Russia’s War on Ukrainian Media: 24 Journalists Killed, Over 150 Press Violations in 2024

January 19, 2025 – Ukraine/Russia –

In 2024, Russian forces escalated their assault on media freedom in Ukraine, killing 24 Ukrainian media workers and committing over 150 violations against press freedom, according to data from Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information (IMI). The report marks a sharp increase in the dangers faced by journalists amid the ongoing full-scale invasion.

Of the 24 media workers killed, two were actively working as journalists at the time of their deaths. Among them was Victoria Roshchyna, a Zaporizhzhia-based journalist who died while in Russian custody on October 10, after being detained in occupied territory. Another was Ryan Evans, a Reuters safety advisor and former U.S. soldier, who was killed on August 24 by a Russian missile strike in Kramatorsk while assisting reporters on assignment.

The remaining 22 victims were journalist-soldiers who had taken up arms and died while serving on the front lines. These deaths highlight the dual roles many Ukrainian media workers have assumed—reporting by day, defending their country by night.

In addition to fatalities, IMI documented at least 155 attacks by Russia targeting Ukrainian media throughout the year. These included abductions, shellings, cyberattacks, physical assaults, and threats. Journalist Viktor Pichugin was seriously injured in a double strike while reporting near the front, underscoring the deliberate targeting of press personnel.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, 95 Ukrainian media workers have been killed, including 12 while on duty, and more than 829 violations have been recorded against the media. Ukrainian officials estimate that around 30 journalists remain in Russian captivity.

International observers, including press freedom organizations, have denounced Russia’s ongoing attacks on journalists, noting that targeting marked press vehicles and personnel violates the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.

Bottom line: The killing of 24 Ukrainian media workers in 2024 and the systemic attacks on press freedom represent a brutal campaign by Russia to silence independent journalism. These actions not only violate international law but also endanger the truth itself amid one of Europe’s most devastating modern wars.

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In 2024, 24 Ukrainian media workers were killed by Russia