“We hope that we will be able to establish the fate of each colleague who went missing,” – Serhiy Tomilenko

Tens of killed, about 30 prisoners, and those whose fate is still unknown… Each such story is a wound in the heart of Ukrainian journalism

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) calls on international organizations and the Ukrainian authorities to increase pressure on russia to stop war crimes against journalists and punish the guilty.

“The ongoing war creates new tragedies, including among journalists. Unfortunately, a number of our colleagues are considered missing. We have high hopes for our investigative bodies and public organizations which are looking for missing people. We believe that it will be possible to establish the fate of each of them,” says the President of the NUJU, Sergiy Tomilenko.

According to the NUJU, among the missing are at least four journalists who joined the ranks of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. These are Volodymyr Chepovyi, Oleksandr Savochenko, Oleksandr Petrakovskii, and Taras Borysiuk. But there are others – civilian journalists, whose fate remains unknown in the occupied territories. Among them are a veteran journalist from Melitopol, Iryna Levchenko, and her husband Oleksandr Levchenko, as well as Zhanna Kiselyova from Kakhovka.

“The disappearance of journalists has a serious impact on freedom of the press and access to information in the conflict zone. This also creates an atmosphere of fear among media workers covering the events of the war,” Sergiy Tomilenko emphasizes. The international community demands that russia provide information on the fate of the missing. This situation emphasizes the importance of protecting media workers in conflict zones and the need to comply with international humanitarian law.

The NUJU actively cooperates with international organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, the International and European Federations of Journalists, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, calling for the investigation of cases of disappearance and the release of detained journalists.

According to Oleksandr Kononenko, the representative of the Ukrainian Ombudsman in the system of security and defense sector bodies, the number of people who are considered missing in special circumstances is more than 40,000. The number includes both military and civilians.

“Missing persons under special circumstances are connected with the conduct of hostilities. And, if we are talking about the military, they usually disappear during hostilities. And, if we are talking about civilians, then people, unfortunately, can die during the same hostilities; for example, in Mariupol, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, any city, any village where the aggression of the russian federation takes place, people can die, or they can fall victims to violent actions (illegally detained). They will be considered missing,” says Oleksandr Kononenko.

According to him, currently, the search for missing persons consists primarily of turning to the russian side, primarily to the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights Tetiana Moskalkova, in order to establish the whereabouts of certain citizens.

“As you know, we have 30% of former prisoners of war who have returned from captivity; these are precisely those who were missing under special circumstances. Therefore, most importantly, people should understand that serious searches can begin already after the de-occupation of the territory. The moment of reaching the location where, say, certain citizens or military personnel were last seen is important, and this location is considered the last point where these persons were,” Oleksandr Kononenko emphasizes. “First of all, it is still necessary to de-occupy it, after that to inspect it accordingly, and then draw conclusions. Suppose no bodies or other identifying features are found there. In that case, there is hope that a person has been captured, so searches are conducted.”

Oleh Kotenko, a co-founder of the Patriot Group non-governmental organization, talks about the difficulties in the search work.

“Sometimes, russians publish information about our captured and dead boys, including photos,” he says. “We archive them and add them to our database. We also transfer this database to law enforcement agencies. We are in constant contact with the relatives of the missing person who contacted us…”

The NUJU is convinced that it is important not only to carry out search work but also to provide assistance to the families of missing persons and prisoners.

“The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine always pays special attention to important social topics,” says Iryna Taranova, the head of the NUJU project called United Hearts Of Families Of Those Missing And Imprisoned. “At a time when many Ukrainian families are forced to live in uncertainty and pain, looking for their relatives, we cannot stand aside. It is our social and moral responsibility to support those who find themselves in such a difficult situation.”

The NUJU initiated the project United Hearts Of Families Of Those Missing And Imprisoned for the International Day of the Disappeared. This event will provide a unique opportunity to bring together the voices of government officials, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, families, famous artists, and the media to bring attention to the issue of missing persons and prisoners. For the first time, a common platform will be created in Ukraine to demonstrate unity in support of families who live in uncertainty and hope every day.

“It is also planned to display a video clip on the largest screen in Ukraine (at the Gulliver shopping center in Kyiv) to draw the community’s attention to this sensitive topic,” emphasizes Iryna Taranova.

The NUJU understands that the problem of missing persons requires long-term work and balanced broad coverage, as well as active cooperation at various levels – from public organizations to state and international institutions. Therefore, this project is only the beginning of a great work.

“We call on everyone who cares to join our initiatives because only together will we be able to change the situation, instill hope, and rejoice for the family that has finally restored contact with their loved ones,” says Iryna Taranova.

Despite all the difficulties, the Ukrainian journalistic community does not lose hope. Every day is a new chance to find a missing media person, to reconnect with relatives, and to bring home those who risked their lives for the sake of the truth.

“We will not stop until we learn about the fate of each of our colleagues,” Sergiy Tomilenko emphasizes. “Because every journalist who disappeared is not just a statistic. They are a person who has devoted their life to searching for and spreading the truth. And it is our duty to do everything possible to bring them home or at least learn about their fate.”

NUJU‘s active activities to determine the fates and return home of missing journalists gained a new international resonance after the congress of the European Federation of Journalists in May 2024 appealed to the European Commission and the governments of European countries with a call “together with other international institutions and humanitarian missions to take measures to establish whereabouts of Ukrainian journalists who went missing in the occupied territory.”

In parallel with international advocacy, the NUJU also conducts active work domestically. In particular, the Union is preparing a photo exhibition in support of captured and missing journalists. This event, which will take place on August 30 in Kyiv, is timed to the International Day of the Disappeared. It aims not only to support the families of the disappeared but also to draw the attention of the world community to this painful topic. The exhibition will feature Yevhen Zinchenko‘s photographs depicting the life stories of journalists, military, and civilian prisoners before and during the war. Registration: https://forms.gle/7qzRXGrnLqeRRkRV8 The exact venue and details will be communicated to registered participants.

Journalists-warriors who have disappeared or whose status has not been confirmed:

• Volodymyr Chepovyi, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, journalist, and public figure, founder of numerous media projects, and editor-in-chief of the Business With the beginning of a full-scale war, he became a volunteer for a territorial defense unit. He was reported missing on June 22, 2022.
• Oleksandr Savochenko, a Ukrainian journalist and military serviceman, worked for STB, the Agence France-Presse, and Suspilne. According to unconfirmed data, he was killed on July 26, 2022, in the battle near Bakhmut (there is no final information on the status of the deceased or missing person).
• Oleksandr Petrakovskii, a Ukrainian journalist, employee of the Ukrainian News agency, and junior lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Disappeared under special circumstances (an enemy mine hit the dugout in an occupied position) on May 30, 2024.
• Taras Borysiuk, former editor-in-chief of Vinnytska Hazeta, a member of the NUJU, serviceman of the 172^nd Territorial Defense Battalion, captain. According to witnesses, at the beginning of June 2024, he was ambushed when he went in a medical car to evacuate seriously wounded comrades. Further fate is unknown.

NUJU Information Service