Since the start of the full-scale war, 142 media workers were killed in Ukraine — NUJU

 Ukrinform news agency, citing Serhiy Tomilenko, Chairman of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) reported that since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 142 media workers have been killed. In the past year alone, three journalists became victims of the Russians’ war.

Collage courtesy of the Institute of Mass Information

According to Tomilenko, all three journalists were killed as a result of targeted Russian drone attacks. He emphasized that drones currently pose the greatest threat to media workers in the combat zone.

“Russia is using new technologies against journalists, particularly for the purpose of intimidation and to deter the coverage of war crimes in this war,” the head of the NUJU noted.

He also drew attention to the change in approaches to journalist safety while working near the front. Specifically, media workers are advised to refrain from using “Press” markings on clothing, body armor, helmets, and vehicles.

“If previously the inscription ‘Press’ was a signal to all sides that this was a civilian and unarmed media worker, today, on the contrary, it can become a trigger. We see that for the Russian military, journalists are one of the priority targets,” Tomilenko highlighted.

You may also want to read: List of imprisoned Ukrainian journalists 2025 in temporarily occupied Crimea

To provide background, in the three years and ten months since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has committed 870 crimes against journalists and media in Ukraine.

Earlier, ZMINA reported that at least 25 Russian judges, security officials, and prosecutors have been linked to the persecution of citizen journalist and activist of the human rights grassroots initiative “Crimean Solidarity” Remzi Bekirov, who was sentenced in Russia to 19 years in prison in a politically motivated case following years of pressure in occupied Crimea.

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