116 Media Workers Killed in Ukraine Since 2022 Invasion

As a result of the full-scale Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022, 116 media representatives have been killed in Ukraine. This number, officially published by Kyiv, however, includes not only those killed while performing their professional duties but also journalists who were conscripted into the army or were killed as civilians outside of work. Differences in data calculation methodology lead to different numbers depending on the source.

According to data jointly verified by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), as of November 2025, at least 21 journalists have been killed while performing their professional duties (reporting, on a filming location, etc.). This is considered the most accurate number for those who were killed specifically because of their work.

Reputable international organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and UNESCO apply stricter criteria: the death must be directly linked to journalistic activity. For this reason, their data may differ slightly (CPJ: 17 confirmed, RSF: 13, UNESCO: 22).

At the same time, Ukrainian bodies (Ministry of Culture, IMI, NUJU) include in the total number all media workers who have been killed as a result of Russian actions. Of the total 116 victims (according to earlier data), 18 were at their workplace, 88 were soldier-journalists, and 10 were civilian victims.

One of the most horrifying episodes of this tragedy is the story of journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, whose day of remembrance was recently established by the PACE. Roshchyna disappeared on August 3, 2023, in the occupied territories. Almost a year later, Russia admitted to her detention, and in October, it became known that she had died in Russian captivity.

In April 2025, her body was returned to Ukraine with internal organs removed. The eyeballs, brain, and part of the larynx were missing, and the hyoid bone was broken.

The war continues to claim the lives of journalists. Confirmed cases in 2025 include the death of Ukrinform employee Tetyana Kulyk (from a drone strike on her home), the killing of French photojournalist Antoine Lallican (by an FPV drone), and the deaths of Freedom TV journalists Olena Hramova and Yevhen Karmazin (from a Lancet drone strike in Kramatorsk).

Russian media have also suffered losses. At least 6 employees of Russian state media, who were attached to Russian troops, have been killed. According to official Moscow's accusations, they died as a result of strikes by Ukrainian forces.