At the opening of the Donbas Media Forum, the European Union announced three new projects worth €6.6 million aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s independent media sector. Building on more than €110 million in EU support for Ukrainian media since 2017, including €57.5 million provided since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, these initiatives seek to help journalists continue delivering trusted information, exposing corruption, and documenting the realities of the war. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová emphasized that the support reinforces public accountability and Ukraine’s democratic development.
The projects are designed to address the urgent needs of media professionals working under wartime conditions, enhancing their safety, resilience, and capacity as Ukraine progresses toward EU integration. The “Frontline and Investigative Reporting Media in Ukraine” project, worth €3 million and led by Internews International and the Media Development Foundation, will provide core grants to 40 frontline media outlets, mentorship and training for 20 others, and support investigative teams exposing corruption and Russian war crimes.
The second project, “Strengthening the Sustainability of an Independent, Free and Pluralist Media Ecosystem in Ukraine,” with a €2 million budget led by Reporters Without Borders, will deliver emergency support and protective equipment to 400 journalists, promote media sustainability through initiatives like the Journalism Trust Initiative and the International Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukrainian Media, and advocate for media inclusion in Ukraine’s recovery plans.
The third initiative, “Empowering Ukrainian Media for a Sustainable Future,” coordinated by the Institute for Mass Information and Detector Media and funded with €1.65 million, focuses on strengthening regional and local media, countering disinformation, and providing legal, safety, and professional support to over 500 journalists via 15 new regional media hubs.
These projects reaffirm the EU’s long-standing partnership with Ukraine and highlight the media sector’s resilience and progress, including the privatisation of state-owned outlets and the creation of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine. The 10th Donbas Media Forum, attended by nearly 700 participants, underscores the crucial role of independent journalism in Ukraine’s democracy and societal resilience amid ongoing conflict.
