“The room where the news was made was covered with shattered glass:” Kharkiv media group Obiyektyv, despite the consequences of the shelling, continues to work

Twice since the beginning of the full-scale aggression, the newsroom of the Kharkiv media group Obiyektyv has suffered from russian shelling. After the shelling on the evening of December 30, 2023, the entire office got covered with shattered window glass, so it is impossible to work indoors.

“For the first time, our newsroom was affected in early March 2022, when there were hits in the city center, and we had a heating system surge,” Olena Nahorna, the graduating editor of Obiyektyv told the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) in a comment. “Then there was a flooding of one of the rooms where the equipment and cameras were stored… And on December 30 – a new test. As you know, the Kharkiv Palace Hotel was hit that evening. Our premises in the Kharkiv Palace Hotel are located in such a way that the windows overlook the Kharkiv Palace Hotel. Therefore, there is no window left at all. Glass covered our premises, where we have made news for many years. Some equipment, computers, and furniture were damaged.”

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Obiyektyv journalists mostly work remotely, and the news on the Simon TV channel, which is part of the media group, has no longer appeared. With a limited team, Obiyektyv fills news feeds on its website and shoots videos. They also have channels on Telegram and YouTube. The installer remained working in the office. Fortunately, he was not at work when he was hit. His entire office is filled with glass.

As Olena Nahorna reports, the Obiyektyv media group is currently in dire need of equipment that allows remote work. Since the beginning of the war, media workers have been trying to purchase such equipment at their own expense, as well as with the support of patrons. For remote work, you need updated smartphones for shooting, laptops with batteries that hold a charge, microphones, and tripods. A camera with which journalists could shoot video interviews would be very useful.

“We continue to work; thank you for your concern and interest!” concludes Olena Nahorna.

Hanna Chernenko, the coordinator of the Kharkiv Journalists’ Solidarity Center, is in contact with Obiyektyv.

NUJU Information Service