Hostilities zone working rules for media at Lviv JSC

During a briefing hosted by the Lviv Journalists’ Solidarity Center (JSC), the spokesperson for the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi/Colonel, Anton Myronovych, talked about Ministry of Defense’s requirements for media workers’ accreditation and combat zone safety rules for journalists.

Andrii Bolkun, the head of the Lviv JSC, noted that today, it is essential for journalists working in hot spots to understand the algorithm of cooperation with press officers clearly. Promptness and truthfulness of information submission are important; the safety of media workers and military secrets should be a priority for everyone, he said.

Colonel Anton Myronovych detailed the provisions of Order 73 of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine On Organizing Interaction Between AFU, Other AFU Units, and Mass Media Representatives During Martial Law, which was amended at the end of February 2023. He said that since the start of the hostilities, the Ministry of Defense had granted accreditation to almost 15,000 Ukrainian and foreign journalists. Not everyone receives it, says the colonel. Before granting accreditation, applicants are checked by the relevant special services, which takes a certain amount of time, sometimes several weeks. Accreditation is issued for six months. According to the speaker, there are three areas where journalists are staying in the area where hostilities are taking place: the so-called GREEN zone allows accredited media workers to work without the escort of a press officer; the YELLOW zone urges them to be accompanied by the military; and the RED zone prohibits journalist work.

However, not all media outlets obey the requirements. Anton Myronovych covered the cases when a journalist with an unaccredited cameraman came to the war zone. It is clear that such a person could not be allowed to work and film, he noted.

The speaker drew attention to the fact that the issue of life, health, and property insurance of a mass media representative is within the competence of his editorial office, a task he performs. The AFU is not responsible for the safety and ensuring the return of journalists — it is their responsibility. Also, the military has the right and must check photo and video materials for the presence of information that constitutes a state secret, official or confidential information, as well as information that can lead to the enemy’s awareness of AFU’s actions, the colonel added.

Call the Lviv JSC by dialing 067 370 0440 (Andrii Bolkun, the Lviv JSC coordinator). The Center’s address is 5 Solomiyi Krushelnytskoyi Street.

As earlier reported, the Journalists’ Solidarity Centers is an initiative of the NUJU implemented with the support of the International and European Federations of Journalists and UNESCO. The initiative is designated to help media representatives working in Ukraine during the war. The Centers operate in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro and provide journalists with organizational, technical, legal, psychological, and other types of assistance.

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding. It is the coordinator of the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which aims to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, thus strengthening peace, democracy, and sustainable development worldwide. UNESCO is working closely with its partner organizations in Ukraine to provide support to journalists on the ground.

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this digest do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this digest and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit to the organization.

Information Service of Lviv JSC