IFJ responds to wounding of war correspondent Olha Kalinovska

The growing use of drones, which blurs the boundaries of the conflict and makes the threat more diffuse, at the same time increases the risks for journalists, states the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in connection with the injury of war correspondent Olha Kalinovska, which she suffered on June 3.

As a reminder, the attack occurred when the journalist was traveling in a military vehicle to prepare a report on civilian residents of Pokrovsk, a settlement located 14 kilometers from the front line. She was in a military vehicle with servicemen, including a military press officer, when their vehicle was attacked by a russian drone about 17 kilometers from the front line. The drone exploded, crashing into a net in front of the car, causing Kalinovska to suffer barotrauma.

Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), stressed that “it is important to understand the operational realities of frontline journalism in Ukraine. Most Ukrainian media outlets do not have armored vehicles – such vehicles are available only to large international newsrooms. Working close to the front, our journalists are forced to travel in military vehicles, which provide better protection from mines, debris and drone attacks. At the same time, such vehicles can be perceived as military targets. This is one of the most difficult dilemmas that Ukrainian journalists face today.”

IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger stressed: “This attack reminds us that no story is worth a journalist’s life. Journalists must avoid taking unnecessary risks, and media employers must ensure adequate security measures for journalists and media workers working in conflict zones. We express our solidarity with our colleagues covering the war in Ukraine.”

The IFJ also states that, as drone warfare changes the nature of these risks, security measures for war correspondents must be adapted to the new circumstances, and parties to the conflict must uphold their duty to protect media workers as civilians.

In September 2025, Olha Kalinovska and her film crew were already under attack – this time near the city of Pokrovsk. The car carrying the journalists and servicemen was hit by a mine, as a result of which the film crew members were injured and were forced to evacuate under the threat of drone attacks.