The Media Movement and the Ukrainian media community demand that law enforcement bodies investigate the threats to Babel journalists that were made after the release of an investigation into a series of non-combat deaths in the Skelia Assault Regiment No. 425. The demand was expressed in a joint address endorsed by the Institute of Mass Information.
The address urges the law enforcers to:
- immediately investigate the threats targeting journalist Kateryna Lykhohliad and the Babel team under the Criminal Code articles on threats to journalists and obstruction of legal reporting;
- ensure the safety of Kateryna Lykhohliad and chief editor Kateryna Kobernyk if the team requests this.
The media community also addressed to the command of the Skelia Assault Regiment No. 425 and the UAF Ground Forces with a call to publicly condemn the threats to the journalists, officially assess them, and not allow using servicemembers to discredit the media for their legal reporting in the future.
“We emphasise that the safety of journalists and the public’s right to information can not be compromised even in times of war. Pressure on journalists is a blow to the state’s defense capabilities, because accountability and trust are part of Ukraine’s resilience,” the address says.
On 25 June 2026, Babel reported violent threats by Mykola Kharkhan (call sign “Kyianyn”), a serviceman in the Skelia Assault Regiment No. 425 after the release of their news story about a series of non-combat deaths in the regiment.
On 23 June, Babel released an investigation into the non-combat deaths of at least 26 recruits in the Skelia Assault Regiment No. 425 that occurred in late 2025 — spring 2026. The journalists discovered that most of the servicemembers died of pneumonia, cardiovascular and other diseases shortly after being drafted. Families of some of the deceased reported possible violence in the unit.
The Skelia Regiment said that the authors of the news story were making generalisations, reducing the unit’s history to one-off tragic instances. They claim that most of the deaths mentioned in the investigation occurred in hospitals or on the way to them and were related to the recruits’ health.
The Institute of Mass Information shares the full address:
To Prosecutor General
Ruslan Kravchenko
Minister of Internal Affairs
Ihor Klymenko
State Bureau of Investigations Director
Oleksiy Sukhachov
ADDRESS
by the media community regarding threats to Babel journalists
We, representatives of the Media Movement and Ukraine’s media community, resolutely oppose public threats to Babel journalists and demand immediate legal response from law enforcement bodies.
On 23 June 2026 Babel released an investigation by correspondent Kateryna Lykhohliad into the non-combat deaths of at least 25 new conscripts in the Skelia Assault Regiment No. 425. The journalists discovered that most of the deceased passed away shortly after being drafted; families of some of them reported signs of physical abuse. The team interviewed over 30 witnesses for the investigation, cited statements by the Military Commissioner’s Office, the regiment’s command, and documental evidence: that is, the story complied with journalism standards and the right to respond.
The government’s reaction to the investigation was appropriate and prompt: the State Bureau of Investigation opened a probe under Article 426-1, Part 5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner initiated an inspection, the regiment’s commander was suspended for the duration of the investigation, and a General Staff commission has been at work in the unit. This is the correct way to respond to socially important reporting.
Meanwhile alongside this legal process we have observed unacceptable attmpts at pressuring the journalists. On 25 June, Skelia servicemember Mykola Kharkhan (call sign ‘Kyianyn’) posted a video calling the investigation’s author a “whorenalist” and a “media hitwoman”, alleging that the media outlet was working in the interests of the aggressor state, and saying that “everyone involved” would have to “puke up the money” later. The Babel team views these statements as violent threats and has said they planned to contact the police.
We respect the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the military command. Defending the country from Russia’s aggression is the highest priority and most Skelia servicemembers are facing the war’s toughest trials. For this exact reason, discovering the truth about the critical incidents in the unit defends the army’s image, not undermines it. Reporting that exposes violations has the same purpose as a combat-ready army: building a strong, democratic, accountable state.
A news story may be a subject of analysis, fact-checking, public discussion, or fact-based refutation. But it should not trigger threats, harassment, or attempts to smear its authors. Accusing journalists of “working for the enemy” for doing their job is a form of pressure that aims to intimidate the media and prevent them from covering socially important topics.
In view of the above, we are addressing the law enforcement bodies and demand:
- that Ukraine’s Prosecutor Genera, Minister of Internal Affairs, and SBI Director immediately add data from Babel’s statement to the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations and investigate the threats targeting Kateryna Lykhohliad and the news outlet’s team under the appropriate Criminal Code articles, namely Article 345-1 (threats or violence against a journalist) and Article 171 (obstruction of legal reporting);
- that the National Police ensure the safety of Babel journalist Kateryna Lykhohliad and chief editor Kateryna Kobernyk, who worked on the investigation, if the team requests this;
- that the command of the Skelia Assault Regiment No. 425 and the UAF Ground Forces publicly and unequivocally condemn the threats to journalists, officially assess them, and do not allow using servicemembers to discredit the media for their legal reporting in the future.
We emphasise that the safety of journalists and the public’s right to information can not be compromised even in times of war. Pressure on journalists is a blow to the state’s defense capabilities, because accountability and trust are part of Ukraine’s resilience.
Media Movement
Institute of Mass Information
Detector Media
Azad Safarov, Sky News
Pylyp Orlyk Institute of Democracy
Anna Kaliuzhna, freelancer
DII Ukraine
ZMINA Human Rights Centre
