253 media outlets based in all regions across Ukraine have been included in the interactive Map of Recommended Media, which is 48 media outlets more than in 2024. The Recommended Media Map website has been updated to reflect the new statistics.
The Map now includes 193 news websites, 8 regional investigative journalism centres, 21 radio stations, and 31 TV channels based throughout Ukraine:
- Kyiv city and oblast had the most recommended media outlets — 31;
- Volyn oblast ranked second — 29;
- Kharkiv oblast — 17;
- Odesa oblast — 14;
- Donetsk oblast — 12;
- Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Sumy oblasts — 11 media outlets each;
- Lviv, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk obalsts — 9 each;
- Mykolaiv oblst — 8;
- Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Kherson, Luhansk oblasts — 7 each;
- 5 media outlets featured on the Map stated they produce content for and about Crimea;
- Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy oblasts — 4 each;
- Ternopil oblast — 3.
“This year, our Map has expanded considerably. For society, this means something simple yet crucial. In times of war, amid Russian information attacks, despite all the challenges, Ukraine has more news outlets that work transparently, adhere to standards, and treat the trust of their readers, listeners, and viewers responsibly,” said Institute of Mass Information’s Oksana Romaniuk.
“We are very happy to see new TV channels on our Map. The geography of this stage [of monitoring] is especially pleasing: media outlets from Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, and Donetsk oblasts. Amidst the numerous challenges that our state faces, external and internal alike, it is extremely important that there be high-quality regional media in all corners of Ukraine. I also want to address the channels that did not pass: this year’s selection shows that it is quite possible to score a few more points in just one year. What matters is adhering to standards and thinking about the audience’s trust abote all,” said Detector Media’s Natalia Lyhachova.
The media were evaluated by experts at the NGOs Institute of Mass Information (IMI) and Detector Media (DM), with the sample covering October–November 2025. The experts used a methodology involving 14 indicators for assessing news outlets. The main criteria blocks cover transparency, adherence to professional standards and journalism ethics. IMI experts evaluated news websites while DM experts assessed radio stations and TV channels. The Map of Recommended Media project is implemented with the support of the European Union and aims to identify and support media that adhere to high standards of journalism.
The application system allows news outlets to apply for participation independently, which makes the inclusion process simpler and the selection more democratic, opening the door to small and niche resources. The Map will update continuously; the next round of monitoring is planned for April–May 2026.
As reported earlier, experts at IMI and DM monitored a total of 296 news outlets from all over Ukraine as part the 4th round of the Map of Recommended Media.
The Map of Recommended Media project was launched in September 2023. The Map included 142 Ukrainian media outlets based throughout Ukraine in the first round, 176 media outlets it the second round, and 205 media outlets from across Ukraine it the third round.
