During war, one can survive without electricity or with limited access to water – but not without access to truthful information – the reflection shared by Aida Čerkez, a journalist from Bosnia, during the 11th Lviv Media Forum (LMF).

At the heart of the speeches by journalists who had lived or worked in war and conflict zones, a recurring message echoed throughout LMF 2025: what truly kills is the indifference of the rest of the world – when people turn a blind eye to the violence and killings, believing such events will never reach them. Yet, as was the case in the Balkans, war broke through borders and crossed into the lives of neighbours.

The 11th edition of the international forum focused on the theme: “Speak the Unspoken: Choices, Decisions, Responsibility” and was structured around two key thematic streams – “Frankly Spoken” and “Smartly Done”. LMF brought together journalists, experts, policymakers, and civil society actors from across Ukraine and beyond to discuss wartime censorship, experiences of other countries affected by war, the global reach of Russian propaganda, institutional fragility, and the future of journalism in crisis.

The event featured over 30 discussion panels, keynote addresses, and practical workshops that addressed democracy under pressure, ethical dilemmas in reporting, information warfare, media literacy, and strategic communication.

The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – Phase II” (SFEM-UA) provided targeted support for LMF 2025. The Project contributed to the technical organisation of the forum and supported one of the practical workshops on day three titled “OSINT in Action: Ukraine’s Experience from the Full-Scale War”, delivered by Daria Verbytska and Anastasiia Kukhar of the Molfar Intelligence Institute. The session highlighted Ukraine’s use of open-source intelligence tools in wartime investigations and media reporting.

Over the course of the three days, prominent international speakers took the stage, including Anne Applebaum, Timothy Garton Ash, and Janine di Giovanni, as well as leading Ukrainian journalists and experts such as Angelina Kariakina, Olha Dukhnych, Kateryna Zarembo, Artem Zakharchenko, and Yevhen Hlibovytskyi. Discussions examined how democratic societies must respond to authoritarian narratives, the decline of public trust in institutions, and the ethical boundaries of wartime journalism.

In the “Smartly Done” stream, Ukrainian and international experts shared strategies for building sustainable media models, wartime communications, OSINT tools, and advocacy. Speakers stressed that funding alone is not enough – what Ukrainian media most need are vision and strategic development.

Elsewhere on day three, speakers from Ukraine, Latvia, and Taiwan examined information-psychological operations, including cultural manipulation through so-called “prophecies” - false predictive narratives or fabricated forecasts often used by hostile actors to create fear, confusion, or fatalism within targeted societies.

Participation in LMF 2025 allowed Ukrainian media professionals to connect, learn, and co-operate across borders. Through its support for this platform, the Council of Europe Project reinforced its commitment to media resilience, journalistic integrity, and countering disinformation – all crucial to protecting freedom of speech and democratic values in Ukraine and beyond.

The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – II Phase” (SFEM-UA) is implemented by the Council of Europe  Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026