At least 68 journalists and media workers have lost their lives in Ukraine, since Russia began their full-scale invasion in February 2022.
According to the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), 10 of these were killed while they actively undertaking their editorial duties.
“10 died while reporting, 59 died as combatants or were killed by Russian shelling or torture,” the institute says.
In a report detailing several categories of violations Russia has had against journalists and the media in general, IMI said that as of October 24, 2023, at least 14 journalists are missing and there have been at least 23 journalist kidnappings.
It adds that at least 24 journalists have been wounded.
There have been 42 incidents of Russian forces shooting directly at journalists, with some 67 death threats and intimidations recorded.
IMI further notes that there have been about 16 incidences where Russian soldiers have shelled TV station towers and seized or ruined some 12 editorial offices.
The Russian invasion has also seen the closure of about 233 media outlets in Ukraine as well as the switching off of 27 Ukrainian broadcasting stations.
Other cases that have so far been recorded by the IMI include 58 Cybercrimes, nine digital blockades of Ukrainian media and five cases where Russia has used legal pressure to hinder journalists from doing their jobs.
In total, the institute says some 540 have committed against the media and journalists within the 20 months of the ongoing war.
