Ukraine records 14 freedom-of-expression violations in October
Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information recorded 14 violations of freedom of expression in October, four linked to Russia’s aggression and 10 attributed to Ukrainian citizens or institutions. Restrictions on journalists’ access to public information were the largest category of non-war-related violations. Russian attacks also damaged three media properties, while five media workers were reported killed during the month.
Key points
- The Institute of Mass Information recorded 14 freedom-of-expression violations in October.
- Four cases were linked to Russia’s aggression; Ukrainian citizens and institutions were responsible for the other 10.
- Five of the 10 non-war-related cases involved restrictions on journalists’ access to information.
- Three cases involved threats of physical violence, and two involved force or restrictions on freedom of movement.
- Russian attacks damaged the facilities of Suspilne Zaporizhzhia, Zakon i Biznes, and the VIZYT television channel.
- VIZYT temporarily stopped producing newscasts after its Kremenchuk building was attacked, but continued broadcasting.
- Five media workers were reported killed in October; 144 have died since Russia began its full-scale invasion.
- All 15 victims among the 144 media workers died while performing professional duties.
Why it matters
The October monitoring shows that threats to media activity came from both Russia’s war against Ukraine and domestic restrictions on journalists. The deaths of five media workers underscore the danger of covering the war, while attacks on newsroom infrastructure disrupted reporting even where employees escaped unharmed. The cumulative toll of 144 media workers killed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion illustrates the scale of risks facing media professionals.
What happened
The Institute of Mass Information recorded 14 violations of freedom of expression in October. Four were connected to Russia’s aggression, while Ukrainian citizens and institutions were responsible for 10 other cases. Restrictions on access to public information formed the largest category: five cases involved selective accreditation, exclusion from public events or refusal to provide documents, with two such cases recorded in Khmelnytskyi region. Three cases involved threats of physical violence, and two involved the direct use of force or restrictions on journalists’ freedom of movement. Violations were recorded across eight regions: Rivne, Volyn, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil and Kirovohrad. The perpetrators included private individuals, public officials, law enforcement officers and administrators of state institutions.
Russian attacks damaged three media properties. The Suspilne Zaporizhzhia crew came under attack by Russian FPV drones in Kushuhum on October 6 while documenting the aftermath of earlier shelling; one drone struck near its vehicle, and the crew could not leave the village for more than three hours. A Russian ballistic strike later damaged the Suspilne Zaporizhzhia branch building in Zaporizhzhia, breaking windows and doors. The office of the Zakon i Biznes newspaper in Kyiv was damaged by a Russian missile attack on the night of October 19. A drone attack on the VIZYT television channel’s building in Kremenchuk, Poltava region, caused a fire and major destruction. VIZYT temporarily halted newscast production because of damaged equipment and infrastructure while continuing to broadcast. Seven VIZYT employees were in safe locations during the attack, and no one was injured in any of the three incidents.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the Institute of Mass Information’s monthly monitoring and distinguishes violations caused by Russia’s aggression from domestic restrictions. Particular attention is paid to media workers killed while covering the war, damage to editorial facilities and concrete forms of obstruction, including selective accreditation, document refusals, threats and physical force. The reports also identify the actors responsible: private individuals, officials, law enforcement personnel and state-institution administrators.
How international sources describe it
The international framing emphasizes the monthly total of freedom-of-expression violations, the split between war-related and non-war-related cases, damage to three media properties and the cumulative death toll of media workers since the full-scale invasion. It also highlights the operational consequences for media outlets, including disrupted filming, damaged infrastructure and a temporary halt to newscast production while broadcasting continued.
Background
The Institute of Mass Information monitors violations of freedom of expression and journalists’ rights in Ukraine. Restrictions on access to public information were the largest category of non-war-related violations in October, encompassing selective accreditation, exclusion from public events, refusal to provide documents, threats, physical force and limits on freedom of movement. Five media workers were reported killed during the month, including YouTuber Kyrylo Soloshenko on October 15, former IRT-Poltava and Misto Plus cameraman Vasyl Velychko on October 16, and service member, photographer and videographer Volodymyr Obertas in Kherson on October 27. Samuilo Proskuriakiv and Dmytro Khizhniak, who had previously been considered missing, were officially reported killed in 2026.