[49271] The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry calls for the immediate release of journalists imprisoned in Russia
[49271] The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry calls for the immediate release of journalists imprisoned in Russia
To mark World Press Freedom Day, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called for the release of about 30 Ukrainian journalists held in Russian captivity and reported the deaths of 149 media personnel since the beginning of the invasion.
International call for the release of Ukrainian journalists from Russian captivity
To mark World Press Freedom Day, which took place on May 4, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued a stern statement demanding the "immediate and unconditional release" of about 30 Ukrainian journalists held in captivity and illegal detention by Russia. According to the report by СУСПІЛЬНЕ НОВИНИ, which is associated with a pro-Ukrainian stance, the Ministry emphasizes that this is a burning issue of press freedom violation.
Chilling data published by Новини Еспресо.TV and D7 NEWS indicate that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, at least 149 journalists have been killed, with 21 of them losing their lives while performing their professional duties. These sources, which emphasize the Ukrainian narrative regarding intentional harm to media personnel, note that this is a policy of "systemic pressure" exerted by Moscow.
In a report by Детектор медіא, which specializes in media coverage, it was noted that the Foreign Ministry called on international organizations to take "principled public positions" and document Russia's violations in the occupied territories. The Ministry emphasized that these are "targeted terrorist attacks" against media personnel, which constitutes part of a broader campaign against freedom of expression in the conflict zone.