(Fonte: europeanjournalists.org) Three Ukrainian newspaper editorial offices, two in Kyiv and one in Mezhivskyi, were hit overnight on 28 August by Russian drones, causing damage to the buildings and property inside. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) join their affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), in strongly condemning the attacks and in expressing solidarity with the journalists affected. The IFJ and the EFJ demand full accountability from the Russian authorities and call for the full protection of all Ukrainian journalists.
On 28 August in the Mezhivskyi community of the Dnipropetrovsk region, a Russian drone hit the editorial office of the newspaper ‘Mezhivskyi Meridian’ overnight, as stated by the editor-in-chief, Yevhen Khrypun, on the outlet’s Facebook page. Khrypun showed how the building’s front door was damaged, windows were broken, and property inside was damaged.
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) appealed to international bodies for emergency support on the matter. Regardless of the drone attack and lack of electricity, water or communications, the team has already found an office in Dnipro as a replacement for the one in Mezhivksyi. The editor of ‘Meridian’ has returned to his work as usual. He is the only journalist who covers life in the Mezhyvshchyna front line.
Overnight on the same date, in Kyiv, Russian drones damaged the office of Ukrainska Pravda, according to the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Sevgil Musayeva. Fortunately, he said, “No one was hurt, and that’s the main thing: we have cases where people stay overnight to work on materials. But this time no one was there,” she wrote. The outlet stated that the team is already continuing to work as usual, despite the grave damage to the office spaces and some property.
Radio Free Liberty (RFL) offices were also impacted in Kyiv as a result of direct hits from two missiles nearby. Windows were shattered and equipment was damaged, but thankfully, none of the staff were injured, NUJU reported. “Rest assured, our journalists will continue their vital work,” said RFL President Steven Kapus, as quoted by NUJU.
Sergiy Tomilenko, President, National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, stated: “Russian attacks on civilian areas of Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk region damaged offices of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukrainska Pravda, and Mezhivsky Merydian. These strikes on residential neighborhoods once again demonstrate the indiscriminate nature of Russian aggression against Ukrainian civilians. The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine stands in full solidarity with our colleagues affected by these attacks. Ukrainian media will continue serving our communities despite the constant threat to civilian infrastructure.”
“We condemn these heinous attacks on media offices in the strongest possible terms. Russian authorities must take full responsibility and launch an immediate and transparent investigation. We stand in full solidarity with our affiliate, NUJU, and our Ukrainian colleagues who have been reporting with courage under extremely difficult conditions for over three years,” said the IFJ and the EFJ.