“Ukraine will win, and journalists are helping it in every possible way,” Rebecca Harms

Since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion, Ukrainian journalists have become the eyes and ears not only of their people but of the entire world in general.

This was emphasized by former Member of the European Parliament from Germany/deputy head of the supervisory board of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) Rebecca Harms, speaking on August 15 during a visit to the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).

The German politician and public figure visited the NUJU’s Journalist Solidarity Center (JSC) in Kyiv, where she talked with the President of NUJU, Sergiy Tomilenko, the First Secretary of the Union, Lina Kushch, and the secretary of the Union/Crimean journalist, Mykola Semena.

Mykola Semena personally thanked Rebecca Harms for the fact that she once submitted a draft resolution to the European Parliament (later approved) in support of solidarity with Crimean Tatar activists illegally convicted in occupied Crimea and Mykola Semena himself, who was persecuted by the occupation authorities.

“For us, Ukrainian journalists, it is a great honor to meet such influential public figures as Ms. Harms in Kyiv,” said Sergiy Tomilenko. “She has been supporting Ukraine’s struggle for its existence as a nation and the aspirations of Ukrainian journalists to truthfully and objectively inform their audience for decades, not only in words but also practically.”

In her turn, Ms. Harms spoke about the efforts of the ECPMF to help Ukrainian journalists and emphasized the importance of Ukrainian media workers in opposing aggressive russian propaganda. She invited NUJU representatives to participate in a major conference that the center is organizing in support of Ukraine in Krakow at the end of November 2023.

“We understand that the war began long before February 24, 2022. Part of the hybrid war was the information war. Based on my experience, I can say that Ukrainian journalists are much better and more effective in this information war than their Western colleagues,” noted Rebecca Harms. “Considering this fight against russian propaganda, it is difficult even to imagine to what extent the activity of Ukrainian journalists is important for the survival of the entire society.”

Ms. Harms is convinced that Ukraine will definitely win this war, and the work of journalists is an important contribution to the joint victory.

While visiting the NUJU, Rebecca Harms welcomed the participants of the training dedicated to the work of journalists in conditions of chemical and radiation safety, which was held that day in the Union‘s office.

“I visited Ukraine for the first time in 1989 being in the Chernobyl zone,” Ms. Harms said. “When the russians occupied the Chernobyl station last year, I had the feeling that this simply could not happen. The first impression was horror that the disaster could happen again. And it was even more shocking that they also understand what is happening and what it can threaten with… We understand that the attacks on the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants are deliberate actions of the russians. They intentionally accumulate weapons there and deliberately attack these facilities. This training is important and relevant.”

Rebecca Harms expressed hope that the participants will never need the knowledge gained during the training.

“However, it is good that the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine is holding such events. I am very glad that cooperation has been established between the NUJU and European organizations,” said Ms. Harms.

She ended her speech with the words Glory to Ukraine!

NUJU Information Service