The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), in partnership with Lviv Media Forum, will host a panel discussion at the International Journalism Festival 2026 in Perugia on 16 April, from 15:00 to 15:50 at Teatro della Sapienza. The session is listed in the official festival programme as “Ukrainian journalism under fire: media resilience in the fifth year of war”.
As Russia’s full-scale war continues, journalists in Ukraine are working under extreme pressure. Reporters face direct threats to their safety while covering the front lines, alongside growing financial strain across the media sector following the withdrawal of key international support. These pressures raise urgent questions about how independent journalism can continue to operate in wartime and what forms of support are needed to sustain it.
Bringing together leading voices from across the Ukrainian media landscape, the discussion will examine the realities facing journalists in Kyiv, in the regions and on the front lines. It will also explore the longer-term resilience of the sector, including the economic sustainability of independent and regional media.
The panel will draw on Lviv Media Forum’s recent research into the financial situation and future prospects of Ukrainian media after the end of USAID support. Together, the speakers will reflect on the challenges facing the sector and the importance of sustained international engagement to help safeguard independent journalism in Ukraine.
Speakers:
Ola Myrovych, Head of Lviv Media Forum
Mariya Frey, Member of the Managing Board at Suspilne Ukraine
Yelyzaveta Kovtun, COO at Frontliner
Moderator:
Olha Syrotiuk, Programme Coordinator at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
A live stream of the session will be available on the Lviv Media Forum Facebook page. Full festival programme: International Journalism Festival, Perugia, 15–18 April 2026.
