Ukraine: Journalist Iryna Dubchenko Held By Invasion Forces In Donetsk, CFWIJ Demands Her Immediate Release
Location: Ukraine, Kyiv
Date: March 30, 2022
Ukrainian journalist Iryna Dubchenko was detained by Russian forces in the Zaporozhye region and was taken to the Moscow-backed separatist-controlled Donetsk city. Two other journalists were injured in shelling by invasion troops. The Coalition for Women In Journalism condemns the attacks on journalists documenting the war in Ukraine and calls for Iryna’s immediate release. Her family claims Russian troops have accused the journalist of sheltering an injured Ukrainian soldier. We urge all military forces to ensure that members of the press are protected as guaranteed by international laws and allow journalists to report freely.
Iryna was reportedly detained on March 26, 2022, by Russian troops in the southeastern city of Rozivka, Zaporozhye region and shifted to Donetsk city, which is under Moscow-backed separatists’ control.
Citing the journalist’s sister, the National Union of Journalists in Ukraine said the Russian forces have accused Iryna of sheltering a wounded Ukrainian soldier.
Local journalists reported that the Ukrainian military commandant’s office in Rozivka informed Iryna’s family that she had gone missing two days ago and was taken to Donetsk. Iryna’s sister Oleksandra was quoted as saying that when Russian soldiers searched the journalist’s home on March 26 they claimed they knew everything about her “journalistic activities”.
Ukrainian TV broadcaster 1+1 correspondent Yakov Noskov wrote on Facebook (now Meta) that Iryna was arrested in Rozivka, where she was taking care of her aging grandmother.
Iryna has worked for various news outlets including the newspapers Saturday Plus, Politsovet, website Depo.Zaporizhzhya and the Kyiv-based Ukrainian Independent Information Agency of News (UNIAN). She has been reporting throughout the war sparked by Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, according to Oleksandra.
According to Belurisian news outlet NEXTA, the journalist was taken to Donetsk for “investigative actions”. The publication claimed Iryna sheltered a wounded soldier.
In #Zaporozhye region, #Russian servicemen kidnapped Ukrainian journalist Irina Dubchenko, head of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine said. She was taken to #Donetsk "to conduct investigative actions." Irina hid a seriously wounded #Ukrainian serviceman at her home. pic.twitter.com/Yn8gXwBlrn
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 29, 2022
In the same week that Iryna was taken captive, another journalist Andriy Tsaplienko and camera operator Oleksandr Navrotskyi were injured by Russian shelling in the northern region of Chernihiv and Lukyanovka in the Kyiv area, respectively.
Journalists and media workers documenting the Russian invasion in Ukraine are striving to ensure extensive and independent coverage in the midst of war. As the situation on ground worsens, at least five journalists have been killed by Russians, including two women journalists Oksana Baulina and Oleksandra Kuvshynova, and several have been injured. Others face detentions, abuse and threats to their safety.
Earlier on March 22, journalist Viktoria Roshchina, associated with independent Ukrainian television channel Hromadske, was released after having been missing for 10 days. Her employer organization claimed that they were unable to reach the journalist after March 11, right after her report on Russian-occupied Enerhodar was published. Local witnesses later confirmed that the journalist was taken captive by Russian troops. The journalist was released 10 days later allegedly after being forced to record a video stating that Russian soldiers had saved her life.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned for Iryna Dubchenko’s safety and well-being. We condemn the attacks on members of the press doing essential work of keeping the local and international communities of the war in Russia. As invasion troops make advances in the region, threats to the independent press continue to grow. In Russia, the Kremlin has escalated its censorship of the news media industry introducing harsher punishments for those found guilty of disseminating information the authorities deem “fake”. We call on all parties to the conflict to ensure that journalists are not targeted and that the press is able to report freely. We laud the services of our colleagues on ground in Ukraine and in Russia as they risk their lives and safety to bring the truth to the world. Honor their risk by following their work and sharing their stories. Find our list of women journalists reporting from the frontlines here and ways to support them here.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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