National Council: 116 journalists killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 116 journalists – both Ukrainian and foreign – have been killed, the National Council of Ukraine for Television and Radio Broadcasting has reported.

According to Caliber.Az, of these, 18 died while carrying out their professional duties.

“Among the deceased are not only Ukrainian reporters but also foreign journalists who risked their lives to bring the truth about Russian aggression to the world,” the Council said.

At least 26 civilian Ukrainian media workers and one journalist who joined the Armed Forces remain in Russian captivity.

The Ukrainian National Committee for Cooperation with UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) used the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists to call on international partners to draw attention to the unprecedented scale of crimes against journalists committed by Russian forces.

Earlier reports from May 2025 indicated that 201 artists and 103 media workers had died since the start of the war.

Recent attacks include the death of French journalist Antony Lallican in an FPV drone strike on October 3, and injuries sustained by The Kyiv Independent freelancer Heorhiy Ivanchenkov. On October 23, a strike by a Lancet drone in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, killed Freedom TV journalist Olena Hubanova and cameraman Yevhen Karmazin.

By Aghakazim Guliyev