By Olha Syrotiuk, with the contribution by Ena Bavčić

Three years into Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Ukrainian journalists and media organisations continue their relentless work. They report under daily bombardments, document war crimes, and provide critical information to both local and international audiences.

The war has come at a devastating cost for the Ukrainian media sector on every possible level: physical safety, with journalist casualties and injuries, and destruction of infrastructure and offices; mental health, as media professionals work in extremely challenging conditions, facing PTSD and trauma; team challenges, including mobilisation, relocation, and forced displacement to other countries; and economic exhaustion, with a shrinking advertising market, inflation, reduced donor support, and other financial pressures.

Physical threats

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, like other conflicts in the world, such as the one in Gaza, has shown that journalists do not enjoy basic protection under the international humanitarian law. The war has consistently demonstrated that protective bulletproof vests do not function as protection but instead turn journalists into targets. 

Journalists in Ukraine have been killed while covering the war, come under fire, and suffered injuries in targeted attacks aimed at silencing their voices and stopping their reporting. Since 24 February 2022, MFRR has recorded 124 physical assault alerts affecting 209 people.

Ukrainian journalists are systematically targeted and imprisoned by Russian forces in occupied territories and Russia itself. They are detained under fabricated charges of espionage, terrorism, or sabotage, often as part of mass arrests of independent media, civil society activists, and Crimean Tatar communities. Many are taken from their homes, workplaces, or even while reporting from the field, with no access to a fair trial or legal defence. 

In occupied Crimea, journalists associated with “Crimean Solidarity” and independent initiatives have been accused of affiliations with banned organisations and sentenced to decades in Russian prisons. Others have been imprisoned for exposing war crimes, repression, and human rights abuses. In newly occupied territories, Russian forces detain journalists for reporting on local resistance and independent news. Some are abducted in raids, while others are lured under pretences and forcibly taken away.

In captivity, journalists are subjected to torture and ill-treatment, forced confessions, and prolonged isolation. Some disappear without a trace, while others endure severe abuse in high-security Russian penal colonies. Some are being pressured to participate in propaganda videos or staged events to discredit Ukraine and independent media.

Their imprisonment is part of Russia’s broader strategy to silence journalism and erase truthful reporting.

30 civilian journalists are currently in captivity, along with one military journalist taken as a prisoner of war by Russia. One Ukrainian journalist was killed in Russian captivity on 10 October  2024.

Infrastructure

Since 2022, the MFRR has recorded 110 attacks on property, including 13 cases of damaged or destroyed equipment, 27 incidents targeting homes, cars, and personal belongings, 64 cyberattacks such as hacking and DDoS attacks, 2 instances of surveillance and interception of journalistic data, and 7 raids on media offices or journalists’ residences.

Psychological threats

The ongoing war has placed unprecedented psychological strain on Ukrainian journalists, with rising workloads, chronic stress, and limited opportunities for rest. According to the 2024 Annual Media Professionals Survey by the Institute of Mass Information, 65.8% of journalists reported an increased workload – the highest level in the past three years (59% in 2023, 48.7% in 2022). 

This trend is closely linked to a growing staffing crisis, as newsrooms struggle with shortages, forcing remaining journalists to take on multiple roles, leading to burnout and emotional exhaustion.

The same 65.8% of media professionals also reported experiencing psychological issues such as PTSD, depression, and chronic stress – 8.3% more than in 2023. This indicates a deepening, long-term mental health crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing war and professional pressures. 

In a reality where journalists have no time to rest, recover, or step away from their work, sustaining independent media becomes not only a financial challenge but also a psychological one.

Economic threats

The collapse of the advertising market has forced many independent media outlets to rely on international grants and direct audience support to survive. The freeze of U.S. funding, which previously covered an estimated nearly 80% of media grants in Ukraine, has further intensified financial instability. 

Rising inflation and the urgent need to support the military make it even harder for the media to sustain themselves through reader contributions alone.

