RSF continues its commitment to Ukrainian media with nearly 1,900 journalists and 270 outlets supported since 2022
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has supported nearly 1,900 journalists and 270 media outlets through its Press Freedom Centers in Lviv and Kyiv. After over 1,000 days of war, RSF is consolidating its activities in Kyiv to respond to the shifting needs of Ukraine’s media outlets and journalists, ensuring sustained support for those who deliver reliable, independent information.
"The unwavering commitment of Ukrainian journalists to inform the public required a level of support that matched the magnitude of the obstacles they faced. Thanks to its Press Freedom Centers in Lviv and Kyiv, RSF has assisted nearly 1,900 journalists and 270 media outlets by providing protective gear and energy equipment. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the dedication of RSF’s teams, past and present, who have worked on the ground in Ukraine since the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. Moving into 2025, RSF calls on international donors and reconstruction actors to support the Ukrainian media’s financial stability by contributing to the International Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukrainian Media (IFRUM).
In the report "From Resilience to Recovery: Securing the Future of Ukrainian Media", RSF calls for the establishment of an International Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukrainian Media (IFRUM) to ensure the independence of Ukrainian outlets and uphold the right to information. The Russian invasion triggered an unprecedented economic crisis for these media, and Ukrainian journalists still face numerous safety and logistical challenges. RSF has been actively committed to alleviating this crisis since 2022.
- RSF provided over 200 media outlets with energy equipment
In 2024, RSF provided energy equipment such as generators, power stations, and external batteries to 130 newsrooms and 50 independent journalists in Ukraine. These tools allowed media outlets to maintain operations despite power outages caused by Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. With equipment delivered across 61 cities in 16 regions between June and November 2024, this initiative supported local and regional outlets with limited financial resources. Beneficiaries were selected in collaboration with RSF's local partners, the Institute of Mass Information (IMI) and Lviv Media Forum (LMF).
Since 2022, RSF has distributed energy equipment to 206 media outlets.
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Nearly 500 journalists trained in physical safety
To address the security challenges posed by Russia’s daily bombings, RSF organised 23 training sessions in 10 Ukrainian cities, strengthening the physical safety and first aid skills of 496 journalists. In 2024 alone, RSF conducted eight hostile environment and awareness training (HEAT) refresher sessions in partnership with the 2402 Foundation. Each trained journalist also received a first-aid kit.
- Over 1,100 Journalists Equipped by RSF Centers in Lviv and Kyiv
Since their inauguration in March and May 2022, RSF’s Press Freedom Centers in Lviv and Kyiv have provided protective equipment — such as helmets and bulletproof vests — to 1,118 journalists. Of these, 677 borrowed equipment directly from RSF centres, while 441 received gear distributed to partner organisations like IMI.
To meet growing demand in Kyiv, RSF has gradually relocated its protective equipment inventory to the capital. Starting 1 December 2024, the Kyiv centre will incorporate all services previously offered in Lviv, which will close on 30 November.
- Sustained support for 1,900 journalists and 270 media outlets
RSF’s commitment is long-term. After 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the organisation has supported 1,892 journalists — three-quarters of whom are Ukrainian — and 273 local media outlets. Activities will continue into 2025 alongside RSF’s Ukrainian partners, and will include:
- Lending protective gear, solar batteries, and first-aid kits
- Online and in-person psychological consultations in Kyiv, as well as rest programs in the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine
- Physical safety and first aid training (HEAT)
- Financial assistance for journalists and media outlets
- Support for media compliance with the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI)
RSF invites all journalists and media outlets in need of assistance to contact the Kyiv Press Freedom Center at [email protected].
These activities were implemented as part of the project “Strengthening Press Freedom Centers in Ukraine” (June 2023–November 2024), co-funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.
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