THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) has presented a groundbreaking international publication “Frontline Press” during World Press Freedom Day events in Brussels, showcasing the critical role of local newspapers in providing verified information in Ukraine’s conflict zones. This initiative, supported by Free Press Unlimited, highlights the remarkable resilience of Ukrainian local media operating under Russian bombardment and demonstrates how access to reliable information becomes essential for survival during war.
The “Frontline Press” emphasizes how local newspapers have become an unexpected form of resistance. NUJU President Sergiy Tomilenko explains: “When electricity, internet, and mobile networks are cut off by Russian attacks, printed newspapers become the only reliable information source for entire communities.” He continues: “These publications provide essential services: informing about evacuation routes and humanitarian aid, documenting war crimes, connecting dispersed community members, and most crucially, countering Russian propaganda with accurate information.”
The English-language newspaper is compelling stories from real Ukrainian newspapers operating in frontline territories. The publication documents the stories of editors like Vasyl Myroshnyk from “Zorya” newspaper in Kharkiv region, who stated: “As long as our newspaper is printed in Ukrainian, Russia cannot claim this land as its own,” and Valeriy Tereshchenko from “Nostalzhi” radio station in Nikopol, who rebuilt his station after Russian shelling with NUJU’s assistance.
Images of the publication “The Frontline Press”
Free Press Unlimited Executive Director Ruth Kronenburg emphasized the global importance of this issue: “The ongoing horrible conflicts in the world, like in Gaza, Sudan, Venezuela and Ukraine demonstrate how access to reliable information becomes a matter of survival for civilians. In Ukraine, we’ve witnessed a remarkable phenomenon – local newspapers continuing to publish despite constant danger, becoming the only trusted information lifeline when electricity fails and the internet is cut off. Access to verified information in conflict zones isn’t just a media right – it’s essential for survival.”
Supporting the frontline press
NUJU’s leadership in supporting frontline press has developed through strategic partnerships with international partners, particularly with Free Press Unlimited, as well as Fondation Hirondelle (Switzerland) and the Offspring Fund (Japan). This collaborative approach exemplifies how international media solidarity can provide practical support to journalists working in conflict zones.
Continuing the fight for press freedom
NUJU plans to continue strengthening Ukrainian journalists’ voices internationally while documenting crucial evidence of media operations during wartime, ensuring that the frontline press phenomenon serves as both a testimony of resilience and a model for defending information rights in conflict zones globally.
NUJU proposed the idea of creating this special English-language digest to Free Press Unlimited following an important side event at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva titled “Journalists Under Fire.” At this high-level event, NUJU President Sergiy Tomilenko shared the stage with journalists from Gaza, Sudan, and other conflict zones, highlighting the universal challenges facing media in war conditions and the critical importance of protecting access to information as a fundamental human right.
Free Press Unlimited website
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