News Stories

Changes in the rules of work of journalists in war: prolongation of accreditation and a clear description of the work of the media in the zones

7.2.2024
2
min read

Another step towards constructive communication between the media and the military. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, by order No. 51 of February 3, 2024, approved amendments to the order No. 73 on the rules of accreditation of journalists during martial law. For the first time, a detailed description of the zones, which was previously absent at all, is presented.

According to the changes published on site Ministry of Defense, now accredited media representatives are allowed to work unaccompanied in public places in the “yellow” zone. Also, paragraph 1.10 was removed from Appendix No. 1, which referred to the immediate termination of the work of a media representative at a military facility “in the event of a situation that may threaten his life and health...”. From now on, the safety component will not be a reason to ban shooting.

Red Zone

According to the changes, the work of individual accredited media representatives in the “red” zone can be allowed only in the company of relevant officials as an exception. While working in the “red” zone, media representatives are obliged to provide the collected photo and video materials for verification, as well as to coordinate their distribution and publication with the responsible official.

Yellow Zone

The work of mediators in public places in the yellow zone, to which there is free access by civilians, is permitted without the accompaniment of a public relations officer or other official designated by the commander within the route agreed by the commander (s). Whereas before, journalists were allowed to work in the yellow zone only under escort. Such an application for accreditation shall be considered within three calendar days from the date of its submission.

Accreditation

In addition, changes have been made to the procedure for accreditation of media representatives during the legal regime of martial law (Annex 3). From now on, accreditation is carried out for a period of up to 12 months. Previously, media outlets received a press card of a new sample with a validity of up to six months.

Added the opportunity to obtain accreditation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for bloggers who register under the Law “About the media”as actors in the field of online media.

The list of non-disclosure information has also been expanded (contained in Appendix 2):

  • Valid names of military units (units) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other components of the defense forces of Ukraine, personal data of servicemen performing combat (special) tasks, coordinates of their locations and concentrations.
  • Combat and numerical composition of military units (units) of the Armed Forces, available number, type of combat (special) equipment and its technical composition.
  • Places (areas) of concentration, deployment and restoration of combat capability of military units (units) of the Armed Forces with attachment to settlements (geographical objects).
  • Current and future plans (ideas) of commands (commanders), combat (special) tasks and the course of their implementation by military units (units) of the Armed Forces.
  • Information on losses of military (special) equipment (tanks, self-propelled artillery installations, aircraft, helicopters, anti-aircraft missile systems, ships (boats), especially foreign-made) and personnel, unless such information was publicly available by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and (or) other bodies of management of the defense forces of Ukraine.
  • Movement (deployment) of combat (special) equipment, routes of their movement, types and number.
  • Photo and video materials depicting mutual recognition signs, flight numbers and state license plates on combat (special) equipment, target guidance tools, combat control and reconnaissance, design features on combat (special) equipment.
  • Photo and video materials inside tanks, self-propelled artillery installations, anti-aircraft missile systems, armored combat vehicles and tactical aviation aircraft, especially foreign production.

The full list of prohibitions can be found here.

With the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, photojournalists covering the war have become even more difficult to work, as personal risks and threats to life have increased at times. About personal and digital security — read in the material “Capture cannot be deleted. How photojournalists work in the areas of Russian shelling and in the combat zone”

The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vira Labych
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Bildeditor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar

Another step towards constructive communication between the media and the military. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, by order No. 51 of February 3, 2024, approved amendments to the order No. 73 on the rules of accreditation of journalists during martial law. For the first time, a detailed description of the zones, which was previously absent at all, is presented.

According to the changes published on site Ministry of Defense, now accredited media representatives are allowed to work unaccompanied in public places in the “yellow” zone. Also, paragraph 1.10 was removed from Appendix No. 1, which referred to the immediate termination of the work of a media representative at a military facility “in the event of a situation that may threaten his life and health...”. From now on, the safety component will not be a reason to ban shooting.

Red Zone

According to the changes, the work of individual accredited media representatives in the “red” zone can be allowed only in the company of relevant officials as an exception. While working in the “red” zone, media representatives are obliged to provide the collected photo and video materials for verification, as well as to coordinate their distribution and publication with the responsible official.

Yellow Zone

The work of mediators in public places in the yellow zone, to which there is free access by civilians, is permitted without the accompaniment of a public relations officer or other official designated by the commander within the route agreed by the commander (s). Whereas before, journalists were allowed to work in the yellow zone only under escort. Such an application for accreditation shall be considered within three calendar days from the date of its submission.

Accreditation

In addition, changes have been made to the procedure for accreditation of media representatives during the legal regime of martial law (Annex 3). From now on, accreditation is carried out for a period of up to 12 months. Previously, media outlets received a press card of a new sample with a validity of up to six months.

Added the opportunity to obtain accreditation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for bloggers who register under the Law “About the media”as actors in the field of online media.

The list of non-disclosure information has also been expanded (contained in Appendix 2):

  • Valid names of military units (units) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other components of the defense forces of Ukraine, personal data of servicemen performing combat (special) tasks, coordinates of their locations and concentrations.
  • Combat and numerical composition of military units (units) of the Armed Forces, available number, type of combat (special) equipment and its technical composition.
  • Places (areas) of concentration, deployment and restoration of combat capability of military units (units) of the Armed Forces with attachment to settlements (geographical objects).
  • Current and future plans (ideas) of commands (commanders), combat (special) tasks and the course of their implementation by military units (units) of the Armed Forces.
  • Information on losses of military (special) equipment (tanks, self-propelled artillery installations, aircraft, helicopters, anti-aircraft missile systems, ships (boats), especially foreign-made) and personnel, unless such information was publicly available by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and (or) other bodies of management of the defense forces of Ukraine.
  • Movement (deployment) of combat (special) equipment, routes of their movement, types and number.
  • Photo and video materials depicting mutual recognition signs, flight numbers and state license plates on combat (special) equipment, target guidance tools, combat control and reconnaissance, design features on combat (special) equipment.
  • Photo and video materials inside tanks, self-propelled artillery installations, anti-aircraft missile systems, armored combat vehicles and tactical aviation aircraft, especially foreign production.

The full list of prohibitions can be found here.

With the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, photojournalists covering the war have become even more difficult to work, as personal risks and threats to life have increased at times. About personal and digital security — read in the material “Capture cannot be deleted. How photojournalists work in the areas of Russian shelling and in the combat zone”

The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vira Labych
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Bildeditor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar

Continue reading

News Story
3.10.2024
CABs in sleeping Kharkiv and evacuation in the middle of the night. The consequences of the Russian attack on the Saltovka 5-storey building in the photos of Ivan Samoilov
News Story
1.10.2024
Шість авіабомб на Запоріжжя. Наслідки російської атаки на світлинах Катерини Клочкової та Дмитра Смолієнка
News Story
28.9.2024
What did the international press publish in September? A selection of photos by Ukrainian documentary filmmakers
View all news

Our partners

We tell the world about Ukraine through the prism of photography.

Join and support the community of Ukrainian photographers.

UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.

UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.

UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.

Support and join us