Every year on November 2, the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The relevant resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 18, 2013, to draw global attention to the issue of impunity for individuals who commit violence, threats, harassment, or murder against media representatives.
Crimes of this nature are no exception in Ukraine, and Russia is responsible for the majority of them, says Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech:
"Data from the Institute of Mass Information (IMI) shows that the Kremlin is responsible for 989 crimes against journalists and media outlets during the full-scale war. These include murders, abductions, and injuries of media workers, shelling and destruction of newsrooms, cybercrimes, legal pressure, and threats."
The NGO "Women in Media" specializes, among other things, in documenting attacks against Ukrainian female journalists in the digital space. Among the attacks recorded on their online map are gendered disinformation and defamation, doxxing, cyberstalking, threats of physical and sexual violence, sexism, and hate speech. Such instances can be qualified as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)—that is, attacks in the digital sphere that carry a gendered component.
Attacks and crimes committed against female media workers in the digital space must be reviewed with the same level of detail, legal significance, and seriousness as crimes committed in the physical realm, believes Liza Kuzmenko, Head of "Women in Media":
"The consequences of these attacks are entirely real. A rape threat does not become any less terrifying simply because it was sent in a messenger. Publishing a female journalist's home address can pose an immediate threat to her safety. Meanwhile, spreading sexualized images, including those generated by AI, can harm her health, relationships, and professional reputation."
According to "Women in Media," more than 80% of Ukrainian female media workers encounter various forms of online violence, which carries not only a digital impact but also a very real psychological and physical casualties.
Investigative journalist Liubov Velychko has experienced this firsthand. According to her, systematic pressure against her has been ongoing since roughly 2017:
"When I was investigating the activities of Russian intelligence services, FSB information operations, and networks of pro-Russian agents, a large-scale online campaign was launched against me. Telegram channels with audiences in the millions published fakes, insults, and direct threats of murder and violence. A similar situation occurred during my investigation into illegal online casinos whose profits flowed to the Russian Federation. At that point, physical surveillance of my home and car was added to the threats."
Three criminal cases were opened regarding these actions: for death threats and obstruction of lawful professional activities. However, the state failed to provide her with adequate protection or security, despite a real threat to her life.
In the view of Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, the law enforcement system’s effectiveness in this direction remains insufficient. The primary issue is the gap between the number of registered criminal offenses and the cases that actually reach the courts and end in convictions. Other hurdles include the difficulty of proving the connection between illegal actions and a journalist's professional activities, as well as delays in court proceedings. Proper qualification of offenses, law enforcement officers' understanding of the specifics of journalistic work, and the recognition of the gender component are essential.
According to data from the Unified Report on Criminal Offenses, during the first 9 months of 2026, 12 criminal offenses were recorded for obstructing the lawful professional activities of journalists (Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). However, the number of criminal offenses where individuals were formally served with a notice of suspicion stands at 0. The same applies to the number of proceedings referred to court. For threats or violence against a journalist (under Article 345-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), 11 criminal offenses were recorded, 2 notices of suspicion were served, and 1 case was submitted to court.
"Impunity for attacks on journalists sends a dangerous message: that one can obstruct the work of the media without facing accountability. And that is precisely the signal the state must change," explains Yaroslav Yurchyshyn.
He specifically mentions civilian journalists illegally detained by the Russian Federation. Currently, there are at least 27 such individuals. International publicity can serve as the key to their release—as was previously the case for Dmytro Khyliuk, Maksym Butkevych, Nariman Dzhelyal, Roman Borshch, and others.
Although Ukraine is gradually implementing European standards for the protection of journalists, it is premature to speak of their full realization. The main challenge lies in ensuring the effective application of legal guarantees in practice, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn adds.
Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists provides a comprehensive framework: prevention of violations, protection, effective prosecution of perpetrators, as well as information dissemination and awareness-raising regarding relevant safeguards.
Furthermore, recommendations from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant EU structures, and the UN regarding journalists also address the confidentiality of sources, prohibition of SLAPPs, protection of female journalists, and digital safety.
"Our task is to ensure that a journalist is equally protected regardless of where they carry out their work: on the street, during a shoot, in the newsroom, or in the digital space," Yaroslav Yurchyshyn concludes.
