“The foreign and Ukrainian reporters relentlessly covering the news in Ukraine since 2022, despite the extremely dangerous environment, have shown remarkable courage. Russia’s attacks against them have not lessened. Based on information gathered from its partners in Ukraine, notably the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), RSF has recorded cases of more than 175 journalists who fell victim to abuses amounting to war crimes committed by the Russian army since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago. Protecting them is crucial so they can continue to inform the public.

Four years of full-scale invasion: an overview

• 16 journalists killed by Russian forces

Three journalists were killed in 2025, targeted by Russian FPV drones (small devices equipped with explosives and a camera transmitting live images to the operator). This brings the total number of reporters killed while carrying out their work since 2022 to 16, including 15 who were murdered on Ukrainian soil and one — Victoria Roshchyna — killed while arbitrarily detained in Russia. On 3 October 2025, French photojournalist Antoni Lallican was slain by a Russian drone in Komyshuvakha, in eastern Ukraine. Twenty days later, Ukrainian journalists Alyona Hramova and Yevhen Karmazine, who worked for the state-funded television channel Freedom, died in a Russian drone attack in Kramatorsk.

• At least 53 journalists injured

RSF has documented no fewer than 53 Ukrainian and foreign journalists injured while reporting. In 2025, the surge in Russian FPV drone attacks along the front line became the primary threat for many reporters. They are targeted both in areas close to the fighting and in cities far from the front, sometimes even in their hotels.

• 26 Ukrainian journalists still detained by Russia

Twenty-six Ukrainian journalists are currently jailed by the Kremlin. Imprisoned in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, they are subjected to physical and psychological abuse. In 2025, three Ukrainian reporters — Vladyslav Yesypenko, Dmytro Khyliuk and Mark Kaliush — were released from Russian prisons.

Detention in Russia can cost reporters their lives. The Kremlin has still not disclosed the circumstances surrounding the September 2024 death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna, slain after more than thirteen months of detention and torture, as revealed in a joint investigation published by RSF and Ukrainian media outlets Slidstvo.info, Suspilne and Graty.

• 25 attacks against broadcasting towers

Since 24 February 2022, RSF has documented 25 attacks against broadcasting towers by Russian armed forces, through bombings or occupation, aimed at disrupting the transmission of reliable information from local, independent sources. In 2025, RSF recorded two new strikes against television towers in the southeastern city of Dnipro and the northern city of Chernihiv.

• 333 media outlets forced to shut down

According to IMI data, 333 Ukrainian media outlets have ceased operations since 24 February 2022, weakened by the collapse of the advertising market and the suspension of funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In 2025, RSF announced the launch of the International Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukrainian Media (IFRUM), in partnership with eight Ukrainian organisations, which aims to provide the economic support needed to rebuild the country’s media landscape.

• 10 war crimes complaints filed

Since 2022, RSF has filed ten complaints with both the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General and two complaints in France against Russia for war crimes committed against journalists and media outlets in Ukraine.

RSF will continue supporting Ukrainian journalism in 2026

More than 2,100 journalists and 230 media outlets have received help from RSF since 24 February 2022, in partnership with local organisations such as IMI and the Lviv Media Forum, and notably with financial support from the European Union. RSF has provided protective equipment, training, psychological support and emergency assistance grants.

RSF data, documented in real time, is constantly updated. If you have information to share with us regarding abuses committed against journalists or media in connection with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, you can contact us securely at [email protected].