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February 24, 2025 – Russia/Ukraine –
As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine marks its third anniversary, reports reveal a relentless assault on press freedom and media workers in the conflict zone. Since February 2022, Russia has been responsible for at least 823 documented crimes against journalists and media outlets in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Institute of Mass Information (IMI). These offenses range from physical attacks, arbitrary detentions, kidnappings, threats, and targeted killings, highlighting the extreme risks faced by those covering the war.
International press freedom organizations have condemned the systematic violence aimed at silencing independent reporting. The International Press Institute (IPI) described the ongoing harassment and attacks on journalists as part of a deliberate strategy by Russian forces to control the narrative and obstruct truthful coverage of the war. IPI’s report notes that Russian authorities frequently target journalists who expose war crimes and human rights abuses, thereby undermining transparency and accountability.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also documented nearly 150 cases of journalists attacked since the invasion’s onset, including bombings, physical assaults, and threats. Several Ukrainian reporters have been killed, while others remain missing or held captive. RSF stresses that this sustained campaign against media workers violates international humanitarian law and press freedom standards, calling for urgent protection measures.
The dangerous environment forces many journalists to operate under constant threat, severely limiting Ukraine’s media landscape. Despite these dangers, many continue to report bravely from frontline areas, providing critical information to both local and global audiences. Their work underscores the essential role of a free press during armed conflict.
International watchdogs urge the global community to hold perpetrators accountable and support Ukraine’s journalists through safety training, legal assistance, and advocacy for press freedom. With the war continuing, protecting journalists remains crucial to ensuring that the truth about the conflict reaches the world and to safeguarding democratic values amid ongoing violence.
Reference –
Under Attack: Press freedom three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
https://rsf.org/en/three-years-russian-full-scale-invasion-ukraine-nearly-150-journalists-attacked
