy is waging against us, because this is an economic crime, a crime against people who get anxious, worry, who cannot schedule their day. This is an informational and psychological war that continues and in which we must stand firm,” said Lyudmyla Khoma.
As previously reported, Suspilne Rivne received first such email on October 14, 2024. The following inspection showed no signs of explosive devices in the building.
Today Hanna Kalaur, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Rivne oblast, also received an email from an unknown sender claiming that bombs had been planted in multiple buildings.
12.12.2024 Suspilne Lutsk, the Lutsk branch of the National Public Broadcasting Company, received several emails claiming a bomb had been planted in their building on December 12. The team had to contact the police.
Suspilne Lutsk manager Lyudmyla Hetmanchuk, reported this to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Volyn oblast, Maya Holub.
According to Hetmanchuk, four such letters arrived at the Suspilne Lutsk corporate inbox in one day.
The sender asked to take their claim seriously, and then said that they had planted a bomb in the building. The emails also warned of bombs in other buildings across the country, listing the addresses.
“The content is almost identical in all the emails. The only thing that differed was the addresses of the mined facilities. One letter mentioned the Embassy of Algeria in Ukraine, the other was about the Embassy of Iran. There was also a university in Ivano-Frankivsk, and a school in Ternopil,” said Lyudmyla Hetmanchuk.
“As soon as we received the email, I immediately dialed 102, a police squad arrived, they went around the entire building, looked through every office, and drew up a report,” she added.
On December 12, Suspilne Rivne, the Rivne branch of the National Public Broadcasting Company, received an email claiming that a bomb had been planted in the office and had to temporarily evacuate the staff.
Earlier, on November 26, Yuriy Horbach, the director of the Investigative Journalism Center for "Syla Pravdy", received an email threatening bomb attacks in Kyiv and Odesa oblasts to his personal inbox.
12.12.2024
The media outlet Pershyi Zaporizkyi received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on December 12. The letters also mention bombs planted at media offices in Kyiv and other oblasts of Ukraine.
The media outlet confirmed receiving the email to Natalia Vyhovska, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
In addition to Pershyi Zaporizkyi, four more Zaporizhzhia media outlets received such letters on December 12: Accent, Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center, Zprz.City, and Inform.zp.ua. In total, the news outlets received seven letters with similar content.
The senders threaten to bomb Mykolaiv Channel 2, Radio Knyha, Rivne 1, BC Kremenchuk 2, Radio Lviv, UNIAN, and Radio Liberty.
Three letters were signed as Petro Pavlovych Vrublevskyi, who calls himself a combat veteran and a “war invalid” “who lost his health in the war for Ukraine and his family.” Other senders had female names: Natalia Viktorivna Lozova, Tetyana Volodymyrivna Stepanova, Yulia Pavlivna Bilyak, Daryna Oleksandrivna Fedorenko, but the content of the emails was nearly identical.
The letters list the objects where bombs have allegedly been planted and the sender's intention to blow them up. The lists of mined objects contain various addresses in Kyiv and other oblasts, including Odesa, Kharkiv, Rivne, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Kryvyi Rih. The sender claims that schools, embassies, police, a healthcare center, hotels, media offices, and universities have been mined.
The emails use many loanwords from Russian, stylistically incorrect vocabulary, and have grammar errors. For instance, in all the emails, the names of the “mined” universities across Ukraine are written in Russian. There are also factual errors in the names and addresses of the sites: namely, some of the media outlets mentioned do not exist or their addresses are invalid. There are also some errors in the listings of other institutions and organizations mentioned in the letters.
All the senders call on the recipients to join them “on the square near the Verkhovna Rada” on December 14 to ensure “that the power belongs to the common people.” Each email contains threats, with the senders saying that if they are not heard, they will be bombing “state administration bodies and their families who live in prosperity.” They also call for mass murder.
Furthermore, the senders use hate speech and insults referring to the current President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife.
All the letters contain thanks to the Khimprom cartel and "the administration of the darknet forum Rutor" for “training and funding,” with a link to join them on social media. According to “Slidstvo.Info”, the drug cartel Khimprom is a criminal group that may be behind the synthetic drug dealing network in Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has opened multiple cases against the cartel and its activities have been described in dozens of court rulings. The darknet forum Rutor is a real community on the Internet shadow market, offering customers both “illegal transactions” and “gambling entertainment.”
The email domains of the senders lead to websites of various foreign companies, including the Japanese electrical company Idea Electric Industries Co, the Japanese spa Bijin-yu Shofuen, the Beauty EST beauty salon in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and the Vietnamese Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel.
12.12.2024 The media outlet Accent received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on December 12. The letters also mention bombs planted at media offices in Kyiv and other oblasts of Ukraine.
The media outlet confirmed receiving the email to Natalia Vyhovska, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
In addition to Accent, four more Zaporizhzhia media outlets received such letters on December 12: Pershyi Zaporizkyi, Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center, Zprz.City, and Inform.zp.ua. In total, the news outlets received seven letters with similar content.
The senders threaten to bomb Mykolaiv Channel 2, Radio Knyha, Rivne 1, BC Kremenchuk 2, Radio Lviv, UNIAN, and Radio Liberty.
Three letters were signed as Petro Pavlovych Vrublevskyi, who calls himself a combat veteran and a “war invalid” “who lost his health in the war for Ukraine and his family.” Other senders had female names: Natalia Viktorivna Lozova, Tetyana Volodymyrivna Stepanova, Yulia Pavlivna Bilyak, Daryna Oleksandrivna Fedorenko, but the content of the emails was nearly identical.
The letters list the objects where bombs have allegedly been planted and the sender's intention to blow them up. The lists of mined objects contain various addresses in Kyiv and other oblasts, including Odesa, Kharkiv, Rivne, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Kryvyi Rih. The sender claims that schools, embassies, police, a healthcare center, hotels, media offices, and universities have been mined.
The emails use many loanwords from Russian, stylistically incorrect vocabulary, and have grammar errors. For instance, in all the emails, the names of the “mined” universities across Ukraine are written in Russian. There are also factual errors in the names and addresses of the sites: namely, some of the media outlets mentioned do not exist or their addresses are invalid. There are also some errors in the listings of other institutions and organizations mentioned in the letters.
All the senders call on the recipients to join them “on the square near the Verkhovna Rada” on December 14 to ensure “that the power belongs to the common people.” Each email contains threats, with the senders saying that if they are not heard, they will be bombing “state administration bodies and their families who live in prosperity.” They also call for mass murder.
Furthermore, the senders use hate speech and insults referring to the current President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife.
All the letters contain thanks to the Khimprom cartel and "the administration of the darknet forum Rutor" for “training and funding,” with a link to join them on social media. According to “Slidstvo.Info”, the drug cartel Khimprom is a criminal group that may be behind the synthetic drug dealing network in Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has opened multiple cases against the cartel and its activities have been described in dozens of court rulings. The darknet forum Rutor is a real community on the Internet shadow market, offering customers both “illegal transactions” and “gambling entertainment.”
The email domains of the senders lead to websites of various foreign companies, including the Japanese electrical company Idea Electric Industries Co, the Japanese spa Bijin-yu Shofuen, the Beauty EST beauty salon in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and the Vietnamese Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel.
12.12.2024 The media outlet Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on December 12. The letters also mention bombs planted at media offices in Kyiv and other oblasts of Ukraine.
The media outlet confirmed receiving the email to Natalia Vyhovska, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
In addition to Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center, four more Zaporizhzhia media outlets received such letters on December 12: Pershyi Zaporizkyi, Accent, Zprz.City, and Inform.zp.ua. In total, the news outlets received seven letters with similar content.
The senders threaten to bomb Mykolaiv Channel 2, Radio Knyha, Rivne 1, BC Kremenchuk 2, Radio Lviv, UNIAN, and Radio Liberty.
Three letters were signed as Petro Pavlovych Vrublevskyi, who calls himself a combat veteran and a “war invalid” “who lost his health in the war for Ukraine and his family.” Other senders had female names: Natalia Viktorivna Lozova, Tetyana Volodymyrivna Stepanova, Yulia Pavlivna Bilyak, Daryna Oleksandrivna Fedorenko, but the content of the emails was nearly identical.
The letters list the objects where bombs have allegedly been planted and the sender's intention to blow them up. The lists of mined objects contain various addresses in Kyiv and other oblasts, including Odesa, Kharkiv, Rivne, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Kryvyi Rih. The sender claims that schools, embassies, police, a healthcare center, hotels, media offices, and universities have been mined.
The emails use many loanwords from Russian, stylistically incorrect vocabulary, and have grammar errors. For instance, in all the emails, the names of the “mined” universities across Ukraine are written in Russian. There are also factual errors in the names and addresses of the sites: namely, some of the media outlets mentioned do not exist or their addresses are invalid. There are also some errors in the listings of other institutions and organizations mentioned in the letters.
All the senders call on the recipients to join them “on the square near the Verkhovna Rada” on December 14 to ensure “that the power belongs to the common people.” Each email contains threats, with the senders saying that if they are not heard, they will be bombing “state administration bodies and their families who live in prosperity.” They also call for mass murder.
Furthermore, the senders use hate speech and insults referring to the current President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife.
All the letters contain thanks to the Khimprom cartel and "the administration of the darknet forum Rutor" for “training and funding,” with a link to join them on social media. According to “Slidstvo.Info”, the drug cartel Khimprom is a criminal group that may be behind the synthetic drug dealing network in Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has opened mltiple cases against the cartel and its activities have been described in dozens of court rulings. The darknet forum Rutor is a real community on the Internet shadow market, offering customers both “illegal transactions” and “gambling entertainment.”
The email domains of the senders lead to websites of various foreign companies, including the Japanese electrical company Idea Electric Industries Co, the Japanese spa Bijin-yu Shofuen, the Beauty EST beauty salon in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and the Vietnamese Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel.
12.12.2024 The media outlet Inform.zp.ua received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on December 12. The letters also mention bombs planted at media offices in Kyiv and other oblasts of Ukraine.
The media outlet confirmed receiving the email to Natalia Vyhovska, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
In addition to Inform.zp.ua, four more Zaporizhzhia media outlets received such letters on December 12: Pershyi Zaporizkyi, Accent, Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center, and Zprz.City. In total, the news outlets received seven letters with similar content.
The senders threaten to bomb Mykolaiv Channel 2, Radio Knyha, Rivne 1, BC Kremenchuk 2, Radio Lviv, UNIAN, and Radio Liberty.
Three letters were signed as Petro Pavlovych Vrublevskyi, who calls himself a combat veteran and a “war invalid” “who lost his health in the war for Ukraine and his family.” Other senders had female names: Natalia Viktorivna Lozova, Tetyana Volodymyrivna Stepanova, Yulia Pavlivna Bilyak, Daryna Oleksandrivna Fedorenko, but the content of the emails was nearly identical.
The letters list the objects where bombs have allegedly been planted and the sender's intention to blow them up. The lists of mined objects contain various addresses in Kyiv and other oblasts, including Odesa, Kharkiv, Rivne, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Kryvyi Rih. The sender claims that schools, embassies, police, a healthcare center, hotels, media offices, and universities have been mined.
The emails use many loanwords from Russian, stylistically incorrect vocabulary, and have grammar errors. For instance, in all the emails, the names of the “mined” universities across Ukraine are written in Russian. There are also factual errors in the names and addresses of the sites: namely, some of the media outlets mentioned do not exist or their addresses are invalid. There are also some errors in the listings of other institutions and organizations mentioned in the letters.
All the senders call on the recipients to join them “on the square near the Verkhovna Rada” on December 14 to ensure “that the power belongs to the common people.” Each email contains threats, with the senders saying that if they are not heard, they will be bombing “state administration bodies and their families who live in prosperity.” They also call for mass murder.
Furthermore, the senders use hate speech and insults referring to the current President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife.
All the letters contain thanks to the Khimprom cartel and "the administration of the darknet forum Rutor" for “training and funding,” with a link to join them on social media. According to “Slidstvo.Info”, the drug cartel Khimprom is a criminal group that may be behind the synthetic drug dealing network in Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has opened multiple cases against the cartel and its activities have been described in dozens of court rulings. The darknet forum Rutor is a real community on the Internet shadow market, offering customers both “illegal transactions” and “gambling entertainment.”
The email domains of the senders lead to websites of various foreign companies, including the Japanese electrical company Idea Electric Industries Co, the Japanese spa Bijin-yu Shofuen, the Beauty EST beauty salon in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and the Vietnamese Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel.
12.12.2024 The media outlet Zprz.City received an email threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations on December 12. The letters also mention bombs planted at media offices in Kyiv and other oblasts of Ukraine.
The media outlet confirmed receiving the email to Natalia Vyhovska, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
In addition to Zprz.City, four more Zaporizhzhia media outlets received such letters on December 12: Pershyi Zaporizkyi, Accent, Zaporizhzhia Investigation Center, and Inform.zp.ua. In total, the news outlets received seven letters with similar content.
The senders threaten to bomb Mykolaiv Channel 2, Radio Knyha, Rivne 1, BC Kremenchuk 2, Radio Lviv, UNIAN, and Radio Liberty.
Three letters were signed as Petro Pavlovych Vrublevskyi, who calls himself a combat veteran and a “war invalid” “who lost his health in the war for Ukraine and his family.” Other senders had female names: Natalia Viktorivna Lozova, Tetyana Volodymyrivna Stepanova, Yulia Pavlivna Bilyak, Daryna Oleksandrivna Fedorenko, but the content of the emails was nearly identical.
The letters list the objects where bombs have allegedly been planted and the sender's intention to blow them up. The lists of mined objects contain various addresses in Kyiv and other oblasts, including Odesa, Kharkiv, Rivne, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Kryvyi Rih. The sender claims that schools, embassies, police, a healthcare center, hotels, media offices, and universities have been mined.
The emails use many loanwords from Russian, stylistically incorrect vocabulary, and have grammar errors. For instance, in all the emails, the names of the “mined” universities across Ukraine are written in Russian. There are also factual errors in the names and addresses of the sites: namely, some of the media outlets mentioned do not exist or their addresses are invalid. There are also some errors in the listings of other institutions and organizations mentioned in the letters.
All the senders call on the recipients to join them “on the square near the Verkhovna Rada” on December 14 to ensure “that the power belongs to the common people.” Each email contains threats, with the senders saying that if they are not heard, they will be bombing “state administration bodies and their families who live in prosperity.” They also call for mass murder.
Furthermore, the senders use hate speech and insults referring to the current President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife.
All the letters contain thanks to the Khimprom cartel and "the administration of the darknet forum Rutor" for “training and funding,” with a link to join them on social media. According to “Slidstvo.Info”, the drug cartel Khimprom is a criminal group that may be behind the synthetic drug dealing network in Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has opened multiple cases against the cartel and its activities have been described in dozens of court rulings. The darknet forum Rutor is a real community on the Internet shadow market, offering customers both “illegal transactions” and “gambling entertainment.”
The email domains of the senders lead to websites of various foreign companies, including the Japanese electrical company Idea Electric Industries Co, the Japanese spa Bijin-yu Shofuen, the Beauty EST beauty salon in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and the Vietnamese Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel.
12.12.2024 Detector Media received several emails threatening to bomb media offices, various institutions and organizations in Kyiv and across Ukraine to their editorial inbox on December 12, the media outlet reports on their website.
The emails came from different senders, but from the same domain. Their content is similar to the letters that arrived during previous waves of false bomb reports.
The senders usually call themselves as “ATO veterans” and “war invalids”, claiming to have planted a “makeshift explosive device” in the media outlet's office building, which they threaten to remotely activate within five days.
The letters also usually list the addresses of various institutions, schools, and media offices that were also allegedly mined, including the US and Switzerland embassies. However, the text lists the names of media outlets and their addresses that do not actually exist, such as “the TV Channel Lviv on Lomonosova Street in Lviv” (such a TV channel does not exist in Lviv, and the listed street was renamed back in 1993).
The author of several letters promises to “give Ukraine back to the people”, calls to “overthrow the government in Ukraine through terror,” to join a rally and “seize power by force,” and uses hate speech referring to President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife.
As reported earlier, on December 12, the PBC branches Suspilne Rivne and Suspilne Lutsk received emails claiming a bomb had been planted in their office. Five Zaporizhzhia media outlets received emails threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations. This is the third wave of bomb threats.
National Police spokeswoman Yulia Hirdvilis has told Hromadske Radio that the December 12 bomb threats were sent to email inboxes of state and local authorities, schools, businesses, and other institutions. The police has processed over 75% of the bomb warnings and discovered no explosives.
12.12.2024 The Volyn online news outlet Buh received two warnings of bomb attacks across the country in their editorial inbox on December 12, website editor Lyudmyla Romanchuk reported to Maya Holub, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Volyn oblast.
She showed the IMI representative screenshots of the emails, where the sender claims to have spent two weeks planting explosive devices across Ukraine.
They ask to take the bomb threats seriously. The letter mentions bombs being planted in seven buildings across the country, listing the specific addresses. Namely, they were located in Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
As reported earlier, on December 12, the PBC branches Suspilne Rivne and Suspilne Lutsk received emails claiming a bomb had been planted in their office. Five Zaporizhzhia media outlets received emails threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations, as did Detector Media.
12.12.2024 On December 12, the ZHAR.INFO founder and journalist Alyona Bereza, received an email from someone claiming to be an “ATO participant” who claimed to have planted a bomb in the building where the media outlet's office is located. The email also mentioned other supposedly mined facilities in different oblasts, Alyona Bereza reported to the Institute of Mass Information.
“This is not the first letter of similar content that I have received to my personal official inbox. Previously, there was an email that looked like it had been translated from Russian through an automated translator. This time, the information is presented somewhat better. However, there are some inaccuracies: the sender claims to be a woman who says it is “SBU data”, and halfway through they switch to the masculine pronouns. It feels like the enemy really wants us to be emotionally unstable in addition to the shelling,” says Alyona Bereza.
The sender also claimed to be a “war invalid” and said that they had planted a “makeshift explosive device” in the office building, threatening to activate it remotely within five days.
The email listed seven more addresses: a school in Odesa, the Tanzanian embassy in Ukraine, a district police department in Lviv, the Kyiv City Clinical Hospital and a hotel in the capital, a broadcasting station in Ivano-Frankivsk, and the Odesa National Polytechnic University.
As reported earlier, on December 12, the PBC branches Suspilne Rivne and Suspilne Lutsk received emails claiming a bomb had been planted in their office. Five Zaporizhzhia media outlets received emails threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations, as did Detector Media and the Volyn news outlet Buh.
12.12.2024 The Lutsk news outlet Volyn Online received an email warning of bombs allegedly planted in two embassies in Kyiv, as well as elsewhere across Ukraine, on December 12, reports Volyn Online editor Mariana Metelska to Maya Holub, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Volyn oblast.
Metelska showed the IMI representative a screenshot of the email saying that the sender had planted bombs at the US and Switzerland embassies in Kyiv.
The sender asks to take the letter seriously, adding that they had spent two weeks planting explosive devices in different oblasts across Ukraine.
“I planted a bomb in your building, there is a makeshift device in the building, I will activate it within 5 days. You won't be able to detect it because I was trained in mine detection and know how to hide explosives from dog handlers," the letter said.
Other media outlets received similar emails on the same day.
As reported earlier, on December 12, the PBC branches Suspilne Rivne and Suspilne Lutsk received emails claiming a bomb had been planted in their office. Five Zaporizhzhia media outlets received emails threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations, as did Detector Media, the Volyn news outlet Buh, ZHAR.INFO founder and journalist, IMI representative in Khmelnytskyi oblast Alyona Bereza, and journalist, IMI representative in Rivne oblast Hanna Kalaur.
12.12.2024 On December 12, Espreso received an email claiming that a bomb had been planted in the editorial office building, as well as other media offices, institutions, and organizations across Ukraine, the news outlet reports on their website.
According to the media outlet, the sender, who called himself an “ATO veteran” and “a war invalid,” claimed to have planted a “makeshift explosive device” in the office building, threatening to activate it remotely within five days.
He listed the addresses of the institutions where bombs allegedly had been planted. And, although the address of Espreso was not listed, the letter said: “I have planted a bomb in your building.”
The listed institutions include the US Embassy and the police department at the Boryspil airport.
The sender calls to “join a rally against the government's abuse of power,” to “seize power by force,” and uses hate speech targeting President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife.
As reported earlier, on December 12, the PBC branches Suspilne Rivne and Suspilne Lutsk received emails claiming a bomb had been planted in their office. Five Zaporizhzhia media outlets received emails threatening to explode the buildings housing various institutions and organizations, as did Detector Media, the Volyn news outlet Buh, ZHAR.INFO founder and journalist, IMI representative in Khmelnytskyi oblast Alyona Bereza, IMI representative in Rivne oblast Hanna Kalaur, and Lutsk-based media outlet Volyn Online.
12.12.2024 Kropyvnytskyi online news outlet Hrechka received bomb threats via email twice in one day, editor Anastasia Dziubak reported to the regional Institute of Mass Information representative Pavlo Lisnychenko.
The messages were similar, with the senders claiming to be "ATO veterans" and threatening to bomb various facilities – embassies, hospitals, hotels, and schools. In one of the letters that arrived to both outlets' inboxes, the sender also offered to join his Telegram channel, which does not exist at the handle listed in the email.
The editor says they rarely take such emails seriously, but if the letter mentions objects located in Kirovohradska oblast, they pass the information to the police just in case.
12.12.2024 Kropyvnytskyi online news outlet Tochka Dostupu received bomb threats via email twice in one day, journalist Kateryna Fedchenko reported to the regional Institute of Mass Information representative Pavlo Lisnychenko.
The messages were similar, with the senders claiming to be "ATO veterans" and threatening to bomb various facilities – embassies, hospitals, hotels, and schools. In one of the letters that arrived to both outlets' inboxes, the sender also offered to join his Telegram channel, which does not exist at the handle listed in the email.
"These emails often end up in the spam folder, so we don't notice them right away. Moreover, we know that this is part of the Russians' information war and they are deliberately 'mining' facilities in various cities across the country. The letter arouses great suspicion, starting from the address, ending with the gross grammatical errors and manipulative text. Which is why we do not respond to such provocations. However, if it were a real threat, of course we would have reported it to the police," commented Tochka Dostupu journalist Kateryna Fedchenko.
Shelling and seizing TV towers – 21
27.02.2022 Broadcasting has been stopped in Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia region), since russian troops took TV tower. The TV channel MTV Plus was forced off.
This was announced on February 28 by the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting.
"The analog transmitter was launched quickly and the broadcasters held the fort to the last. But the russian occupiers forced MTV Plus to stop broadcasting. There is also no broadcasting in Primorsk, Berdyansk and Tokmak," the statement reads.
Also, the situation in Chernihiv region is complicated. The occupiers are targeting the TV tower, four missiles hit nearby. Some broadcasters stopped working and resumed work. Suspilne continues to broadcast.
In Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, a local TV and radio company managed to evacuate the equipment before the city was captured, so the occupier will not be able to use the air for propaganda activities.
27.02.2022 russian troops struck at the Kyiv TV tower. This was reported by Suspilne and eyewitnesses on social media. 5 people dead, 5 other wounded.
"The occupiers hit the broadcaster's hardware on the TV tower. The telecast may be suspended for a short time. In the near future, the backup broadcasting of some channels will be switched on.
"For now, you can follow the radio stations. The RADA channel is also available on YouTube," the Center for Strategic Communications said.
"Currently, you can watch Ukrainian television on the regional Multiplex MX-5. We ask citizens to use the search for channels on their TV to gain access to regional channels," add the State Special Service.
02.03.2022 russian troops shelled a television tower in Kharkiv. This was reported by Detector Media with reference to the information of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting; the TV tower remained intact.
However, the shell damaged a nearby building.
The broadcasting has ceased. The Broadcasting, Radiocommunications and Television Concern (BRTC) proceeds with restoration work.
According to Suspilne, the Kharkiv TV tower sustained the air strike. Two projectiles landed nearby at 12:55 p.m. The staff was evacuated, and there are no reports of the injured.
We remind that after a series of explosions in Kyiv, the TV signal disappeared. Broadcasting of TV channels has been temporarily suspended, digital channels continue to be broadcast by providers and satellites. The projectile hit the broadcaster's hardware on the TV tower. Subsequently, the broadcast channels in T2 were restored.
02.03.2022 In Lysychansk, Luhansk region, russian troops shelled the TV tower. This was reported by Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Herashchenko.
"The occupiers struck at the TV tower in Lysychansk," he wrote.
The shell hit the area near the tower, where there are residential buildings, the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting reported to the Media Detector.
Broadcasting is made in multiplexes MX-1 and MX-5. The broadcasters working on the tower were evacuated.
02.03.2022 In Korosten, Zhytomyr region, on March 2, one of the checkpoints was hit from the air and the Korosten Media TV tower was destroyed. Television broadcasting has stopped in the town.
This was announced by Natalia Chyzhevska, Deputy Mayor of Korosten, speaking to Suspilne: Zhytomir.
The attack took place at about 3 p.m.
“We are in touch with the chief doctor of Korosten hospital. Four people died, he said. Currently, doctors are fighting for the life of five more victims in the hospital," Natalia Chyzhevska said.
06.03.2022 In Kharkiv, russian aircraft shelled a TV tower. TV broadcasting was temporarily suspended.
This was reported to "Suspilne Kharkiv" by the spokeswoman for the head of the military administration Oleh Synehubov.
There is currently no TV signal. According to preliminary information from rescuers, russian aircraft shelled the TV tower on Pavlov Field.
There is also information about the missile strikes in the area of the Square of the Heavenly Hundred, said the spokesman of the region's SES Evhen Vasylenko.
As IMI reported, on March 2, russian troops fired on a TV tower in Kharkiv.
06.03.2022 A TV tower was damaged on March 9 in the town of Bilopillya, Sumy region, as a result of an air strike by russian troops.
This was reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
"According to preliminary information, as a result of an enemy air strike on the premises of Bilopillya radio and television station, a TV tower was damaged and a metal trailer next to it which was used as a warehouse caught fire," the statement says.
At 11:15 p.m., the fire was extinguished, no one was killed or injured.
14.03.2022 On the morning of March 14, the russians fired on and damaged a television tower in Rivne region. This was announced by the head of the Rivne Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Koval.
Two explosions were heard at about 5:20 a.m.
"As a result of the air strike, the TV tower in Rivne region was damaged. Appropriate services are working on the spot. Details are being clarified," Koval wrote.
TV and radio broadcasting is partially non-existent in the region.
"There is some good news: several people have been evacuated from the rubble, they are alive and do well. Rescue is on. It is clear that the enemy was up to cut people off from true information. But we do not see a big problem in this situation, because many people are already watching online, listening to the radio through applications. We hope that in the near future we will restore radio and television through the tower," Koval added later on Suspilne TV.
The official clarified that as a result of the strike, the TV tower and the administrative building nearby were damaged.
14.03.2022 On Monday, March 14, at about 8:45 am, the invaders fired a missile at a TV and radio tower in the village of Vynarivka, Bila Tserkva district, Kyiv region. This was reported by the head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration Oleksiy Kuleba.
According to him, the building of the service center was damaged. There are no civilian casualties.
16.03.2022 On the morning of March 16, the russian occupiers fired on the TV tower of Radio Broadcasting, Radio Communications and Television Concern in Vinnytsia. OTA broadcasting in the city is temporarily unavailable.
This was reported on the Facebook page of the Verkhovna Rada.
Broadcasting of television and radio channels in the city and surrounding communities has been temporarily suspended, according to Volodymyr Kistion, First Deputy Chairman of the Vinnytsia Regional Council. In particular, it is impossible to receive a signal through T2 tuners and parts of FM radio stations. There are some difficulties to get access to broadcasting of UA:Suspilne, "Armia," "City on the Buh," and other channels. Work is underway to restore the broadcasting.
24.03.2022 This was reported by Maksym Strelnyk, the head of the youth and sports department of the local city council.
According to him, the memorial to the Second World War on Kremyanets Mountain was also ruined.
"russian occupiers are savagely destroying the historical memorial to World War II on Mount Kremyanets in Izyum. As a result of enemy shelling, not only historical monuments but also our television tower was destroyed. ruscists (russian+fascists –n/tr) are worse than fascists! We won’t forget! We won’t forgive! After our Victory, we will restore all our monuments in Kremyanka and be sure we will rebuild a new TV tower, which will be highlighted in yellow and blue. Glory to Ukraine!" Strelnik wrote.
25.05.2022 On May 25, the russian occupiers shelled a television tower located in Orikhiv town, Zaporizhzhia region.
This was announced by the spokesman of the Defense Forces in the Zaporizhzhia area, Colonel Ruslan Tkachuk, in his rundown on the Defence Forces' activities in deterring and repelling russian armed aggression in Zaporizhzhia region.
According to the website "Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine," the TV network is broadcasting more than 20 all-Ukrainian and regional TV channels. Among them are Suspilne Zaporizhzhia, TC "TV-5," and TRC "Alex."
22.09.2022 Russian invaders fired nine missiles at the infrastructure of Zaporizhzhia on the morning of September 22. One of them fell near the TV tower in the city's center. Head of the Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh announced this on his Telegram channel.
Currently, it is known that it is not the TV tower itself, but the area around it that was damaged. However, the TV center where the editorial office of Suspilne Zaporizhzhia is located has been damaged: its windows were blown out. As Natalia Andreyeva, head of Suspilne Zaporizhzhia, told the regional IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast, the TV channel's editorial team is currently working remotely.
According to Oleksandr Starukh, the attempted attack on the TV tower is part of a special information operation which the invaders call a "referendum" and which they plan to hold on September 23. In his opinion, in this way, the occupiers are trying to permanently disable the signal of Ukrainian broadcasters on the territory of Zaporizhzhia oblast.
After the shelling, there were problems with TV broadcasting in the city.
In addition, as reported by Suspilne's corporate website, the premises of Suspilne's Zaporizhzhia branch suffered some damage as a result of a Russian rocket attack on Zaporizhzhia on September 22.
The damage is not severe. The windows, TV broadcasting network objects and cars that were on the TRC's territory were damaged. None of the branch's employees were injured.
Suspilne Zaporizhzhia's administration and National Police officers have recorded the scope of destruction, and a criminal case has been opened.
The broadcast of the Pershy, the regional Suspilne Zaporizhzhia, and the Ukrainian Radio channels was not interrupted. The Suspilne Kultura TV channel was unavailable on September 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., Radio Kultura and Radio Promin – from 8:30 a.m. to 9:05 a.m.
04.10.2022 Russian troops destroyed a 150-meter TV tower in Komyshuvakha (Luhansk oblast), which had been providing for the needs of more than 200,000 residents of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.
This was reported by the head of the Luhansk RMA, Serhiy Haidai.
The TV tower, which was built over a year ago and paid for by the European Union, had been spreading Ukrainian content for a 50 km radius, namely to Popasna, Lysychansk, and Severodonetsk.
"By the way, it had a 4 x 6 m blue-yellow flag flying at its highest point. It was probably bothering the occupiers as they razed everything to the ground on the Popasna axis," Haidai added.
As IMI reported, on September 22, Russian invaders fired nine missiles at the infrastructure of Zaporizhzhia. One of them fell near the TV tower in the city's center. It was not the TV tower itself that suffered, but the area around it. Namely, the TV center where the editorial office of Suspilne Zaporizhzhia is based was damaged.
10.11.2022 This afternoon, the Russian military blew up the Kherson TV tower's transmission center. The locals informed IMI's regional representative about this.
According to the interviewees, the TV tower itself is intact.
The Russians also blew up some of the telecom towers and cut off the city's power supply.
You can only catch the signal and communicate with the outside world in the area near Antonivka, which is not far from Kherson.
We remind that 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 and started streaming their propaganda via T2.
The Russian troops also looted the Suspilne Kherson branch.
The Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into the seizure and mining of the Kherson branch of Suspilne Broadcaster by Russian security forces. The case has 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.
12.11.2022 While retreatig from Kherson to the left bank of the Dnipro, the Russian occupiers blew up a TV tower.
The head of the city's military administration, Halyna Luhova, told Suspilne about this.
