On the morning of February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, with military incursions from the north, south, and east. Not only were the lives of Ukrainian soldiers at risk defending their country, but the lives of all Ukrainians. At the forefront of the conflict, Ukrainian journalists are imperiled reporting crucial information minute by minute, as the war continues. In this new and dangerous environment, journalists must adapt their work to stay safe.

What are the immediate and long-term needs of Ukrainian journalists on the ground? How must journalists adapt to reporting in a conflict? How can we best support journalists on the front lines and in occupied territory?

To address these and other questions USAGM and IREX, convened a panel of media experts to discuss Journalism on the Front Lines in Ukraine.

Panelists:

• Jamie Dettmer, the Voice of America foreign and war correspondent in Ukraine. He has been on the frontlines for VOA in Syria, Libya, Iraq, Lebanon and Ukraine.
• Maryana Drach, Director of the RFE/RL Ukrainian Service.
• Heather Murdock, VOA Foreign Correspondent who just emerged from Ukraine after her coverage in-country before the invasion and in the initial days of the war.
• Maria Ordzhonikidze, Director of the Justice for Journalists Foundation,   a London, UK-based NGO whose mission is to fight impunity for attacks against media.

Moderator:

James Brooke, former VOA Bureau Chief in Moscow and Ukraine, Editor in Chief of Ukraine Business News, and currently Ukraine/Russia fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington, DC-based think tank.