Journalists' rights violations: More police cases closed than opened since the start of the full-scale invasion

Photo by pl.npu.gov.ua

The police in ten oblasts have closed more cases on crimes targeting journalists than they have opened since the start of the full-scale invasion, as analysis of query responses by National Police departments in 10 oblasts of Ukraine (Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Kherson, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Poltave) shows.

The police reports that since February 24, 2022, to June 2025, a total of 47 proceedings were opened under Article 171 “Obstruction of legal reporting” and Article 345-1 “Threats or violence against a journalist” of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

In the same period, 49 proceedings were closed with no corpus delicti having been found. Five cases under journalism-related articles were submitted to court with an indictment. However, it could not be determined whether these cases concerned violations committed during the full-scale invasion.

In Vinnytsia oblast, the police opened 24 proceedings for obstruction or threats to journalists over the course of the full-scale invasion, 20 (or 83%) of which were later closed with no corpus delicti found. Pre-trial investigation in four more cases is underway. No cases were submitted to court.

During the same period, Odesa journalists contacted the police regarding obstruction of their reporting 24 times. According to the National Police HQ in Odesa oblast, one case was opened in the first half of 2025. At the same time, throughout the full-scale war, three more cases were submitted to court with indictments, including those that had most likely been investigated before the start of the full-scale invasion. The number of cases opened following statements by journalists filed during the full-scale war was not reported.

In Poltava oblast, four cases were opened during the full-scale invasion, of which three (75%) were closed. In Zaporizhzhia oblast, five cases on crimes against journalists were registered during the full-scale war. In this period, law enforcers opened one case and four investigations, including those dating back to previous years, were closed with no corpus delicti found.

100% of journalism-related cases were closed in Dnipro, Chernivtsi, and Ternopil oblasts. In each oblast, three proceedings were opened between February 24 and June 2025, respectively. All of them were closed with no corpus delicti found. In Mykolaiv oblast, four proceedings were opened during the full-scale invasion, one being closed with no corpus delicti found. Out of the 40 cases on violations of the rights of Mykolaiv journalists that were under investigation under Articles 171 and 345-1 of the CCU when the full-scale war started, 31 (or 77.5%) were closed. The police of Kherson reported four proceedings opened and eight closed (including those registered in previous years) during the full-scale invasion.

The analysis also showed a large gap between the number of journalists' statements with the police and that of proceedings opened. Journalists from Odesa, Ternopil, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhzhia oblasts contacted the police over obstruction of their reporting a total of 47 times, with only 12 cases (or 25.5% of the number of statements) being initiated during the corresponding period.

For example, Odesa journalists reported obstruction of their reporting to the police 24 times throughout this period, but only one case was opened, as reported by the law enforcers. Poltava journalists contacted the police 10 times with only four cases being initiated, of which three were closed. In Zaporizhzhia oblast, journalists filed statements with the police five times with one case being opened. In Khmelnytskyi oblast, the police reported receiving three statements by journalists regarding violations of their rights, but no criminal proceedings were initiated.

It should be noted that only five regional police departments disclosed the number of statements from journalists, with another five saying they did not keep a separate record of statements by journalists.

Only five proceedings on obstruction of legal reporting across the 10 oblasts were submitted to court throughout the full-scale invasion. Three of these proceedings were submitted by Odesa police (however, it is unclear when the violations in question occurred), one by Kherson police and one by Poltava police. In Mykolaiv oblast, nine proceedings investigated before the start of the full-scale war were sent to court with an indictment.