"The TV tower in Kherson has been blown up indeed. It is down on the ground. This is true. We are currently taking measures to restore our connection. Because the occupiers completely destroyed the places where our telecom stations' connectivity was strong," said Lugova.
Kherson's "Vhoru" Media Platform published photos of the tower that had fallen down in the Khersonska Fortetsia Park on their Telegram channel.
The photos show that the structure is completely destroyed.
We remind that 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 and started streaming their propaganda via T2.
The Russian troops also looted the Suspilne Kherson branch.
The Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into the seizure and mining of the Kherson branch of Suspilne Broadcaster by Russian security forces. The case has 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.
A day before fleeing from Kherson, on November 10, 2022, the Russian military blew up the Kherson TV tower's transmission center.
14.03.2024 The Russian troops struck the television infrastructure facilities in the Kharkiv oblast with drones en masse on the night of March 14, reports the head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov.
"Tonight, the enemy carried out a mass drone attack on the television infrastructure objects in the oblast. Some of them are being restored," he wrote in his Telegram channel.
Synehubov reported that about 15 municipalities of the Kharkiv oblast were hit by Russian artillery and mortar shelling: Synkivka, Ivanivka, Berestove, Hraniv, Strilecha, Borysivka, Vovchanski Khutory, etc. The enemy also targeted Vovchansk with air strikes. There are no casualties.
The Institute of Mass Information is looking into the details of the situation.
In the two years of the full-scale invasion, the IMI recorded 16 cases of Russians shelling TV towers, which are civilian objects. This caused television and radio broadcasting in nine regions of Ukraine to disappear completely or temporarily.
14.03.2024 The Russian troops carried out missile and air strikes on the radio facilities in the Sumy oblast, reports the Sumy Oblast Military Administration.
The shelling temporarily disabled the TV and radio transmitters in Sumy, Shostka, Bilopylla and Trostyanka, clarifies the OMA.
"Due to the damage, part of the oblast is (temporarily) unable to receive Ukrainian TV and radio signals. There may be problems with mobile connection," OMA noted.
The head of the Sumy oblast military administration, Volodymyr Artyukh, urged the people not to panic and to switch to alternative communication channels.
"The enemy is waging an informational war, destroying the Ukrainian broadcasting. We will not let them win. The impact is currently being assessed and restoration plans are already in development. Do not give in to panic and provocations. Switch to alternative means of communication, only trust verified sources of information," he said.
In her comment to the regional IMI representative, the representative of the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting in the Sumy oblast, Larysa Yakubenko reported that Russia was deliberately targeting such objects.
"The enemy is purposefully shelling the critical infrastructure of the Sumy oblast and civilian objects, including the information infrastructure. Namely, this year, the feeders on the Druzhba tower were damaged by the early March shelling. The day before yesterday, on March 12, it was the ones on the Krasnopillya tower. Both towers were built last year as part of the Roadmap for the Development of the Sumy Oblast Information Landscape," she said, adding that the repair work was done by specialists from the Sumy Technical Center at the Kharkiv branch of the BRTC, and that the broadcasting has already been restored.
As the IMI reported, the Russian troops struck the television infrastructure facilities in the Kharkiv oblast with drones en masse on the night of March 14.
In the two years of the full-scale invasion, the IMI recorded 16 cases of Russians shelling TV towers, which are civilian objects. This caused television and radio broadcasting in nine regions of Ukraine to disappear completely or temporarily.
22.04.2024 Today (April 22, 2024) the Russian troops targeted a TV tower in Kharkiv, destroying it, reports the representative of the Institute of Mass Information in the Kharkiv oblast.
Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on the explosion at 4:37 p.m.
The IMI representative notes that reports from the locals about TV signal going out in the city started coming later. There have been no reports of issues with the radio signal yet.
The chair of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov, said that none of the TV tower's employees were injured, as they were in a bomb shelter.
He added that there were some interruptions in the digital television signal at that moment and urged the people to only trust verified sources of information.
The Kharkiv TV tower was the tallest building in the city – 245 meters high.
"The strike on the TV tower in Kharkiv is part of Russia's systematic, large-scale campaign targeting Ukraine's civilian population. TV tower destruction is a war crime both under Ukrainian law and under international humanitarian law. Civilian facilities such as TV towers are under total protection and cannot be a legitimate target in an armed conflict. We demand a thorough investigation and an appropriate response from the international community," said Oksana Romaniuk, director of the IMI.
The Russians resumed the shelling of Ukrainian TV and radio infrastructure in 2024.
06.05.2024 Russian troops shelled a television tower in Bilopylla (Sumy oblast) on May 6; the TV tower was damaged by the strike and is currently disabled, reports a representative of the Institute of Mass Information.
The video of the impact of the strike was uploaded to Russian propaganda channels on Telegram. The occupiers reported hitting the tower with high-explosive aerial bombs-500 (FAB).
"Footage of enemy objects' loss: a cell tower, an army deployment point, an elevator with an electronic warfare system installed, a warehouse with ammunition, and a substation," the Russians wrote.
The Ukrainian side has not yet commented on the extent of the damage.
It will be recalled that the Russian army fired at least four times on the television tower in Bilopyl. For the first time - March 9, 2022. In June 2023, the TV tower shut down again due to a Russian attack.
On March 14, 2024, the Russian troops shelled the largest TV and radio transmitters in Sumy oblast: in Bilopillya, Sumy, Shostka, and Trostyanets. MH-1 and MH-2 broadcasting in Bilopillya was resumed in early April, reported Larysa Yakubenko, representative of the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting.
30.10.2024 The Russian troops damaged a TV tower in the Lozova district of Kharkiv oblast with drones on October 30, causing glitches in national broadcasting, reports Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration chair Oleh Synehubov on the national telethon.
The Russian army was shelling Kharkiv oblast with guided aerial bombs and Shaded drones throughout the night and morning.
"There was a Shahed strike on the Lozova district at night, which resulted in the damage of the TV tower and temporary limitations in our national television broadcasting. Restoration work has already begun," Synehubov said.
He added that Kharkiv oblast is still under constant fire and that the October 30 strikes affected multiple districts of the oblast, including the city.
Seizing, attacking, shelling media offices – 23
27.02.2022 In Bucha (Kyiv region), russian troops crushed the studio of Pohlyad TV channel on February 27. This was announced on February 28 by the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting. According to the National Council, the company is now setting up broadcasting from another location. Makariv town is out of electricity, so Avis TV channel is not working.
02.03.2022 On March 2, five armed russian occupants seized the building of JSC "NSTU" branch "Kherson RD 'Skifia.'" This was reported by the local newspaper "Vhoru."
They immediately turned off the CCTV cameras and inspected the bomb shelter. There were 15 civilians there. Fake rumors that people had been taken prisoner began to spread on social networks.
However, the branch manager Mykhailo Svarychevskyy said that the occupants had released people on the same day. No force or weapons were used against them.
As of March 3, there are no civilians on the territory of the branch. According to eyewitnesses, 15 armed men of Asian appearance were spotted there. They installed tripwires around the building. This was reported to the authorities which have to establish if those were trip flares or mines.
08.03.2022 Berdyansk radio station "Azovska khvylia" was seized by russian troops.
This was reported by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration.
As the operational headquarters of the Berdyansk executive committee warns all citizens, the occupiers may be spreading propaganda and anti-Ukrainian information.
"Keep in mind that this is all misinformation and manipulation. Berdyansk is Ukraine!" the message says.
08.03.2022 russian troops seized the building of the local mediaholding "PRO100" in Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia region.
This was reported on the Facebook page of the newspaper "Berdyansk News".
"At the moment, about 50 of the editorial staff members in the building of the "PRO100" information group have been abducted by the russian armed forces. They aren't letting our boys out. There is no contact with them! russian propaganda is broadcasting on the radio. A sniper is on the roof," the editorial office wrote.
As one of the mediaholding's employees told the IMI regional representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast, a number of armed men had come to the editorial office to talk to editors and journalists and "explain their position," including why they are in the city and what their tasks are. They communicated with the whole team. According to IMI, so far all members of the editorial board have left the editorial office, while the russian troops remained in the PRO100 building.
The mediaholding includes the "Yug" TV company, the "Azovska khvylia" radio station, the "Berdyanski Vidomosti" and "Vidomosti Pivdnya" newspapers.
It is known that leaflets in russian are being distributed all over the city which contain "explainations of the events" from russian perspective, emphasizes the "peaceful intentions" of the troops, mentions the unification of russia and Ukraine. Among other things, the leaflet states that "ignoring the presence of russian authorities in the Berdyansk district by the leadership of the city and the district is considered a criminal offence," and "actions of the leadership, which withdrew from cooperation, are declared illegal until negotiations are held."
As IMI reported, in Berdyansk, the russian occupants seized the "Azovska khvylia" radio station.
20.04.2022 The night before Arpil 21, during a missile strike on Mykolaiv, russian troops hit the local branch of Suspilne broadcaster.
The branch's management reports this.
No person was killed or injured.
"Suspilne Mykolaiv" continues its work and keeps promptly informing its audience about everything happening in the city and the region.
31.05.2022 The office and press center of the KHARKIV Today news agency was damaged in the first days of the full-scale russian war against Ukraine.
This was announced by the publication's editor-in-chief Yulia Ageyeva.
According to her, on February 24, the editorial staff did not go to work. And on March 2, the KHARKIV Today office and press center were damaged by missile strikes on the center of Kharkiv. There was no one in the building, so the journalists were not injured.
"The shock wave from the explosions in the buildings of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs shattered all the windows; one of the windows facing the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was ripped out of the wall together with the frame. The shards cut into furniture, some equipment and documents in the editorial office. In the press center, the interior doors and their doorframes were ripped out. All the houseplants died during the frost, and it is unknown what happened to the communications," Yulia Ageeva said.
A few days later, the surviving equipment was removed. Now the editorial team works remotely within the Kharkiv region. The head of the press center evacuated to Poltava, where he is doing volunteer work.
03.08.2022 On the morning of August 3, russian troops shelled Bakhmut, Donetsk oblast. They targeted and completely destroyed the Vilne Radio office. This is reported on the media outlet's website.
The building which housed the Vilne Radio office was shelled in the morning of August 3.
"The explosion was so powerful that there are no walls left in the office, which had about a hundred square meters of space, and the nearby rooms. Tons of concrete and bricks were scattered over dozens of meters," the media outlet writes.
The shelling attack resulted in no casualties.
Vilne Radio believes that russian troops probably targeted a civilian facility deliberately. Separatist groups on Telegram write that this building used to house the radio office, a cafe, a service station, and a post office.
In her comment to an IMI representative, Vilne Radio executive director Anastasia Shibiko noted that the team had managed to take all the essential equipment for their work away back at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Citing the building's owner, she noted that at the time of the strike, there were no people inside the building and no one was injured.
"People on the Z Telegram channels wrote that they had been leaking the coordinates, and we assume that this may be true, because every now and then they discuss some object or other, and in a few days it gets hit. They wrote there that there had been Aidar fighters and soldiers in the building, and they were all crushed. This is why we assume that this was a deliberate act. Moreover, they did not hold back with this airstrike," Anastasia Shibiko said.
According to her, the first floor of the building had the only remaining service station in the city, and both military personnel and other residents were its clients. There was also a Nova Poshta branch there. Local collaborators used to spread rumors that the Ukrainian military was allegedly using the branch to mail away looted goods. On the other hand, as the Vile Radio executive director noted, this branch had been closed for several months.
Recently, the editorial office started receiving threats from unknown people again.
"They were wrtiting, 'We will find you!' So, we removed the office address from our website, but it remained on various other websites. I don't know if the threats are related to the shelling, but recently these bots or not-bots have become more active," Anastasia said.
She added that it was the only room in Bakhmut that suited them. "They divided the office into two parts for us, changed the heating system. We had a very good relationship with the landlord. We haven't been paying rent since March. The owners were understanding and issued no bills."
08.08.2022 In Beryslav, the occupiers took over the editorial office of the local newspaper "Mayak" and started publishing their propaganda under its brand. This was reported by Nova Kakhovka journalist Oleh Baturyn, Chytomo informs.
The first page contained an article about the anniversary of the Kyivan Rus Christianization, with the headline "One Faith. One Nation. One Country."
"Mayak" is a district social and political newspaper. It is published in Ukrainian weekly on Fridays in Beryslav district, Kherson region. The average print run is on 2,500–3,000 copies. The first issue was published in 1932.
We remind you that the occupiers in Kherson are printing their propaganda under the brand of the "Naddnepryanskaya Pravda" newspaper. Earlier, russians stole newspaper brands in Mariupol and Melitopol.
09.03.2023 The Russian missile strike on the morning of March 9 damaged the building of the local radio station Nostalgie in Nikopol (Dnipropetrovsk oblast).
The radio station's CEO, Valery Tereshchenko, informed the IMI representative in Dnipropetrovsk oblast about this.
According to him, all the windows were blown out by the shelling, and a third of the slate roof was destroyed.
"Today, the state of the radio station is unfit for working. The windows are gone, some of the radio equipment is badly damaged, the cable that connects the transmitter to the antenna is damaged. That's why we can't fully operate the radio station yet," said Valery Tereshchenko.
The radio station has partly stopped the broadcasting for now. They broadcast to Nikopol and the Nikopol district, as well as to a part of Zaporizhzhia oblast, namely to Enerhodar. Also, according to the CEO, the police and rescuers have performed an examination and taken the appropriate measures.
At the same time, Valery Tereshchenko cannot say whether the Russian military targeted the building of the radio station deliberately.
"I have no information as to whether they were aiming for the radio station specifically or not. But there are no objects near us that could be attacked, no military warehouses, anything like that. Maybe it was just flying somewhere else and didn't make it. If you systematically speak and provide information about the work of state services, about the events taking place in the city, maybe someone on that side dislikes it. We are six kilometers away from the spot where the shots were fired from, at point-blank range, especially since we are located on a hill," he said.
We remind you that shelling of Nikopol and Nikopol district takes place almost every day. On the morning of March 9, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OMA, Serhiy Lysak, reported on Telegram that the Russians had fired almost 40 shells on the Nikopol district overnight – on the Chervonogrygorivka community and Nikopol city.
27.03.2023 On March 23, the Russian military shelled Beryslav city, Kherson oblast. The shells damaged an administrative building, a residential building, a museum and the office of the "Mayak" newspaper, "Most" reports.
According to the newspaper's editor, Dmytro Tertychny, the projectile destroyed the roof of the building. According to him, without an immediate intervention, the building will soon become unusable.
With the beginning of a full-scale war, the newspaper stopped working indefinitely.
"We could not work while under occupation. My family and I left because it was extremely difficult to stay in the city. I know that the Russian military were looking for me, they wanted me to work for them. They took my son to a basement and beat him up there," he said.
"Mayak" is a local Ukrainian weekly which has been in print 1932.
The newspaper covers a wide range of topics, focusing on the events in the Beryslav district. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the newspaper was honored with various awards.
05.09.2023 "Cheline" editorial office has been destroyed by a Russian missile hitting the premises of the Shevchenko Music and Drama Theater in the center of Chernihiv on August 19.
Pavlo Solodovnyk, the editor of "Cheline", reported this to the IMI representative in Chernihiv oblast.
According to him, the team no longer has an office.
"Our team no longer has the office where we emerged as an outlet and have worked for seven years. Fortunately, there was no one in the office on Saturday (the day of the shelling. – Ed.). Although we were invited to cover that unfortunate 'drone' event, we refused. Fortunately, all the staff members are alive," he said.
As you know, on August 19, around 11:30 a.m., the Russian army hit the center of Chernihiv with an Iskander-M missile at the regional music and drama theater. The Russian missile strike injured 163 people, killing seven and wounding 156 more.
The rooms rented by the team were located in the central part of Chernihiv, a few dozens of meters from the place where the Russian missile dropped.
The impact of the missile shattered the windows and doors and caused parts of the ceiling to collapse. The journalists' equipment – laptops, computers, cameras and microphones – was destroyed or damaged.
The "Cheline" team continues its work and has already rented another office.
"Now we are actively working to move to another office, salvaging things from under the rubble, people working from home, every now and then we go out to film. That is, we try to work fully for our readers and viewers. After all, we realize how important it is nowadays for people to receive information about the safety situation, news about the key events in the oblast and the country in general. Despite everything, we persevere and we continue our work," said Pavlo Solodovnyk.
As IMI reported, Arsen Chepurny, a reporter for the outlet "Chas Chernihivsky" was wounded in the arm when a Russian missile hit the Shevchenko Regional Music and Drama Theater in downtown Chernihiv on August 19. At the moment of the impact, he and the website's cameraman, Dmytro Falchevsky, were at the theater, which hosted the drone exhibition "Angry Birds Fly to Chernihiv".
06.10.2023 In Kharkiv, the office of the Television Agency "Novyny" was damaged by the October 6 shelling attack. The editor Maryna Nikolayeva spoke to the IMI representative about this.
According to her, some of their team, including her, had taken their own belongings (books, documents) from the office. The building is located downtown, on a hill, and the office was on the ninth floor and had panoramic windows. So when the full-scale invasion began, the team realized that there was a high chance of the building coming under fire. They switched to remote work, but the equipment, computers, and communications remained in the office.
"The shock wave affected the newsroom and the advertising department the most. Everything there got damaged – even parts of the ceiling and doors were torn out. The operator and assembly rooms were less affected. It was impossible to get through to some of the desks, including mine: it was near the window, and everything collapsed there," Maryna Nikolayeva said.
She noted that now their main task was to keep the premises safe from looters.
The police and the prosecutors recorded the damage to the office as part of the case opened the day of the shelling. The editors have not yet assessed the damage.
The founder of the agency, Oleh Yukht, released a video showing the aftermath of the attack and suggested that his colleagues in Kharkiv take their belongings from the newsroom if possible.
Since the start of the full-scale war, ATN, like most TV projects, only works as a website, since the Russians destroyed the TV tower in the spring of 2022.
18.12.2023 Digital broadcasting in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk oblast, has been unavailable for over three months; the radio has been working intermittently, and newspapers have been out of print since the start of the full-scale war. The locals can only learn the news when Internet connection is available, reports the Hromadske Radio correspondent in Nikopol, Anna Tseluiko.
"T2 has not been working for us for over three months, there is no Ukrainian television in the city at all; Ukrainian radio only breaks through from time to time. People say that Russian raidowaves from the occupied territories, namely from Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia oblast, even reach us, Russian radio... Newspapers have been out of print in the city since the beginning of the war as well, previously there used to be seven of them," said Tseluiko.
In her comment to the regional IMI representative, the representative of the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast, Olena Demchenko, noted that they are aware of the problem.
"There is an issue with broadcasting in Nikopol. The radio is more or less there, with television it is worse. Just this morning, a drone hit the tower again and dislodged three antennas," said Olena Demchenko.
We remind you that in October 2023, Suspilne Dnipro reported that digital television was unavailable in the city due to Russian shelling. According to Yevhen Yevtushenko, the head of the Nikopol District Military Administration, the Russians are targeting telecom equipment and firing at repair crews. Moreover, the Russian television signal reaches Nikopol.
Nikopol has been under daily fire throughout the full-scale invasion. On the night of December 18, Russian troops shelled Nikopol with artillery, reported Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram. Accordning to Lysak, Nikopol was attacked three times on December 17.
Earlier, the IMI reported that on March 9, 2023, the office of the local radio station "Nostalgie" was destroyed by Russian artillery fire.
30.12.2023 The December 30 rocket strike on downtown Kharkiv severely damaged the Radio House, where the offices of "Suspilne. Kharkiv" and Ukrainian Radio are located, Suspilne reports.
The building's heating system was damaged; the windows, the doors, and the walls broke, says "Suspilne. Kharkiv" manager Yevhenia Kolienova.
"We made a room where journalists could work during blackouts, we just finished the renovation, we didn't even have time to furnish it. The glass in the room is broken, the ceiling is damaged. The heating system was damaged – we drained all the water out of the pipes because the batteries were torn out on the second floor. The water was pourin from the second floor to the first," she said.
According to her, staying in the room is now dangerous.
Office managers are recording the damage and passing the data to the police. At the moment of the attack, there was no one in the office except for a security guard, who managed to get to the bomb shelter in time.
As the IMI reported, on December 30 the Russians shelled Kharkiv city with rockets. The attack resulted in a British citizen working as a security advisor for a team of German journalists being injured.
The police opened a case for violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
30.12.2023 The Russian rocket strike on Kharkiv on December 30 resulted in the office of the media group "Objektiv", where the TRC "Simon" is based, being damaged, reports the media group on their website.
The windows in the building were broken, making a hole in the studio. The "Objektyv" newsroom, editing rooms and other offices of the company were damaged. Some equipment is also broken.
The office is located downtown. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, after the first Russian missile strikes on the Freedom Square and the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration in 2022, "Simon" has been off air.
02.01.2024 Russia's mass shelling strike on Kyiv on January 2 damagd the NV office building and the House of Cinema.
Presenter Serhiy Fursa spoke about the damage to the NV office on Radio NV. This information was confirmed to Detector Media by the Radio NV editor-in-chief, Oleksiy Tarasov, who is currently in Lviv.
"Honestly, I know no more than the others. This morning, the NV office in Kyiv was damaged by Russian shelling: some windows were blown out, the entrance door was blown away, some things fell from the ceiling. Due to all this, we had to postpone our broadcast for two hours today," said Tarasov.
According to him, the overall damage is not critical.
"As far as I know, the doors of our office have already been fixed somehow, the windows are now being addressed. Of course, those who experienced the shrapnel hitting their workplace are scared. Everything around is burning and exploding, and people have to go on air. These are unworkable conditions. Today's events forced us to revisit the idea of creating a backup studio in some kind of bunker, that is, in a safe place, so that we could avoid both interrupting the air and exposing our colleagues to danger. Now we are looking into technical ways to achieve this," said Tarasov.
The head of Ukraine's National Union of Cinematographers, Serhiy Bordeniuk, reported the damage to the glass facade of the Cinema House on Facebook and posted a photo.
He considers the incident to be symbolic: a banner for the 100th anniversary of the classic Ukrainian director, Serhiy Paradzhanov, was to be erected in the damaged spot in a few days.
"The House of Cinema and the Union members have proven more than once that they are doomed to resist any encroachment. The remembrance evening for the "dangerously free man" Serhiy Paradzhanov will take place! We invite you to the House of Cinema on January 9 at 6 p.m. for a solemn event honoring the Maestro and an action showing resilience, will, and absolute readiness to fight against the enemy's ignominy!" Bordeniuk wrote.
16.02.2024 Russian shelling strike damaged the office of the "Vorskla" newspaper in Velyka Pysarivka village (Sumy oblast). The team was unharmed, reports the IMI representative in the Sumy oblast.
The shelling strike began on February 16 at 19:45. The Russians targeted the center, civilian infrastructure, and residential buildings with Grad MRLS.
Two shells fell near the "Vorskla" editorial office. All the windows in the room are broken, the roof is damaged. The interior of the office was damaged by debris.
"Vorskla" owner Oleksiy Pasyuha says that the office saw more damage this year than two years ago.
"The enemy targeted the same place where they had hit two years ago. Back then, the office was also affected, but a little less. This time things are a bit worse. On the morning after the shelling, the community leaders gave us all the necessary supplies: plastic wrap and boards, and communal workers arrived to fix things. By now, everything has been cleaned up, the windows have been boarded up. As of now, there is a risk that the heating system will fail due to significant damage to a different part of the building, but we hope the weather will not be severely cold and everything will be okay," said Pasyuha.
The shelling strike occurred in the evening, so there was no one in the office and the team was unharmed. Most of the equipment also survived. The team has grounds for relocation to a safer place, but this requires additional resources.
For reference. Velyka Pysarivka is located 6 kilometers away from Ukraine's border with the Russian Federation; it is the center of a community of the same name in the Okhtyrka district, Sumy oblast (the southernmost community in the border area).
The "Vorskla" office was founded almost 30 years ago. The target audience of the newspaper is the community's locals.
The newspaper never went out of print after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, delivering information to the villages in the five-kilometer strip near the border with the help of local residents, the authorities, and the newspaper team themselves. In the trying times under martial law, the copies were made on the printer in the office itself.
14.03.2024 The office of the newspaper "Vorskla" was once again damaged by a Russian shelling strike on Velyka Pysarivka, reports the representative of the Institute of Mass Information in the Sumy oblast.
On March 14, around 1:00 p.m., the Russian troops dropped a guided aerial bomb (UAB) on the Ukrposhta office in the very center of the village.
The "Vorskla" office is located in a neighboring building; the office suffered significant damage.
"Now it was the windows on the opposite side that were blown out. I left less than a minute before it happened. I was loading up newspaper binders. The archive..." said the editor-in-chief, Oleksiy Pasyuha, to the IMI representative.
The regional IMI representative also notes that the safety situation is deteriorating as the civilian population is being encouraged to evacuate and people are being moved to safer places in an organized manner.
This is not the first time that the newspaper's office has been damaged: the previous two times it was shelled with "Grad" missiles in February 2022 and 2024. After today's damage, working in the office is impossible.
On February 16, 2024, a Russian shelling strike damaged the office of the "Vorskla" newspaper in Velyka Pysarivka village (Sumy oblast). The team was unharmed.
06.04.2024 The office of the relocated Melitopol media outlet RIA Pivden (RIA Melitopol) was partially destroyed due by the Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhia on April 6, around 6 AM. The office was located in the Melitopol IDP assistance center "Same Tut", reports RIA Pivden (RIA Melitopol) on their Telegram channel.
The aid center now has shattered windows, a damaged ceiling, and broken equipment and furniture in the rooms where classes for children were given.
As RIA Pivden chief editor Svitlana Zalizetska told the regional IMI representative in the Zaporizhzhia oblast, they are currently taking inventory of the damage caused by the attack.
"Some of the equipment was damaged. Now we're collecting what is left. Checking its condition," the editor said.
Before the full-scale invasion RIA Melitopol was the largest website in the Zaporizhzhia oblast audience-wise. After the start of the full-scale war and the Russian occupation of Melitopol, the team and the chief editor, Svitlana Zalizetska, faced persecution. As the IMI wrote, in March 2022, the Russian troops took Zalizetska's father hostage and demanded to meet the journalist as a condition for her father's release.
In October 2023, the IMI reported that the Russians were holding the administrators of the Zaporizhzhia Telegram channels RIA Melitopol and "Melitopol is Ukraine" captive for two months on charges of terrorism. The media workers were detained in August 2023. On the night of August 21, 2023, the Russians hacked the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian media outlet RIA Melitopol, which was working even as Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia oblast) was occupied.
Ukrinform correspondent Olha Zvonaryova and TSN reporter Kira Oves were wounded by shelling in Zaporizhzhia on April 5.
As the Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko wrote on his Telegram channel, both journalists came under a double tap strike while working at a shelling site.
"The enemy cynically strikes again just when the police, emergency workers, medics, and journalists arrive. At the moment when our units are trying to rescue the victims," Ihor Klymenko wrote.
On April 5, the Russians struck Zaporizhzhia twice. The attack killed three people and injured 19.
24.04.2024 A Russian shelling strike on Zolochiv (Kharkiv oblast) on April 24 destroyed the the office of the "Zorya" newspaper, which was located across from the district administration building.
This was reported to the regional representative of the Institute of Mass Information by the chief editor of "Zorya", Vasyl Myroshnyk.
According to him, no one was in the building at the time of the impact. The windows in the office were blown away by the blast from the district administration. Eight windows were damaged: those that were still glazed and those that had already been broken when a mine was dropped into the building in 2022. The facade was also damaged by the debris.
However, he adds, the local authorities have already supplied tarpaulin and plywood to cover the windows and protect the building from rain. The chief editor sees no point in replacing the windows, as he believes that they will be damaged by Russian shelling again.
One Russian missile fell in the yard, and the second hit the building.
The head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov, reported that the enemy attacked the downtown Zolochiv with two S-300 missiles at night, damaging the administration's premises, and that there were no casualties.
Victor Kovalenko, the chair of the Zolochiv military administration, told Suspilne Kharkiv that the administration building was empty and not in use, there were no people there. The impacts were powerful and damaged over 10 private houses: windows, roofs, doors. In addition to the "Zorya" office, an "Oshchadbank" branch, as well as education, culture, and economy departments were affected.
The Russian troops shell the Kharkiv oblast and the city daily.
20.09.2024 The Suspilne office in Dnipro was damaged by Russian shelling on September 20, reports the broadcaster's press service.
In the evening, the Russian troops shelled an education facility in the city, affecting the Suspilne branch based nearby.
According to Suspilne Dnipro acting manager Kateryna Lysiuk, the main entrance door was damaged, windows on the second floor of the main building and in the former radio building were broken.
None of the employees were injured. At the time of the shelling strike, one person was in the office – she managed to take cover in a safe place.
The Sobornyi district police of Dnipro city has opened a case under part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Tresspassing against the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine").
The investigation department of the Security Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk oblast is involved in the investigation.
17.10.2024 In Zaporizhzhia, as a result of the Russian attack on October 12, the editorial office of the newspaper "Golos Gulyaipillya" was damaged, chief editor Tetyana Velyka reported on Facebook page and shared details with the Institute of Mass Information representative Natalia Vyhovska.
"Another KAB strike on Zaporizhzhia this night affected the office rented by the newspaper 'Holos Hulyaipillya'. The enemy damaged the workspace of our team badly," she wrote.
She added that the computer equipment, which had been previously transported out of a combat area, was also damaged.
The editors are looking for a new place to continue their work. According to Tetyana Velyka, this is the second time the team is looking for a new office.
The first such time was when the team had to leave their office in Hulyaipole back in March 2022.
"Still, we are not giving up, we are working on the next October issue of the newspaper and we are working diligently, recording all the crimes by the disgraceful Putin regime! In the meantime, we are cleaning the office and sorting out our thoughts!" wrote the chief editor.
As Tatyana Velyka, said to the IMI representative, the office is being renovated.
"We rented an office in Zaporizhzhia. At the moment, specialists are working there, installing windows and a ceiling, that is, they are putting everything in order," she said.
According to her, two computers were damaged in the attack, so the editorial office currently needs assistance in purchasing new ones.
14.11.2024 Russia's November 13 shelling strike significantly damaged the pavilion where STB's show MasterChef is filmed. There were no casualties, reports the TV channel's press office.
"The project's very home, where Ukraine's best food stories were being created from the very first season and where the country's favorite culinary stars were lit. The terrorist country continues its attempts to destroy everything that is created with love," the TV channel said.
They added that the TV channel and the Ukrainian brands they partner with filmed four new MasterChef seasons since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. All safety rules are observed during the production. For isntance, the staff equipped two bomb shelters as soon as the summer of 2022, and the pavilion itself is equipped with autonomous power generators. The project's team was preparing to begin filming season 15.
"Even now, the entire team of the project and of STB continues to work and is looking for better solutions to restore production capabilities as soon as possible. We may need time and new solutions," the press office said.
They assured that despite the damage to the pavilion, the TV channel would find a way to film MasterChef season 15.
Cyber crimes – 97
24.02.2022 On February 24, the website of Channel 5 was targeted with hacker attack. The news appeared on the site with a picture of putin and allegedly with demands from the "head of the administration" to surrender one’s arms addressed to all armed units in Ukraine.
24.02.2022 Babel reports that a DDoS attack has been launched against the website. This is said in the Telegram channel of the publication.
"Friends, a powerful DDoS attack is targeting the Babel website. We are doing everything possible to repel it. Follow our social media," the statement reads.
Journalists call on to subscribe to their social media: Facebook and Telegram.
24.02.2022 A DDoS attack is targetting the website of Poltavska Khvylya. The site is currently out of function.
The editor-in-chief of Poltavska Khvylya Vitaliy Ulybin told it speaking to the representative of IMI in Poltava region.
Poltavska Khvylya has been actively covering developments in Ukraine and providing information on armed hostilities.
The editorial office is going to switch to Facebook and Telegram.
25.02.2022 The editorial office of Semenivski Visti (Poltava region) received a letter from an alleged government institution with an information about its community abroad.
