Ukraine and PEN International Call for Release of Journalists Detained by Russia on World Press Freedom Day

May 05, 2026 – Ukraine/Russia –

On World Press Freedom Day, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs renewed its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Ukrainian journalists imprisoned by Russia, describing their detention as part of a wider campaign of repression against independent media. The statement stressed that journalists are being targeted both physically and through legal and propaganda-driven pressure in occupied territories.

The MFA emphasized that freedom of expression has been “physically eradicated” in areas under Russian control, where journalists face arrests, censorship, and persecution for their professional activities. It called on international organizations to closely monitor violations and increase pressure on Moscow to end the detention of media workers.

Ukrainian authorities estimate that dozens of journalists remain in Russian captivity, with figures from rights groups and media organizations suggesting at least 26 to 30 media workers are currently detained in connection with their reporting. These cases are part of a broader pattern of wartime repression, which has also included killings and widespread censorship.

PEN International joined the call for action, urging governments worldwide to use diplomatic and legal tools to secure the release of detained Ukrainian journalists. The organization highlighted that many of those imprisoned are being held in conditions that amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law, including allegations of torture, enforced disappearance, and denial of legal access.

Advocacy groups noted that journalists in Russian-occupied territories are operating under extreme risk, with reporting on conflict, human rights abuses, or governance often leading to arrest. The situation has created what observers describe as one of the most dangerous environments for journalism in the world, where reporting itself is treated as a security offense.

The coordinated appeals from Ukraine and PEN International underscore growing international concern over the use of detention as a tool to silence reporting from conflict zones. Both statements frame the issue as not only a national concern but a broader test of global commitments to press freedom and international law.

Reference –

https://imi.org.ua/en/news/mfa-demands-release-of-ukrainian-journalists-imprisoned-by-russia

https://www.pen-international.org/our-campaigns/world-press-freedom-day-2026