How free is Ukraine's press during wartime? In recent years a series of major corruption scandals have erupted, prompting independent journalists to intensify their criticism of the government and bringing scrutiny of the authorities back into the public sphere. Journalist Iana Vdarnikova said, despite the invasion, "It quickly became clear that the role of a journalist – asking direct questions and pointing out problems – has not disappeared." When independent media renewed their investigations, the subjects began to respond. Journalists and editors report that they are facing an increasingly pressuring environment – from unprecedented court bans on pre‑publication reports and SLAPP lawsuits to physical threats and a closed policy from senior officials. "A gradually forming environment in which it is becoming more and more difficult for journalists to do their job," Vdarnikova told Kyiv Independent. Photo: Yevgeny Maloltseka / AP.

How free is Ukraine's press during wartime? In recent years a series of major corruption scandals have erupted, prompting independent journalists to intensify their criticism of the government and bringing scrutiny of the authorities back into the public sphere. Journalist Iana Vdarnikova said, despite the invasion, "It quickly became clear that the role of a journalist – asking direct questions and pointing out problems – has not disappeared." When independent media renewed their investigations, the subjects began to respond. Journalists and editors report that they are facing an increasingly pressuring environment – from unprecedented court bans on pre‑publication reports and SLAPP lawsuits to physical threats and a closed policy from senior officials. "A gradually forming environment in which it is becoming more and more difficult for journalists to do their job," Vdarnikova told Kyiv Independent. Photo: Yevgeny Maloltseka / AP.