The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) have joined their Ukrainian colleagues in condemning the killing of Ukrainian journalist Tetiana Kulyk, a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), in a russian drone attack in the Kyiv Region on February 26, 2025.
Two days after the third anniversary of the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrinform news agency journalist Tetiana Kulyk and her husband Pavlo Ivanchov were killed in their home by a russian drone in the Bucha District of the Kyiv Region. According to Ukrinform, rescuers found the two bodies while extinguishing a fire caused by the attack.
“It is with deep sadness that we learned of the tragic death of our colleague, talented Ukrinform journalist Tetiana Kulyk, who was killed as a result of a russian drone attack in the Kyiv Region. Tetiana was not just a professional in her field; she was a voice telling the world about the resilience of the Ukrainian people,” said NUJU Chairman Sergiy Tomilenko. “Every journalist who is killed by russian occupiers is an irreparable loss for the entire journalistic community and Ukraine. This is yet another war crime by russia that must be investigated and punished. We demand justice and accountability for those responsible,” he added.
“The EFJ is saddened to learn of the murder of yet another journalist. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Tetiana Kulyk and her husband. We call for an independent investigation to determine who was behind the drone attack and to what extent our colleague Tetiana Kulyk was deliberately targeted in her home. Journalists should not be targeted but protected. We insist on justice,” said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the outrageous killing of our colleague, journalist Tetiana Kulyk, and her beloved husband in a russian drone attack. As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, we reiterate that journalists, as civilians, have the right to protection in the context of armed conflict under international humanitarian law. We call for an independent investigation to clarify the circumstances of Kulyk’s death and bring those responsible to justice.”
At least 110 journalists have been killed in the three years of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The IFJ–EFJ joins its Ukrainian colleagues in calling for a thorough and swift investigation into this brutal attack, which must not go unpunished.
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