Journalists Matter, Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists
The Council of Europe encourages member states to transpose the Campaign to the national context. Without each member’s committed and effective effort at national level, through the development of the so-called ‘national chapter’, the Campaign cannot reach its goals.
In this section, we will present developments in Ukraine:
National Focal Point
Ms Ganna KRASNOSTUP, Director of the Department for Strategic Communications and Promotion of Ukrainian Culture, Ministry of Culture of Ukraine
National Campaign Committee
The Coordination Committee for the implementation of the Council of Europe's "Journalists Matter" campaign in Ukraine was established on April 8, 2024, under the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine (Order No. 264).
It is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, other central and local executive authorities, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, the Institute of Mass Information, the Commission on Journalistic Ethics, independent media experts, specialists, and consultants. It includes all key stakeholders such as representatives from government bodies, civil society, and media organizations who address challenges faced by journalists and media actors in Ukraine.
The Committee is a continuously operating advisory body formed to conduct expert consultations, provide swift review of implementation issues in Ukraine regarding the Council of Europe's five-year campaign on journalist safety, "Journalists Matter," ensure a unified approach to addressing journalist safety issues, and facilitate their professional activities during the legal regime of martial law.
The main tasks of the Committee include:
Assessing existing challenges and needs (considering the internal environment in which journalists and other media actors operate).
Providing recommendations for implementing the Council of Europe's campaign on the safety of journalists "Journalists Matter" in Ukraine at the national level, starting with assessing needs and identifying useful measures that can be implemented within the campaign.
Summarising practices, providing recommendations and proposals for creating favourable conditions for professional activities of journalists and other media actors in Ukraine.
Discussing incidents of war crimes against journalists and media, underlining the imperative for protection of free speech and international support.
Identifying ways, mechanisms, and methods of addressing problematic issues related to journalists' safety and conducting their professional activities during the legal regime of martial law.
Addressing other issues related to protecting freedom of expression in Ukraine.
The Committee operates through meetings held as needed. The meetings are chaired by the Committee Chair, or in their absence, by the Deputy Chair of the Committee. The agenda, date, time, and location of the Committee meeting are determined by the Committee Chair.
A Committee meeting is considered valid if more than half of its members are present. Committee meetings may be conducted remotely using information and communication technologies and digital tools.
Proposals and recommendations of the Committee are adopted by open voting with a simple majority of votes from the members present at the meeting. In case of a tie, the decisive vote is cast by the chairperson presiding over the meeting.
The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released the World Press Freedom Index for 2026, covering 180 countries. Ukraine has reached the 55th position, marking its best performance in this ranking since gaining independence.
However, despite these achievements, Ukrainian journalists continue to face immense challenges, primarily stemming from two major sources: the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine and the persistent persecution of investigative journalists. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the latest report from the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), which reveals the harrowing toll of the conflict on media personnel. Since the onset of the Russian invasion, 130 journalists have been killed in Ukraine, 26 journalists remain in Russian captivity, numerous media outlets have been forced to cease operations permanently, and countless journalists and media actors have been subjected to various forms of intimidation, including physical attacks, digital assaults, and direct threats. Moreover, the imposition of martial law, though imperative for national security, has further encumbered press freedom by imposing additional constraints on journalists' professional activities.
2025 update
Ukraine continued implementing its National Action Plan under the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter campaign through the work of the Coordinating Committee and a broad network of institutional and civil society partners. Throughout 2025, the Committee met regularly to oversee implementation of campaign priorities and coordinate activities relating to journalists’ safety, freedom of expression and media resilience.
Support mechanisms for journalists remained operational through a nationwide network of Journalist Solidarity Centres and regional Media Bases, which provide workspaces, protective equipment, technical assistance, legal support and psychological assistance to journalists and media workers, particularly those operating in high-risk environments. Additional initiatives included free legal assistance for journalists and media actors, consultations on gender equality and social inclusion policies for media organisations, and specialised training activities for journalists and law-enforcement authorities.
A growing concern in 2025 was the increasing threat posed by drones to journalists working in frontline and combat areas. Following expert consultations and discussions with media organisations, recommendations were adopted calling for enhanced safety training, expanded access to drone detection technologies and revised safety protocols adapted to evolving battlefield conditions.
Ukraine also continued engaging future generations of journalists through media literacy and journalism education initiatives, including the national “Reporter” competition for secondary-school students, the “I Am a Journalist” competition for pupils and students, and discussions on adapting journalism education to wartime realities, digital transformation and information security challenges.
Activities under the campaign
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Ukraine: Documenting gender-specific risks to journalists through targeted monitoring
Ketevan SAKHELASHVILI
Modified 1 Month ago.
In Ukraine, efforts to advance the Journalists Matter campaign are being strengthened through a focused initiative that brings greater visibility to the risks faced by women in the media sector. The NGO Women in Media- whose representative is a member of the Campaign’s Coordination Committee has developed the “Map of Attacks on Women Journalists and Media Workers,” a specialized tool designed to monitor and document threats and incidents affecting female media professionals across the country.
Developed in the context of the ongoing war, the map captures detailed, real-time information on attacks and risks, offering a clearer understanding of the gender-specific challenges journalists face in Ukraine. By systematically gathering this data, the initiative not only sheds light on patterns of violence and intimidation but also contributes to more informed responses aimed at improving journalist safety.
The tool is closely aligned with the core priorities of the Journalists Matter campaign. It translates these principles into concrete action by providing reliable, granular evidence that can support advocacy, policy development, and protective measures tailored to women journalists. The map has become an integral part of Ukraine’s national efforts to implement the Campaign’s objectives, ensuring that gender-sensitive perspectives are embedded within broader media freedom and safety frameworks.
Ukraine, National chapter