The editor-in-chief of the publication Mykhailo Pohribny informed the IMI representative in Poltava region about it.
The letter is entitled "Important message helping Ukraine" and contains a link to the Google form. Mykhailo Pohribnyi said that they did not open the link.
25.02.2022 For several hours in a row, the Konkurent news agency was targeted with DDoS attacks from russia and Germany.
This was reported by the editor-in-chief of the website of the "Konkurent" news agency Andriy Luchyk to the representative of IMI in the Volyn region.
According to him, on February 25, for several hours in a row, he and his colleagues could not access the website's administration page.
On its Facebook, Konkurent reported that the latest news from Konkurent are available on Telegram, Instagram, and on Konkurent TV.
1.03.2022 The website of the Kherson newspaper "Novy Den" newday.kherson.ua has stopped opening. This was announced by the newspaper's journalist Oleh Baturin on his Facebook page.
“My friends, the russians took down the website of the Kherson regional newspaper 'Novy Den' that I work for. Access to the site is blocked, it is unclear when it is going to be restored. I will keep working for as long as I am alive. I will try to post all my texts about what is happening in Kherson region on my page," he wrote.
The journalist's articles will be temporarily published on "Mediaclup Europrostir" website.
01.03.2022 Suspilne’s website has been hacked, it will be temporarily out of function. This was reported on the broadcaster's Facebook page.
A virus that destroys files was launched, as the broadcaster reported.
In the meantime, the UA:Pershyy satellite signal is being jammed. The broadcaster is preparing to switch to a backup website. Later, "Suspilne Novyny" reported that the website resumed its work.
02.03.2022 Hackers attacked the website of the Ukrainian financial media Minfin.com.ua on March 2, Media Detector reports.
Treeum CEO Ivan Yevtushenko suggested that the attackers probably mistook the media website for the website of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, due to the similarity of the name and the large number of visitors.
At 10:46 on March 2, the main page of Minfin.com.ua looked like this:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword..."
Like most Ukrainian media, the apolitical website Minfin.com.ua has been supporting Ukrainians and the morale of our army in recent days. We have been gathering and publishing information both in the financial field and that which is simply vital in our time. Last week, Minfin has been getting more than 1 million views every day. Maybe that's why it was easy to mistake us for the ministry. But we will gladly accept this blow. And we will consider it just another tactical mistake of the enemy. Glory to Ukraine and all the UAF warriors! " Yevtushenko said.
The editorial office continues its work on Facebook, Telegram and Instagram and encourages the readers to follow the news on these resources or the Finance.ua website.
03.03.2022 On March 3, the website of NV sustained a hacker attack.
"Dear readers, this morning our site was targeted with a powerful hacker attack. Its work will be resumed soon. In the meantime, we continue our work on social media," the newspaper said.
04.03.2022 On March 4, citizens of Ukraine began receiving emails with suspicious content allegedly from the Suspilne Broadcaster's press office. Please note: Suspilne did not send letters with such an appeal, this is probably a phishing attack!
The letters ask to "unpack" the file and run the program. We ask you not to do this under any circumstances! After all, attackers may steal your personal data this way.
Also keep in mind that the official newsletter from Suspilne comes from the official email [email protected]. Suspilne's press office is available on the website corp.suspilne.media or on the official Facebook or Instagram pages.
We will add, if you have lost the Ukrainian television signal, switch to the Ukrainian Radio (AM and FM across the country) and Suspilne's digital platforms. It is the prompt informing and verification of messages that helps to keep calm and counteract the misinformation by the occupants.
Save pictures or take screenshots and share them in case of disappearance of Ukrainian television or the Internet connection.
05.03.2022 On the evening of March 5, Zhytomyr.info website sustained a DDoS-attack. The hackers have made changes to the news report about the shelling of settlements, according to the media's website.
According to the newspaper, the website was unavailable for several minutes due to a large number of requests, and readers saw that changes were made to the news report about the shelling of settlements.
"Experts have confirmed that this was a DDoS attack; after access to the website was blocked for users from russia and Belarus, Zhytomyr.info continued to work stably," the newspaper writes.
11.03.2022 The NV website has been targeted with DDoS attacks for the last five days. This was announced by the editor-in-chief Vitaliy Sych on his Facebook page.
"Today, the US representative to the UN Security Council in her speech mentioned Novoe Vrema as an example of journalists who inform the world about the events in Ukraine despite the risk. […] I am glad that we were able to contribute at least in this way to informing Ukrainians and the world about the atrocities of russians in Ukraine. And I am glad that russians also appreciate our work. For the past five days, they have been targeting our site with DDoS attacks, sending 200,000 requests per second. But the website is still working and will be working. We will continue to inform and support Ukrainians – on the website and on Radio NV," Sych wrote.
He also said that his colleagues were working during the war.
“Today, a shell landed in the backyard of my colleague Anya Moroz, my deputy who runs the magazine NV, in Kyiv region. Three meters from the door, it landed, but did not explode.
Another colleague, journalist Ivan Verstyuk, was less fortunate: today (as well) a shell hit the balcony of his apartment in Borshchahivka, Kyiv. He is alive and well, now he is moving to another apartment," Sych wrote.
As IMI reported, on March 3, NV website has been attacked by hackers.
13.03.2022 Kherson online media "MOST" has been under hacker attack for several days. This was reported to IMI by the outlet's editor Serhiy Nikitenko.
"On the first day of the war, they managed to "down" the website for two days, but we restored everything and keep working. Yesterday there was a strong DDoS attack again. Our technical service had to disable the site so as not to overload the server," he said.
16.03.2022 russian hackers have broken the ticker tape of Ukraine 24 TV channel and Segodnya website and broadcast a fake message from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about his alleged "capitulation."
Ukraine 24 announced this on their Facebook page.
"This is a fake! Fake! Friends, we have repeatedly warned about this. Nobody is going to give up. Especially in conditions when the russian army is defeated in battles with the Ukrainian army!" the message says.
16.03.2022 ZN.ua website was hacked, as the editorial board reported on its Telegram channel.
“The website of our publication was targeted with DSS-attack, and we, unfortunately, cannot continue to inform you about the most important things from our main resource. However, we will continue to present the most important news here, ” the statement of 11:10 on March 16 reads.
As of 1:15 p.m., the publication's website is already up and running.
17.03.2022 The work of a number of Ukrainian central and regional media sites has been interfered with, some of them have had russian flag and St. George's ribbon posted.
The picture also shows the letters Z and V, which mark the military equipment of the armed forces of the russian federation involved in the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
In particular, the cyber attack on the site was reported on the Telegram channel Hromadske Radio.
"Right now Hromadske Radio website (hromadske.radio) has been hit by a cyber attack. Our tech support team is already working on this!" the statement reads.
Censor.Net and "Novosti Donbassa" sites were also hacked.
According to IMI regional representatives, the Kherson site MOST, Volyn sites Pershyy, Buh and Visnyk suffered the same problem.
In Zaporizhzhia, journalists from the "Zaporizhzhia Reporter" stated that the site had been hacked. At about 6 pm, when trying to access the main page of the site's news, a tricolor and St. George's ribbon appeared on the screen.
The site of the Independent Public Portal has been trageted in Khmelnytskyy region. The site is currently up and running.
The Odessa, sites "Odessa.Online" and "Bessarabia Inform" faced the same problem.
Poltava site "Kremenchuk Telegraph" reported that it is working to fix the problem.
"Novyny Poltavshchyny" reports that the site is temporarily down and is fixing this problem.
The Rivne website Rivne Media was also attacked by russians. The website of the Kolomyia TV channel NTK suffered the same interference. Subsequently, the site ntktv.ua was restored, but it is impossible to open any page. Poltava city website 0532.ua was also attacked.
The reason for the attack
Head of Digital of Hromadske Radio Serhiy Omelchenko said that the reason for the hacking was an attempt at a mass unauthorized display of unacceptable advertising. The source of these shows is one of the most popular Redtram traffic exchange systems in Eastern Europe. Public radio removed the Redtram code from the site and restored access to it.
18.03.2022 In Poltava, the website of the online media Zmist (Content) is periodically subjected to DDoS-attacks since the beginning of the russian invasion on February 24.
The editorial staff told this to the representative of IMI in Poltava region.
According to the editors, today, on March 18, the site is down due to technical works.
“The DDoS attacks on us started at the beginning of the war. They also parsed the news reports, but we have stepped up, so it does not hinder our work. On March 18, the site is temporarily down due to technical work on the certificates," they commented to the IMI representative.
They promise to resume the work of the resource soon.
22.03.2022 YouTube has blocked the channel of the Poltava TV channel PTV UA twice, and the channel's broadcasts on Facebook are deleted due to coverage of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine.
Yulia Kostenko, the editor-in-chief of PTV UA TV channels, reported it on her Facebook page on March 22.
"Hate speech: the main YouTube channel PTV UA has been blocked, broadcasts on Facebook are taken down. We stay on T2 in the region, our Telegram channel keeps working, visit our website and subscribe to all backup sources," she said.
According to YouTube, the reason for the ban was hate speech, the editor told to the IMI representative in Poltava region. According to her, this happened for the second time.
The journalist added that their YouTube channel was currently available, but she thinks it could happen again.
Yulia Kostenko noted that they are being blocked due to russian bots' strikes on some of their stories on YouTube.
“We receive warnings because of storiess about corpses, even though we blur them, music (putting our own over old videos or photos), shots of aggression and shelling / explosions (sounds). Also for speech: aggressive statements towards the occupants. We often present the horrors of the ruscists' activities, and their bots flood us with hundreds of strikes and comments with statements like "surrender, lay down your arms, you will all die, putin will save you…" said Yulia Kostenko in her comment to the IMI representative in Poltava region.
23.03.2022 The website of the Espresso TV channel was targeted with a powerful DDoS attack on the morning of March 23, as the co-owner of the Espresso channel Mykola Kniazhytskyi reported.
"Our Espresso website has been under heavy DDoS attack since this morning. We will fix it soon," he wrote on Facebook.
25.03.2022 A powerful hacker attack is being carried out on the Suspilne news site https://suspilne.media/. Due to this, the site is slowed down.
This was reported by Suspilne in its telegram channel.
The media notes that it solves the problem and continues to report news on its social networks: Telegram , Facebook , Instagram , Youtube , Viber and Twitter .
We will remind, on March 1 the site of Suspilne broadcaster was hacked. According to the broadcaster, launched a virus that destroys files.
On March 4, citizens of Ukraine began receiving e-mails with suspicious content allegedly from the press office of the Suspilne broadcaster.
31.03.2022 Journalist business portal Mind reported a cyber attack on a website from russia.
The publication announced this on its Facebook page.
"Dear friends, sorry: our site was attacked from russia. We will be back soon," the message reads.
31.03.2022 Edition of Photoinform in Kropivnytsky was targeted by a DDoS attack last week, and as a result some of the already published materials were lost.
This was reported to the regional representative of IMI in the Kirovohrad region by the editor of the publication Igor Filipenko.
According to the editor, technical experts found the attacks from Luhansk.
“The portal was attacked several times during March 21–22. Due to the large number of requests from IP addresses 188.190.92.193 – 74416 requests and 188.190.94.148 – 1389075, the site was blocked. In order for the site to work properly, the data had to be "rolled back" to two weeks ago, so some information from March 10 to 22 was lost," as Filipenko commented on the incident.
Currently, the media outlet resumed its work.
01.04.2022 The editorial office of the Chernihiv city website 0462.ua reported about a DDoS attack on its resource on the morning of April 1.
This was reported by the resource on its Facebook page.
"Since the morning our information web resource has been under a powerful DDoS attack. Obviously, our texts hounded the enemy from behind the border. To protect the website, the support service has limited the access for users from outside Ukraine for some time. So, if you visit the site from European or other countries, access to it will be limited. Sorry for the inconvenience, we are working to restore the site as soon as possible and complete for all users," the statement says.
The resource has been actively covering the developments of russia's armed aggression on the territory of Ukraine, recording the crimes of the occupants in Chernihiv region since February 24, 2022.
The site is one of the five most visited in the region.
01.04.2022 Kropyvnytsky news portal Zlatopil was targeted with a cyber attack, causing disfunction and temporary loss of access to the resource.
This was reported to the regional representative of IMI in Kirovohrad region by the editor of the publication Olena Shenderovska.
"On the night of March 31 to April 1, there was an attempt to hack the site, overloading our server. It is difficult to establish where the attack was launched from, because the attackers used proxy servers. So far, the site has been restored," Shenderovskaya said.
The editor stressed that since the beginning of the full-scale war of russia against Ukraine, the publication pays special attention to cybersecurity to protect the site from possible hacking and loss of information.
As IMI reported, at the end of March the Kropyvnytskyi edition of Photoinform was attacked by DDoS , as a result of which some of the already published materials were lost.
05.04.2022 Rivne's most popular media, Radio Track, has been under systematic DDoS attacks since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
Mykola Kulchynskyy, editor-in-chief of Radio Track, told IMI about this.
Radio Track users are often unable to access the page – an error message pops up in the browser.
According to Mykola Kulchynsky, the attack is targeting the Lviv server. The site is failing as powerful attacks are on. The most often, the editorial board is unable to publish materials. Currently, the IT specialists try to fix the problem.
"We have had problems since the beginning of the war. That is, at least since the beginning of March, it happened in outbreaks. Last time, they were very bad. They were such that we had to switched off. You prepare the story, you prepare it, but you can't make it public. You put it, but no one reads it. It was in a different kinds, but these recent days it was simply impossible to work. This is an obstacle to journalistic activity, because we cannot work properly," Mykola Kulchynsky said.
The media is still working. In addition, according to the service "Similarweb," in February, hits rose to more than 2 million.
12.04.2022 "Rivne Vechirne" website has sustained 249 cyber attacks between February 24 and April 12. Most of the attacks came from Chinese and russian territory.
"Rivne Vechirne" chief editor Bohdan Slonets reported this to IMI.
According to him, 95% of the attacks were repelled, but the perpetrators managed to make the website unavailable for a short while due to DOS and DDoS attacks. The website was down for 24 minutes total. The attacks mostly created issues in uploading content.
"89 attacks were the 'scan' kind, the ones that scan your website to find code vulnerabilities and a way to upload shell and viruses. 158 were DDoS attacks, mostly coming from China – 37%, russia – 34%, TOR network – 16%, Ukraine – 6%, Germany – 4%, and less than 3% from other countries," Bohdan Slonets said.
The website also sustained two direct mass attacks on the VDS (virtual dedicated server) where the website is hosted.
According to the website's editor, the attacks happen when the media reports on the threat of invasion from belarus that borders Rivne region.
According to "Similarweb" platform, in March the website's attendance has grown significantly and now constitutes 2 million visitors.
We remind that the most popular media outlet in Rivne region, "Radio Track," also undergoes constant attacks.
15.04.2022 Mariupol city website 0629 has been under continuous cyberattacks for the past three weeks. russian hackers tried to change the website's logo into rf's flag.
The periodical's webside reported this.
According to it, the website is being attacked from tens of countries around the globe, including russia. Not only the Mariupol website, but also other websites of the CitySites network are targeted.
The tech support had had to temporarily block access to the website for users from some countries in order to stop the attacks and stabilize the website's work.
The editorial staff had made the website acessible again on April 14, but at night it was attacked again.
"This time the diversion had to do with the website's logo. It has been deleted together with some other images. The russians tried to change our logo into a russian tricolor! At the moment there is very little information about who did this and how. The tech support team is working on repairs.
We promise: no symbol of Mariupol will disappear. You can not just 'delete it from the page.' Because 0629 is not about pictures and logos. It is about people. And these people will be working and spreading the truth about the city no matter how much trouble that is for our enemy – the russian federation," the periodical writes.
The editorial team encouraged everybody to support them by giving them attention.
We remind that since March 1 Mariupol has been beseiged by russian troops which have ruined it almost completely by air bombing and artillery fire. The Ukrainian military units are resisting them and trying to hold their ground in the city.
22.04.2022 "Detector Media" was attacked by hackers on April 22: the website is still under a DDoS attack. This was reported by "Detector Media" NGO's project Media Sapiens.
The administrator notes a large number of attempts to log in to the website at the same time. The tech support department is working to restore the website.
The editors apologize for the temporary inconvenience.
At the same time, the "Media Sapiens" and "DM Suspilnoho" websites continue to operate. You can read "Detector Media" on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
As of 3.30 pm, the "Detector Media" website is down.
According to Otar Dovzhenko, editor-in-chief of Detector Media, the group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for the cyberattack. The hackers called them enemies of russia and said they were attacking because the publication discredited the russian army and was spreading russophobic fakes.
25.04.2022 A Zaporizhzhia website for students and the youth "Porohy" has been hacked on April 24, with russian propaganda being posted there. This was reported to IMI representative in Zaporizhzhia region by the website's staff.
When you try to access the website, a message in russian appears on the home page: "Information about the russian federation's ongoing special operation" with two flags, Ukrainian and russian, on the background.
The text, in particular, said that the russians and Ukrainians "are one people whom the Western world divided" and "put in power puppets, ridiculous 'rulers' and drug addicts." The message also stressed that "russia is not fighting against you, but for you." The authors appealed to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to lay down their arms and called on the civilian population not to take up arms so that they don't "sacrifice themselves at the encouragement from people with no honor or conscience." In addition, the appeal stressed that for russia, Ukraine is "an integral part of our own history, culture, spiritual landscape," mentioning that Ukrainians are "family, related to us through blood and family ties.
The site is currently down and the promotional message is no longer available to the public.
25.04.2022 LIGA.net website suffered a DDoS attack on April 25. The media reported this on its Telegram channel.
Due to the DDoS attack, the website temporarily went down.
"Friends, our website is currently down due to intense DDoS attacks. Our specialists are working to solve the problem. You can follow the latest news on our Telegram channel," the editorial team said.
As of 1 p.m., the website has resumed its work.
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."
06.05.2022 On May 5, the editorial office of Odesa.Online received an email with a threatening message from representatives of the NoName057(16) hacker group, after which the publication suffered a cyber attack.
This was announced to IMI representative Odesa region by the media project's manager Vadym Tyutyukin.
The editorial office was warned that "your game is over." On the same day, a powerful DDoS attack began, which has been impeding full operation of the website for the second day in a row.
“We inform you that today, your russophobic and deceitful resource odessa.online was attacked by hackers from NoName057(16). Until you stop your malicious activities of discrediting the actions of the russian federation and inciting hatred against russian citizens on the pages of your website, your resource will continue to fall under our DDoS attacks!" the letter to the editors said.
18.05.2022 On May 18, Mykolaiv online publication "NikVesti" suffered a DDoS-attack.
The website's editor-in-chief Oleh Derenyuha reported about it to the IMI representative in Mykolaiv region.
According to him, the attack has been ongoing since 15:22, the technicians are working to solve the problem. The publication also turned for help to their partners – Google's Project Shield system.
"As of 3:22 p.m., the NikVesti website is under a DDoS attack and out of function. Exactly two hours later, at 5:22 p.m., the overload on the server has tripled. We are working to resolve this issue. We have also contacted our partners. 'NikVesti' is connected to Google's Project Shield system, which protects media from digital attacks," Oleh Derenyuha said.
He does not deny that the source of the attack is the russian federation.
"It is possible that someone in russia is upset with our content. Last night, for example, we received an official warning letter from Yandex, stating that they are forced to turn off 'NikVesti's' news because the publication with the intercepted conversation between russian soldiers is violates their rules and contains obscene language," Oleh Derenyuha said.
As of 6:18 p.m., the NikVesti website is still unavailable.
30.06.2022 The russian-language international broadcasting of Ukraine was subject to cyber attacks from russia, aimed at undermining the spread of information about the war in Ukraine to the russian-speaking audience by blocking the operations of the "FreeDOM" marathon.
This is said in the statement of the State Enterprise "Ukrainian Multimedia Platform for Foreign Broadcasting," which manages the UATV and "Dom" TV channels, reports Ukrinform.
The cyber attacks continued for several days. The company appealed to the Ukrainian authorities, the investigation is currently underway.
The "FreeDom" marathon is a daily television information project, broadcast in russian and produced both by the State Enterprise "UMPFB" and by partner media groups: Media Group Ukraine, Starlight News, "Inter Media Group," and 1+1 media.
UATV channel is a russian-speaking foreign language channel (coverage of over 60 countries in the world). The russian language broadcasting of the "Dom" channel was launched in 2020 for the audience in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
10.07.2022 On July 10, the live broadcast of "FreeDom's" russian-language marathon on YouTube was stopped due to mass complaints about the copyright infringement.
This was announced by the state enterprise "International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine" (SE IBMPU).
"Due to mass copyright strikes, our most rated accounts – "Ukraina 24," ICTV, TSN, "Hroshi," "Spetskor," 1+1, UATV channel – have stopped their YouTube live marathon. UATV (property of SE IBMPU), which is the main channel for broadcasting the FreeDom marathon, has also received a series of content complaints that can not be verified. However, this became a reason for YouTube's administration to issue a warning, which also affected the channel's ability to broadcast live on the platform," the message reads.
IBMPU considers the mass strikes to be a commissioned campaign, namely due to the impossibility to identify and detect the time stamps of the content against which the strikes were filed; the video hosting did not use any preventive measures, but instantly blocked the marathon's live broadcasts on the media partners' channels. In addition, the complaints were filed simultaneously against all key YouTube channels of the country's major media companies, not through an automatic copyright control system, but individually.
The media companies working on the "FreeDom" marathon appealed to the YouTube administration with propositions to review the procedure for working with the Ukrainian segment of TV production in the context of russia's continuous cyber war against Ukraine.
As IMI reported, in early July, the state enterprise "International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine" reported a continuous cyber attack on its Ukraine-based technological capabilities, conducted by russia.
10.07.2022 Unknown persons gained access to the personal Facebook page of Mykolaiv online media "Prestupnosti.NET" editor-in-chief Anatoly Chubachenko and deleted it. In addition, attackers took over and deleted the media outlet's YouTube channel. The editors believe that this is all the work of russian special services or russian hackers.
Anatoly Chubachenko told the IMI representative in Mykolaiv region about this.
On the morning of July 10, Anatoliy Chubachenko discovered that an interview recording which had been posted the day before was missing from the "Prestupnosti.NET" website. He saw that the publication's YouTube channel had been deleted by someone. At the same time, it turned out that he had lost access to his own Facebook page, which was later deleted.
"In the morning, I started working and discovered that the website was missing a video of an interview from our YouTube channel, which we had posted on the website a day earlier. It said that the channel had been deleted. I looked into this and ralized that I no longer had access to the email that was tied to this channel. While I was trying to figure out how it all happened, I started getting emails on my personal inbox which said that first the phone number that was linked to my Facebook account changed, then my email changed, then my email was deleted and my password was changed. I lost any way to log in to my Facebook account, and literally a few minutes later my colleagues began to text me, saying that my account was not available, that is, it did not exist, it had also been deleted,” the editor-in-chief said.
The editors do not understand how this could happen. Email and Facebook accounts had two-factor authentication. In addition, the email to which the YouTube account was linked was not linked to his phone.
"That is, I had a password, but there was a two-factor authentication process. And it's exactly the same with Facebook, we still can't figure out how it happened that they were able to access my Facebook account without going through the two-factor authentication that had been set up," he said.
The editors wrote to the support service on both YouTube and Facebook.
"I received a response from YouTube that they would review it within two days, maybe more. As for Facebook, there is no such communication format, so we have to use all the possibilities we had, all that they have, to restore access to the account, but none of them have worked so far. We have no way of resolving the issue, because the attackers simply changed all the emails from the inside, and all the codes for changing the password and restoring access are coming to those emails that had been listed by the attackers," said Anatoliy Chubachenko.
He himself and the media outlet's staff believe that this is all the work of russian special services or russian hackers. He noted that the attackers have tied the hacked Facebook account and YouTube channel to russian email addresses.
"We believe there is a high probability of it having been done by russian special services or russian hackers, because in my case, they listed russian e-mails such as 'mail.ru,' which is not used in Ukraine. This can be explained by the fact that the YouTube channel had so many videos about captured russian soldiers, the Ukrainian army destroying russian equipment, there were a lot of views – some videos got 2 million. And the Facebook account was also hacked, probably because I am the editor-in-chief of a media outlet that actively supports Ukraine and debunks russian fakes in every possible way. We have a large audience. Therefore, this is basically the only explanation for who would feel the need to hack the Facebook account and the email at such a time," Chubachenko said.
Editor-in-chief is asking for help with contacting Facebook and YouTube representatives directly, as he is afraid that they may lose their YouTube channel, which they have been developing for 10 years, and their Facebook page altogether.
11.07.2022 On July 11, the websites of the Mykolaiv online publications "Prestupnosti.NET" and "Niklife," which are part of the "Ukrainian Media Group" news agency, were subjected to a large-scale DDoS attack.
"Prestupnosti.NET" editor-in-chief Anatoliy Chubachenko informed the IMI representative in Mykolaiv region about this.
"On the evening of July 11, the website was targeted by a large-scale hacker attack. Our website administrators, who help us with its maintenance, were able to repel it with what functionality they already had. We consider it a link in the same chain of events as the hacking of our YouTube channel and my Facebook account. We think that these are the same people who have ties with the russian special services," he said.
Chubachenko considers the reason for the attack to be the editors' professional activities in covering the true facts of the full-scale war that russia has unleashed against the Ukrainian people.
"Towards late evening, the website was restored, and currently both of our websites – Prestupnosti.NET and NikLife – are working normally," he said.
21.07.2022 TAVR Media radio stantion group reported a cyber attack on the servers and networks of their radio stations.
As a result of the attack, the radio stations aired a fake report that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was in intensive care.
"Today, the servers and networks of TAVR Media radio stations suffered a cyber attack. At the moment, the relevant services are working on resolving this problem.
"We emphasize that none of the information about the health problems of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is true," the message reads.
23.08.2022 Suspilne Broadcaster recorded another attempt to jam the signal of its channels on the Amos satellite. Dmytro Hruzynsky, Suspilne Broadcasting Networks's Director for Organization and Development, informed Detector Media about this.
According to him, on August 23, they recorded a jamming attempt, with the interference coming from russian territory.
"Since the beginning of the russian federation's full-scale war against Ukraine, we have recorded regular attempts at damaging the broadcasting of Suspilne's TV and radio programs, namely through the satellite. My colleagues and I recorded the first such attempt back in March. Then we received documentary confirmation of this from our licensed satellite relay operator, Spacecom. Another attempt happened in late May. And now, on the eve of Independence Day, on the Day of the National Flag, on August 23, they recorded yet another attempt to jam our satellite signal..." Dmytro said.
However, Suspilne's partners – "Telekanal STB" LLC, which uploads Suspilne's television and radio programs to the satellite, and Spacecom, the satellite relay operator – made efforts to ensure that the company remained on air. Although there were obstacles.
Currently, the NPTU is collecting all the necessary papers for a litigation, since there was third party interference in the work of the channels.
"I will say more: technical experts have confirmed that the interference was committed by special radio-electronic means precisely on the territory of the aggressor country. It is no secret that real Ukrainian media, especially such as Suspilne, make the occupiers 'fret,' because the power of truth that Suspilne journalists demonstrate is almost like the weapons our UAF use. That is why I say that after the Victory, both the UAF and Suspilne will be indisputable authorities," Dmytro added.
According to him, Suspilne is now looking for ways to diversify risks for the sake of security. Therefore, according to the board's decision, applications have already been submitted to the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting to amend the licenses with regards to the satellite retransmitter.
The media outlet reminds that in March, after the start of russia's full-scale offensive, there were attempts to jam the satellite signal of channels – DDoS attacks and obstruction. Suspilne channels repelled the attacks, but had to switch to a backup satellite. They do not disclose which satellite is currently more secure, so as not to subject themselves to a new flurry of attacks.
In 2016, NPTU (then NTCU) transferred all its channels to the Spacecom satellite Amos. Until now, the telecommunications operator had been the subsidiary of the Swedish group SES, SES Sirius Ukraine, and the state enterprise "Ukrkosmos." STB became the telecommunications operator.
As IMI reported, on March 1, the Suspilne Broadcaster's website was attacked. According to the broadcaster, a file-destroying virus was launched.
On March 4, Ukrainian citizens started receiving emails of suspicious content, allegedly coming from Suspilne Broadcaster's press office.
On March 25, Suspilne's website suffered a powerful hacker attack.
24.11.2022 On November 24, Mykolaiv online publication "NikVesti" suffered a DDoS attack. The media outlet's editor-in-chief Oleh Derenyuha informed the IMI representative in Mykolaiv oblast about this.
According to him, the website has been under attack since 12:15 p.m., and tech support was working on solving the problem.
Derenyuha added that the website worked intermittently. "It's not just the power shortages. Since 12:15, the site has been under a DDoS attack. This is not the first time that they tried to meddle in our work in the course of the war. We are working on restoring the website," Oleh Derenyuha said.
At 17:40, the publication's website was functional.
The editors of the publication believe the attack on the website has to do with Russian "cyber troops". Yesterday morning, one of their Telegram channels posted information about the website with a call to "down it".
We remind that the publication's website suffered a cyber attack on May 18. Back then, Oleh Derenyuha didn't deny that the attack's source was the Russian Federation. "It is possible that someone in russia is upset with our content. Last night, for example, we received an official warning letter from Yandex, stating that they are forced to turn off 'NikVesti's' news because the publication with the intercepted conversation between russian soldiers is violates their rules and contains obscene language," Oleh Derenyuha said.
27.11.2022 On November 27, the website of the online publication "Detector Media" suffered a DDoS attack. The publication reported this on their Telegram channel.
"Russian hackers are attacking our site again. We are doing everything we can so that you can open the site," the editors wrote.
The cyber attack began in the evening after the "Narodnaya Cyber Armiya" Telegram channel posted a message proclaiming the DM website as the chosen "new target".
As IMI reported, the Russian group NoName057(16) carried out a DDoS attack on Detector Media on April 22.
In her comment to IMI, the head of "Detector Media", Natalya Lygachova, reported that on November 27, 2022, after the Russian Cyber Army called for an attack on the detector.media website, the load on the site's server started increasing, which indicated that a DDoS attack may have begun.
"We decided to activate cloudflare (protection against DDoS attacks), which we had installed earlier. The protection turned on and started checking the website's visitors, opening a protective page for each new visitor, detecting the attacking bots. But the load on the server didn't decrease – it kept growing, approaching the critical point for the website's functioning, and the site would not always open in the browser. After talking to tech support for cloudflare and the server hoster, we decided to switch to internal algorithms against DDoS attacks.
"After that, during an activity check, we detected the attacking subnets and blocked them manually. During the next few hours, we recorded new attack attempts from new subnets, which were also blocked," Lygachova said.
According to her, thanks to the measures taken to identify and block the attackers, the load on the server decreased and the website was fully operational within 12 hours.
19.12.2022 "Poltavska Khvylia" editor-in-chief Vitaly Ulybin says that their Facebook post about a Ukrainian defender who adjusts the fire of the Ukrainian artillery has been removed. He believes it is due to bots mass flagging the post.
Ulybin wrote about this on his Facebook page and informed the IMI representative in Poltava oblast.
As Vitaly Ulybin explained, Facebook is blocking the post because of the video that it contains.
"In the video, an air reconnaissance commander talks about how they work, what systems they use. Most likely, it is bots that are being used to take it down. Facebook itself allowed this video and even allowed it to be promoted through advertising. But time and again throughought the day, the advertising has been canceled, and the post has been taken down," said the editor.
Ulybin noted that the editors had decided to embed the video into the article and publish it on his Facebook page to check whether the issue had to do with Facebook's algorithms.
"But that post was also taken down. They said it violates their Community Guidelines. Facebook is blocking the article because of the video in it," said the "Poltavska Khvylia" editor-in-chief.
"Facebook doesn't have the content analysis capacity to do an in-depth check of the context of a YouTube video embedded in an article. Our theory about bots is also supported by the fact that the post on my page suddenly gained a large outreach – 112,000 people. However, it was not reflected in likes, reposts and comments. So, these were just some random accounts that did not interact with the post, but simply flagged," noted Vitaliy Ulybin.
