RSF release a report ahead of the third anniversary of the full-scale war in Ukraine

"Covering the war in Ukraine means risking your life. Killed, injured, taken hostage, detained, missing — since 24 February 2022, RSF has recorded nearly 150 journalists who have fallen victim to Russian abuses while doing their work, based on information collected with the support of RSF Ukrainian partner, the Institute of Mass Information (IMI). In 2024, two more reporters were killed while 18 remain arbitrarily detained by Russia and one is still missing. RSF salutes the courage of the Ukrainian and foreign journalists who continue reporting despite these dangers," said Pauline Maufrais, RSF Regional Officer for Ukraine.

According to Reporters Without Borders:

• 13 journalists were killed by Russian forces: namely, in 2024 Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna died in Russian custody and Reuters employee Ryan Evans was killed on 24 August 2024 in a bombing of his hotel in Kramatorsk. N.b.: according to the IMI, 97 media professionals in Ukraine were killed by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.
• At least 47 Ukrainian and foreign journalists were injured while reporting due to attacks by Russian armed forces. Kyiv, and the eastern regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk are particularly dangerous zones for media workers. Many reporters have been deliberately targeted or caught under fire while working at newsrooms or other locations frequented by journalists, such as hotels. Some have fallen victim to double strikes.
• 18 Ukrainian journalists are currently detained by Russia after being arrested in occupied Ukrainian territories for refusing to collaborate. Nine have been sentenced by Russian courts, falsely accused of “terrorism” or “espionage”. They are held in inhumane and degrading conditions, sometimes thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, and denied medical care — even those with fragile health conditions, such as Iryna Danilovych. N.b.: according to the IMI, at least 30 Ukrainian civilians working in the media and one journalist turned combatant are in Russian unlawful custody.
• Television and radio towers have been directly targeted by Russian strikes as part of a strategy aimed at disrupting the dissemination of independent news. Since 24 February 2022, RSF has recorded 23 strikes on Ukrainian television towers. Some, such as the tower in Kharkiv, a city in northeastern Ukraine, have been hit multiple times. RSF has referred these bombings of media infrastructure to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as war crimes.
• 329 Ukrainian media outlets have ceased operations, according to the IMI. They have been hard hit by the collapse of the advertising market, staff shortages due to conscription and exile, and the consequences of bombings and Russian occupation. US President Donald Trump’srecent decision to suspend US international aid through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has further weakened the sector, as most Ukrainian media depend on international funding — especially USAID — and require long-term financial support to continue operating.

RSF reminded that they support journalists in Ukraine through its Press Freedom Center in Kyiv and assistance grants for journalists and media outlets. Since 24 February2022, thanks to partnerships with Ukrainian organizations like IMI, over 1,900 reporters and 270 media outlets have received RSF support.

Ukraine and Russia rank 61st and 162nd, respectively, out of the 180 countries and territories surveyed in the 2024 RSF World Press Freedom Index.

The Institute of Mass Information (IMI) will hold a public discussion “Three Years of Resistance: Freedom of Speech in the Face of Russia's Full-Scale Invasion”, dedicated to the realities faced by the media working in Ukraine, on Friday, February 21. New data on Russian crimes against the media will be announced and the challenges faced by Ukrainian media in wartime will be outlined at the event. Participants will discuss the role of the media in maintaining the resilience of Ukraine's democracy and in fighting Russia's aggression.

On February 24, the third anniversary of the full-scale war, the IMI will release the statistics of Russia's crimes against the media and journalists in Ukraine.