The lack of sustainable and functioning funding may doom Ukrainian independent media leaving the country vulnerable to external influence and lack of representation. Lack of funding may lead to the closure of high-quality outlets and the need for others to restart from scratch will erase years of progress and weaken Ukraine’s media landscape. 

As many other examples show, protecting independent journalism is not just about media survival but also about protecting democracy, ensuring reliable information, and maintaining a resilient society.

Beyond the immediate impact, a weakened media sector will increase exposure to Russian propaganda and disinformation, undermining societal resilience and stability. The loss of media pluralism will leave many regions without independent reporting, reducing local accountability, and leaving most vulnerable communities without their voices. 

The decline of investigative journalism will weaken oversight over public funds, and democratic processes at a crucial time for Ukraine. 

Unwavering strength of Ukrainian journalists

Despite these challenges, Ukrainian journalists remain strong and unwavering in their mission. They continue to break major investigative stories, expose war crimes, counter Russian disinformation, document personal stories of resilience, and unite readers around critical initiatives and news. 

Reporting from the front lines, they provide life-saving information, highlighting the resistance and courage of civilians and the military, and ensuring that the realities of war are not forgotten. 

As watchdogs, they hold those in power accountable, monitor resource use, and safeguard democratic principles. Their work shapes global understanding, strengthens societal resilience, and reinforces the fundamental role of a free press in upholding truth and democracy.

The ECPMF team has had the opportunity to work with incredible Ukrainian journalists through coordinating and implementing the Voices of Ukraine project with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office under the Hannah Arendt Initiative, and by supporting Ukrainian journalism long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

We are witnessing every day how they consciously risk their lives, continuing to report from attack sites, advocate for media needs abroad, and receive European and international awards for their work.

Admiring their bravery, we want to invite international and local officials to support Ukrainian media through concrete actions. 

International Stakeholders Need to Step Up

Supporting media freedoms in Ukraine is a process that needs to look at the entire society and place media freedoms as a key component of all democratic processes.

Journalists are not just observers; they are key stakeholders in Ukraine’s path forward. As international actors engage in discussions about Ukraine’s future, we emphasise:

• Peace talks must include Ukrainians, and this inclusion needs to be comprehensive – Peace talks are a delicate process that should take into consideration multiple perspectives and needs, namely those who are affected by it the most. For Ukrainian media, this means that: 

• Ukrainian media voices need to be heard in the peace process. The role of independent journalists in monitoring, reporting, and holding actors accountable in any negotiations is non-negotiable.

• Ukrainian journalists need to be included in discussions on media policy and press freedom in Ukraine. Decisions affecting the country’s information space must be made with those who understand its realities firsthand.
• Media need to be a crucial part of Ukraine’s reconstruction – On this anniversary, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting press freedom, ensuring Ukrainian media not only survive but thrive, and demanding that the voices of those on the front lines of truth be heard in shaping Ukraine’s future.

Why Supporting Ukrainian Media Matters – Every Day

Ukrainian media do not just report the news – they are frontline defenders of democracy and truth. Support must come at all levels, and include both domestic and local stakeholders.

Every action counts.

• Fund independent journalism. Donations help newsrooms stay independent, pay salaries, and ensure journalists’ safety. Commissioning Ukrainian freelancers supports first-hand reporting from within Ukraine.
• Engage with Ukrainian journalism. Many outlets publish content in multiple languages – read, share, and amplify their voices. Increased visibility helps combat disinformation and strengthens those reporting from a country at war.
• Ensure Ukrainian journalists are heard. They must be included in panels, discussions, and media coverage about Ukraine. Their expertise is crucial in shaping an accurate global narrative.
• Strengthen partnerships. Media organisations, NGOs, and institutions can support Ukrainian journalism through collaboration, training programs, and financial assistance, ensuring resilience and independence.
• Advocate for press freedom. Ukrainian journalists face persecution, imprisonment, and targeted killings. Public awareness and international pressure are essential in securing their safety, defending press freedom, and demanding justice for those murdered in the line of duty.

Supporting Ukrainian media means defending truth, democracy, and the right to report freely. More ideas on how to support them can be found here.