The OSCE Informal Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists event draws attention to the need to ensure the safety of journalists working in Ukraine
On 16 May 2022, the OSCE Informal Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists, co-chaired by Lithuania, France and Sweden, held a discussion on the security of journalists in Ukraine, entitled "Covering war under threat: perspectives on reporting about Ukraine“.
Since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine, journalists and other media actors have been directly targeted by the occupying army, they have been kidnapped, detained, tortured and even killed. It is clear that Russia puts all its efforts to stop local and correspondents from providing fact-based coverage of the events in Ukraine and from shining a light on the human suffering caused by this war.
During the debate, Ukrainian journalists Yulia Kharkusha, Oksana Romaniuk and Vitaliy Portnikov called for support for the media and journalists working in Ukraine. They stressed that without financial support many journalists would not be able to continue their work. Support is also needed in purchase of the equipment necessary to carry out journalistic activities, which many of those who fled the Russian-occupied territories had to leave behind or were destroyed during bombardments.
The international community has been called upon to help with evacuation of journalists and other media actors still staying in the territories occupied by the Russian army, as their lives and safety are at great risk due to their journalistic activities.
