Ukraine Media Workers Pay Heavy Price for Covering War

November 03, 2025 – Ukraine/Russia – 

A report from the Ukrainian government reveals that since the full-scale invasion by Russia began in February 2022, at least 116 journalists have been killed and 26 remain in captivity while reporting on the conflict. The figures were released by the country’s culture ministry and underscore the extreme risk media professionals face in covering one of the most dangerous war zones globally.
These casualties comprise Ukrainian and international journalists who were working on the front lines or documenting occupation, shelling, aerial attacks, and rights abuses. Many of the deaths occurred during strikes on civilian areas or while covering retreats and crossings. The detention figures reflect individuals held by Russian or Russian-backed forces, often under harsh conditions and without access to independent legal support or oversight.
Press-freedom organisations and watchdogs say the numbers reflect not only the chaos of conflict but also deliberate targeting of the press. Journalists are often dispatched into active battle zones, embedded with military units, or covering scenes of destruction that directly expose them to air strikes, missile attacks, and drone fire. The unresolved status of so many detentions feeds a climate of uncertainty and fear for the profession.
The Ukrainian culture ministry said that for many of the detained journalists, the identity of the captors and the terms of detention remain unknown, complicating efforts by families, media organisations, and human rights agencies to establish conditions of detention and secure release. Meanwhile, those killed often leave behind unfinished investigations, silenced sources, and voids in reporting for both domestic and international audiences. The inability to account for many of the deaths or detentions heightens concerns about impunity and the erosion of safe environments for independent journalism.
As the war grinds on, advocacy groups argue that protecting media workers must be treated as a paramount security and humanitarian concern. They call for stronger international mechanisms to monitor journalist safety in Ukraine, documentation of violations, swift investigations of attacks on press members, and support for their evacuation or repatriation when captured. The figures—116 killed, 26 captured—stand as stark evidence that the price of reporting under fire remains catastrophically high for those trying to keep the world informed.

Reference – 

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/11/02/8005504/

https://www.bgnes.com/conflicts/116-journalists-killed-and-26-still-held-captive-since-the-start-of-ukraine-war

https://kyivindependent.com/116-killed-26-journalists-captured-since-russias-full-scale-invasion-began-culture-ministry-reports/