Under the Pressure of War: Challenges and Needs of Media in Ukraine. Research Results
The Lviv Media Forum research team has conducted the study “Under the Pressure of War: Challenges and Needs of Media in Ukraine” in partnership with UNESCO and with support from Japan, in collaboration with the YouControl company and the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting. The research presents an analysis of the challenges, damages and losses incurred by media and journalists in Ukraine due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022, as well as the needs and resources required for media outlets to restore full operations and partially compensate for these losses. The study covers the period up to July 2024, as this was the point at which data collection concluded. While subsequent developments are not included in the analysis, the trends identified in the study remain relevant for understanding the dynamics of change in the media landscape.
In the three years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the financial, material, and personnel losses and needs of the Ukrainian media sector have only been studied and assessed fragmentarily. The lack of complete and up-to-date data limited the ability of the government, foreign donors, industry associations, non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and other stakeholders to strategically plan actions aimed at rescuing, supporting, and strengthening the viability of media in Ukraine. At the time of its publication, this study represents the most complete and comprehensive answer to questions about the consequences and challenges of three years of full-scale invasion for Ukraine’s media and journalists.
In addition to assessing material, financial, and human resource-related losses, the study identifies the needs of Ukraine’s media sector for recovery and sustainable development over the next five years. For the first time in 2025, the media sector was included in Ukraine’s Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), following the integration of data from this research. The RDNA has been conducted regularly by the World Bank in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine, the European Union, and the United Nations since the start of the full-scale invasion.