Kyiv / Paris — At least 29 Ukrainian journalists have been detained by Russian authorities for their independent reporting on the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Most of the journalists were arrested in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, where media freedom has been severely curtailed since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
These journalists are being punished for refusing to align with Kremlin propaganda, instead choosing to report on the realities of the war from within occupied areas or in proximity to frontline zones. RSF has described their detention as part of a systematic campaign by the Russian government to suppress press freedom and silence independent voices.
The identities of several of the detained journalists have been confirmed by local media organizations and human rights groups. Many were working for regional Ukrainian outlets and had been documenting the impact of the invasion on civilians, military developments, and alleged human rights abuses by occupying forces.
According to RSF, the arrests serve not only as a means to intimidate the press in occupied regions but also as a warning to journalists across Ukraine and beyond. “These individuals are not combatants, they are reporters whose only crime was telling the truth,” said RSF in a statement. “Their detentions expose the Kremlin’s determination to control the narrative by eradicating independent journalism.”
In occupied territories such as Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kherson, Russian authorities have implemented strict media control measures, including the seizure of Ukrainian media infrastructure, the banning of non-Russian outlets, and the replacement of local media with state-run Russian broadcasters.
Family members and colleagues of the detained journalists report little or no access to legal counsel, and many detainees are being held incommunicado. In several cases, journalists were allegedly subjected to harsh interrogations and accused of “extremism” or “spreading false information about the Russian armed forces”—charges that carry lengthy prison sentences under Russian law.
International press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), have joined RSF in demanding the immediate release of the detained journalists. They have also called for international pressure on Moscow to respect its obligations under international law, including the Geneva Conventions, which afford protections to civilian journalists in conflict zones.
The Ukrainian government has condemned the arrests as part of Russia’s broader efforts to dismantle Ukrainian identity and sovereignty in occupied regions. Ukrainian officials continue to document cases of forced assimilation, censorship, and persecution of local civic leaders and journalists.
As the war continues into its third year, media freedom in Ukraine’s occupied territories remains under grave threat. RSF and its partners are maintaining a database of detained journalists and calling for coordinated diplomatic and legal efforts to secure their release.
Excerpts from article by Reporters Without Borders
