STATEMENT BY THE DELEGATION OF UKRAINE As delivered by HE Mr Yurii Vitrenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organisations in Vienna 1544 th meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council Agenda Item 3, “Report by the Representative on Freedom of the Media” (27 November 2025) Mr Chairperson, Ukraine highly values the OSCE’s consistent efforts to safeguard media freedom and promote the safety and independence of journalists, which are principles at the core of our shared commitments. We thank Ambassador Braathu for his comprehensive report and for his unwavering attention to developments affecting media freedom and the safety of journalists, particularly in the face of the grave violations committed by Russia in Ukraine. Ambassador Braathu, We welcome your focus on the growing challenges to media freedom and the pressures faced by journalists across the OSCE region, particularly in light of Russia’s continued aggression. We support your call on participating States to fully implement the relevant OSCE Ministerial Council commitments, strengthen national focal points, and invest in practical measures such as safety trainings. We also appreciate your work on AI, disinformation, and media literacy, which provides valuable guidance for building resilient and well-informed societies. Ukraine strongly supports the activities of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media aimed at promoting media freedom and media literacy, as well as countering propaganda and the manipulation of information. In particular, we The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. PC.DEL/1320/25 3 December 2025 ENGLISH only
2 welcome the SPU project on media standards and literacy and we look forward to continued fruitful cooperation on the next SPU project which will be focused on the safety of journalists. As highlighted in your report, Ukraine today faces the highest number of journalist fatalities in Europe since the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. Russian forces continue to deliberately target journalists and media infrastructure in Ukraine – from FPV-drone strikes on reporters in the field to repeated attacks on public broadcasters, television towers, and regional media hubs. On 23 October, Ukrainian journalists were killed in a targeted Russian strike in Kramatorsk — yet another example of Russia’s systematic barbaric attacks on media workers. According to the Institute of Mass Information, the Russian Federation has committed 858 crimes against journalists and media workers in Ukraine from the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022 to October 2025. This includes 118 journalists, 15 of whom died while performing their professional duties. At least 26 Ukrainian journalists remain imprisoned by the Russian Federation. Many of them are held on fabricated charges and in degrading, inhumane conditions amounting to torture. The tragic fate of , captured by Russian forces in August 2023, further illustrates the scale and brutality of these abuses. Her body was returned to Ukraine bearing clear signs of torture — a horrific confirmation of Russia’s deliberate policy of intimidation, persecution, and physical elimination of journalists documenting the crimes of the Russian regime. Victoria’s fate underscores the urgency of protecting those who remain in Russian captivity. We appreciate your continued efforts to advocate for their release and call on all participating States to exert stronger pressure on the Russian Federation to free them immediately and to support international efforts aimed at securing accountability for all violations committed against media professionals. Bringing accountability for abductions, unlawful detention, torture, and attacks on journalists must remain our shared responsibility. Mr. Chairperson,
3 I would like to take this opportunity Freedom of the Media and the Participating States to: intensify national and international efforts Ukraine of all journalists and media workers unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation, support the documentation and investigation of Russia’s crimes against them, including through cooperation with international investigative mechanisms to ensure accountability. I thank you, Mr. Chairperson.