Ukraine’s security forces pressure journalists with mobilization threats — sources

Pressure on Ukrainian journalists from security forces through the threat of mobilization is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomenon.

This was reported to the outlet Strana by staff members of several Kyiv newsrooms, in the context of the police detention of hromadske journalist Yevheniy Shulgat, who had been investigating corruption in law enforcement agencies.

According to one source, people in uniform arrived at the owner of one outlet with a specific demand.

“Some guys in uniform came to the owner of one outlet and promised to cancel his deferment in five minutes if he didn’t take down a number of articles from the site. The publisher was forced to give the order to remove the articles,” the source said.

Another journalist describes a case of pressure on a female editor: she was threatened with the mobilization of her son if she published material touching on the leadership of one of the security agencies.

A source in the media market describes the prevailing pressure scheme in a broader context.

“Having a deferment, and the threat of having it revoked, is becoming one of the main levers of pressure on journalists and editors. If the journalist or editor themselves is not subject to mobilization and does not need a deferment, they are blackmailed with the threat of sending their son, husband, or brother to the army,” the source said.

Strana previously reported that the 425th Separate Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Skala,” which became embroiled in a scandal over the torture and killing of recruits, hinted at reprisals against the journalists who exposed the violations.

In addition, the outlet reported that the State Bureau of Investigations conducted searches at the home of the owner of drone manufacturer Vyriy Industries and co-owner of the outlet Babel, Oleksiy Babenko.