It will be recalled that on July 27, 2022, "Poltavska Khvylia" received a letter from Roskomnadzor with a demand to remove the news item with a tutorial for making a Molotov cocktail and it was reported that the access to the resource has been restricted in russia. The editors responded with a picture in which the demands of the russian federation were being "sent along the course of the russian warship."
In September, "Poltavska Khvylia" received an email from Roskomnadzor with a demand to delete a news article "How to burn an occupier: a recipe for a Molotov cocktail." If was not taken down, the access to the website in russia would be restricted.
17.01.2023 "Ukrinform" news agency reports that their website suffered a cyber attack and was temporarily down. The agency reported this on Facebook.
"Ukrinform" advised the subscribers to read all news on their social media.
Later, the agency reported that it was working as usual. The website says the attack was powerful, but provides no details.
Later, the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine reported that Ukrinform may have been hacked by the Sandworm group, which has ties to the Russian GRU.
"The state Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA), which operates under the State Special Communications Service, is investigating the cyber attack on the Ukrainian National News Agency 'Ukrinform', which occurred on January 17. The Russian Telegram channel 'CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn' has already boasted of the hackers' 'achievement', however, in reality, the attackers failed to interrupt the agency's work," the State Intelligence Service notes.
CERT-UA employees promptly localized the threat.
According to the experts' preliminary data, the hackers carried out a centralized launch of the CaddyWiper malware in order to violate the integrity and availability of information with the help of group policy (GPO).
Taking into account the attack's characteristic features, CERT-UA assumes that the cyber attack was carried out by UAC-0082 (Sandworm). This group is associated with the Chief Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU). This group is among those that attacked Ukraine most often in 2022.
Also, the state Computer Emergency Response Team notes that the aforementioned Telegram channel has been repeatedly used to highlight Sandworm's malicious activity along with typical reports about DDoS attacks and defaces.
The data-destroying CaddyWiper malware was first detected in Ukraine in mid-March 2022.
Sandworm hackers also used it in a large-scale cyber attack on Ukraine's energy sector last April.
Russian hackers streamed a fake address by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Channel 24. This was reported on the Channel 24 website.
Nevertheless, the channel notes, they managed to restore broadcasting quickly.
According to the channel, on February 6, the satellite station that transmits the Channel 24 signal through the AMOS satellite was attacked. "Unfortunately, some cable operators are still receiving this signal for further distribution, so this attack affected their packages," the channel notes.
At the same time, the channel says, all other channels delivering their signal – MEGOGO, KyivStarTV and other OTT providers, most cable TV operators and the ASTRA satellite signal, as well as online streaming channels – work as usual.
As IMI reported, in March 2022, Russians hacked the ticker tape of Ukraina 24 TV channel, as well as Segodnya website, and streamed a fake address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about an alleged "capitulation."
In June 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that it had thwarted Russian special services' attempts to break into the electronic systems of the Ukrainian TV channels participating in the national telethon.
24.02.2023 Hackers played the USSR on the air of Inter. "Detector Media" reported this, posting a video recording of the broadcast.
This happened as Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security Council, was speaking on the "Unified Telethon". Also, as reported by social media users, the anthem was played on the media group's other channels: K2 and Zoom.
Inter's press office informed "Detector Media" that Inter Media Group's technical service had taken all the necessary measures to eliminate the threat of external interference in the operation of broadcast servers.
According to "Detector Media" sources, the attack allegedly occurred due to Inter's servers having online access and due to a virus on the computer of the news outlet's editor-in-chief.
Responding to a request for comment, the channel's press office reported that the necessary measures to eliminate the threats had been taken, and added: "At the moment, law enforcers are investigating into interference with the Inter and Zoom broadcasts, therefore, Inter Media Group cannot reveal any additional information about the situation or comment on this topic in more detail."
As IMI reported, on February 23, 2023, several web resources of Ukrainian state and local authorities suffered a cyberattack which led to the content of several pages on these resources being edited. According to the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, the incident did not lead to any significant disruption of the system's performance and did not affect the performance of the state bodies.
24.02.2023 Ukraïner, an educational project about the Ukrainian society and culture, has been hacked: cyber criminals took over the project's Facebook pages. The project reported this on Instagram.
"Friends, our Facebook pages have been taken over by hackers. Both Ukraïner's main page and all our non-Ukrainian language pages are controlled by unknown persons," the post says.
The project's team notes that they are looking for any way to regain full control over the account, and warns that if there are any strange posts on the pages in the near future, or the names of the pages change, etc., it is not their doing.
"Please do not click any links that may be posted on our pages or sent to you in private messages. Do not send any money, because we are currently not doing any fundraising (the army auction where we invited you to support our volunteer Mykhailo, ended today)," the message reads.
Ukraïner noted that for the time being, they will be posting content on Instagram, Telegram, Twitter and Viber.
The project's founder, Bohdan Logvynenko, tweeted that hackers had gained access to the publication's pages by hacking the Meta Business Manager.
"Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday (February 24 – Ed.) Ukraïner's Meta Business Manager was hacked. All pages have been breached. There may be provocations. They are already changing names and deleting posts. Meta Support has provided no help since yesterday. The Digital Ministry is aware of the situation," he wrote.
At the same time, he added on Facebook, a preliminary check did not reveal any signs of the administrators' personal pages being hacked.
"We were hacked, but a preliminary check of our personal pages shows that there has been no attack on the admins themselves. From the insiders in "Meta": probably some gaps appeared in the Business Manager and there is simply no operational capacity to solve such problems. And even if the hacker attack happened due to an administrative error – it could take months (!) to fix a page hack. Seeing how quick the support is to respond and the how one has to have ties in Meta to 'talk things through', it is obvious that Facebook is the most risky place for communicating and accumulating social clout while there is an information war," Logvynenko wrote.
He added that Ukraïner will probably have to leave Facebook.
In his comment to the IMI, Logvynenko did not rule out that Russians might be behind the hacker attack on the project's Facebook pages. "At the moment, we do not rule out such a possibility. We are currently looking into this incident with experts at Meta. There was certain involvement of hackers from several countries. Russia is not on the list, but there are some of Russia's so-called friendly countries. This could be either a coincidence or a thoroughly planned operation. I'm not sure if we will ever know for sure, but we'll at least try," he said.
He said that he could not say which "friendly" countries were concerned and added: "It may not really matter because a VPN allows you to 'be' in any country."
Later, Logvynenko reported that Facebook had restored access to all of Ukraïner's 12 pages.
02.03.2023 Russian hackers attempted a cyber attack on the air of the FM Halychyna radio station. The Security Service of Ukraine had warned the editors about the cyberattack in advance. The media reported this on Facebook on March 2.
The day before, on March 1, calls for a hacker attack on the radio station were circulating on Russian Telegram channels.
Volodymyr Kushniruk, FM Halychyna technical director, said that their specialists had responded to the enemy's actions in time and managed to eliminate the threat.
"Obviously, they decided to hack our data transmissions or even speak on our behalf on the air. The technical department of the radio station took additional security measures to prevent such a situation," Kushniruk said.
The radio station believes that hackers will try to hijack the broadcast again in the future and assures that they will do everything in their power to prevent this from happening.
"Since its conception, the radio station has never played a single Russian song, and the announcers and presenters have never voiced pro-Russian narratives. [...] We will continue to cover the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war truthfully and call the Russians our enemies, even if we are a bone in their throat. We think that this cyber attack is only the beginning, the invaders will not stop in their attempts to do damage to FM Halychyna. We have stepped up our vigilance and will make sure to repel the enemy's cyber attacks in time. The radio station's website will resume its work shortly," said program director Yula Bielska.
Yula Bielska reported on "Espreso" TV channel that the only thing the hackers managed to do was to temporarily stop the radio station's website from working. But now the website is already up again.
Radio FM Halychyna is the largest regional radio network covering 14 frequencies within Ukraine: Lviv 89.7 FM, Ternopil 102.3 FM, Lutsk 89.8 FM, Rivne 89.5 FM, Boryslav 102.9 FM, Brody 107.5 FM, Novy Rozdil 107.6 FM, Radehiv 103.6 FM, Slavske 102.6 FM, Stary Sambir 102.7 FM, Stryi 107.9 FM, Turka 105.9 FM, Chervonograd 103.0 FM, Shatsk 106.7 FM.
15.03.2023 The editors of RBC Ukraine filed a statement with the cyberpolice over website forgery and a fake article criticizing the UAF Commander-in-Chief, Valery Zaluzhny. RBC Ukraine journalist Dmytro Braslavsky reproted this to the IMI.
The perpetrators signed the article criticizing Zaluzhny as Dmytro Braslavsky, which he reported on Facebook.
The journalist said that neither the editors nor he has any relation to the website or the article. Braslavsky believes that this is how the Russians are waging their info war.
"They created a fake RBC Ukraine page, threw together some miserable article about Zaluzhny and signed it with my name. This, of course, is intended for people who will not be attentive enough and will think that what the article says is completely true. But no, it's a goddamn fake, which neither I nor RBC Ukraine have anything to do with," the journalist wrote.
In a comment to IMI, Dmytro said that he had already contacted the cyberpolice regarding this incident. He explained that the domain of RBC Ukraine is rbc.ua, and that of the fake resource is rbk.media.
"This is a copy of the website. As the editorial team has explained, this is not the first such occurrence. I personally forwarded the link to this propaganda to the editors, and then it was passed on to the cyberpolice. You can see the difference between the official RBC Ukraine website and this fake one by the domain. As I understand it, Russian propagandists (and maybe even Prigozhin's bot factory) do similar things all the time," the journalist noted.
As IMI reported, in September, unknown persons created a copy of the Ternopil online resource "Poglyad" and of its Facebook page. And in Snigurivka town (Mykolaiv oblast), which had been under Russian occupation since March to November, the invaders were distributing a clone of the locally known newspaper "Ridne Prybuzhzhia". The Russians used the layout, typeface, and name of the regional newspaper, having translated it into Russian – "Rodnoe Pribuzhye".
10.04.2023 A fake website imitating the online publication "Ukrainian Pravda" has appeared on the Internet.
According to the domain verification service whois, the fake website with the domain pravda-ua.com was created as recently as February 12, 2023, through an American company.
The website contains several pages and simulates the interface and the logo of the UP.
Journalist Pavlo Kazarin pointed out that the clone website had posted a fake version of his column.
"Fake content posted on behalf of the 'Ukrainian Pravda' appears online every now and then. Visually, it copies the UP, the only difference being that instead of content there is some kind of panicmongering nonsense. Now they started writing fake columns purportedly by the UP's regular authors. Me, for example. The latest case is an attack on the TDF, signed with my name," Kazarin wrote.
The journalist advises readers to pay attention to the domain: "The 'Ukrainian Pravda's' domain is easily googled. If the domain of the article/news is different, then you are dealing with a fake".
He also added that he reporsts all his writings on social media. "If you see a column by Karazin which is not to be found on Kazarin's social media, then you are dealing with a fake. Our neighbors have decided to do a psyop. Baby's first disinformation," Kazarin wrote.
11.04.2023 Online media Obozrevatel reported a fake website that mimics the appearance of their website and spreads false news. The media asked the Security Service of Ukraine to take appropriate action.
Fake posts purportedly by the Obozrevatel are being promoted on Facebook via paid-for advertising feature.
Visually, the fake news pages are a perfect copy of the Obozrevatel website, copying the authors's data as well, but the website address is different.
The editors also point out that the difference lies in the "unintelligible presentation of information – typical for a Russian psyop, which comes specifically amidst the news about the UAF counteroffensive."
"Propagandists want to sow disappointment among Ukrainians, often the readers cannot distinguish original pages from their mirror versions. We note that in an attempt at panicmongering and smearing the leadership of Ukraine and our Defense Forces, the scammers use paid-for social media advertising wherein you click on a bright image and it takes you to a mirror website of a media outlet," the media writes.
As the editors note, if you click on the link on a different day from when it was "posted", you can immediately see that the site has not been updating: "All the news on it are dated with the same day and were posted around the time when the scammers were 'drawing up' their fake."
Also, false "reports" use blurred photos from the Internet which have nothing to do with the text of the fake articles. Such "articles" does not cite any sources, either.
Moreover, social media user Yuriy Konkevych noticed that the fakes are being spread on Facebook through paid advertising. He said that he has been encountering targeted advertising with the news about "our allies betraying us" while scrolling Facebook for several days. According to him, the scammers act in a classic manner: a funny caricature instead of a photo, a short text mentioning a Western publication and a link to the fake Obozrevatel page.
The editors have contacted the SBU, asking them to take appropriate action regarding the Russian psyop.
17.04.2023 Russian propagandists share a fake news report mimicking Ukrinform on social media networks and in the media. Ukrinform reported this on their website.
A screenshot of March 24 news item purportedly from the Ukrinform website has been shared in Russian Telegram channels, social networks such as Twitter, TikTok, Vkontakte, YouTube, as well as in mass media.
The fake news, designed to mimic the Ukrinform's layout, says that Ukraine has registered a draft bill banning taking photos and video at cemeteries, citing the Parliament's website as the source.
"This is followed by a peculiarly worded 'explanation' by some unnamed legislators that 'public coverage of the state of Ukrainian cemeteries can provide valuable intelligence information to the Russian army, as well as trigger a negative media buzz within the country itself," the media writes.
Ukrinform states that this news report is fake: "There has been no such news report on the Ukrinform website. This can be verified via the Web Machine online archive. Propagandists claim that the report was posted on March 24 at 19:24, but it is not so. On this day and time, a completely different piece of news was posted on the website," the editors note.
In addition, Ukrinform noted that since the start of the full-scale invasion, it has been writing the word "Russia" in lowercase.
"The propagandists did not take this into account and capitalized the name of their country, which also indicates this is a fake. Moreover, when reporting on draft bills, Ukrinform always indicates their number, which the Russians did not do when they made their fake," the report said.
The media also points out that such a draft bill is not to be found in the archive of draft bills registered by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Ukrinform notes that this is not the first time that Russian propagandists have forged screenshots to frame the news agency. Last time, they were spreading reports about three people dying at the "invincibility hub" in Kharkiv, with the authorities ordering the Ukrainian mass media to cover up the tragedy, but the fake news was debunked.
11.05.2023 The website of Channel 24 sustained a Russian hacker attack on May 11, according to the channel's website.
The Russians began rapidly posting fake news reports that contained threats and insults against the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and mailing out similar "push messages" to the readers.
As the channel notes, the attack took place the day before the release of a large-scale investigation about a high-ranking officer of the Russian GRU.
The channel managed to thwart the attack and promptly identified the vulnerabilities which had enabled the attack.
Commenting on the attack, the Channel 24 editor-in-chief said that Russians really don't like what the media outlet did.
"The Russians really don't like what we do. The FSB fakes using "screenshots" from Channel 24, as well as the attempted hacker attacks are proof of it. No attacks will stop us. The website is working again. As per tradition, the Russians did a negative offensive. We don't stop and go straight to victory," Anastasia Zazulyak stressed.
Channel 24 CEO, Roman Andreyko, noted that the channel had repelled the Russian attack and determined the attackers' target. "The enemy will no longer pass, and their bold warnings are empty bragging," Andreyko stressed.
As reported by IMI, the Channel 24 website suffered a DDoS attack on February 23, 2022. The servers temporarily stopped working due to the attack. The attack on the website began almost simultaneously with an attack on the government's websites.
25.05.2023 The website of the media outlet "Vechirniy Kyiv" was hacked on May 25, the publication reports.
The media outlet's editor-in-chief, Olena Petryshyn, clarified that the hackers had posted several copies of a news item by the hacker group Sontsepyok.
"The hackers did not get direct access to the server or the database. Now our specialists are working to avoid such situations in the future and make the web portal even more secure," said Olena Petryshyn.
The website was attacked around 3:00 p.m. According to the acting director of CE Kyivinform (that "Vechirniy Kyiv" is a part of), Yevhen Lopushynsky, the attack took place during the opening of the photo exhibition "Kyiv Yesterday and Today: a Journey Through Time" in Taras Shevchenko Park in Kyiv.
As the editors note, this is not the first attack on the website that has happened since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In the first months that followed the escalation, the media outlet had to repel similar attacks every now and then, but on a smaller scale.
In the comment to the IMI representative, Yevhen Lopushynsky specified that the publication's website was attacked by Russian hackers.
"They wrote that they were the hacker group Sontsepyok, started posting the same news item every minute, which featured an image of Zelensky a clown costume and went approximately as follows: 'Attention, Zelensky! We, the hacker group Sontsepyok, have hacked all the state websites, discovered all the information and corruption,'" he said.
According to Yevhen Lopushynsky, the response team worked for three hours to restore the website, and it is currently working as usual. The team continues to improve the website's security to avoid similar hacker attacks in the future.
21.06.2023 Another fake website of the Ukrainian news outlet RBC-Ukraine has appeared in the web. This was reported by the fact-checking project "On That Side of News".
Russian propagandists used the fake website to post a misleading article entitled "Zaluzhny spells everything out." In the article, which is purportedly written by the news feed editor, Dmytro Braslavsky, they cite a similarly fake Facebook post by the UAF Commander-in-Chief, Valery Zaluzhny. With this report, the Russians are trying to promote the belief that "it's all over," the counteroffensive has failed, Zelensky has betrayed everyone, there will be no more weapons, and other such false and pessimistic narratives, reports "On That Side".
The article is structured like an original column where "Braslavsky" reflects on the counteroffensive prospects and comes to the conclusion that Ukraine needs more Zaluzhnys, not a traitor president.
According to the domain verification service "whois", the resource with the domain name "rbk media" (actually the name is somewhat different, but Facebook has already identified the fraud and is taking it down) was registered in February 2023. The real "RBC-Ukraine" domain name is rbc.ua.
The fake post by Valery Zaluzhny, which is bein promoted by an empty “For You” page, is being actively recommended by Facebook algorithms as well. Thanks to this, the post with the link to a fake website ended up in the feeds of many Ukrainians.
The fact that the post in question is fake is evidenced by its layout. The text itself is shown in a Facebook window, but the profile name id from Twitter (and has the signature verification checkmark).
Dmytro Braslavsky, whom the "On That Side of News" contacted for comment, was surprised to learn that his name was being exploited by fraudsters again. The editors will deal with this problem.
As the IMI reported, in March, 2023, the editors of the RBC Ukraine filed a statement with the cyberpolice over website forgery and a fake article criticizing the UAF Commander-in-Chief, Valery Zaluzhny. The article criticizing Zaluzhny was signed with Dmytro Braslavsky's name.
In June 2022, the RBC-Ukraine reported that some criminals were posing as their editorial office to advertise a survey with which RBC-Ukraine had nothing to do on social media. Back then, the RBC-Ukraine contacted the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation regarding this issue.
09.08.2023 ZN.UA editors report that their website was subjected to a Russian DDoS attack on the night of August 9.
This media outlet wrote this on the morning of August 9 on their Telegram channel.
The website was under attack for several hours, which prevented readers from accessing information.
As of 10 a.m., the website is already up and running.
As IMI reported, on March 16, 2023, the ZN.ua website was hacked.
21.08.2023 On the night of August 21, the Russians hacked the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian media outlet "RIA Melitopol", which continued to work even after Melitopol (Zaporizhia oblast) was occupied.
The media posted the relevant statement on its website. The editors noted that "the ruscists are posting their shameful news on the TG channel, changed the channel's name to Russian and added a different profile picture."
"Now we need support. We appeal to all mass media and Telegram channels, asking you to support us by spreading the word. Share the link to the new "RIA Melitopol" ("RIA South") TG channel: https://t.me/riamelitopolua," the editors wrote.
According to IMI's sources, the administrators of the "RIA Melitopol" ("RIA South") channel currently do not have access to the account. At the time of the attack, the sources add, the Telegram channel had 79,000 subscribers.
As of now, the editors have created a new Telegram channel and hope that all subscribers will switch to it and not succumb to the occupiers' propaganda. As of 2 a.m., the new Telegram channel already had over 14,000 subscribers.
According to Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov, the occupiers also hacked several other pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels which have been "tirelessly reporting the terrible truth about the life in the TOT while facing constant threats from the occupiers" since the first day of the war.
"Ruscists want to make reliable information unaccessible and force the people in the occupied territories to only consume their propaganda. [...] All the content you see on the channels now come from the enemy. The owners of the channels do not have access to the administration features. Please take care of your personal safety! Exit the hacked chats and unfollow the hacked newsgroups," Fedorov wrote on Telegram and suggested that people read the news of the occupied southern Ukraine on the "RIA Melitopol" ("RIA South") website and on their new Telegram channel.
28.08.2023 A fake article by Chernihiv journalist Iryna Synelnyk, who works with the news agency UNIAN, has been circulated on Facebook. The article was posted by a clone of the news outlet's page. It is being spread on the social media platform through advertising.
The journalist told the IMI representative in Chernihiv oblast about this.
According to Iryna, the article is signed with her name and talks about the heavy losses of the Ukrainian army and the need to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Recently we have seen a rise of fake websites of our national media outlets, which post articles that parrot Russian narratives, signed with the names of these outlets' journalists. The journalists, of course, do not know that their name has been exploited in this way. Such a thing happened to me. On Facebook, these articles are being circulated through advertising. The links to UNIAN publications end with '.html', but the fake link ends with '.php'. This is the distinction; the layout of the page is visually identical to the original," said Iryna Synelnyk.
Fact-checkers from the project "On the Other Side of the News" have pointed out that this Russian practice of spreading fakes through Facebook ads is becoming increasingly common.
"The news feed is literally drowning in paid-for posts labeled as 'advertising'. All of them sow conspiracy theories and outright lies. A brief recap: the Ukrainian government is mired in corruption, Western aid is 'going down the drain'; the military cannot resist the Russian missile barrage, therefore urgent negociations are needed; the new recruits are being sent to slaughter with no training," the project notes.
Besides UNIAN, fake pages of "Obozrevatel" and "RBC-Ukraine" have been encountered, report the fact-checkers.
The algorithm for creating fakes is as follows: take a well-known website and make a carbon copy of its layout and title, but with a different domain name.
For example, the fake website that pretends to be "Obozrevatel" has the domain ".ltd", while the real one has ".com". After posting fake content with signatures of real employees, they actively distribute the articles in the Ukrainian segment of Facebook through the advertising algorithm.
Chernihiv journalist Iryna Synelnyk, whose name was used to promote Russian narratives in this way, told IMI that she had already contacted the Security Service of Ukraine about this.
As IMI reported, a fake website imitating the media outlet "Ukrainian Pravda" appeared on the Internet in April. "Ukrainian Pravda" contacted the SBU with a request to address the spread of a fake column by the journalist, military officer Pavlo Kazarin, done by unknown persons through a fake website.
In March, 2023, the editors of RBC Ukraine filed a statement with the cyberpolice over website forgery and a fake article criticizing the UAF Commander-in-Chief, Valery Zaluzhny. In June 2022, the RBC-Ukraine reported that some criminals were posing as their editorial office to advertise a survey with which RBC-Ukraine had nothing to do on social media. Back then, the RBC-Ukraine contacted the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation regarding this issue.
"Obozrevatel" and "Ukrinform" have also reported having their websites cloned.
06.09.2023 The website of the Institute of Mass Information has suffered a DDoS attack on the morning of September 6 and was down for over an hour.
The technicians tried to repel the attack and protect the website.
The website is now back online.
"I believe the attack is connected with our materials about Russian crimes against journalists and the media. We will continue to expose and document Russian crimes," said IMI director Oksana Romaniuk.
We remind you that in April 2023 unknown hackers tried to access the IMI website and were looking for a vulnerable spot through the newsletter subscription form. IMI believes the attack to be connected with the organization's professional work, such as exposing Russian war crimes, publishing the War Crimes Barometer and investigations into the work of Russia's aggressive propagandists.
after February 24, the IMI website has suffered daily cyber attacks which were committed by hackers from the russian federation. At the time, hackers used various methods to hack into the IMI website to gain access to the administration panel. In particular, they tried to find vulnerabilities by writing scripts in the form of donations. However, due to the high degree of protection, they failed.
The IMI website was subjected to especially powerful DDoS attacks on May 10 and March 25, as well as on December 22, 2022, when unknown persons tried to disrupt the work of IMI through the newsletter subscription form.
07.10.2023 The website of the Odesa media outlet Intent suffered a DDoS attack and was down for half an hour.
As editor-in-chief Valeriy Bolhan told the IMI representative in Odesa oblast, it took this long for cyber security experts to repel the attack and protect the website managing features from being accessed:
"The programmers have preliminary information that suggests the attack could have come from Russia. I believe that this is not a coincidence. We heard that we are not the only Ukrainian media outlet to come under attack lately."
The editors believe this incident is related to their reporting. The team is currently considering contacting the police.
As IMI reported, in August, Russian special services tried to break into the e-system for planning UAF operations. According to the SBU, the Russian hackers intended to tap into intelligence data. The attack was perpetrated by the hacker group Sandworm, which is backed by the Russian military intelligence.
"To spread viruses in the system, the enemy primarily 'bet' on capturing Ukrainian battlefield tablets. In the future, they planned to use the access and programs available on these devices to penetrate the system," the SBU said.
On August 5, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine warned about the viruses being spread posing as recommendations from the Government Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine CERT-UA.
07.11.2023 On November 7, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Russian hackers targeted the United News telethon, reports "Detector Media", citing its own sources.
The broadcast was interrupted by Russian music videos and propaganda. The Russians attacked the satellite signal.
However, the experts noticed and repelled the attack in time.
As the IMI reported, in March 2022, Russian hackers accessed the Ukraine 24 ticker line and the Segodnya website to broadcast a fake address from President Volodymyr Zelensky about Ukraine "surrendering".
In June 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that it had blocked attempts by Russian special services to hack the electronic systems of Ukrainian TV channels participating in the national telethon.
In September 2023, the "United News" team said that Russian media were spreading fake news about cuts in the livestream of President Zelensky's UN speech. In the statement published on the 1+1 website (one of the participating channels), the telethon channels said this information was misleading and called on the journalistic community and digital content creators to fight back against the Russian fake. The fake news was posted by the pro-Russian propagandist Anatoliy Shariy, who uploaded the edited video on his Telegram channel.
09.11.2023 Someone is trying to interfere with the work of five Suspilne satellite chanlles by jamming them and changing their content, reports the Suspilne press office.
The affected channels are "Pershiy", "Suspilne Novyny", "Suspilne Krym", "Suspilne Culture" and "Suspilne Sport", which the viewers watch through individual satellite antennas. The digital T2 and cable broadcasts continue uninterrupted.
The attack began on November 9 at 11:07 a.m. and is still ongoing. Technicians from the relevant services are working to resolve the problem.
The head of the Suspilne Supervisory Board, Svitlana Ostapa, remarked that Russia was behind the attack.
"We found that Russia is behind this. We associate this with our independent reporting and truthful coverage of the war, which the aggressor does not like very much. We managed to restore the broadcasting quickly. But in order to protect ourselves from blocking, the company is considering switching to another, more secure satellite," she said.
As the IMI reported, the attacks on the Hromadske Radio website, which began on November 8, continued into the morning of November 9. The Hromadske Radio technicians team reports at least 160 million requests in the morning and a total of over 1.5 billion per day.
13.12.2023 Instagram has blocked the account of a Donetsk and Luhansk independent online media outlet "Skhidny Variant" over the last two months. The editorial team believes it's a Russian bot attack aimed at interfering with their reporting, as they reported on Facebook.
The account was blocked for “community guidelines violation”, but this time, the media outlet notes, they can not go and learn about the violation.
"Seeing as our website has been subjected to regular DDoS-attacks, we conclude this is the Russian bots' next attempt to undermine our work covering Russia's crimes in Ukraine," the editors said.
In her comment to the IMI representative in Donetsk oblast, the "Skhidny Variant" editor-in-chief, Anastasia Rudenko, added that the website's team was trying to restore the account.
“We are still waiting, because we only filed our appeal on Friday (December 8 – Ed.) thanks to our colleagues from the Center for Democracy and Law. But we decided to make a backup Instagram page, because this is the third block in two months,” Anastasia Rudenko commented.
22.12.2023 The Kharkiv media outlet GWARA MEDIA received an email from a supposed SBU employee asking them to file a request for information and provide a written response. There was a "Documents.zip" archive attached to the email, chief editor Serhiy Prokopenko told the IMI.
He also said that the team has not formally appealed to the police, but let them know about this.
At the same time, the fact of mass mailing of letters with identical content was recorded by the Ukraine's State Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA), which the State Special Communications Service cites, recorded identical letters being mass mailed around the same time. Experts at the CERT-UA note that such emails are part of a Russian hacker attack on the mobile operator Kyivstar.
"The CERT-UA recorded letters with the subject 'Request to the SBU' and an attached archive 'Documents.zip' being mass mailed. The letter contains a password-protected RAR archive 'Zapyt.rar' with the executable file 'Zapyt.exe'. Opening the archive and running the file, as in the previous case, damages the computer with the remote access software RemcosRAT," the message says.
CERT-UA experts note that the RemcosRAT control servers are located on on the technical site of the Malaysian hosting provider Shinjiru, which is typical for the hacker group UAC-0050, but also within the autonomous system AS44477.
CERT-UA experts once again recommend filtering emails with password-protected attachments (both archives and documents) at the mail gateway level.
This is not the first such attack by the UAC-0050, the SSCS notes. Recently, the cybercriminals have been mass mailing letters about "judicial claims" and "debts". Users from Ukraine and Poland have been targeted.
24.01.2024 "Ukrainian Pravda" reported a DDoS attack, but the team has already restored access to the site.
In a comment to IMI, the media outlet's editor-in-chief Sevgil Musaieva explained that the website is often under attack and the website may be down again.
According to her, identifying the people behind the attack is possible after the fact, but usually it is Russian hackers.
"The attacks vary in intensity. Today's attack is very intense," Musaieva noted.
She also added that the editors do not believe the attack has to do with any specific article. The Russians attack large websites and projects in this way.
As IMI reported, on January 13, 2024, the media outlet "Censor.Net" suffered a cyber attack that lasted for at least six hours.
29.01.2024 On January 29, two websites of the state-owned "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine" – those of the FREEDOM TV channel and the FREEDOM digital news aggregator – were subjected to a massive DDoS attack. The company believes that Russian hackers could be behind the incident.
The IMI was informed about this by the IMBPU press office.
The company notes that the attack happened in several waves. The DDoS requests were coming from the USA, Mexico, Vietnam, Colombia.
According to the company, the news aggregator's website received over 180 million requests and was partially unavailable in the countries from which the requests were coming for two hours. At the same time, the TV channel's website received several million requests, but continued to work without interruption.
The company's technicians were able to quickly resolve the problem. The website of the TV channel "Dim" and the digital portal The Gaze, which are also part of the IMBPU, were working as usual.
On January 25, the websites of the TV channels "Dim" and "FREEDOM", which are part of the state enterprise "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine", crashed due to a large-scale cyber attack on a data center.
18.02.2024 The online media outlet "Ukrainian Pravda" reported their X account being hacked.
The editors noted that they lost access to the account on the evening of February 18, as the account started posting fakes.
In particular, these included false news about Russians "crushing" elite UAF units in Avdiivka.
"We are trying to restore the access. Please do not think that the UP has anything to do with the information posted on the social media platform," the publication noted.
As the IMI reported, on January 24, 2024, "Ukrainian Pravda" reported a DDoS attack on their website. Editor-in-chief Sevgil Musaieva noted that this was usually done by Russian hackers.
18.02.2024 The online media outlet LIGA.net reports that their website has been hacked and is posting Russian disinformation about Avdiivka. The editors declare that they are not involved in the publication of Russian disinformation.
As the media outlet writes, the fake news about the Russians "crushing" the elite UAF units in Avdiivka were posted on February 18 at 2:30 p.m.
The editors quickly removed the fake news from the news feed, but the material was still available for some time and was automatically shared on the outlet's X account.
LIGA.net apologizes to readers and is investigating the possible security gaps to fix the situation and prevent it from repeating.
