During the war in Ukraine, 18 journalists were killed, 3 went missing, 8 were kidnapped, 13 media representatives were injured, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy reports.
“The work of journalists during the war is a front line. Media representatives are often not only physically at the front and cover the course of military events, but are also warriors of the information front. Today they are debunking the Kremlin’s endless absurd lies. We deeply appreciate everyone’s contribution to our common struggle on the information front against a bloodthirsty enemy,” the ministry said in a statement.
It is noted that according to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine, Russia committed 74 crimes against media representatives, including 19 against citizens of other states: Great Britain – 5, the Czech Republic – 2, the United States -2, Denmark – 2, the UAE – 2, Russia – 2, Ireland – 1, Switzerland – 1, France – 1, Lithuania – 1.
In particular, among journalists 18 people were killed (15 men and 3 women), 8 people (4 men and 4 women) were kidnapped, 13 people were injured, 3 people disappeared without a trace, 15 journalists were intimidated.
In addition, at least 7 facts of shelling, which led to damage or destruction of TV towers, TV and radio stations, as well as 22 blockages and cyberattacks on the media, were recorded.
Thus, 31 journalists were injured in Kyiv region, 15 in Zaporizhia, 7 in Kyiv, 5 in Kherson, 5 in Donetsk, 2 in Crimea, 2 in Sumy, 2 in Odesa, and 1 in Chernihiv, in Mykolaiv – 1, in Luhansk – 1, in Kirovohrad – 1, in central Ukraine – 1.
“Ukraine cooperates with a number of international human rights organizations and daily informs them about the crimes of the Russian occupation forces against journalists who, in superhuman conditions, cover events on the front line,” the report says.
The Ministry of Culture emphasizes that every death and every crime against representatives of the media will be investigated without fail, and those responsible will be prosecuted.
Among other things, the ministry expressed deep condolences to the families and loved ones of all the wounded, captured, missing and killed journalists.
