The European Commission published a report on 4 November that includes an assessment of freedom of expression and media freedom in Ukraine. The document lists pressure on journalists, safety-related and economic threats to the media, martial law restrictions, and the impact of the national telethon on media pluralism as key issues.
The Commission said in the “Freedom of expression and media freedom” section that Ukraine provided adequate legal guarantees for freedom of expression and had an overall enabling environment for free, independent and professional media. Still, Ukraine’s level of preparation in the field is estimated as between some and moderate.
The Commission listed security risks, economic pressure on the media, and restrictions under martial law as key constraints.
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Pressure on journalists and abusive lawsuits
The report says that journalists and media workers remain directly targeted by Russian forces. Harassment and intimidation of journalists in government-controlled areas were also recorded. Investigations remain uneven and their effectiveness should be improved.
The Commission also points out the legal pressure on journalists and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP). As of September 2026, five SLAPP cases had been registered, while a parliamentary working group was preparing an anti-SLAPP package.
The report also says that a law improving the transparency of state and local authorities and access to public information entered into force in January 2026, requiring greater openness from parliamentary committees. However, other media-related reform initiatives remain stalled in Parliament.
European Commission recommends reassessing the telethon
The report also touches on the impact of the national United News telethon on media pluralism.
The Commission says that as of 1 January 2026, the state-run channel Rada TV ceased broadcasting in the national telethon, while in 2026, substantial public funding of around UAH 1.5 billion for the telethon continued, despite declining levels of public trust and outreach.
“Ukraine should address concerns regarding its impact on media pluralism and the need for its reassessment,” the report says.
The state of independent media and recommendations for Ukraine
The European Commission says that the full-scale war continued to severely affect independent media, especially regional and frontline outlets. Key concerns include financial pressure, low salaries, fragile job security and declining economic prospects.
The report also points out that disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners by Ukrainian news organisations remains inconsistent, with fewer than half of leading media clearly identifying natural persons as ultimate owners.
Still, the Commission gave a positive assessment of the public broadcaster, which continued to build its audience and maintain a strong reputation for balanced and impartial coverage. However, its state funding remains below the legal requirement despite having received a slight increase in 2026.
Recommendations for Ukraine for the coming year include ensuring the safety and independence of journalists; investigating promptly, independently and effectively cases of direct intimidation and harassment as well as indirect forms of pressure against media outlets; ensure adequate funding for the media regulator and its functional independence.
The Commission also recommends maintaining adequate funding for the public service broadcaster, while ensuring that content produced by publicly funded media is representative of Ukraine’s political and societal pluralism.
The third civil society Shadow Report on Ukraine’s compliance with the Chapters 23 and 24 of the EU accession negotiation framework was presented in Kyiv on 23 September. The section on fundamental rights, freedom of expression, and press freedom was drafted by the Institute of Mass Information.
In the section, IMI said that independent media continued to operate despite the hostilities, but both attacks on the media by Russian forces and domestic pressure on journalists had grown more intense in 2026.
IMI pointed out that while artillery posed the biggest threat in 2022, in 2025 – 2026 drones (FPV, Lancet, Molniya, etc.) had become the dominant factor of fatal risk to journalists. IMI recorded the deaths of three media workers who were killed while reporting in 2025: all died in drone strikes.