"We emphasize that our editorial team only posts reliable and verified information and only reports on the frontline events citing competent sources such as the official UAF spokesperson, the military command and the state leadership," the editorial team declares.
On February 18, 2024, the online media outlet "Ukrainian Pravda" reported their X account being hacked; the perpetrators started posting fakes such as news of Russians "crushing" elite UAF units in Avdiivka.
18.02.2024 The online media outlet "Apostrophe" says that on February 18, the Russians hacked their website to post disinformation about Russians "crushing" elite UAF units in Avdiivka.
According to the editors, the misinformation post featured a collage and a caption to it.
"The Apostrophe editors declare that this report has nothing to do with reality and urge our readers to consume information responsibly," the message reads.
The website's team is doing everything in their power to prevent similar Russian attacks in the future.
18.02.2024 The online newspaper "Telegraf" reports that Russian hackers accessed their website and posted fake news about elite UAF units being "crushed" by Russian troops in Avdiivka.
"To post the Avdiivka fake news, the Russians 'hacked' several popular Ukrainian news websites – including 'Telegraf'. Yesterday, February 18, several domestic media outlets posted news about the UAF's supposed huge losses near Avdiivka and our army's 'elite forces being crushed' in this area. Of course, reasonable people were immediately suspicious of this information, especially considering the spelling errors in the simplest words," the media outlet writes.
The editors say that the Russians posted the fake news by hacking the security systems used by some media outlets.
19.02.2024 The "Espreso" broadcasting system was hacked on the evening of February 19. The channel suspects Russian involvement in the attack, reports "Espreso" on their website.
The hackers accessed the channel's signal and used it to stream a short video with footage of ruined Ukrainian cities, a clip of Joe Biden and a call to stop, implying the USA's complicity in the war in Ukraine.
"We regret that our viewers saw this provocative video on air. Russia is solely responsible for the war in Ukraine. This is an obvious fact that the authors of the video tried to twist. This makes it clear that Russia is involved in the attack on Espreso," the TV channel's press office said.
The channel's team notes that they have already taken all necessary action to restore security and are preparing a statement to the police.
21.02.2024 Co-founders of the online platform Svidok.org have been recording weekly cyberattack attempts, but the team constantly repels them. In addition to the cyberattacks, the Russians are trying to promote their narratives on the platform.
The Svidok.org head of communications Olena Kuk spoke about this on the Ukrainian Radio.
She noted that security is a top priority for Svidok.org. Furthermore, the platform is anonymous, so people don't have to worry about their data getting into the wrong hands. Moderators only pass the on statements to the police with people's permission.
"We did everything to ensure that this platform was reliable, that there was maximum protection against cyber attacks, that backups are created all the time, so that these data are never lost and are preserved," says Olena.
The online platform can also be used as a personal diary. The moderators have no access to those, so they will not make the information that a person writes down public or pass it on to the law enforcement.
Since the Russians are unable to hack the platform, they are trying to push their narratives through it, so the content people upload for publication is carefully moderated.
"Every memory, every testimony goes through additional moderation so as not to let pro-Russia narratives and Russian propaganda pass through our platform," Olena Kuk explains.
The primaty talking point of such narratives is that "all is lost, we've been betrayed, the government is bad, the Ukrainian military is bombing civilians."
"All these things are the Kremlin sounding its mouthpiece all the time, and it is very important to read the text carefully. Sometimes there can be a barely noticeable comparison between Ukraine and the Russian regime. Our team rereads it several times in order to notice the propaganda sprinkled in," says Olena.
There is a separate "button" for the people in the occupied territories. If the person is in the occupied territories, they can press the button and the note will be saved later, when they feel safe.
The purpose of the platform is to spread the testimonies and memories by Ukrainians beyond Ukraine. It can also be a personal war diary. The website allows you to safely and reliably store your lived experience of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and collect evidence of all the atrocities and war crimes committed by the Russians.
24.02.2024 Pryamiy TV suffered a Russian hacker attack at 6:33 p.m on February 24, reports the channel's website.
The YouTube livestream news ticker was hacked to display Russian propaganda instead of news.
Currently, the news ticker has been disabled; the channel's experts are working to restore it to normal.
13.03.2024 The website of the digital news aggregator FREEDOM (part of the state-owned "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine") sustained a mass DDoS attack, the company's press office reports to the Institute of Mass Information.
The hackers attacked the website in the evening and at night on March 12 to 13. The website received 33 million requests in a short time, but continued to work with minor complications.
"The attack, which was apparently Russian hackers' doing, happened in several waves in the evening and at night. DDoS requests were coming from the US, Colombia, Brazil, India, Argentina, and the Netherlands," the press office notes.
The company's technicians quickly resolved the problem. The digital news aggregator FREEDOM continued to work, but accessing it from the countries where the attack was coming from was difficult.
The websites of the TV channels FREEDOM and Dim, as well as the digital portal The Gaze, which are part of the IMBPU, worked as usual.
On January 29, two websites of the state-owned "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine" – those of the FREEDOM TV channel and the FREEDOM digital news aggregator – were subjected to a massive DDoS attack. The company believes that Russian hackers could be behind the incident.
On January 25, the websites of the TV channels "Dim" and "FREEDOM", which are part of the state enterprise "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine", crashed due to a large-scale cyber attack on a data center.
13.03.2024 Suspilne Ukraine recorded an attempt to jam their satellite signal from Russia, reports Suspilne on their website.
The attack took place on March 13. The signal was being jammed from the space communications center "Medvezh'i Ozera", located in the Moscow suburbs.
This is the second time Suspilne faces an attempt to jam their signal on the Astra satellite. The targeted TV channels include "Pershiy", "Suspilne Culture", "Suspilne Crimea", "Suspilne News", "Suspilne Sport", as well as the radio stations.
The attack lasted for an hour and resulted in the television and radio channels being unavailable on the satellite. The broadcasting has since been restored.
In November 2023, Russia attempted to interfere with the work of five Suspilne TV channels via satellite by trying to jam them and change their content.
28.03.2024 The Russians staged a large-scale interference in the Ukrainian TV broadcasting on the satellite Astra4A. At around 9:30 a.m., the Russians tried to jam the broadcasting the 1+1 Media and partner channels on the reception frequency 11766H (the affected channels include 1+1 Ukraine, 1+1 Marathon, TET, PLUSPLUS, Bigudi, 2+2, UNIAN, etc). Instead of the United News telethon and other broadcasters' content, for some time Ukrainian viewers could only see Russian propaganda, reports the 1+1 Media Holding press service.
As of 11:00 a.m., the problem has been resolved and the satellite broadcasting has been restored.
"However, this is not Russia's last attempt to silence the content of Ukrainian TV channels in order to mislead the society and promote hostile narratives, especially in the territories bordering the temporarily occupied cities and villages," the media holding notes.
They recommend their viewers, if possible, to ensure they can receive the TV channels' signal from various alternative sources such as T2, cable, OTT, or the Internet (TV channels's websites, YouTube).
The Russians replaced Ukrainian content with a video of propagandist Diana Panchenko, according to the photos released by the Center for Strategic Communications.
On January 15, 2023, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed into effect the National Security and Defense Council's decision to introduce sanctions against the former host of "Medvedchuk's channels" Diana Panchenko and others.
On January 24, 2023, the SBU notified pro-Kremlin propagandist Diana Panchenko of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (production and distribution, in particular repeatedly and through mass media, of materials justifying the Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine).
In October 2023, SBU investigators notified the pro-Russian propagandist Diana Panchenko of suspicion of high treason committed under martial law.
Diana Panchenko is a pro-Russian journalist and TV host of NewsOne, Pershiy Nezalezhny and Ukrlive. In February 2021, after the channels NewsOne, ZIK and "112 Ukraine" were sanctioned, she left for Pershiy Nezalezhny, a channel which is part of Viktor Medvedchuk's media holding. After the start of the full-scale invasion, she supported the Russian occupiers and visited the temporarily occupied Donetsk in August of last year.
08.04.2024 1+1 Media says that Kremlin bot farms are spreading a fabricated video branded "1+1 Ukraine" on social media. The video announces the start of a project titled "United States of Treason", the media holding reported on their website on April 8.
The media group notes that the fake news is part of a campaign aimed at undermining the society and US support for Ukraine's Defense Forces.
The fake news was shared on April 8 on Telegram and in other social networks.
"This video is an outright fabrication actively shared by the Kremlin bot farms. On the same day, The Washington Post warned that Russia had deployed a wide network of 'trolls' to underming the US support for Ukraine. This video is part of a campaign initiated by Russia to destabilize Ukraine," the media group said.
The company urged the viewers and the journalistic community to observe information hygiene and abstain from spreading fake news.
"The enemy is insidious and always uses persuasive tools to capture the audience's attention. Use the official 1+1 Media sources and do not trust dubious information online," the media holding noted.
Earlier, the Center for Combating Disinformation reported that Russia was spreading fake news about Ukraine's involvement in the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk (Russia), threatening to restore the death penalty.
15.04.2024 The Poltava media outlet "Zmist" stated that the Russians attacked its website, reports the newspaper on their Telegram channel.
The editors note that the DDoS attack has been going on for three days in a row, since April 13.
"ZMIST has been under a Russian DDoS-attack since Saturday (April 13. – Ed.). It is currently at its peak, and our website is running slower and asking you to confirm you are human for security reasons," the editorial team said.
The outlet notes that they are working to restore the website: "What matters is that we keep working while our tech support is repelling the attack."
The outlet's news can be accessed on social media.
In her comment to the IMI representative in Poltava, the "Zmist" editor-in-chief Anastasia Dobryak noted that the issues first emerged on April 13, and as soon as April 14 the team could not fix the connection between the hosting and the return of pictures on the website, and the page loading slowed down.
"There were speculations that it was an attack, but we leaned towards the internal malfunction theory. Later, the tech support detected unusual traffic from abroad. Analyzing the IP addresses and the traffic composition 'clogging up' our website, they discovered that it was in Russia. Currently, the website is heavily loaded with bot requests, the tech support has installed additional protection to keep the site running. You may experience loading problems on some pages right now. We are working to fix them promptly," commented Dobryak.
She also added that the team views the situation as an attempt to destroy an independent media outlet and crowdfunding platform that is supporting the army. In the future, "Zmist" plans to make the website unavailable in Russia and Belarus.
17.04.2024 The Ukrainian international broadcasting channel FREEDOM TV reports an interference in the channel's work today, April 17: the channel's satellite signal was blocked and the content was temporarily replaced, writes the channel's website.
The technical services recorded the TV channel's signal being absent from the Hot Bird 13G satellite at 15:06.
"The attack's goal was to replace the FREEDOM TV stream with other content. A broadcast by the channel branded 'Za Zhyzn!' was seen instead of FREEDOM TV," the channel notes.
The broadcast continued uninterrupted on other satellites (in the networks of the cable, IPTV and OTT operators that stream FREEDOM TV), except for those that receive their signal via Hot Bird 13G.
The channel's stream was restored at 15:24.
The state-owned company "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine" has contacted the Cyber Security Situation Center at the Security Service of Ukraine regarding interference in the work of FREEDOM TV.
The interference in the work of the satellite operator Eutelsat, which owns the Hot Bird 13G satellite, is also being addressed by French law enforcers.
Hot Bird 13G is one of the most powerful and popular satellites, covering Europe (including the European part of Russia), Central Asia, the northern coast of Africa, and the Middle East.
On January 29, two websites of the state-owned "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine" – those of the FREEDOM TV channel and the FREEDOM digital news aggregator – were subjected to a massive DDoS attack. The company believes that Russian hackers could be behind the incident.
On January 25, the websites of the TV channels "Dim" and "FREEDOM" crashed due to a large-scale cyber attack on a data center.
On the night of March 13, he website of the digital news aggregator FREEDOM (part of the state-owned "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine") withstood a mass DDoS attack.
17.04.2024 1+1 Media reports a the Russian attack on Ukrainian satellite broadcasting: the streams of 39 TV channels have been suspended until the problem is resolved. This was reported by the media holding's website on April 17.
According to the media group, the Russians jammed Ukraine's satellite signal on the 11766H transponder Astra 4A, which streams 39 TV channels, including the channels of 1+1 Media as well as those of their partners such as 1+1 Ukraine, 1+1 Marathon, 2+2, TET, PlusPlus, Bigudi, KVARTAL TV, etc.
"We call on Ukrainians to observe information hygiene so as not to help the enemy spread disinformation. With all these actions, Russia aims to destabilize the situation in Ukraine," the media holding notes and recommends their viewers to ensure they receive the signal from various alternative sources such as T2, cable, OTT, or the Internet (TV channels' websites, YouTube) if possible.
1+1 Media also reminds that Russia has been actively jamming the satellite signal of Ukrainian TV channels on the Astra4A and Hotbird13E satellites, which are owned by the European telecom companies SES and Eutelsat, since March.
On March 28, 2024 the Russians targeted the Ukrainian TV broadcasting on the Astra4A satellite, jamming the 1+1 Media and partner channels on the reception frequency 11766H. Instead of the United News telethon and other broadcasters' content, for some time Ukrainian viewers could only see Russian propaganda.
On April 17, the Ukrainian international broadcasting channel FREEDOM TV reports a Russian interference in the channel's work: the signal was jammed and replaced with the Russian channel "Za Zhyzn!"
09.05.2024 Russian hackers broke into the satellite livestream of the StarLightMedia channels and Inter to broadcast the Red Square parade in Moscow.
This information was confirmed to "Detector Media" by the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting.
The satellite hack was first reported on Telegram.
Ukrainian providers are switching to an IPTV signal; experts are working on repelling the attack.
The signal of the StarLightMedia channels and Inter was eventually restored, said NCTRB member Maksym Onopriyenko during a Council meeting.
He said the channels promptly launched the security protocol to shut down the signal.
"Providers switched to another way of receiving the signal. But there were a few minutes of interference in the livestream during which the Victory Parade in Moscow was broadcast. The channels have gove back to their streaming networks," he said.
First Deputy Chairman of the NCTRB Valentyn Koval said that the regulator is preparing a letter to the International Telecommunication Union, a special unit of the UN.
The StarLightMedia press office specified that the parade livestream lasted from 10:00 to 10:18.
On February 23, 2023, hackers broke into the Inter stream and played the USSR anthem. This happened while Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, was speaking at the "United Marathon". Social media users also reported that the anthem was played on the group's other channels: K2 and Zoom.
StarLightMedia is owned by Viktor Pinchuk.
09.05.2024 The StarLight Media channels have already suffered three Russian attacks. Hackers continued to interfere with the signal of Ukrainian TV channels after the broadcasting was restored, reports "Detector Media", citing the media group's press office.
On May 9, 2024, Russian hackers broke into the satellite livestream of the StarLightMedia channels and Inter to broadcast the Red Square parade in Moscow. The signal of the StarLightMedia channels and Inter was eventually restored. The channels promptly launched the security protocol to shut down the signal.
However, new attacks followed after that.
According to StarLight Media, after the broadcast was restored at 11:27, interference with the satellite signal began again; SES disabled the signal at 11:29. At 12:43, the channels' livestream was switched on. However, at 12:51 a new attack featuring content replacement began. As a result, the broadcast was shut down again at 12:55 p.m.
09.05.2024 Russian hackers targeted the broadcast of the TV channel "Dim" on the Astra satellite on May 9, jamming the signal and streaming the Moscow parade on the channel's airwaves.
This was reported to the Institute of Mass Information by the press office of the state-owned company "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine" (IMBPU), which owns the TV channel.
According to the IMBPU, the signal absence was recorded by technicians from 12:18 to 12:20. The parade was streamed on the channel for two minutes.
The operator of the SES Astra satellite promptly shut down the Russian broadcasting. The "Dim" streaming was resumed on the Astra satellite at 13:55.
On May 9, 2024, Russian hackers broke into the satellite livestream of the StarLightMedia channels and Inter to broadcast the Red Square parade in Moscow. The signal of the StarLightMedia channels and Inter was eventually restored. The channels promptly launched the security protocol to shut down the signal.
On May 9, 2024, the StarLight Media channels said they have already suffered three Russian attacks. Hackers continued to interfere with the signal of Ukrainian TV channels after the broadcasting was restored.
09.05.2024 Suspilne Broadcasting was also hacked by Russian hackers, announced the PBCU board chairman Mykola Chernotytsky, reports "Detector Media".
According to him, the hackers were jamming the signal and tried to replace the content with the stream of the Moscow parade.
Suspilne's SD satellite signal has been disabled.
09.05.2024 On May 9, Russia attacked the Espreso satellite streaming in an attempt to replace the channel's signal with a broadcast of the Moscow parade, reports Espreso on their website.
The Russian hackers targeted the Astra 4A 11766 H transponder where Ukrainian TV channels stream, including Espreso.
The livestream has been temporarily suspended until the issue is resolved.
"We call on Ukrainians to observe information hygiene so as not to help the enemy spread disinformation. All these actions by Russia are carried out in order to destabilize the situation in Ukraine," the broadcaster notes, asking the providers to ensure the reception of the TV channel's signal through Internet network providers.
On May 9, Russian hackers targeted the StarLight Media channels and Inter, Suspilne, and Dim, jamming the signal and trying to replace the content with the stream of the Moscow parade.
12.05.2024 Hromadske Radio is fighting back a DDoS attack that started on the night of May 12, the radio station reports on their website.
"It occurred in two waves and reached 84.22 million requests at its peak. But even that was not the most intense one, there was an attack several months ago that was 10 times heavier," the company noted.
According to Serhiy Omelchenko, Hromadske Radio's chief of digital services, this has been a typical tactic on the part of those who want to make the Hromadske Radio website inaccessible in recent months. The DDoS attacks happen at night or early in the morning.
He added that the list of countries that mass requests are coming from has not changed: India, the United States, Germany, Vietnam, the United Kingdom.
Hromadske Radio's social media pages are also constantly under attack.
"Comments by fake profiles appear instantly under our social media posts. The bots commenting call for peace talks with Russia, not to support the West and to refuse aid from international partners. And we also receive many content strikes, especially when we report from the battlefield or cover yet another shelling strike. We have reached out to media lawyers for support and help, prepared statements to Meta and challenged the takedowns. Despite the bot attack and their strikes against our content, we continue to produce and post news, report on the battlefield developments and support our subscribers," said Lina Machulska, Hromadske Radio's chief social media manager.
The technicians monitor the situation and take all necessary action to ensure that users have stable access to Hromadske Radio's online resources.
"We don't know for sure who is trying to block our websites and for what purpose, but we can make a guess. The intense attacks began after the full-scale invasion in 2022," says the Hromadske Radio editor-in-chief, Victoria Yermolayeva.
She added that the team is currently doing everything in their power to fend off the attacks.
"However, to ensure that we will not lose contact, follow us on social media and on YouTube, find our channels on podcast platforms or download the application on your mobile phone. Support Hromadske Radio in our fight for the right to speak the truth," says Victoria Yermolayeva.
13.05.2024 The Russians are jamming mobile connection in the border areas of Chernihiv oblast. They are also making efforts to make their broadcasting reach these areas and spread propaganda among the locals, correspondent Talina Tarasenko tells Hromadske Radio.
She said that the Ukrainian defense forces are working to prevent this and to ensure that local residents have access to Ukrainian television and radio. Still, the correspondent says, in some municipalities Ukrainian broadcasting is completely unavailable.
"These are mostly the municipalities where almost all of the locals have already left, though" said the correspondent.
Talina also noted that the lack of mobile connection in the border areas is interrupting the work of schools.
"Offline learning is impossible there. The situation with ordinary phone connection is quite complicated. So parents and children find some additional means to help them study, help them stay in touch. And I have heard about children bringing their workbooks to teachers to have their homework checked, because submitting assignments online through social media is not always an option," said Talina Tarasenko.
On May 9, the Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration received reports about a possible attack on the Chernihiv TV tower. The city authorities urged people not to ignore the air raid alerts.
14.05.2024 On May 14, the website of the online media outlet dev.ua suffered an intense DDoS attack, which led to temporary problems in the website's functioning. The editors assume that the attack could have been orchestrated from Russia, reports dev.ua chief editor Stas Yurasov to AIN.UA.
According to him, the attack occurred after they switched of the Cloudflare protection, as the service had decided to continue working in Russia in 2022.
Yurasov explained that they decided to disable the service because one of the IP addresses in the Cloudflare pool was blocked in Ukraine for being used by Russian torrent networks.
Immediately after Cloudflare was shut down, the portal was targeted by a DDoS attack – 240 million requests in three hours.
The site was stabilized for a while after the team reactivated Cloudflare and stepped up anti-bot defense. However, the attackers launched a new attack, this time on the host's IP address, resulting in it being blocked.
The attackers also tried to discredit dev.ua with links to PornHub and dubious resources. Now the dev.ua website is stable.
The reasons for the attack are still unclear, but dev.ua suggests that it could have been orchestrated from Russia and, based on their previous experience with cyberattacks, may be related to their recent reporting such as an interview with the deputy head of the National Security and Defense Council, Serhiy Demedyuk, where he talked about Telegram and called Pavel Durov an agent of the Russian special services.
On May 14, Hromadske Radio reported that they were fighting back a DDoS attack that had started on the night of May 12. It occurred in two waves and reached 84.22 million requests at its peak.
07.08.2024 Oksana Moroz, founder of the YouTube channel "How Not to Turn Braindead", says that her channel is under threat of takedown due to copyright strikes. She wrote about it on Facebook.
According to her, the channel received two strikes from Russian users on videos reviewing the animated show "Masha and the Bear".
In these videos, psychologist Kateryna Holzberg analyzes the show and points out parallels with the Russians' behavior in the war. Her words are illustrated by clips from the show. The videos are titled "'Masha and the Bear': Russian propaganda that damages childrens' psyche" and "'Masha and the Bear' vs. the Russian army. What do they have in common?"
"The channel is at 90,000 subscribers now. Four years' worth of work will be simply ruined. Telling the truth about Russians is not allowed – it's an infringement of the aggressor's copyright. YouTube being YouTube," she wrote.
Moroz added that she had already asked for help: "But if anyone knows some effective ways to handle this situation, text me, please."
In her comment to the IMI, Oksana Moroz said that they have received two strikes out of three. If they get the third strike, the channel will be taken down. The copyright strikes were sent by the producers of "Masha and the Bear".
The channel received the first warning on August 4. The video of psychologist Kateryna Holzberg explaining why the show is harmful was deleted. "For instance, she says that Masha behaves as if everything is allowed, does harmful things and faces no repercussions for it, and that this show is not good for children," she said.
Oksana Moroz adds that they illustrated all the psychological points with examples from the cartoon. "YouTube did not give us any warning. The video was deleted immediately. The notification said that now there would be no restrictions on the videos, but if you receive three strikes, and you already have one, then the channel will be taken down," the channel's founder said.
They received the second strike today, August 7. YouTube Shorts from their series "Information Hygien For Families" have been removed. In the videos, Oksana Moroz explained that the show promotes Russian propaganda, drawing on a New York Times article.
"So we have two out of three copyright strikes now. They came from the producers of 'Masha and the Bear'. And, accordingly, if there is a third strike, the channel will be blocked," said Oksana Moroz.
The author of the channel added that she contested the strike, "arguing that there was no infringement, that all this falls under fair use and rules of citation, that it is educational content."
"We'll see what happens," said Oksana Moroz.
14.08.2024 On August 14, Ukrinform repelled a hacker attack on their website, the media outlet reported on Telegram.
Ukrinform technicians say that the attack on the website began at 10:40 p.m. on August 14, and the load on the web server peaked at 10:47 p.m., which resulted in some visitors having problems accessing the website.
"In this period, the website received about 200 million incoming traffic packets, over 200,000 requests per second," Ukrinform noted.
By 10:52 p.m., the technicians managed to repel the attack, blocking the hostile requests, and the resource went back to normal.
The CEO Serhiy Cherevaty told the Institute of Mass Information that the news agency had grounds to believe that the attack was probably done by Russian hackers.
“The sources of incoming packets were from different countries on different continents. Ukrinform has reported the cyber attack to CERT-UA of the State Special Communications Service. The authorities are investigating and processing the incident at our request," Cherevaty said.
14.08.2024 Russian hackers attacked the website Odesa Online on the night of August 23, the editor-in-chief Vitalina Pukhyr reported in a comment to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Odesa oblast.
According to her, the hackers edited several posts on the website, inserting illustrations with anti-Ukraine messages.
Vitalina Pukhyr says that in the first months of the full-scale invasion, the media outlet's website repeatedly went offline due to Russia's mass hacks. However, the editors installed new enhanced safeguards and has managed until now despite the continuing DDoS attacks on the website and attempts to hack the admin system.
"Unfortunately, tonight they succeeded, hacking one of our employees' accounts and editing several posts where they inserted pictures with anti-Ukraine messaging. There was also a link to the Telegram channel of a Russian hacker group engaged in anti-Ukraine operations," said the editor-in-chief.
She added that the technicians responded to the attack promptly and quickly resolved the issue.
"Right now the website is working as usual, all posts have been restored. I believe the Russian hackers' activity has to do with dates that are important for our country: the National Flag Day and Independence Day," says Vitalina Pukhyr.
23.08.2024 The Hromadske team reports a DDoS attack on the media outlet's website.
"We are working on restoring it. Apologies for the inconvenience," the team says.
At the time of this publication, the Hromadske website was accessible.
As reported earlier today, Russian hackers attacked the website Odesa Online on the night of August 23, the editor-in-chief Vitalina Pukhyr reported in a comment to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Odesa oblast.
22.09.2024 On September 22, the digital news aggregator FREEDOM faced a massive DDoS attack, reports the aggregator on their website.
According to them, the attack took place in the evening in two waves. The website received over 30 million requests in a short time from Singapore, USA, United Kingdom, Thailand, Germany, Indonesia, France, China, Hong Kong and other countries.
Technicians of the state enterprise "International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine" were able to quickly overcome the problem.
The news aggregator's website continued to work, but was difficult to access in the countries from which the attack was being carried out.
"International Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine" assumes that Russian hackers are behind the attack.
16.10.2024 The "Detector Media" website is being targeted in a DDoS attack, the team reports on Facebook.
The editors note that the website is working with interruptions and that their technicians are working on resolving the problem.
(Updated) "Detector Media" website editor Halyna Sklyarevska said in a comment to the IMI that the team could not be sure what exactly prompted today's attack.
"There have been three to four dozen such attacks per year during the war, some larger, some less in intensity. However, recently we, like other media, received threats about a bomb planted in our office, and we believe these threats to be connected with the DM Research Center reporting on the Russian special services trying to recruit Ukrainians on Telegram to set fire to military vehicles," said Halyna Sklyarevska.
She added that in her opinion, today's attack was also related to this reporting.
08.11.2024 The Detector Media website suffered a large-scale cyber attack on November 8. The team reports that the attack lasted from 10:30 p.m. to midnight and caused the website to go down temporarily.
User access to the webbsite was later restored by the technicians.
Detecor Media website editor Halyna Sklyarevska said in a comment to the Institute of Mass Information that the staff could not say the exact reason for the attack.
"However, this time our website 'desinfo', where the Detector Media research center analysts refute pro-Russian fakes and manipulation daily, was targeted as well, so we can assume that the attack was related to the content on this website," said Halyna Sklyarevska.
The Russian hacker group “People's CyberArmy” claimed responsibility for the attack on the Detector Media website.
22.11.2024 The Zaporizhzhia website Inform.zp.ua has been the target of large-scale DDoS attacks since mid-October. The team believes the attack is related to their reporting on the Russian army's crimes in the temporarily occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia oblast, chief editor Eric Brynza reports to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast, Natalia Vyhovska.
According to him, the attack began on October 12. In the first weeks of the attack, the website's server was overloaded by numerous requests, many of which were incorrect or made no sense. The requests were coming from different IP addresses and were about sections or tags that the website did not have. Most of the requests concerned the English language version of the website, which does not exist, either.
“They attacked us in cycles. Sometimes the server would be overloaded with requests, then it would be alright again. Finally, our server crashed. It is unclear where they are attacking from. The website is being targeted from different IP addresses, with different requests, so we can't say exactly where the attack is coming from," Brynza said.
Due to the server reboot, the website was unavailable for some time. The team had to spend over two weeks restoring the databases and rewriting the code to step up protection.
“We have now installed additional safeguards and restored to the old version of the site. Not everything is working as it should yet, because the news get displayed incorrectly in different language versions of the site. But we are doing everything necessary to fix it. There are no abnormal posts now. So the website is working,” said Eric Brynza.
The chief editor believes that the cyberattack is an act of pressure on freedom of speech and an attempt to interrupt the work of Zaporizhzhia oblast's prominent news resource. “This may be related to our reporting on the Russian army's crimes in the temporarily occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia oblast. Previously, the team received overt threats from Russian law enforcement agencies with warnings about possible hacker attacks,” said the chief editor.
As the IMI reported, throughout the first six months of the war, the team received numerous threats from Russian email addresses demanding that it stop reporting on the developments in the full-scale war and side with the Russian aggressors. The staff were threatened with torture, imprisonment, and deportation “to Siberia.” The office also received threats from Russian hackers saying they would “bring down the website” if the team “did not stop the pipeline of fakes about Russia.”
05.12.2024 Multiple telecom providers broadcasting Ukrainian TV channels were hacked and made to stream pro-Russian clips on December 5, reports Suspilne, citing Triolan.
The provider noted that they would resolve the signal problem by around 10:00 p.m.
“Unfortunately, we detected unauthorized interference in our network, which affected the cable television operations. We are already working to resolve the problem and are making every effort to restore the service as soon as possible,” the company’s chatbot said.
The provider also warned of a phishing website disguised as the Triolan website, which invites users to install extra drivers.
“We warn you not to install any additional drivers. We do not update any services that require you to update drivers. Take extra care to check the name of the website you are on,” the company added.
As IMI reported, on May 9, 2024, Russian hackers targeted the satellite broadcast of the StarLightMedia channels, Inter and Dim, and streamed the parade in Moscow. Later, the signal of the StarLightMedia channels and Inter was restored. The channels promptly launched a security protocol to disable the signal.
16.12.2024 The TV channel Espreso was targeted by hackers today, December 16. The channel’s press office reported this, according to the channel's website.
The channel was attacked at 12:50. The hackers gained unauthorized access to the channel’s server and attempted to stream a video clip with a fake address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Russian. The clip parrots the Russian psyop narratives about mobilization in Ukraine.
“This allows us to conclude that Russian hackers are involved in the attack,” the channel notes.
However, the attack was detected in time and promptly repelled by switching the signal. The channel notes that they are working to boost the security of all their systems.
Espreso TV noted that they continue to operate as usual and are taking additional action to strengthen cybersecurity.
On February 19, 2024, hackers accessed the Espreso broadcasting system and used it to stream a short video with footage of ruined Ukrainian cities, a clip of Joe Biden and a call to stop, implying the USA's complicity in the war in Ukraine. The channel suspects Russian involvement in the attack. The channel contacted the police over unauthorized interference in the digital communication networks under martial law.
23.12.2024 Chernihiv-based online media outlet Cheline sustained a cyber attack on December 22, editor Pavlo Solodovnyk reports to the regional Institute of Mass Information representative Pavlo Pushchenko.
The media outlet’s system administrator Oleksandr Fedorok says that the website “went down” yesterday evening and the admin panel was not working. When rebooting the website’s server did not help, he realized that it was a cyberattack. Then, the under attack mode was turned on, disabling all bots, and the defense worked.
“Now the website works as usual,” Oleksandr Fedorok added.
Pavlo Solodovnyk believes Russia was directly involved in the cyberattack. According to him, Russian hackers target those who work for Ukraine's victory and are patriotically-minded.
“This is not the first time, especially since the start of the full-scale invasion. There have even been cases when the Russian tricolor was 'posted' on the website,” Pavlo Solodovnyk noted.
Recently, Russia-affiliated actors hacked Ukraine's state registers.
