Dear Press Freedom Supporter,

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters a new week, CPJ is taking steps to help journalists covering the war do so as safely as possible. This starts with safety advice issued to journalists in English, Ukrainian, and Russian, which give guidance for scenarios journalists may face while reporting from a war zone. “Get to know the ‘battlefield,’” we tell journalists, “including where the front lines are and how fluid they are.”

For Ukrainian journalists in particular, the front lines don't stop on the field. CPJ curated a collection of their experiences and is updating it regularly, providing a window into their world:

Translation: “Sitting in the metro with my 17-year-old relative, Nastia, who is from Kherson [a city in southern Ukraine on the Black Sea]. ‘Out there where a fire burns for the right to live freely,’ she sings while we still have a signal. Kyiv is facing a terrifying night, but believes in its future.”

As the conflict continues to unfold, accurate, timely, and independent reporting will be critical for survival on the ground and decision-making that affects our world. CPJ's team is working around the clock to document detentions and other press freedom violations. Already, two Danish journalists were wounded in Eastern Ukraine and a TV tower was bombed in Kyiv. Beyond Ukraine, as Russians have taken to the streets in anti-war demonstrations, we are also documenting arrests there. "At this critical moment," CPJ Executive Director Robert Mahoney says, "it is crucial that all parties involved recognize that all journalists and media workers are civilians under international humanitarian law, and their rights must be respected and protected.”

As the reporting of journalists in Ukraine enters the historical record, their coverage keeps us informed -- and keeps the world accountable. We will stand by them, defend them, and help keep them safe thanks to your continued support of our work.

John D. Weis
Director of Development and Outreach