Classification of Crimes Against Journalists by the Russian Federation Should Be Conducted in Four Directions, Says IMI Director

During a recent session of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, dedicated to investigating crimes committed by armed formations of the Russian Federation against journalists and other media personnel, Oksana Romaniuk, the director of the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), presented significant proposals regarding the classification of these crimes. She emphasized the need for a systematic approach to documenting and investigating crimes committed against media workers in Ukraine.

Romaniuk noted that the IMI is actively engaged in documenting crimes perpetrated by Russian aggressors, collaborating with law enforcement agencies and international organizations. She reported that since the onset of the invasion of Ukraine, 15 media hubs have been established, providing support to over 15,000 journalists. According to the Institute, at least 428 editorial offices have been affected by crimes committed by Russians, with Ukrainian editorial offices experiencing attacks at least 72 times, some of which were subjected to attacks two or three times.

These facts indicate the targeted nature of Russian attacks on media in Ukraine. Romaniuk also cited data on at least 24 attacks on television towers across 12 regions of Ukraine, confirming the existence of a consistent strategy on the part of Russia, which deliberately seeks to restrict the Ukrainian society's right to receive truthful information.

The IMI director proposed classifying crimes against journalists into four main categories. The first category includes crimes against journalists as civilians, such as illegal imprisonment, shelling, murders, and hostage-taking. The second category pertains to crimes against editorial offices and media infrastructure, which include shelling, particularly of television towers, and looting.

The third category encompasses cases of information occupation, as at least 37 instances of brand hijacking have been recorded, where Russian media broadcast content under well-known Ukrainian brands, replacing Ukrainian content with their own. There have also been cases where media outlets were forcibly relaunched. The fourth category addresses the destruction of the media environment in Ukraine as a result of aggression, and Romaniuk stressed that this should also be regarded as a crime against humanity.

In Romaniuk's opinion, the proper classification of these crimes and the identification of specific articles of the Criminal Code and international law will facilitate their investigation and help prove Russia's guilt. She also highlighted the importance of effective coordination with law enforcement agencies to present these cases for consideration by a future tribunal.

As reported by Ukrinform, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 147 media workers have been killed, of which at least 21 were during the performance of their professional duties. Additionally, 28 Ukrainian journalists are still in captivity. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine established a Temporary Investigative Commission on Investigating Crimes by Russia Against Journalists on December 4, 2025.

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