Legal pressure – 29
28.10.2022 Turkish law enforcers detained Crimean Tatar journalist Gulsum Halilova, who works for ATR, in an airport in Istanbul (Turkiye), fulfilling Russia's request made within Interpol's framework. She has already been released and allowed to enter Turkiye.
People's Deputy of Ukraine Refat Chubarov reported this on his Facebook page.
According to him, the journalist was detained on October 27 at night upon her arrival from Croatia.
"As various sources made clear, the detention was carried out following Russia's request made within the framework of Interpol. As of now, Gulsum Halilova has been released, she was allowed to enter the territory of Turkiye. It is certain that this incident will gain a special traction. Still, I urge those who are discussing this topic to be professional: Interpol requires its member states to follow the procedures. Detention is not the same as arrest and has even less in common with extradition. But in any case, it is humiliating for those who are detained illegally. In this case, based on Russia's false claims," wrote Chubarov.
He added that in the past seven years, he has found himself in circumstances similar to that of Gulsum Halilova twice: he has been detained based on Russia's falsified requests.
Chubarov called to demand that Interpol's member states "immediately deprive Russia of membership in this organization."
In her comment to "Ukrainska Pravda", Halilova said that she had been detained for 17 hours at Russia's request and allegedly due to an entry ban. Now the issue of the ban on her entry to Turkiye is being resolved.
As IMI reported, on July 12, 2019, the Russian-controlled Kyiv District Court of Crimea in absentia chose custody as a measure of detention ATR TV channel journalist Gulsum Halilova, which would start the moment she is detained on Russian territory or in the event of Halilova's extradition to the Russian Federation. On August 1, the "Supreme Court" of Crimea upheld the decision of the first instance court.
The Russian FSB's Crimean Department opened a criminal case against the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR's journalist Gulsum Halilova under Article 208 of the Criminal Code of Russia ("Participation in an armed formation on the territory of a foreign state").
The Prosecutor's Office of the ARC has opened proceedings following the criminal case against Gulsum Halilova, TV host working for Crimean Tatar channel ATR, and her arrest in absentia.
26.07.2023 The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has declared 1+1 news anchor Natalya Moseychuk wanted. This was reported by the Russian propaganda media outlet RIA Novosti.
The propagandists remarked that last year the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation had opened a case against Moseychuk "for calling for violence against Russian pilots and their relatives."
As reported by IMI, in 2022, the head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexandr Bastrykin, instructed his department to open a case against the news anchor of the Ukrainian TV channel 1+1, Natalya Moseychuk. She was accused of "making death threats to Russian pilots and their relatives while on air." As reported in the Investigative Committee, Natalya Moseychuk "expressed a misanthropic attitude and uttered real threats."
Before that, speaking on the "United News" marathon, the TV host reacted to reports about another bomb strike on Ukraine. She reminded the Russian military and their families about their responsibility. In particular, Moseychuk said that the wives of the Russian occupiers should "be afraid and understand that sooner or later" they will become widows. And she advised the brides of Russian pilots to "find black headscarves."
07.08.2023 The Russian MIA has declared Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova wanted, reports the Russian propaganda media TASS, citing the Russian MIA database.
"Yanina Mykhailivna Sokolova is wanted under an article of the Criminal Code," the wanted persons database says.
In March, the Rosfinmonitoring added Sokolova to the list of "terrorists and extremists".
We remind you that Yanina Sokolova is a Ukrainian journalist, TV presenter, author of the show "Rendez-Vous" on Channel 5 and the host of her own YouTube project "Evening with Yanina Sokolova".
15.09.2023 In Russia, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow sentenced Ukrainian TV host Maria Yefrosynina in absentia to seven years in prison for spreading fakes about the army motivated by political hatred.
This was reported by the Russian media outlet "Mediazona", which cited the court's press office.
The court also banned the Ukrainian journalist from running online pages for three years.
As SotaVision writes, the prosecutor announced that while examining the evidence they studied "testimonies from persons with special knowledge and proven competence."
The prosecution asked for seven years in a low security prison for Yefrosynina, but asked to take into account that she has a small child.
As reported by IMI, on May 17, 2023, in Russia, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow arrested Ukrainian TV presenter Maria Yefrosynina in absentia for "fakes" about the military. A case against Yefrosynina was opened on April 7, 2022, under point "D" of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The reason was the TV host's Instagram posts. This March, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs declared her wanted.
Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code is deliberate public spread of false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the exercise of their powers by the Russian state bodies, the assistance by volunteer groups, organizations or individuals in the performance of the tasks assigned to the AFRF.
After the start of the military invasion of Ukraine, Russia adopted new administrative and criminal articles on "fakes" and "discrediting" the Russian army. According to them, anti-war statements and any statements about the war in Ukraine that contradict the official position of the Russian authorities are criminalized.
20.09.2023 The Second Western District Military Court of Russia sentenced Ayder Mujdabaev, an executive of the Crimean Tatar channel ATR, to six years in prison in absentia for "calls for terrorism", reports the Russian propaganda outlet TASS, citing the court.
"The court convicted Mujdabaev under Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public calls for terrorism, public justification or promotion of terrorism) and sentenced him to six years in a low security prison in absentia; the convict will also be barred from running websites for four years," the report says.
The journalist himself, who has been living and working in Ukraine since 2015, responded to the news sarcastically.
"Sad news incoming from the Reich... I am distraught. The sentence is too mild. Based on the total of my Russophobic crimes, I thought I'd get at least eight years... Still, convicted by a wartime court. So I will respond with wartime crimes. Reich, thank you for your trust!"
Ayder Mujdabaev is a journalist, media manager, deputy CEO of the Crimean Tatar channel ATR (Kyiv, Ukraine), former deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" (Moscow, Russia).
As reported by IMI, on June 25, the Russian Investigative Committee announced that it had placed the journalist and ATR presenter Ayder Mujdabaev on the international wanted list. He is being accused of making public calls for terrorist activities and publicly justifying terrorism online (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
According to the Russian investigation, Mujdabaev made two text posts on his personal Facebook page "featuring calls for acts of violence and forceful capture of Russian citizens in Ukraine to further swap them for Oleh Sentsov, who was convicted of terrorism in Russia."
In 2020, the Basmanny Court of Moscow (Russia) arrested the journalist in absentia.
29.01.2024 The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia declared the founder of the "Gordon" website, Dmytro Gordon, a wanted person again, reports "Nastoyastchee Vremya", citing pro-Kremlin media.
Gordon's photo appeared in the wanted persons database of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. This may be related to the initiation of a new criminal case against him, over "public incitement to terrorism", write the Russian news agencies.
Russia has already declared Dmytro Gordon a wanted person on July 19, 2022.
Earlier, in March 2022, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case against Gordon under articles on public appeals for aggressive war, inciting nationality-based hatred or enmity, and public dissemination of false information about the actions of the Russian armed forces.
Russia has also included Gordon in the list of organizations and individuals considered to be involved in extremist activities or terrorism. In September 2022, the Ministry of Justice of Russia added him to the list of "foreign agents".
01.07.2024 A court in Russia sentenced Dmytro Gordon, the owner of the media outlet "Gordon", to 14 years in prison. The judgement was passed in absentia by the Western District Military Court No. 2 in Moscow on July 1, report the Russian media outlets Meduza and Mediazona.
Gordon was convicted of:
- calls for a war of aggression (Part 2 of Article 354 of the Criminal Code);
- inciting hatred with violent threats (paragraph "A" of Part 2 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code);
- public appeals to justify terrorism (part 2 of Article 205.2);
- spreading "fakes" about the Russian army, motivated by political hatred (paragraph "D" of part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code).
The case against Gordon was open in response to his video address, published in March 2022, "Down with Putin and Lukashenka – Ukraine has already won!". In his address, he addressed the Russians and Belarusians, speaking about the "large-scale war" on Ukraine triggered by the Russian Federation, the shelling strikes on Ukrainian cities. He said that Ukraine has won, the whole world united to help Ukraine and introduced sanctions that "cut the Russians off from the entire civilized world." He called on Russians to take to the streets of their cities and say "No to war" and "no to Putin!"
"In this situation, when it's not Ukraine whose days are numbered, but you, Russians, you should go to the streets of your cities and say 'No to war!', 'No to Putin!' Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for itself, but also for you, for a free Russia. Thousands of corpses of Russian boys are scattered across Ukrainian fields and roads. They lay there, and dogs are eating them. ... Russians, Belarusians, go outside, bomb these scumbags so that they leave quicker, otherwise these scumbags will be bombing you," said Gordon in his video address.
The indictment states: "Gordon, who feels hatred for the current president of the Russian Federation and has an extremely negative assessment of the SMO (Russia's term for the war on Ukraine – Ed.), had the intention of calling for the deposition of the Russian President. In fulfillment of this plan, Gordon posted a statement on his YouTube channel calling to depose Putin in retaliation for his political or public activities."
According to the indictment, Gordon also "called on the United States to start an aggressive war on Russia with the use of nuclear weapons."
In March 2022, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a case against Gordon for public calls for a war of aggression; inciting nation-based hatred or enmity, and publicly spreading false information about the actions of the Russian Armed Forces.
Gordon was added to Russia's list of organizations and individuals considered to be involved in extremist activities or terrorism. In September 2022, the Ministry of Justice of Russia added him to the list of "foreign agents".
On July 19, 2022, Russia declared Dmytro Gordon wanted. A Russian court arrested him in absentia.
26.07.2024 A court in Russia sentenced Ukrainian journalist and Channel 24 host Fahrudin Sharafmal to seven years in prison in absentia, convicting him of "inciting hatred, rehabilitating Nazism and calls for extremism."
The ruling was passed by the Moscow City Court on July 26, reports Mediazona.
According to the Russian investigation, on March 15, 2022, Sharafmal publicly called on Ukrainians to mass murder "citizens of the Russian Federation, including children" on Channel 24.
"He drew on the ideology of Nazi criminals to justify his calls, namely that of Adolf Eichmann, whose image he displayed on the air," noted the Russian investigative committee. Sharafmal issued an apology the following day after the broadcast.
In April 2022, Rosfinmonitoring added him to the list of organizations and individuals considered to be involved in extremist activities or terrorism.
Fahrudin Sharafmal / Farid Sharafmal is the author and host of the YouTube channel "Farid Speaks". He is also an author and host of Channel 24's analytical programming team.
29.07.2024 A court in Moscow (Russia) has sentenced Ukrainian journalist Oleksandr Prepodobny to eight years in prison in absentia for a "fake" article about the Russian army.
The judgment was passed by the Basmanny District Court of Moscow on July 29, reports Mediazona.
Political scientist Abbas Gallyamov was sentenced to the same penalty under this article. Both were banned from running websites for four years after serving the term.
The Russian prosecution insisted that on April 9, 2022, in an interview with the YouTube channel "Hroshi" (a special project of the TV channel "1+1"), the political scientist talked about the "destruction of municipalities and the killing of civilians in Bucha and Kramatorsk." He was accused of promoting fake news about the Russian army. Gallyamov was on the air with two journalists, one of whom was Oleksandr Prepodobny.
Gallyamov's lawyer Alan said in the debate that the investigation did not prove the political scientist's guilt, but simply stated its position regarding the interview, and that "such an approach to evidence" may as well be applied to cases of "generally criminal direction".
Prepodobny's defense attorney insisted that the defendant is a citizen of Ukraine, and therefore, as a journalist, he is obliged to rely on the statements by his Ministry of Defense, and not the Russian Ministry of Defense, on whose position the investigation relies.
The persecution of the political scientist, who was Vladimir Putin's speechwriter in 2008–2010, was reported in March 2023, when Mediazona found his name in the MIA's wanted persons database. In February 2023, Russia's Ministry of Justice declared Gallyamov a "foreign agent".
Oleksandr Prepodobny was chief of sociological investigations at the TV channel "1+1", the project "Hroshi", and hosted the projects "Jedi" ("2+2") and "Agents of Influence" (NTN).
31.07.2024 The court in Moscow (Russia) sentenced Natalya Moseychuk, a TV anchor at the Ukrainian TV channel "1+1" to five years in prison for "inciting hatred and enmity".
The judgment was passed in absentia by the Basmanny Court of Moscow on July 31, reports Mediazona.
The case against Moseichuk was opened over a March 20, 2022 livestream when, according to the Russian investigation, she "made statements contemptuous of Russians and justified violence against them." She was also accused of "inciting hatred".
The TV host responded to another shelling strike on Ukraine on the United News telethon. She reminded the Russian troops and their relatives of responsibility. In particular, Natalya Moseychuk said that the wives of Russian soldiers should be "afraid and understand that sooner or later" they would be widowed. She advised the fiancées of Russian pilots to "find themselves some black veils."
The Basmanny court began trying the case against the TV host in absentia on May 7, 2023.
In July 2023, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs declared 1+1 news anchor Natalya Moseychuk wanted. Russia's investigation committee opened a case against Moseychuk for "calling for violence against Russian pilots and their relatives." She was accused of "making death threats to Russian pilots and their relatives while on air" and "expressing a misanthropic attitude and uttering real threats."
On March 20, 2022, the Russian Telegram channel "Troika" announced a "hunt" for Moseychuk, and by the end of that day, the channel leaked the TV anchor's personal data.
20.08.2024 Russia’s Federal Security Service has opened a case against Stefania Battistini, a journalist with the Italian TV channel RAI who had reported from Kursk region with her cameraman Simone Traini, report RAI and the Russian media.
The FSB opened cases against them for illegal crossing of Russia’s border.
RAI took its journalists back to Italy, explaining the move by the need to "guarantee their safety and personal protection."
It was later reported that Russia’s special services (Russia’s border guard is subordinate to the FSB) had opened a criminal law case against them. Russian resources also reported that the ambassador of Italy had been summoned to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and announced "strong protest regarding the reporters’ actions." Italy’s Foreign Ministry responded that "Italian journalists are free to act independently of diplomats." The Italian mass media such as “Corriere del ticino”, “La Stampa”, “Corriere della Sera”, and many others also reported on the news.
In November 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the Italian journalist Stefania Battistini the Order of Princess Olha (III degree) "for significant personal contribution to enhancing interstate cooperation, support of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and popularization of the Ukrainian state in the world." This was reported on the RAI website.
"I am truly honored as a public service journalist to receive the honor that President Zelensky wanted to give me as a war correspondent. This is an important recognition for the work that Tg1 and RAI have done in these 9 months to cover the effects of the Russian invasion in Ukraine on the ground," Stefania Battistini said in response to the award.
Bakhmut, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Sumy, Kyiv, Borodyanka, Bucha, other locations – Italian journalists visit Ukrainian cities that came under Russian fire or had been occupied by Russia, and their reports are seen not just by the RAI audience. Journalists share their experiences on social media. On their personal Facebook pages, Stefania Battistini and cameraman Simone Traini are supported by their colleagues, while pro-Russian subscribers call them "the Nazi Kyiv’s propagandists."
20.08.2024 Russia’s Federal Security Service has opened a case against Simone Traini, a cameraman with the Italian TV channel RAI who had been reporting from Kursk region with his colleague, the journalist Stefania Battistini, report RAI and the Russian media.
The FSB opened cases against them for illegal crossing of Russia’s border.
RAI took its journalists back to Italy, explaining the move by the need to "guarantee their safety and personal protection."
It was later reported that Russia’s special services (Russia’s border guard is subordinate to the FSB) had opened a criminal law case against them. Russian resources also reported that the ambassador of Italy had been summoned to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and announced "strong protest regarding the reporters’ actions." Italy’s Foreign Ministry responded that "Italian journalists are free to act independently of diplomats." The Italian mass media such as “Corriere del ticino”, “La Stampa”, “Corriere della Sera”, and many others also reported on the news.
Bakhmut, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Sumy, Kyiv, Borodyanka, Bucha, other locations – Italian journalists visit Ukrainian cities that came under Russian fire or had been occupied by Russia, and their reports are seen not just by the RAI audience. Journalists share their experiences on social media. On their personal Facebook pages, Stefania Battistini and cameraman Simone Traini are supported by their colleagues, while pro-Russian subscribers call them "the Nazi Kyiv’s propagandists."
22.08.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened proceedings against the Hromadske journalist Diana Butsko, reports the Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti.
The FSB is also prosecuting the Ukrainian correspondent Olesya Borovyk (Kordon.Media) and the US journalist Nick Paton Walsh.
The FSB accuses the journalists of illegally crossing the border and filming videos near Suzha. The journalists face up to five years in prison.
Hromadske correspondent Diana Butsko responded to the news on Facebook:
"In our work at hromadske.ua, we have always been guided by the ethics of journalism and will continue to report on the war impartially yet honestly. I understand that the Russian security forces and their bots, who have written a bunch of death threats to me these days, don't like this stance."
She stressed that her outlet remains committed to covering Russia’s crimes in Ukraine and in other places where hostilities continue."The truth cannot be stopped. It has no borders," Diana Butsko says.
22.08.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened proceedings against the Kordon.Media journalist Olesya Borovyk, reports the Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti.
The FSB is also prosecuting the Ukrainian correspondent Diana Butsko (Hromadske) and the US journalist Nick Paton Walsh.
The FSB accuses the journalists of illegally crossing the border and filming videos near Suzha. The journalists face up to five years in prison.
In a comment to “Detector Media”, Olesya Borovyk said that she had been looking into what threat a case initiated in Russia might pose to her.
"I was advised to avoid trips to countries that are loyal to Russia. Because I can face real trouble and real detention there if they declare me a wanted person," she said.
The journalist will study this issue in more detail with lawyers.
22.08.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened proceedings against the CNN journalist Nick Paton Walsh, who reported from Sudzha (Russia), reports the Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti.
The FSB is also prosecuting the Ukrainian correspondents Diana Butsko (Hromadske) and Olesya Borovyk (Kordon.Media).
The FSB accuses the journalists of illegally crossing the border and filming videos near Suzha. The journalists face up to five years in prison.
27.08.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a case against Natalya Nahorna, a Ukrainian journalist with the TV channel "1+1", reports "Mediazona", citing the pro-state media and the FSB's Public Relations Center.
Another case was opened against the DW correspondent Nick Connolly. They are accused of illegally crossing Russia's border as part of a group upon prior conspiracy (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
The prosecution was triggered by the journalists' reporting from Suzha (Kursk region) during the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive aimed to counter the aggressor's actions.
On August 14, Natalya Nahorna's report from Sudzha aied on TSN. In the video, she showed the Russian flag, noting that "Ukraine's defenders have removed it from an administrative building in the Sudzha settlement" and that this flag would be sent to the Russo–Ukrainian war museum.
27.08.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a case against DW correspondent Nick Connolly, reports "Mediazona", citing the pro-state media and the FSB's Public Relations Center.
Another case was opened against Natalya Nahorna, a Ukrainian journalist with the TV channel "1+1". They are accused of illegally crossing Russia's border as part of a group upon prior conspiracy (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
The prosecution was triggered by the journalists' reporting from Suzha (Kursk region) during the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive aimed to counter the aggressor's actions.
On August 22, DW published Connolly's report from Sudzha. In it, the journalist visits the city accompanied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and talks to the locals, who say that they were left without electricity, water or phone connection.
13.09.2024 The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia announced a wanted list of seven Ukrainian and foreign journalists who are being prosecuted in Russia for reporting from the Kursk region, writes "Mediazona", which found the journalists' profiles in the Ministry’s wanted persons database.
The following journalists are now wanted:
- CNN correspondent Nick Paton Walsh;
- journalists with the Italian TV channel RAI Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini;
- Germany’s DW correspondent Nick Connolly;
- Ukrainian journalists Natalya Nahorna, Diana Butsko and Olesya Borovyk.
Earlier, the Federal Security Service of Russia initiated cases against the above-mentioned seven journalists. The prosecution was triggered by the journalists’ reports from Suzha, Kursk region, during the UAF incursion aimed to fight off the aggressor.
27.09.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case against Australia's ABC News correspondent Fletcher Yeung for alleged illegal border crossing and filming in the Suzha district, reports Mediazona.
Cases were also opened against:
- ABC News correspondent Kathryn Diss;
- freelancer Mircea Barbu, who reports for the Romanian media outlet HotNews.
All three journalists are suspected of illegally crossing Russia's border in the Kursk region (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Russian Criminal Code).
The prosecution was triggered by the journalists' reports from Sudzha city, Kursk region, following the Ukrainian Armed Forces' incursion aimed to fight back against the aggressor.
The Australian journalists' report from Sudzha came out on ABC News on September 3. "A Ukrainian flag now flies where a Russian one once did. In the town square, images of destroyed Ukrainian cities have been plastered on a destroyed monument of Lenin," the journalists wrote.
Barbu's Sudzha report was released on August 28 on the HotNews YouTube channel.
27.09.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case against Australia's ABC News correspondent Kathryn Diss for alleged illegal border crossing and filming in the Suzha district, reports Mediazona.
Cases were also opened against:
- ABC News correspondent Fletcher Yeung;
- freelancer Mircea Barbu, who reports for the Romanian media outlet HotNews.
All three journalists are suspected of illegally crossing Russia's border in the Kursk region (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Russian Criminal Code).
The prosecution was triggered by the journalists' reports from Sudzha city, Kursk region, following the Ukrainian Armed Forces' incursion aimed to fight back against the aggressor.
The Australian journalists' report from Sudzha came out on ABC News on September 3. "A Ukrainian flag now flies where a Russian one once did. In the town square, images of destroyed Ukrainian cities have been plastered on a destroyed monument of Lenin," the journalists wrote.
Barbu's Sudzha report was released on August 28 on the HotNews YouTube channel.
27.09.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case against the Romanian correspondent Mircea Barbu for alleged illegal border crossing and filming in the Suzha district, reports Mediazona.
The journalist works with the media outlet HotNews.
Cases were also opened against: Australia's ABC News reporters Fletcher Yeung and Kathryn Diss.
All three journalists are suspected of illegally crossing Russia's border in the Kursk region (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Russian Criminal Code).
The prosecution was triggered by the journalists' reports from Sudzha city, Kursk region, following the Ukrainian Armed Forces' incursion aimed to fight back against the aggressor.
The Australian journalists' report from Sudzha came out on ABC News on September 3. "A Ukrainian flag now flies where a Russian one once did. In the town square, images of destroyed Ukrainian cities have been plastered on a destroyed monument of Lenin," the journalists wrote.
Barbu's Sudzha report was released on August 28 on the HotNews YouTube channel.
07.10.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a case against the France 24 TV journalist Catherine Norris Trent, reports Mediazona.
Another case was opened against the reporter for the Swiss media holding "CN Media" Kurt Pelda.
They are being charged with illegally crossing Russia's border (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
The prosecution was triggered by the journalists filming reports in Kursk region after the Ukrainian Armed Forces had established control over the area.
07.10.2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a case against the reporter for the Swiss media holding "CN Media" Kurt Pelda, reports Mediazona.
Another case was opened against the France 24 TV journalist Catherine Norris Trent.
They are being charged with illegally crossing Russia's border (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
The prosecution was triggered by the journalists filming reports in Kursk region after the Ukrainian Armed Forces had established control over the area.
08.10.2024 The Leninsky District Court of Kursk (Russia) arrested cameraman Simone Traini and correspondent Stefania Battistini (RAI TV, Italy) in absentia. Previously, cases were opened against them for reporting from Sudzha for the program TG1, reports Mediazona, citing the press service of the Kursk region court.
Both were charged with illegally crossing Russia's border (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
According to the FSB, Battistini and Traini "along with other unidentified persons" entered the Kursk region from Ukraine on August 6 to film a report on the developments in the area during the UAF incursion. Journalists came to Sudzha "on a Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicle," says the statement by the press service of the court.
According to the FSB, similar cases have been initiated against 14 foreign journalists since August 17.
Earlier, the FSB put cameraman Simone Traini and correspondent Stefania Battistini (RAI TV, Italy) on the wanted persons list over alleged illegal border crossing. The prosecution was triggered by the journalists’ reports from Suzha, Kursk region, during the UAF incursion aimed to fight off the aggressor.
14.10.2024 The Basmanny District Court of Moscow (Russia) sentenced Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova to eight years in prison in absentia, reports Mediazona, citing the Moscow prosecutor's office.
The court convicted her of inciting international enmity (Clause A of Part 2 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, "acts aimed at inciting hatred and enmity, as well as humiliating the dignity of a group based on nationality, committed publicly through the use of the Internet and involving violent threats").
As reported by the media outlet, the case includes two episodes. The first one was Sokolova's interview with "Great Lviv Speaks" of the Ukrainian TV channel NTA in the summer of 2022. The Russian prosecutor said that the journalist "justified violence against Russians" in her speech.
Russia's Investigation Committee chair Alexander Bastrykin demanded in August 2022 that a case against Sokolova be opened. At that time, Russian pro-war Telegram channels posted a July 30, 2022 excerpt of the program, where Sokolova said that the Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine should not be taken prisoner.
The second episode was in the episode of the program "Evening with Yanina Sokolova" which was released on December 10, 2022. The Russian investigation claims that the journalist made a public statement that "incites contempt" and "justifies violence" against Russians. The video, which was titled "Rocket strike on Moscow. Dog bombs. Putin's body double" is currently unavailable.
In August 2023, the Russian MIA declared Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova wanted. In March, the Rosfinmonitoring added Sokolova to the list of "terrorists and extremists".
We remind you that Yanina Sokolova is a Ukrainian journalist, TV presenter, author of the show "Rendez-Vous" on Channel 5 and the host of her own YouTube project "Evening with Yanina Sokolova".
25.10.2024 The Lenin District Court of Kursk (Russia) arrested Romania's HotNews journalist Mircea Barbu in absentia. The judgement was passed at the request of the regional FSB branch's border guard department, reports Sota Project.
The court specified that Mircea Barbu had entered the territory of the Suzha district (Kursk region) "with other unidentified persons" to film a report.
In a comment to RFE/RL's Romanian service, Mircea Barbu said that he had been unaware of his arrest in absentia, but "given the current climate, this is unsurprising."
"I expected a response from the authorities, especially considering that I reported on the situation in Kursk on the ground without hiding it. Putting me on the international wanted list for covering the frontline situation in Kursk says a lot about the Russian authorities' attitude to information about this war. It's an attempt to intimidate me, but it won't stop me from doing my job. Namely, in Ukraine, on the front lines, as I have done so far," he said.
Despite the Russian court's verdict, Mircea Barbu said that he would continue to monitor the developments and report on the ground.
“If that means I have to pay more attention to my security and digital footprint while on the ground, then I will. If they detain me, it definitely won't stop me just because the Russians want it," the journalist concluded.
As reported earlier, Russia's Federal Security Service opened a case against Mircea Barbu in late September 2024. He was charged with illegally crossing the border and filming near Sudzha.
26.11.2024 A court in Russia has arrested France 24 journalist Catherine Norris Trent in absentia. Russia had previously opened a criminal case against her for illegally entering the Kursk region, partially controlled by Ukraine, reported France 24 on November 26.
The channel notes that the journalist entered the territory of the Kursk region together with Ukrainian soldiers and that her report aired on the channel and on the broadcaster's website in late September.
Catherine Norris Trent visited two villages in the Kursk region, where she met local civilians.
It was reported in October 2024 that the Federal Security Service of Russia had opened a case against France 24 journalist Catherine Norris Trent for illegally crossing Russia's border (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
04.12.2024 A Russian court has arrested Germany's DW reporter Nicholas Connolly in absentia on charges of illegally crossing Russia's border.
The Leninsky District Court of Kursk passed the ruling at the request of the regional FSB branch's border guard department, DW reports, citing the regional judiciary's press office.
The journalist, whom Russia previously put on federal, interstate, and international wanted lists, will be taken into custody in the event of being detained in Russia or immediately after extradition.
On August 22, DW published Connolly's report from Sudzha. In it, the journalist visits the city accompanied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and talks to the locals, who say that they were left without electricity, water or phone connection.
In late August 2024, the FSB opened a case against DW reporter Nicholas Connolly for alleged illegal crossing of Russia's border.
Commenting on this, the journalist noted that such a ruling was unsurprising to him. "I think that was all to be expected. They had done this to other journalists that had gone there. This is just par for the course, basically." Connolly said he would continue to cover developments in both Ukraine and Russia as part of a Ukrainian crew and the decision of the Russian security forces would not affect his work.
In September 2024, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs put Nick Connolly on federal, interstate, and international wanted persons lists.
17.12.2024 A court in Kursk, Russia, has taken Hromadske journalist Diana Butsko into custody in absentia for her reporting from Sudzha at the onset of the Ukrainian offensive in the region.
According to Hromadske, the Russian propaganda agency TASS reported on the court ruling on December 6, citing the joint press office of the Kursk region's judiciary.
The Russian investigators claim that Diana illegally crossed Russia's state border on August 6; the journalist was assigned the penalty as part of this case.
Diana commented on the news as follows: “It’s a bit strange that the Russian 'investigators' couldn’t even get the date of the report right. We were not in Sudzha on August 6. Do better, FSB comrades!”
In August 2024, the Federal Security Service of Russia opened cases against seven journalists, including Hromadske journalist Diana Butsko, for illegally crossing the border and filming in the Sudzha area. Later, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs put the seven Ukrainian and foreign journalists on the wanted list.
Blocking online access to media – 10
25.02.2022 Roskomnadzor has restricted access to the website of the Ukrainian online publication Hlavred on the Internet in russia.
This was reported by Hlavred.
The editorial office received a message from Roskomnadzor restricting access to information resources from russia, as "information posted on the site violates the law of the russian federation."
"In accordance with Article 15.3 of the Federal Law of 27.07.2006 № 149-FZ 'On information, information technology and information protection' we inform that, in accordance with the requirements of the Prosecutor General of the russian federation from 24.02.2022 № 27-31-2020 / Id2145- 22, the information posted on the information resource https://glavred.info contains false reports of acts of terrorism or other unreliable socially significant information disseminated in the form of reliable messages that threaten to harm the lives and (or) health of citizens, property, threat of mass disturbance of public order and (or) public safety or threat of obstruction of operation or termination of operation of life support facilities, transport or social infrastructure, credit organizations, energy facilities, industry or communications," the invaders said.
It is further said that access to the site will be prohibited on the basis of the requirement of the Prosecutor General's Office of the russian federation from 24.02.2022.
"Immediately upon receipt of this notice, the hosting provider or other person providing accommodation of content in the information and telecommunications network, in particular on the Internet, must inform their client who is the owner of the information resource and notify him of the necessity to immediately remove the information that is distributed in violation of the law," the statement added.
28.02.2022 Krym.Realii (RFE/RL) project website is not available in russian and is blocked by most providers in the russian-occupied Crimea.
This was reported to the publication by Crimea-based readers.
According to the public initiative Roskomsvoboda, the website Krym.Realii was blocked by Roskomnadzor at the request of the russian prosecutor's office.
As IMI reported, the day before Roskomnadzor threatened to limit access to the site Krym.Realii, accusing the project of Radio Liberty of "facts of distribution of inaccurate information" about the new russian invasion of Ukraine.
02.03.2022 russia has blocked access to the official websites of Ukrainian state departments and media, Channel 24 reports.
Namely, on March 2, Roskomnadzor blocked the official websites of the Ministry of Health and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in russia. This is clear from the ban register kept by the human rights organization Roskomsvoboda.
Access to the following Ukrainian media is also blocked: 1+1 TSN news agency; "Segodnya;" Ukrinform; Channel 24; ZAXID.NET; "Dzerkalo Tyzhnya;" Censor.NET; Vesti.ua; Depo.ua; Delo.ua; LB.ua.
02.03.2022 russia has blocked access to the Ukrainian National News (UNN) agency and other Ukrainian media on its territory, UNN reports.
The respective decision was made by the Prosecutor General's Office of the russian Federation. The blocklist includes several other Ukrainian media outlets that cover the full-scale invasion of the russian Federation into Ukraine.
Рlavkom, Segodnya, Kontrakty, Delo and other publications were also blocked among other media outlets.
UNN notes that their website has been blocked several times since 2014.
17.04.2022 The website of "Institure of Mass Information" CO has been banned in russia by the Procecutor General's office.
This is stated in the banned websites register.
According to the register, the decision has been approved on April 12 and the first block occurred on April 17.
