Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, Ukraine has demonstrated notable progress in the latest World Press Freedom Index, rising seven positions to rank 55th out of 180 countries. This improvement continues a broader positive trend in recent years: from 106th place in 2022, Ukraine moved up to 79th in 2023, 61st in 2024, and, after a slight decline to 62nd in 2025, regained upward momentum in 2026.
This progress is particularly significant in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, which continues to pose serious risks to journalists and media operations. Even under these conditions, Ukraine’s media environment remains active and resilient, with investigative journalism playing a key role in strengthening transparency and public accountability.
Key issues remain, including ensuring effective investigations into crimes against journalists, tackling impunity, and addressing security risks linked to the war. While dozens of offences against journalists are recorded each year, only a limited number of cases proceed to court. Journalists also continue to face threats, pressure, and the use of legal tools aimed at obstructing their professional work.
In response to these challenges, the Council of Europe project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – Phase II” contributes to strengthening both the legal framework and institutional response mechanisms playing a crucial role in supporting systemic improvements in the media environment.
A major area of support is the development of a comprehensive anti-SLAPP legislative package aimed at countering abusive lawsuits designed to silence public participation. The package was prepared by a dedicated working group led by the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Expression, with the project providing expert and financial support. Following the preparation of recommendations in 2024 aligned with Council of Europe and EU standards, further work in 2025 led to the drafting of legislative proposals. In February 2026, the Council of Europe issued a legal opinion on the proposed amendments, marking an important step towards their adoption.
In parallel, the project actively contributes to addressing impunity and strengthening co-operation between journalists and law enforcement authorities. As part of the Council of Europe campaign “Journalists Matter” in co-operation with the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, training sessions were organised for representatives of the National Police, prosecution bodies, and the media community. These trainings focused on improving the investigation of crimes against journalists, enhancing the application of international standards, and building practical skills based on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. They also provided a platform for dialogue between journalists and law enforcement officials, helping to address mutual challenges – including ineffective investigations and the misuse of journalistic status – and to foster trust and co-operation.
As Ukraine continues to navigate the challenges of war, its progress in the field of press freedom demonstrates the resilience of its democratic institutions and media landscape. The Council of Europe project remains an important contributor to these developments by supporting legislative initiatives and fostering a more enabling environment for freedom of expression.
On World Press Freedom Day, these efforts underline a clear message: sustained support, co-operation, and reform can make a tangible difference in protecting freedom of expression, even in the most challenging circumstances.
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.
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