The security guards at a Nova Post terminal near Kharkiv, which was targeted in a Russian air strike on the night of 13 January, barred journalists with the news outlets Nakypilo and Dumka from entering the site to film the aftermath of the strike, reports Yulia Napolska, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Kharkiv oblast.
The shelling strike at the terminal killed four people and left six more with injuries.
Reporters arrived to the site in the morning to film the aftermath, but not everyone was granted access. Journalists with Suspilne Kharkiv entered the territory without any issues, while those with Dumka and Nakypilo had to remain outside of the facility.
Dumka‘s chief editor Yuriy Larin told the IMI representative that he and his colleague arrived at the Nova Post terminal’s main entrance in the morning and were denied access without explanation, the security citing the management’s position.
Since the property was private and a business has the right to restrict access to it, Larin says he began working from a permitted spot behind the line where the fence destroyed by an explosion used to be. He did not cross into the restrcted territory, provoked no conflict, and tuned in for a live report without issue.
Noticing a Suspilne Kharkiv filming crew on the terminal’s premises, Larin asked the security why journalists were being admitted selectively. They responded that that it was “internal press”, which was not true. The journalist openly said that he knew his colleagues and that granting access selectively would harm the company’s reputation.
All media representatives were only granted access after the security service management intervened. According to Larin, it was not the refusal itself that was the problem, but the unequal treatment of reporters in the same situation.
Nakypilo journalist Pavlo Pakhomenko told the IMI representative that he had been asked to leave the terminal premises and not to film anything.
The Nova Post press service explained to the IMI representative that the access restrictions were a response to an attempt to bypass the checkpoint while entering the facility’s premises.
The spokeswoman said that security could not allow unidentified people into the destroyed facility, as this would have been dangerous and a violation of their safety protocol.
“Following requests by the media outlets, we promptly coordinated with the security and first responders on site. Journalists are now allowed through the checkpoint after a document check. However, access to the inside of the building itself is prohibited for safety reasons. We apologise for the unfortunate situation that arose due to a misunderstanding. It is very important for us that the tragedy is properly covered in the media,” the Nova Post spokeswoman added.