“The Russians are targeting journalists and any PRESS signs”, – Sergiy Tomilenko

This video is a short presentation of the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Sergiy Tomilenko to remember the suffering of the Ukrainian people and acknowledge the challenges of reporting the war. It was demonstrated on 24th of February 2023 on the hybrid event «Russian invasion of Ukraine: Journalism, Trauma and Resilience», organised by University of Lincoln and University of Sheffield. The event brings together policymakers, journalists, editors and journalism educators to deliberate on the impacts of the war on survivors, Ukrainian diaspora and local and international journalists who have covered it. It aims to collate lessons for journalism educators in the UK and across the world in their efforts to embed trauma informed literacy in journalism curricula. “There are no international protocols that protect journalists as representatives of the civilian profession on this war. Branding cars and bulletproof vests with the Press word can be an additional temptation for the occupiers to turn a journalist into a target. We have numerous examples that prove that the enemy wants journalists in Ukraine to shut up. The Russians almost openly admit that an independent, uncontrolled press is a threat to their attempt to occupy our country because it destroys the propaganda bubble the Russians want to immerse the population of the temporarily occupied territories in… Today, we can confidently say that journalism in Ukraine is a profession of courageous people. Our slogan, which was hardened a few years before, in the midst of panic due to the epidemic of COVID19, is Journalists are Important! Today, this slogan has acquired a special meaning, because, for Ukrainians who are trying to save themselves from Russian aggression, objective information really saves lives, helps to survive, and helps to unite to repel the occupiers”.