OSCE Condemns Sixth Strike on Bilopilshchyna Media Office, Leaving Woman Journalist Wounded.

International Body Denounces Escalating Violence Against Ukrainian Media

According to 5 канал — Політика: A representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Ian Bouatu, has voiced strong disapproval of Russian assaults targeting Ukrainian media outlets. He specifically highlighted the attack on the office of 'Bilopilshchyna,' where a media professional was injured. Bouatu noted that this marks the sixth assault on this particular outlet, and that the offices of 'Kordon.Media' and 'Inform.zp.ua' were also damaged in related incidents.

On July 23 and 24, 2023, Russian drones struck the Bilopilshchyna office, causing severe damage and wounding a female employee. Ian Bouatu expressed outrage over these actions, stating:

'I am appalled by the latest drone strikes from Russia, which inflicted heavy destruction on the Bilopilshchyna office and resulted in injuries to a media worker.' Ian Bouatu

Earlier, on July 17, 2023, a Russian attack damaged 'Kordon.Media' in Sumy, and on July 21, 2023, 'Inform.zp.ua' in Zaporizhzhia was hit. Bouatu emphasized that journalists and media staff hold civilian status under international humanitarian law and must never be targeted:

'Journalists and media personnel are considered civilians according to international humanitarian law and cannot be legitimate targets of attack.' Ian Bouatu

He also recalled that on July 6, 2023, a hostile strike caused substantial material damage to the office of '5 Kanal.' Georgii Tykhyi pointed out that Russia's repeated assaults on local media are deliberate efforts to cut off frontline communities from reliable information:

• Russia's persistent attacks on regional media outlets represent intentional attempts to isolate communities near the front lines from trustworthy news sources.

These incidents underscore the mounting pressure on Ukrainian media and the attempts to disrupt their operations, threatening freedom of speech in the country.

Ensuring national security while safeguarding press freedom in Ukraine has become increasingly urgent amid the armed conflict. The targeting of media outlets highlights the critical need to protect journalists and underscores the importance of international support to sustain independent journalism. Backing independent media is essential for keeping the public informed and ensuring transparency during wartime.