According to the "Roskomsvoboda" project, rf has also banned access to the websites of the "Human Rights Watch" organization and some Ukrainian media: dev.ua, “Apostrof”, “Censor”, “Hromadske radio”, “Hazeta.ua”, “Segodnia”, MigNews, etc.
The rf's Procecutor General's office banned 24 websites in total, including IMI, adding the link to the article "on civillian evacuation issues and the actions of the russian army during the 'special military operation'" to the register.
Since the ban is carried out through HTTPS, many russian operators lose access to the website altogether, "Roskomsvoboda" states.
"These and other news websites were added to the register by the 'mask,' so the access restriction affects all their domains and subdomains," the project noted.
As IMI has reported, in January 2021 the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor), in accordance with the Prosecutor Genreal's demand, blocked access to the Institute of Mass Information's website on the russian federation's territory because of a news report that allegedly contained "calls for mass disruptions and extremist actions." The report in question dates back to August 18, 2016: "Russia blocks Hromadske TV interview with a 'Hizb-ut-Tahrir' representative."
09.05.2022 Roskomnadzor has blocked the Ukrainian online magazine Svoi.city in the russian federation. This was announced by the website's coordinator Gayane Avakyan.
"We have been blocked in russia! It has finally happened! So we are doing everything right!" Gayane wrote.
On the other hand, Gayane noted, their publication was read by many people in russia and it was where they received truthful information about the war in eastern Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, the number of users from russia has tripled.
The russian prosecutor general's office approved the decision to block the website on February 24, 2022 – the day of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, – but the first block occurred on March 17.
"They used a block mask – all the pages of the website together with the domain and subdomains are blocked," Gayane Avakyan said in her comment to IMI representative.
Online magazine "Svoi.Sity" tells about the lives of people in eastern Ukraine on both sides of the front line, about the lives of migrants, about Ukrainian refugees abroad. The authors of the magazine write manuals for solving legal problems faced by migrants and residents of the occupied territories.
01.07.2022 The editors of the Poltava city website 0532.ua received a notification from Roskomnadzor about access to the resource being restricted. russia accuses the Poltava media outlet of covering the war in a way that is, in russia's opinion, unreliable.
The media outlet's owner Yuriy Boyko posted the email on his Facebook page.
In the email, the reason for the block is stated as follows: "False reports about acts of terrorism or other unreliable information of public significance, which is distributed under the guise of reliable information, which creates a threat of harm to the life and health of citizens, carries the threat of mass violations of public order..."
The editors received the email in two languages, russian and English, a month ago, but they only saw it now.
In the comment to the regional IMI representative, Yuriy Boyko stated that they will continue to work for Ukraine's victory and that "the journalists weren't spending their nights in the office in the first months of the war for nothing."
"I believe that this is a worthy reward for the entire team of the 0532.ua website. This means that it was not for nothing that the journalists weren't spending their nights in the office in the first months of the war for nothing. We received an email from russia, from Roskomnadzor! I want to frame this email and hang it in the editorial office! The Prosecutor General of the russian federation believes that the website Poltava 0532.ua spreads unreliable information about the war and destabilizes the situation in the russian federation. We promise to keep destabilizing it until Ukraine's Victory! Glory to Ukraine!" he wrote.
According to Yuri Boyko, the editors did not respond to the email, but they plan to send a request for Roskomnadzor to follow the course of the russian warship.
27.07.2022 On July 27, "Poltavska Khvylia" media outlet received an email from Roskomnadzor about the access to the resource being restricted on the territory of russia. Vitaliy Ulybin, editor-in-chief of "Poltavska Khvylia," announced this on his Facebook page.
The email states that access is being restricted due to a publication with a tutorial for making a "Molotov cocktail."
"If the hosting provider and the website owner do not delete the prohibited information and restrict the Internet access to the website, a decision will be made to add the address of the network which allows the website to be identified on the Internet to the unified register, and access to it will be restricted," says the email.
In a comment to the Poltava representative of IMI, Vitaly Ulybin said that the editors responded with a picture in which the demands of the russian federation were being sent to follow the course of the russian warship.
As IMI reported, the editorial office of the Poltava 0532.ua website received a notification from Roskomnadzor about the access to the resource being restricted. russia accused the Poltava media outlet of covering the war in a way that was, in russia's opinion, unreliable.
08.08.2022 The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media has blocked the access to Kherson media outlet MOST for russian users.
The reason behind the block was the russian Prosecutor General's Office's demand 27-31-2022/Treb823-22 of July 15, 2022, which cited Article 15.3 of the Law "On Information, Information Technologies, and Information Protection." The demand itself is not publicly available, but the record on the website shows that the decision on the block was made on July 15, and the website was blocked on July 18, 2022.
"We felt the block physically when we saw that the number of readers with 'russian' IPs decreased. It became clear that the russians had restricted the access, mainly for the residents of the temporarily occupied Kherson region. As you know, all Kherson providers have been using the russian communication channel for several months, so the russians can block websites themselves," MOST editor Serhii Nikitenko said.
25.12.2023 The Roskomnadzor blocked a video uploaded to the YouTube channel of the Zaporizhzhia website inform.zp.ua back in 2019. The editors were notified by YouTube about their video being blocked in Russia on Monday, December 25.
The inform.zp.ua chief editor Eric Brynza reported this to the regional representative of the IMI.
According to him, they received the email from YouTube saying that the content depicted in the video "Urban explorers on a tower crane in Zaporizhzhia" (uploaded on May 5, 2019), is prohibited to Russian viewers and has therefore been blocked.
The minute-long video, which had had several views at the time, features a group of three men climbing a tower crane installed to build bridges over the Dnipro river in Zaporizhzhia, filming the process as well as the bird's-eye view. The background sound is exclusively music, there is no speech in the video.
The reasons behind the Roskomnadzor's decision are unknown. According to Eric Brynza, they have appealed to YouTube support to contest it.
As the IMI reported, in April 2022 the Roskomnadzor demanded that the Zaporizhzhia website Vmeste delete their reporting on Russia's war on Ukraine. That time the Roskomnadzor complained to the hosting owner – the German company Hetzner Online GmbH – demanding to disable the website if "the information distributed in violation of the law" is not taken down within 24 hours.
Disabling Ukrainian broadcasting to replace it with Russian propaganda – 35
03.03.2022 The occupiers that had seized the television studio and the TV center cut off the television signal. This was reported by Моst.
T2 is not working all over the city. Obviously, there is no signal in the entire Kherson region, which receives is from Kherson. Cable operators continue to broadcast Ukrainian TV channels.
04.03.2022 In Kherson, on the morning of March 4, the occupants began broadcasting 24 russian TV channels and three radio channels via T2. This was reported by Suspilne Kherson.
"The UA: Kherson TV channel broadcasts the national telethon. Other regional channels do not work. The situation is similar in the districts of the region," the statement reads.
04.03.2022 The russian troops that had taken control of the Melitopol TV tower began broadcasting russian TV channels. The Zaporizhzhia regional military administration reported this.
They cite the Melitopol City Council and sources in the Security Service of Ukraine.
"The SSU sources report that the occupants installed their equipment on the Melitopol TV tower and began broadcasting russian TV channels," adds Oleksandr Starukh, head of the RSA.
Local residents confirmed the information about the broadcast of russian channels in the city to IMI.
The State Special Communications Service clarified that the broadcast of russian channels is not carried out from the Melitopol TV tower, but with the help of another transmitter.
"No digital TV transmitter on the TV tower in Melitopol is currently operating. Broadcasting in Melitopol is carried out using an analog transmitter located outside the TV tower, to which the Concern of Radio Broadcasting, Radio and Television has no relation," the statement said.
04.03.2022 russian occupiers cut off the transmitters of Radio Krym.Realii (RFE/RL) broadcasting from the tower in the village of Chonhar, Kherson region.
This was reported to the IMI by the editor-in-chief of the NGO "Radio of Crimean Communities" Alexander Yankovsky.
According to the editor-in-chief, the transmitters were de-energized on February 24, immediately after the russian army invaded Ukraine.
And on March 4, Yankovsky added, some unknown individuals took out a transmitter for broadcasting at a frequency of 648 AM in the direction of the occupied Crimea.
"Radio of Crimean Communities" NGO is a licensee of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting and broadcasts under the call signs Radio Krym.Realii on the frequencies 105.9 FM, as well as 648 AM.
14.03.2022 In Starobilsky district of Luhansk region, the russian invaders cut off broadcasting of Ukrainian TV channels.
The IMI representative learnt it from her own sources.
There is also no mobile connection in the city. People in small villages do not have access to information about the developments in the community.
At the same time, they do can not call the ambulance. In addition, there is information that the occupiers are counting pro-Ukrainian activists and searching their homes.
22.03.2022 In the Kakhovka and Beryslav districts of the Kherson region, the russian occupiers cut off Ukrainian broadcasting and launched russian television.
This was announced by the regional representative of IMI in the Kherson region.
Ukrainian television was turned off in these areas on March 22, as employees of the Lyubimiv Village Council said.
According to an IMI source, russian troops entered the territory of the data center, which is located in the village of Vasylivka near Kakhovka on March 22.
"Last night they turned off Ukrainian television, and this morning they launched russian broadcasting," said the IMI source.
26.03.2022 Ukrainian FM radio channels have stopped working in Kherson. This was reported by Suspilne Kherson. Residents of the city report that currently only russian radio channels are broadcast in this range.
10.04.2022 In the temporarily occupied city of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region, the russian occupiers started broadcasting "Radio russia."
This was reported on April 10 on the Telegram channel of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration.
"In Enerhodar, the enemy managed to create a "Radio russia," through which they spread false and distorted information, hostile propaganda, and broadcast songs that glorify putin and the greatness of russia," the statement says.
It is also reported that the occupants are spreading propagandist photos where they distribute alleged humanitarian aid from russia to retirees in the city. "Judging by the photos, the products were delivered only to four people," the RSA reports.
As IMI reported, in March, after the russian occupation, the local Enerhodar television (ENTS) (Energodar Television Systems) announced the forced cessation of broadcasting.
- Occupiers broadcast their TV channels and radio in Dniprorudne, Zaporizhzhia region
25.04.2022 In the temporarily occupied Dniprorudne, Zaporizhzhia region, the russian occupiers have began jamming Ukrainian television channels and launched the broadcasts of eight russian TV channels and three radio stations.
This was reported on Enerhodar city's official Telegram channel.
In particular, Mayak radio is broadcast – one of the most powerful Kremlin propaganda mouthpieces.
The Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration confirmed to journalists that the occupiers were trying to broadcast russian television and radio in all temporarily occupied territories. According to the ZRMA, in Dniprorudny, the russian occupants installed a digital transmitter for TV and radio signals, which broadcasts ruscist TV channels and Mayak radio.
11.05.2022 In Mariupol, the occupiers use the name and logo of the newspaper "Priazovsky Rabochy" to spread propaganda. The editor-in-chief of the publication Olena Kalaitan wrote about this on her Facebook, Detector Media reports.
"Today I learned that in Mariupol they are giving out an alleged fresh issue of 'Priazovsky Rabochy' together with the 'humanitarian aid' – with our logo on it, but, of course, not our Ukrainian content.
"Well, our editorial office has predicted in advance that the occupiers would use the trust of our readers over the years and the credibility of the 'Priazovsky Rabochy' newspaper, which we have been – and are – diligently developing and preserving.
Dear readers, I ask you not to read all that the collaborationist government is now publishing as our position: the Ukrainian editors of 'Priazovsky Rabochy' have nothing to do with any line of this newly published newspaper," the statement reads.
The last issue of this newspaper was published on February 23. After the start of the full-scale russian aggression, Olena Kalaitan sent a letter to the chairman of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine stating that the publication was suspending its publication and that any further use of the brand would be illegal.
As IMI reported, "Priazovsky Rabochy" newspaper is one of the media outlets in Donetsk region which ceased their work due to the occupation.
27.05.2022 Crimean engineers have connected the russian-occupied Berdyansk (Zaporizhzhia region) to three russian radio stations.
This was reported by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration (ZRMA).
According to the ZRMA, in addition to this, radio "Krym" is broadcasting the news from the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which the propagandists call "liberated," every hour.
"And finally, about the rubbish promises of the russian occupiers. On their propaganda resources, the invaders promise to develop a system of subsidies for farmers, create a new system of taxes, supply of products and raw materials, and also announce that Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions will switch to russian license plates," said the military administration.
It is also reported that in Berdyansk, the occupiers are persuading the locals to switch to the russian operators' mobile networks. At the same time, the Ukrainian mobile connection is being jammed by the russian military.
31.05.2022 A propaganda leaflet has been issued in occupied Izyum (Kharkiv region). In it, the occupiers urge locals to go to work and promise them a "bright future."
Anna Chernenko, a journalist from Kharkiv, told this to the IMI representative, citing local residents.
"But for now they're offering to work for rations. At the same time, they encourage the locals to go out and build a new life with great pathos. And that same 'newspaper' reported that the so-called mayor of Izyum had already been elected, although even the local collaborating authorities had not heard of any such so-called elections," the journalist noted.
According to Anna Chernenko, the locals write on social media that the leaflet was issued by a security guard from one of the local banks.
"There is even some strange business with the title of this 'newspaper:' one page says that it is 'Izyumsky Telegraph,' and another says that it is 'Izyumsky Vestnik.' That is, they haven't made up their minds yet not only on the mayor, but also on the title of the newspaper," the journalist said.
According to the leaflet, the self-proclaimed mayor is Vladyslav Solokov. According to the Kharkiv Anti-Corruption Center, Sokolov is a former law enforcement officer. He was a candidate for the post of Izyum mayor in 2020 from the Nash Krai party. During his run, he stated that he was the head of the sector for individuals' assets banking security in PJSC KV Oschadbank.
16.06.2022 In Kherson, the occupying forces have seized the "Armiya FM – Military Radio" (Central Television and Radio Studio of the Ministry of Defense) frequency of 99.0 MHz and are broadcasting under the call sign "Radio russia."
This is stated in the response of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to IMI's request.
In total, russian occupiers have seized eight radio frequencies and TV channels in four regions of Ukraine. Namely, the occupying power currently controls radio frequencies and TV channels in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
- Occupiers are broadcasting their propaganda in the Vovchansk and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv region
16.06.2022 In Vovchansk and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv region, on the 90.0 – 91.0 MHz frequencies, russia is broadcasting under the call sign "Kharkov Z."
This is stated in the response of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to IMI's request.
In total, russian occupiers have seized eight radio frequencies and TV channels in four regions of Ukraine. Namely, the occupying power currently controls radio frequencies and TV channels in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
16.06.2022 In Kupyansk district of Kharkiv region, the aggressor state is broadcasting on the 91.0 – 92.0 MHz frequencies under the call sign "Radio Zhyzn."
This is stated in the response of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to IMI's request.
In total, russian occupiers have seized eight radio frequencies and TV channels in four regions of Ukraine. Namely, the occupying power currently controls radio frequencies and TV channels in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
16.06.2022 in five towns and villages in Luhansk region (Starobilsk, Svatove, Zorynivka, Shyroky, Bilovodsk), russian channels are being broadcast through Zeonbud channels.
This is stated in the response of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to IMI's request.
Namely, Pervy Kanal/Match, NTV, Pyaty Kanal, rossiya-K, Karusel, OTP, TVC, rossiya-1, rossiya 24, Vesti FM, Radio Mayak, Radio russia; Spas, STS, Domashny, TV-3, Pyatnitsa, Zvezda, Mir, TNT, Muz-TV; MX-3: Moya Planeta, Nauka, Techno 24, Moskva 24, Muzyka Pervogo, and Lugansk 24 are being broadcast.
In total, russian occupiers have seized eight radio frequencies and TV channels in four regions of Ukraine. Namely, the occupying power currently controls radio frequencies and TV channels in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
16.06.2022 In five cities in Zaporizhzhia region (Melitopol, Berdyansk, Bilmak, Dniprorudne, Tokmak), the multichannel TV frequency has been seized. This is stated in the response of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to IMI's request.
According to the NCTRB, the occupiers use the channels of the digital television operator Zeonbud to broadcast the following russian channels: Pervy Kanal, rossiya 1, rossiya 24, rocciya K, NTV, Pyaty Kanal, Match, Karusel, and three radio programs.
In total, russian occupiers have seized eight radio frequencies and TV channels in four regions of Ukraine. Namely, the occupying power currently controls radio frequencies and TV channels in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
16.06.2022 In Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, "rossiya-24" channel is being broadcast on the frequency of the MTV Plus channel (MTV-PLUS TV and Radio Company LLC). This is stated in the response of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to IMI's request.
According to the NCTRB, MTV Plus is engaged in collaboration with the aggressor state.
In total, russian occupiers have seized eight radio frequencies and TV channels in four regions of Ukraine. Namely, the occupying power currently controls radio frequencies and TV channels in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
28.07.2022 Two issues of the propaganda "newspaper" "Nashe Slovo" were printed in Volnovakha (Donetsk region), which is temporarily occupied by the russian invaders. This was stated by the media outlet's editor-in-chief Lidia Tarash, Chytomo reports.
"Nashe Slovo" has been in print since 1932, but after the occupation, the russians stole the newspaper's brand and use it to spread propaganda.
"In this publication, the occupation authorities appropriated not only the name 'Nashe Slovo,' but also the font of the name, the layout style of the first page, and even the color blue that we used for the name on the newspaper's website and Facebook page. We note that not a single member of our enterprise's team has anything to do with the prinitng of this newspaper," Lidia Tarash emphasized.
According to the editor, the real "Nashe Slovo" stopped printing with the beginning of full-scale russian aggression against Ukraine. As of now, all editorial staff have left the occupied territory, except for one colleague who was killed.
Lidia Tarash reported that the representatives of the so-called "DPR" occupation administration have been trying to "resume" the printing of the newspaper for a long time. Namely, they offered her to cooperate.
The occupiers gave the premises of the editorial office to the so-called "Volnovakha District Pension Fund." The printing of the fake "Nashe Slovo" is being done by the so-called State Unitary Enterprise of the Donetsk People's Republic "Republican Media Holding" headed by Roman Karpenko. In addition to "Our Word," the "Holding" is printing two more local "newspapers" in the occupied territory of Donetsk region – "Selskaya Nov" (Mangush District) and "Zarya Pryazovya" (Nikolske District).
We remind you that earlier, the russians have stolen brands of Mariupol, Melitopol, and Kherson newspapers to spread propaganda.
01.08.2022 On August 1, new propaganda TV channel "ZaTV" started working in the occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia oblast.
This was reported by a number of russian media outlets with reference to Vladimir Rogov, a self-proclaimed member of the pseudo-administration of Zaporizhia oblast.
The regional IMI representative also notes that reports about the opening of a "regional russian TV channel in the oblast" were spreading on August 1 through the main Telegram channels of local collaborators.
"ZaTV" channel was opened by the self-proclaimed head of Zaporizhzhia oblast pseudo-administration Yevhen Balytsky. On his Telegram channel, he reported that "the television channel... is a great help in matters of truth, in matters of explaining the situation, solving the problems of all residents of Zaporizhzhia oblast."
At the same time, according to Perevireno.Zaporizhzhia project, the "official Telegram channel" of the self-proclaimed head of the region is at the forefront of spreading fakes and manipulations in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
It is currently unknown who became the head of the collaborationist TV channel, which positions itself as a regional one. As IMI was able to find out, the new TV channel's studio was opened separately from the "Melitopol" (TVM) and MTV Plus TV channels. The studio was opened under the seized TV tower located in Melitopol. Although, according to Opendatabot, collaborator Yevhen Balytsky is the owner of MTV Plus Television and Radio Company LLC. It is his "LEGION" LLC that owns 100% of the TV company.
Currently, information about the TV channel "MTV Plus" on the Ukrainian- and russian-language Wikipedia pages has been edited. Namely, the description of the TV channel reads, "Melitopol TV Company is one of the largest TV companies in Zaporizhzhia oblast. It rebroadcasts the programs of the informational TV channel Rossiya 24 and also has daily four hours of its own air time, filled by informational and analytical programs on regional topics. The office is located in Melitopol at Khmelnytsky Ave. 70B, first floor." However, it is noted on the Wikipedia pages that the information about the rebroadcast (previously the TV channel would broadcast programs of the satellite channel Sonce) was edited on July 12, 2022 and is unverified.
As IMI reported, in March, the occupiers kidnapped several journalists of the MV-holding; later, the media holding closed down. Also, almost all pro-Ukrainian media stopped working in Melitopol.
29.08.2022 Propaganda newspaper "Novoye Vremya" is set to start issuing on August 29 in the Polohy District of Zaporizhzhia oblast, which is temporarily occupied by the russian army. News about this appeared on propaganda Telegram channel "Zaporozhsky Vestnik" on August 26.
The first editions of the newspaper, which is being launched for printing "thanks to the assistance from the Head of Penza region," will be distributed for free. The occupiers promise an "objective assessment of the events" taking place in the part of the region they have occupied.
The first page includes a photo of people voting in support of the pseudo-referendum which the occupiers plan to hold in the occupied territories in September. There is no caption or credit under the picture. It is also unclear where and when this photo was taken. And the article "Brotherly Helping Hand" is signed with the name Victoria Solomayko. Currently, the search of this name has yielded no results. It is also unknown who is the newspaper's editor, what is its print run, and where it is being printed.
06.09.2022 The occupation administration of Mariupol launched a new local TV channel Mariupol 24, reports 0629.com.ua.
As the media writes, the work on its launch began back in May. Journalist collaborator Andriy Kior was to become the channel's manager. He was the author of the TV channel's name, which was supposed to be Novy Mariupol. However, the Mariupol people were dismissed from the management as "experts" from Donetsk and St. Petersburg took the creation the channel upon themselves.
On August 4, "St. Petersburg" TV channel's Director General Alexander Malkevich and the head of the "DPR's" "First Republican TV channel" Sergei Pelyanitsyn signed a cooperation agreement. A team of russian journalists arrived in Mariupol and began working on creating the studio, a network, and providing the technical capabilities for broadcasting. The first news releases are already out.
As the media outlet notes, thanks to this, they have learned the names of more collaborator journalists. For instance, they write, is well-known Mariupol sports columnist Oleksandr Kapustyan and journalist Oleksandr Buzuluk have sided with the occupiers.
There is also Ksenia Misyurevych, a student of the Moscow State University's Faculty of Journalism who started working at the TV channel while still studying.
As reported by IMI, Mariupol's collaborator journalists were working on the creation of the occupiers' TV channel Novy Mariupol.
The Mariupol occupation administration's "press center" was headed by local journalist Andriy Kior.
In May, the occupiers started spreading propaganda in Mariupol under the name and logo of the newspaper Priazovsky Rabochy.
12.09.2022 The occupiers have launched Za!Radio on the FM frequency in the seized part of Zaporizhzhia oblast. This was announced on the propaganda Telegram channel "ZaTV.Novosti Zaporozhskoy oblasti."
The propagandists have made a whole commercial about this. In particular, the video says that the radio currently works in testing mode, and that the technological aspect and the content concept are ready. The radio will broadcast Russian music and hourly news, and the half-hour program "Evening with Vladimir Andronaki" on weekends. This is most likely about Andronaki Vladimir Petrovich, "journalist," "TV journalist," "author and host of Evening Interception program on Radio Krym."
The promotional video also shows a very poorly equipped radio office and the employees' comments. It features Evgeniy Kochubey, the radio's chief sound engineer, who says that "the quality of our equipment meets the global standards." Denis Dorofeyev, a "Za!Radio station employee," a journalist who used to be, among other things, a sports commentator on the Melitopol TV channel, the songwriter for the metal band MegamasS, and a former host of Radio Submarina, also gives a comment. He had started working with the collaborators in the spring. In his comment, he says that the radio's content "will consist of informative broadcasts full of meaning." Za!Radio, whose slogan is "For Motherland! For our home! For the radio!" is being shamelessly called "the best radio in Zaporizhzhia oblast" by the propagandists.
As IMI reported, on August 1, a new propaganda TV channel ZaTV started working in the occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia oblast.
19.12.2022 In Snigurivka town (Mykolaiv oblast), which had been under Russian occupation since March to November, the invaders were distributing a clone of the locally known newspaper "Ridne Prybuzhzhia". This was reported by the IMI representative in Mykolaiv oblast.
The Russians used the layout, typeface, and name of the regional newspaper, having translated it into Russian – "Rodnoe Pribuzhye".
The pro-Russian "Rodnoe Pribuzhye" (with the only issue dated September 23) was intented to promote a pseudo-referendum on the accession of Kherson oblast and Snigurivka, Mykolayiv oblast, to Russia. The newspaper's source data indicate that it was printed in Kherson oblast with a print run of 10,000 copies. There is no other information neither on the publication nor the person responsible for the issue.
The newspaper "Ridne Prybuzhzhia" was founded in 1991 as Mykolaiv oblast's official printed publication. In 2019, the newspaper has been denationalized, and is currently a private enterprise headed by editor-in-chief Tetyana Fabrykova. Before the start of the full-scale war, the newspaper used to print three issues a week with a print run of about 10,000 copies and was distributed throughout Mykolaiv oblast.
As editor-in-chief Tetyana Fabrykova told IMI, the newspaper's last issue was published on February 24, 2022; after that, it had to suspend its operation due to the hostilities. As of December, the publication has not resumed its work because of financial difficulties, the energy situation in Ukraine, and the journalists being physically absent from Mykolaiv, which remains a front-line city in the full-scale invasion.
Tetyana Fabrykova is outraged by the fact that the Russians created a clone of "Ridne Prybuzhzhia" in order to exploit the newspaper's reputation to promote pro-Russian propaganda among the residents of Mykolaiv oblast.
She said that "Ridne Prybuzhzhya" had been printed in Kherson for the last few years. Tetyana Fabrykova believes that the occupiers were able to gain access to the newspaper's files stored in the printing house and used them to create the clone.
"I was not aware of this situation, I am outraged by the fact that they used our logo, that they would issue such a thing. When the hostilities started in Mykolaiv oblast, we stopped printing the newspaper, because, first, we were doing it in Kherson, the printing press was there... Mykolaiv newspapers are now gradually resuming their work, in particular 'Yuzhnaya Pravda' and 'Vechirniy Mykolaiv', but we are not prepared to release another issue yet, because our journalists are not in Mykolaiv yet. I think that as soon as our power grid is stabilized, we will of course resume our work. We will fulfill all our obligations to our subscribers. Because we are almost a year behind. We only fulfilled our obligations to subscribers for January – February. This issue that you discovered is a scam, they know that such a newspaper existed, so they made use of it," said Tetyana Fabrykova.
17.01.2023 The Russian invaders have disabled the broadcasting of all Ukrainian TV channels in three temporarily occupied settlements of Kherson oblast. This was reported by the UAF General Staff in their January 17 morning rundown.
According to the General Staff, Ukrainian broadcasting has been disabled in Zavodivka, Hornostayivka, and Kayiry. Currently, only Russian television is available there.
Furthermore, the military reports, the occupiers keep terrorizing the civilian population in Kherson oblast. In particular, Sablukivka, Kachkarivka, Olhivka, Tyahynka, Inhulets, and Kherson were affected by mortar and artillery fire.
As IMI reported, the Ukrainian media space is being restored in Kherson, which has been liberated from the Russian occupiers. People are listening to Suspilne and NV Radio, watching the "United News" telethon.
In January 2022, in Kakhovka district in the occupied part of Kherson oblast, Russian TV channels streamed the Ukrainian President's address.
28.02.2023 On February 24, the occupiers published the first edition of the weekly propaganda newspaper "Golos Novorossyi" in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia oblast.
The propaganda publication is funded from the Russian "Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives", according to the newspaper's website. The initial plan is to publish five issues of the newspaper.
The propagandists plan to "report on the news and the everyday life of Russia's new regions, on their integration into the united cultural, economic, and civilizational space of the Russian Federation." They clarify that the first issue of the newspaper for the "DPR", "LPR" and the occupied Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts were published on the "first anniversary of the start of the SMO", that is, of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The editor-in-chief of the "Golos Novorossyi" is Yulia Shamal. Before this, she used to be the director of the propaganda media holding "ZaTV", which is based in the temporarily occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia oblast. Before the full-scale war, she worked at "Nravstvenny TV" in Russia, among other things, and is also the author of the documentaries "The Whole Truth About Wanga", "Who Rules the World", "Osama bin Laden. Secret Agent No.1". On the website, she is listed as a "writer" and "an experienced Russian media manager who already has experience working in the new regions."
According to the propaganda newspaper's website, it is published in partnership with the Civil Projects Fund "Stalker" and news agency Regnum, supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives of the Russian Federation. Judging by the "Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives" website, it most likely is part of the project "Integration newspaper for territories that are being liberated", whose designated budget is 13 million rubles for half a year of work. At this budget, "Stalker" sets the following tasks for itself: to develop the concept of the printed edition; to develop the layout of the newspaper, the website, and te Telegram channel; to establish an office of the printed edition; to create a branch office in Belgorod; to create a correspondence department for the printed edition; to ensure the printing, delivery, and distribution of seven issues of the printed edition.
The content on the "Golos Novorossyi" website is propagandistic and written in the "Soviet" style. Namely, the content is published under such headlines as: "The integration into the space of the Russian Federation is proceeding rapidly", "People always remain in the center of all decisions", "8000 buildings restored in Novorossiya".
Propagandists from another Russian propaganda media, "Izvestia", were brought to work on "Golos Novorossyi". In particular, Maria Perevoschikova, who wrote about the "8000 buildings", works at "Izvestia". If you search the website of this Russian media outlet, you will find a bunch of content with her name on it.
Sergey Prudnikov is also an author at "Izvestia", writing a lot about the life in the occupied Donetsk oblast, as well as in "Golos Novorossyi", reporting on the situation in the city as told by "the new Mariupol Mayor, Oleg Morgun." Vasilisa Yaseneva, who writes articles about Putin in "Golos Novorossyi", is also from "Izvestia". Anton Lavrov writes about Russia's "SMO successes" both in "Izvestia" and "Golos", saying that "we were simply left with no other option to defend Russia."
As IMI reported, on August 1, 2022, a new Russian propaganda TV channel "ZaTV" opened in the occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia oblast. The channel's staff is Russian. The media holding "ZaMedia" also includes the propaganda radio "Za!Radio" and the newspaper "Zaporozhsky Vestnik".
27.04.2023 The Russian occupiers are trying to stream a fake radio broadcast called "Slobozhanske FM" (90.2 FM) in Kharkiv oblast.
This was reported by the press office of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.
"We would like to stress that this is not the first time that the enemy attempts to pose as Ukrainian media and misinform the people of Kharkiv oblast," the RMA noted.
They listed the frequencies where you can get verified information:
Balaklia – 104.9 MHz; Zmiyiv – 90.8 MHz; Blyznyuki, Velyky Burluk – 100.1 MHz; Barvinkove – 103.4 MHz; Izyum – 89.7 MHz.
As IMI reported, the SBU investigators have issued a suspicion notice for treason to VII convocation deputy of the Izyum City Council, who sided with the Russians after the full-scale invasion, created the weekly propaganda newspaper "Izyumsky Telegraf" and assumed the position of editor-in-chief. The suspicion notice was issued in absentia.
14.03.2024 The broadcasting of Suspilne's T2 TV channels and radio channels is temporarily unavailable in the Sumy oblast and the Kharkiv oblast due to Russia's March 14 strikes on radio communications facilities, Suspilne reports on their website.
There is no Suspilne TV broadcasting in T2 in Sumy and some cities of the Sumy oblast. In Bilopillya and Shostka, there is no TV or radio broadcasting by Suspilne.
In the Kharkiv oblast (Izyum, Kehychivka and Lozova) T2 broadcasting of the Suspilne TV channels and radio is unavailable.
You can listen to Ukrainian Radio online on ukr.radio, Suspilne Sumy or Suspilne Kharkiv, as well as in the mobile applications suspilne.radio and Diya.
Sumy oblast news from Suspilne are available on the following digital platforms: Suspilne News, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, channels on YouTube and Viber.
