Investigative journalism does more than expose corruption and abuses of power. In the context of Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, it also plays a crucial role in documenting war crimes and helping to identify those responsible. This is an essential public service performed by investigative journalists. At the same time, it is emotionally demanding and often dangerous, as journalists face intimidation, threats, attempts at censorship and other obstacles in carrying out their professional duties.

The recent court injunction prohibiting the publication of a journalist investigation by Slidstvo.Info served as yet another reminder of the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and of ensuring effective protection for journalists and their work.

With this objective, the Council of Europe’s “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – Phase II” project, in co-operation with the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, organised a three-day training course for investigative journalists. The programme was delivered by Suspilne’s investigative journalists Inna Martsiv, Alla Sadovnyk and Hanna Hut, who combined theoretical sessions with practical exercises throughout the training.

Over the course of three days, participants worked through every key stage of preparing an investigative report, from identifying a topic and developing a working hypothesis to selecting the most appropriate tools for collecting and analysing information.

Participants learned how to formulate working hypotheses, assess potential risks, and develop investigation plans. They also worked with open-source information, including Ukrainian public registers, mapping services, and public expenditure monitoring systems. Additionally, they enhanced their skills in using OSINT tools. A dedicated session focused on investigating the use of public funds, particularly in the context of Ukraine’s post-war recovery and reconstruction, while also exploring how open data can be used to produce investigative stories of significant public interest.

The event marked another step in strengthening the partnership between the Council of Europe and Suspilne, aimed at supporting independent, professional and responsible journalism in Ukraine.

The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine –  Phase II” (SFEM-UA - Phase II) 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.