News updates from Suspilne Kharkiv are available on the Suspilne News website and on social media: Telegram, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
On the night of March 14, Russian troops struck television infrastructure facilities in the Kharkiv oblast en masse with drones. Russia also carried out missile and air strikes on radio engineering facilities in the Sumy oblast, which left some municipalities the Sumy oblast without television or radio signal.
In 2022, Russian troops fired at TV towers in Kharkiv and Izyum.
In the two years of the full-scale invasion, the IMI recorded 16 cases of Russians shelling TV towers, which are civilian objects. This caused television and radio broadcasting in nine regions of Ukraine to disappear completely or temporarily.
23.04.2024 The shelling strike on the Kharkiv TV tower resulted in digital broadcasting disappearing in the city and the nearby municipalities.
This was reported on Telegram by the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration chair Oleh Synehubov on April 23.
According to him, the Russian troops hit the TV tower with an Kh-59 missile.
"The total height of the tower before the strike was 250 meters. The impact was at about 140 meters high. Technical premises are damaged. Specialists are assessing the damage to the television equipment," he wrote.
Synehubov noted that Kharkiv residents can connect to cable and satellite TV. Radio, the Internet, and mobile connection are in order.
On April 22, the Russian troops targeted a TV tower in Kharkiv, destroying it. People reported interruptions in the digital television signal.
The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office opened a case over the April 22 shelling strike on the Kharkiv television tower.
The Russians resumed the shelling of Ukrainian TV and radio infrastructure in 2024.
Previously, the IMI recorded such incidents back at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022 (back then, 16 cases of the Russians shelling TV towers, which are civilian objects, were recorded).
In March 2024, the Russian troops deliberately struck TV infrastructure in Kharkiv oblast with drones. They also carried out missile and air strikes on the radio facilities in the Sumy oblast, leaving some municipalities without TV or radio signal. Later, Suspilne reported that due to the strikes their T2 TV channels and radio channels were temporarily unavailable in both oblasts.
The Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration chair Oleh Syneguhov said that the Russians deliberately mass targeted the television and radio infrastructure of Kharkiv Oblast with drones on the night of March 14.
22.07.2024 The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has launched the propagandistic "Orthodox radio" Vera ("Faith") in the occupied Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The propaganda website "Zaporozhskoe Agentstvo Novostei" and some Telegram channels working in the Zaporizhia oblast TOT, reported this on July 20.
The ROC priest Maxim Smirnov spoke to the propagandists about the radio station opening. He announced that the radio will "preach the Gospel, broadcast stories about spiritual heritage, programs on history and culture, tradition and modernity, on kindness and mercy, as well as literary works, the best domestic and foreign music."
The station is "built following the rules of modern FM broadcasting" and is "intended to unite believers, helping them find the most important things in life – faith, hope, and love," write the propagandists.
The propagandistic Russian radio Vera entered the Russian FM range in September 2014 and currently broadcasts in 127 cities. Its stated mission is "teaching the foundations of the Christian worldview, cultural and historical education." It broadcasts music, talk shows and original programs: "Gospel Day by Day", "Family Stories with Tutta Larsen", "Names of Mercy", "Meeting a Masterpiece", "Light Evening", etc. The studio's guests are Orthodox priests and laypeople, cultural figures, heads of charities, teachers, psychologists, public figures."
The occupiers point out that the radio station works on donations from private individuals, foundations and curious listeners. According to the propagandists, this is a private non-commercial cultural and educational project, "created with the blessing of the Russian Orthodox Church leader."
The radio's website states that it was founded by an autonomous non-profit "Information Center for Radio, Art, and Culture 'Faith, Hope, Love'". According Russia's open registers, it was licensed in 2012 in Moscow (Russia) and its founder has ties to two more Russian media organizations.
There are 12 FM frequencies used by propaganda radio stations in temporarily occupied Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Two of them are occupied by "ZaRadio", which is part of the media holding "ZaMedia", created by the Russian propagandist Alexander Malkevich. The propaganda outlet "Radio Krym" and multiple Russian national radio stations such as "Radio Russia" also speak in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia oblast.
Earlier, Russian propagandists recently announced the opening of another radio station called "Yug Molody" in the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhia oblast. The station is set to target Ukrainian youth.
31.07.2024 Hromadske Radio's transmission equipment in Kherson has been damaged by Russian shelling, which resulted in the broadcasting being disabled, the Hromadske Radio technicians report on the website.
Experts are assessing the damage. The editors promise to report when the broadcasting is restored.
The Russian troops targeted Kherson city and the oblast on the night of July 31, killing one person and injuring 4 others.
As reported by IMI, earlier, Hromadske Radio suffered a DDoS attack that started on the night of May 12. The attack occurred in two waves and reached 84.22 million requests at its peak.
26.08.2024 Hromadske Radio transmitters are not working in Kyiv and Hirnyk (Donetsk oblast) due to power outages, the Hromadske Radio editor-in-chief Victoria Yermolayeva reports on Facebook.
She adds that the broadcast is available in other cities. The transmitter in Mykolaiv is working on backup power.
"You can always access Hromadske Radio on the website and in our app. We will give live reports on all the consequences during the day, no changes there," Yermolayeva wrote.
Today, August 26, Russia mass-bombarded Ukraine with missiles and Shahed drones, causing power outages in many oblasts. "Ukrenergo" has ordered to introduce emergency blackouts due to the Russian attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
09.09.2024 Hromadske radio had to dismantle their equipment in Hirnyk (Donetsk oblast) due to the difficult safety situation, according to the radio station's website.
"We have been speaking in Hirnyk at 91.4 FM since 2018. Recently, due to constant shelling and power outages, the signal often disappeared in the city. Unfortunately, the current situation is such that we cannot ensure the safety of the TV and radio center’s staff who operated our equipment. It had to be dismantled. However, Hromadske Radio is still available in the city: at 99.6 FM, which reaches Hirnyk from Pokrovsk. And you can always listen to Hromadske Radio on the website and in the application," said Tetyana Kurmanova.
13.09.2024 The Hromadske Radio transmitter in Nikopol (Dnipropetrovsk oblast) is temporarily out of order due to a blackout, reports the broadcaster.
The repairs will take several days. The transmitters of several other radio stations are also down.
"We advise our listeners to follow the news on our online application and on social media," said the Hromadske Radio CEO Kyrylo Lukerenko.
On September 13, the oblast military administration chair Serhiy Lysak reported on Telegram that Russian troops had targeted the Nikopol region with drones and artillery on the night of September 13, damaging an electric power line among other things.
On September 9, 2024, Hromadske Radio reported that they had had to dismantle their equipment in Hirnyk, Donetsk oblast, due to a difficult safety situation.
On August 26, 2024, Hromadske Radio transmitters were not working in Kyiv and Hirnyk (Donetsk oblast) due to power outages.
On August 26, Russia mass-bombarded Ukraine with missiles and Shahed drones, causing powr outages in many oblasts. "Ukrenergo" has ordered to introduce emergency blackouts due to the Russian attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
17.09.2024 A Russian shelling strike on Pokrovsk (Donetsk oblast) on September 17 destroyed the broadcasting equipment used by Hromadske Radio and the local TV channel "Capri", Hromadske Radio reports.
"Broadcasting has been stopped indefinitely, as the safety situation does not allow to carry out emergency and repair work at the transmission station," Hromadske Radio explains.
As reported earlier, Hromadske Radio only started broadcasting in Pokrovsk on August 28, 2024.
On September 9, 2024 Hromadske Radio had to dismantle their equipment in Hirnyk, Donetsk oblast, due to a difficult safety situation.
On September 13, Hromadske Radio temporarily stopped broadcasting in Nikopol (Dnipropetrovsk oblast) due to a power outage.
Media outlets closing down due to Russia's war on Ukraine – 330
12.03.2022 In Henichesk (Kherson region), the "Novyy Vizyt" media website ceased its work and creative activity.
This was announced on Facebook by the publication's chief editor Hennadiy Osmak.
According to him, the website ceased its work "due to the current situation."
We remind that this evening, the website of the Henichesk City Council reported that the mayor, his deputies, the Council secretary, and the head of affairs of Executive Committee resigned.
russian troops occupied Henichesk on February 24.
13.03.2022 Anna Sokolova, editor of the Pryazovska Pravda newspaper, stated that she ceases her work as a journalist from today.
She announced this on the media's Telegram channel.
Sokolova mentioned that the decision had to do with the "current conditions."
"I do not own the media company I manage, so, of course, I cannot automatically remove myself from the registers. However, from now on I ask you not to associate my name with Priazovska Pravda and any other publication," the journalist wrote.
She also warned readers that starting from this day she has nothing to do with any publications of Priazovska Pravda.
Anna Sokolova is the head of the Editorial Office of the Henichesk District Newspaper "Pryazovska Pravda."
The district newspaper stopped coming out in print about six months ago. Since the occupation of Henichesk by russian troops, the newspaper's editorial office has published its materials on its Facebook page and Telegram.
In 2021, "Pryazovska Pravda" turned 100 years old. This is one of the oldest mass media in the Kherson region.
13.03.2022 Enerhodar's local TV channel "ENTS" (Enerhodar Television Systems) has been forced to stop broadcasting. This was reported on the official website of the channel.
13.03.2022 In the occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, the city district newspaper "Novyy den" ceased publication.
The editor-in-chief of the publication Dilyara Kudusova announced this on March 13 on her Facebook page.
"In the conditions of occupation, the editorial office, unfortunately, is forced to stop publishing the Melitopol city district newspaper 'Novyy Den.' For now, we will work only via the sites and social media pages of Melitopol.City and 'Novyy Den,'" she wrote.
According to the post, since the announcement of the termination of the newspaper, any other publications with this name are not the product of their editorial team.
"If a periodical called 'Novyy den' appears somewhere, it will mean that someone is wantonly using our logo, and the editorial team has nothing to do with the content of the publications. We do not cooperate with the occupants. Glory to Ukraine!" wrote the editor of the periodical.
05.04.2022 Radio station “Klass" from the town of Izyum, Kharkiv region, stopped broadcasting in the town.
This was reported to the IMI representative by the media.
The radio station also stopped broadcasting in Kupyansk (Kharkiv region) and Kostiantynivka (Donetsk region).
In Izyum and Kupyansk, the radio station stopped broadcasting on February 26, on the eve of the occupation of the city, when the fighting continued. And in Kostiantynivka broadcasting was stopped on March 14.
This decision was made after all the women employees left, trying to evade shelling, so no one left to do the job, to stay was to dangerous, the editorial office said.
"After the occupation of Izyum, they decided to stop broadcasting, so as not to become the aggressor's spokesman," the editorial board stressed.
They added that the listeners were confused because they were used to listen to the radio station every day.
“They wrote to us, called us, asked us. We explained why we made such a decision, "the radio station spokeswoman said in a comment to IMI.
Radio “Klass” is a non-governmental music and information network radio station in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, covering Izyum and Kupyansk of Kharkiv region, as well as Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Bakhmut of Donetsk region, about 1 million listeners.
01.06.2022 Due to the full-scale russian-Ukrainian war, the literary magazine "SHO" was forced to close down.
This was announced by the publication's editor-in-chief Oleksandr Kabanov on his Facebook page, Chytomо informs.
"Now my employees and I are completely out of work. War and Putin, god damn him. There has never been such a unique and large-scale educational project, dare I say, in the whole world. The magazine had been published in Russian and Ukrainian for 17 years. Full color, hard cover, all over Ukraine and beyond. It was the work of my whole life," he wrote.
The publication's website continues to operate.
SHO Magazine is a russian- and Ukrainian-language magazine dedicated to literature and culture. It had been published in Kyiv since 1995. The publication had been created as a humanitarian project aimed at expanding the Ukrainian cultural space.
"Thank you to everyone who was there and to those I wrote about. It was my crystal temple and my city of sin. Keep text notes about yourself, it is the history that lasts forever. It's endless," wrote one of the magazine's contributors, Oleksandr Proletarsky.
The "Kyivsky Lavry" International Literary Festival was also held by the magazine.
07.07.2022 "Prybuzka Zorya" newspaper (Khmelnytsky region) temporarily stopped publishing due to the difficult financial situation. This was reported by the editor, Svitlana Volkova, in the newspaper's last edition, issued in late June.
"Many legal, financial, material, and other issues have accumulated due to the military aggression. However, the most important of them, for every Ukrainian, is only one thing – when will the war end, when will our victory come. In view of the extremely difficult financial situation that has befallen the Prybuzka Zorya Newspaper Editorial Board LLC and very low subscription revenues, we made the decision to suspend the newspaper's publication until the end of 2022," the editor's statement reads.
Volkova also named six reasons that contributed to this decision. In particular, the denationalization of printed publications, Ukrposhta's decision to introduce mobile post offices and downsize stationary ones along with their staff, the "newspaper workers' lost battle" for efficiency with the Internet. Also, these are the prices for delivery, paper, and printing, a ban on subletting leased premises. And the sixth reason is the war.
Instead, Svitlana Volkova noted, all subscribers who have pre-paid for the publication until the end of the year will receive "Simeyna Hazeta" in accordance with the agreement between LLC "Prybuzka Zorya Newspaper EB" and LLC "E Publishing House."
"Prybuzka Zorya" is a printed district newspaper that has changed its name several times, but preserved the publication's history and the history of villages and towns of the present Khmelnytsky district on its paper pages, without switching to online format. It was impossible to find a single copy of "Prybuzka Zorya" being sold freely. This newspaper was only available through pre-paid subscription.
The first edition of the newspaper was published in 1919. In April 2019, the newspaper celebrated its 100th anniversary.
09.11.2022 In Poltava oblast, the printed newspaper "Kozelshchynski Visti" has closed down. The last issue was released on November 9. The newspaper's editor-in-chief, Nadia Lytvyn, announced this on her Facebook page.
According to her, the main reason for the closure was lack of funding.
The editor-in-chief noted that the newspaper could not withstand the market tension, "the competition with its majesty the Internet and modern gadgets."
"Today, producing a printed edition is a luxury that we cannot afford, it is too expensive a hobby. In order to feed ourselves, we must ensure a print rate of at least 5,000 copies – which is unrealistic given the current demographic situation in our community. Moreover, one copy of a newspaper should cost at least thirty hryvnias today – are you all ready to pay this much for a newspaper? I doubt it..." Lytvyn wrote.
She noted that the publication's significant, if not the main, source of income used to be advertising. "Now the demand is effectively gone, and it's understandable: there's a war. And there won't be any in the future, either, because wealthy advertisers usually choose high-circulation publications. With our current print rate of 800 copies, we look more than impoverished, no one will want to invest in putting advertisements in our newspaper," she wrote.
According to Nadia Lytvyn, in order to publish a printed newspaper, you need at least four people on staff, provide them with a salary no lower than the minimum wage, pay all taxes, do office maintenance, and pay for the printing house's services.
"For the last six months, the editors have been running on sheer enthusiasm. Last winter, we had to work in the cold (and even now we don't heat our office to save money and electricity), with salary delays; but we tried (save for the one month and a half break we took at the beginning of the war) to publish new issues regularly, running solely on the donations from our caring friends from abroad and from local entrepreneurs," she wrote.
Lytvyn added that now all donations have ceased and no more income is expected.
The newspaper's last issue, released on November 9, was abridged, as they used the remainder of their funds to print it.
In a comment to IMI's representative in Poltava, Nadiya Lytvyn said that the editorial office did not plan to keep the newspaper running either in print or online.
"Our team is no more. Someone found another job, someone retired. No plans. No other publication. An overall fatigue from constant struggle for survival. After the denationalization, we were able to rent out an office on preferential terms, which costs huge money, while the law prohibits subletting. That is, we have been deprived of a stable source of income. Then there was the Ukrposhta reform, which simply killed us. They no longer deliver newspapers to villages at all, and we work for the villages. Next: the complete lack of advertisers. And, finally, the demographics: there is no one to subscribe to the newspaper anymore, not enough for the print rate to amount to a decent income, at any rate. We cannot set a real price because people are insolvent. For them, paying 8 hryvnias for a newspaper is expensive, and the cost price is 30 hryvnias. What is there to talk about? So, no more newspaper," said Nadia Lytvyn.
13.01.2023 The Volyn newspaper "Kolos" temporarily closed down for 2023. The newspaper's editor-in-chief, Leon Kondratyuk, announced this in the last issue (December 22, 2022).
"This difficult decision was made not at once, but over the course of several months of painful consideration and struggle for survival. After all, it is no secret that we are on the verge of bankruptcy. The reasons are many, but the main thing is that we don't have enough money to pay for the printing of each single issue of the newspaper," he wrote.
According to Leon Kondratyuk, the newspaper needs financial support: "I'll be honest, we didn't want village councils to allocate funds to us. We asked them to print advertisements and other content on the pages of our newspaper and to pay us for it accordingly. The benefit in this is obvious: people would have information, and we would have at least a little funding."
The editor of the newspaper also stressed that the people of Volyn need the newspaper, but the authorities do not, because no step has been taken to support the publication.
"On the one hand, it is understandable: there is a war going on, and our defenders need the money. On the other hand, the community budget would have be suffered if they had allocated 30–40 thousand for our support, which they could," wrote Leon Kondratyuk.
"Kolos" is an Ivanychi district newspaper. According to YouControl, the newspaper was first registered on 02.16.1994, and as of January 12, 2023, it is not in the process of closing down permanently.
An IMI representative took a photo the last issue of "Kolos" in the Olena Pchilka Science Library, Volyn Oblast.
25.12.2023 On December 13, the Terebovlya newspaper "Volya" (Terebovlya being a former district center in the Ternopil oblast. – Auth.), which has been in print since 1992, released their last printed issue.
The editor-in-chief, Anatoliy Tkach, announced this on the newspaper's Facebook page.
As the editor noted, the newspaper managed to survive the Covid restrictions period, but the situation predictably worsened after February 24, 2022.
"A new serious trial for Volya was the Russian horde's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The income from advertising, announcements, greetings dropped by almost 8–10 times. In order to sustain the newspaper, "Volya" scaled down from eight pages to four starting in the spring of 2022. Our employees' salaries hit a critically low level, the editorial expenses were reduced to a minimum. But we, same as everybody, lived for the hope that victory was not far away, and that with the victory, the normal life would be restored," wrote the Volya editor.
According to him, the Ukrposhta reform was the final nail in the coffin for the newspaper.
"Volya's print run dropped by almost 30% in the second half of 2023. And subscriptions were the team's primary source of income during wartime. In such a critical situation, starting October we had to switch to issuing the newspaper twice a month instead of four times. Desperate, the team did not announce the 2024 Volya subscription. The spark of light at the end of the tunnel has gone out," explained the editor-in-chief.
In the future, the media outlet will continue to report on the news in the community on its Facebook page.
Earlier, the Ternopil Oblast representative of the NCTRB, Oksana Novoselska, reported the closure of several newspapers. According to her, this is the situation in the oblast's former district centers: Lanivtsy, Kozova, Berezhany, Husyatyn and Zbarazh.
17.06.2024 STS Broadcasting asked the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to approve their temporary suspension of broadcasting during martial law, reported the regulator's representative Larysa Yakubenko on June 14.
According to her, the decision had to do with the lack of advertising, the team downsizing due to the evacuation of some employees and mobilization.
The NCTRB approved the temporary suspension of broadcasting.
"STS was broadcasting without using the radio frequency spectrum (cable broadcasting). In 2022, following the full-scale invasion, the company already suspended its operations and resumed them after the de-occupation of Sumy oblast," Larisa Yakubenko wrote on Facebook.
IMI has contacted the broadcaster for comment.
LLC "STS Broadcasting" was founded in April 2015. According to "Detector Media", the TV channel was created by the former chair of the Sumy Oblast Administration (2010–2013) Yuriy Chmyr, then bought by deputy Ihor Molotok. Open sources suggest that he now owns 50% of the shares of PJSC "Shostka Broadcasting Company Telecom-Service". According to Youcontrol, Yevhen Karaban is the final beneficiary of the LLC "STS Broadcasting".
31.10.2024 Dnipro media holding "Vidkrytyi" is shutting down due to the impact of the war. The channel's owners decided to cease operations until Ukarine's victory in the Russo–Ukrainian war, reports the director Natalia Babachenko to Olha Vasylets, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Dnipro oblast.
"The main reason why we are stopping broadcasting is the consequences and impact of the war. Our owners decided to close down the TV channel until the victory. Now we are collecting the equipment, preserving all the devices with a thought to resume the channel's work after our victory," Natalia Babachenko said.
"Vidkrytyi" had a television broadcasting license, so now the channel is preparing a letter to the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, saying that they are ceasing broadcasting.
Earlier, the IMI reported that "Vidkrytyi" would run until October 31, 2024.
According to Natalia Babachenko, when they learned that the TV channel was closing down, they started looking for employment for one another and applying to the media outlets in the oblast. The team consists of 20 people. Some of the media professionals have already had job interviews with other outlets, says the director.
"Vidkrytyi" has been speaking since 2018. The media holding includes a TV channel, a website, and a press center. According to the ownership structure, the project has two ultimate beneficiaries, namely Serhiy Pavlovych Kasyanov and Mykhailo Anatoliyovych Koshliak. According to YouControl, Kasyanov is a founder or beneficiary of 47 companies. According to the Chesno Movement, he ran for the Verkhovna Rada in 2002 and 2006. According to YouControl data, Koshlyak is the CEO, founder, or beneficiary of 26 companies. He is also a deputy of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, according to the movement's website.
29.11.2024 Krok Radio, which had been operating in Zhytomyr since 2002, has officially ceased broadcasting. The station’s co-founder, former oblast council deputy Tetyana Ivanytska reported this to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zhytomyr oblast. She says the closure was mainly caused by financial difficulties and understaffing, which were exacerbated by the beginning of the full-scale war.
“The situation changed a few months ago. For the last 10 years, since the station’s original founder Ihor Ivanytskyi passed away, the radio station has been running on money from other businesses. We never had stable ad revenues because local radio stations are rarely of interest to advertisers. So we have been supporting the station with our own money. However, the war has exacerbated the challenges: some journalists left, and we have been running as a music station. Ahead of us were the required investments in licensing, technical equipment, but the resources are limited. And we know that regional radio stations are not supported by the state or the authorities,” said Tetyana Ivanytska.
She added that the decision to close operations was not easy.
“It was a big part of our lives, we created the team, trained the journalists, had literature segments, organized music programs and believed in what we were doing. There was even a moment once when there was no money, and I sold my fur coat to pay the journalists’ salaries. Closing Krok Radio down was a difficult decision. I loved our radio station very much, but the time had come to do it. Now a new company will broadcast on these frequencies, with a different music format and approach,” said Tetyana Ivanytska.
Yuriy Kamyshnyi, Honored Artist of Ukraine and a fan of Krok Radio, shared his thoughts in the comment of the IMI representative.
“I adored Ihor Ivanytskyi, who created this radio, I adore his programs, his perspective, views on life, his programs on culture and art, philosophy, history. And music. There was no such music on any other channel. I enjoyed this wave all the time, and it’s a pity that it closed down. We really lack quality content – on artists, on culture, on art, as well as good, high-quality music,” said Yuriy Kamyshnyi.
As reported by the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the Zhytomyr city radio company Krok Radio will now operate under the name NewDayFM – New Day’s Mood.
Moreover, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, at least 224 TV and radio broadcasters and printed media outlets (national, regional, and local) in several regions have ceased or suspended their work and broadcasting due to the hostilities and occupation. These are media outlets of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Luhansk, Chernihiv oblasts.
The list includes such media outlets:
Donetsk oblast: Anti-crisis media center in Kramatorsk, Mariupol: MTV, TV6, Sigma channels, "Pryazovsky robochy" newspaper, MRPL.CITY online media, Mariupol News.
Dnipro: Channel 34
Zaporizhzhia oblast: "Proberdyansk," "Porohy" online media, MTV Plus channel, "Rost," "Nashe misto–Tokmak," "Tokmakska hryvnia," "Tavria," "Zaporizka Pravda," MIG, "Avoska," (a separate appendice to MIG newspaper), "Panorama" newspapers, "Akimovsky Vestnik" website.
Zakarpattia oblast: "Uzhgorod" newspaper.
Luhansk oblast: troyitske.city website, "Kreminshchyna," "Visti Belovodshchyny," "Zhyttia Bilokurakinshchyny," "Slovo khliboroba" newspapers, TRC "Donbas.online," Irta TV channel, "Siverskyy Donets" crisis mediacenter.
Lviv oblast: "Zoria" newspaper.
Kropyvnytsky: "Vechirnya Hazeta" newspaper, "Provincia" newspaper.
Mykolaiv oblast: "Vecherniy Nikolaev," "Yuzhnaya Pravda," "Nikolayevskie novosti," "Promin," "Ridne Prybuzhzhia," "Berezan," "Holos Bashtanshchyny," "Ochakiv," "Visty Snihurivshchyny," "Den za Dnem," "Vpered," "Nove zhyttia," "Peremoha," "Prybusky visnyk" newspapers.
Odesa oblast: TRC "Odesa Life," "Porto Franco" newspaper.
Poltava: "Hadiatsky visnyk" newspaper.
Kherson city and the oblast: "Grivna," "Novyy den" newspapers, Kherson.net.ua online media, Newtime Kherson, "Kakhovska zoria" newspaper, "Henichesk city," Bilozerka.info, KRATU.
Kharkiv oblast: "Kupyansky Informaciyny Telechannel," Kharkiv press centers: Vremya, KharkivToday, Presklub, Nakypilo; "Visnyk Velykoburluchyny," "Visnyk Kupyanshchyny," "Visnyk Balakliivshchyny," "Visti Barvinkivshchyny," "Dvorichansky kray," "Obrii Izyumshchyny," "Trudova slava" newspapers, TRC "Sokil," "Objektyv" media group, TRC ATN, "Nakypilo" radio.
Khmelnytsky oblast: "Starkon City" newspaper, "Aktualno" (Aktualno Dlya Podolyan) newspaper.
Chernihiv oblast: Bakhmach newspapers "Holos Prysejmivya" and "Poradnyk," Bobrovytsia newspaper "Nashe zhyttia," Borzna newspaper "Visti Borznyanshchyny," Varva newspaper "Slovo Varvynshchyny," Horodnya newspaper "Novyny Horodnyanshchyny," Ichnya newspaper "Trudova slava," Kozelets newspaper "Novyny Prydesennya," Korop newspaper "Novi Horyzonty," Koryukivka newspaper "Mayak," Kulykivka newspaper "Poliska pravda," Mena newspaper "Nashe slovo," Nizhyn newspapers "Nizhynsky visnyk" and "Visti," Novhorod-Siversky newspaper "Siversky kray," Nosivka newspaper "Nosivski visti," "Pryluchyna v novynakh, podiyakh, komentaryakh" newspaper, Pryluky town newspaper "Hrad Pryluky," Ripky newspaper "Zhyttia Polissya," Semenivka newspaper "Zhyttia Semenivshchyny," Sosnytsya newspapers "Visti Sosnychyny" and "Chas," Sribne newspaper "Sribnyanshchyna," Talalaivka newspaper "Trybuna khliboroba," Chernihiv newspaper "NK," Snovsk district newspaper "Promin," newspapers "Visnyk C," "7 days," "Vest," "Desnyanska pravda," Gorod.cn.ua website, newspapers "Nashe Zhyttia Plus" (Bobrovytsia), "Nash Kray" (Chernihiv district), "Desnianka", "1 FM Studio" radio station.
Chernivtsi: "Chernivtsi!" newspaper.
Suspilne.Culture (broadcasting in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk oblasts), Pershyy (broadcasting in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson oblasts), Tvoya Stykhiya tv5 (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), ALEX.UA (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), Suspilne Donbas (broadcasting in Luhansk and Donetsk oblast), Suspilne Zaporizhzhia (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Suspilne Kharkiv (Kharkiv oblast), Suspilne Kherson (Kherson oblast), Suspilne Crimea (Kherson oblast), IPTA (Luhansk oblast), Donbas (Donetsk oblast),
AVIS (broadcasting in Kyiv oblast), BMTK TV-Berdyansk BMR KP (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast),
Enerhoatom SE NNEGC (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), TV channel Poglyad (Kyiv oblast),
TVM (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Kapri (Donetsk oblast), Orbita TV company (Donetsk oblast),
2+2 9 channel (Dnipro oblast), EnTS (Zaporizhzhia oblast), UNIAN.Zaporizhzhia (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Infocenter (Donetsk oblast), UNIAN. Nikopol (Dnipro oblast), MTV.plus (Zaporizhzhia oblast), TV 7 (Donetsk oblast), TV 8 (Donetsk oblast), TRK-8 (Donetsk oblast), YUG (Zaporizhzhia), Sigma (Donetsk oblast), MTV (Donetsk oblast), STV (Luhansk oblast)
Akcent (Luhansk oblast), 2+2 Mykolaiv (Mykolaiv oblast), 7 (Kharkiv oblast), Chuhuiv district TRC Slobozhanka (Kharkiv oblast), 2+2 S – TET (Kharkiv oblast), P1 (Kharkiv oblast), Simon (Kharkiv oblast), Kupyansk News TV Channel KIT (Kharkiv oblast), LLC Intercom-Invest (Kharkiv oblast), TRC Center (Kharkiv oblast),
Channel 23 (Kharkiv oblast), PRO fit (Kharkiv oblast), VTV plus (Kherson oblast),
TViy Plus (Kherson oblast), KRATU (Kherson oblast), YaTB (Kherson oblast),
Kherson Plus (Kherson oblast), "Pershyy Dilovyy" (broadcasting in Kyiv oblast), UΛ: Donbas (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), Sonata TV (broadcasting in Kyiv oblast), Donbas Online (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), Donbas (broadcasting in Donetsk oblast), Nashe Radio (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), Radio Culture (broadcasting in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson oblasts), Ukrainske Radio (broadcasting in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson oblasts), Radio Promin (broadcasting in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson oblasts), Krayina FM (broadcasting in Mykolaiv oblast), Perets FM (broadcasting in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kherson, Chernihiv oblasts), HIT FM (broadcasting in Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia oblasts),
Melodiya FM (broadcasting in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson oblasts), Radio Chanson (broadcasting in Mykolaiv oblast), Radio Bayraktar (broadcasting in Kherson oblast), Perets FM (broadcasting in Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, Kherson oblasts), Relax (broadcasting in Kherson, Donetsk oblasts), Melodiya FM (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), Lada (broadcasting in Vinnytsia oblast), Irta (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), Hromadske radio (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), Radio ROKS – Ukraine (broadcasting in Donetsk oblast), Radio Klas! (broadcasting in Donetsk, Kharkiv oblasts), KISS FM (broadcasting in Donetsk oblast), Radio Maria (broadcasting in Kharkiv oblast), Radio Chanson (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), Radio Miami (broadcasting in Odesa oblast), Lux FM (broadcasting in Kherson oblast), Army FM – Military Radio (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Kherson oblasts), Radio Krym.Realii (broadcasting in Kherson oblast), Dani (broadcasting in Kharkiv oblast), Donbas Online (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), Hovoryt Izyum (broadcasting in Kharkiv oblast), Vesele FM (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), Lepetykha FM (broadcasting in Kherson oblast),
Hovoryt Vovchansk (broadcasting in Kharkiv oblast), Shevchenkivsky RM KU (broadcasting in Kharkiv oblast), Maksymum FM (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), Hovoryt Rykove (broadcasting in Kherson oblast), Ivanivka FM (broadcasting in Kherson oblast), Radio 49 Parallel (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), onefm (broadcasting in Chernihiv oblast), STV (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast),
Format (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), Azovska Khvylia (broadcasting in Zaporizhzhia oblast), Radio ROKS – Ukraine (broadcasting in Kherson oblast), Perets FM Mykolaiv (broadcasting in Mykolaiv oblast), russkoye radio (broadcasting in Donetsk oblast), Hovoryt Rubizhne (broadcasting in Luhansk oblast), Svoboda.FM (broadcasting in Chernihiv oblast), DJ FM (broadcasting in Kherson oblast), RADIO UNA (broadcasting in Donetsk oblast).
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