"Krayina" Ukrainian Insurance Company was the first to develop special programs for protection against war risks following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "Krayina" is an insurance company founded in 1994, which has been continuously operating in the financial services market for over thirty years, is among the top 20 insurance companies in Ukraine, and is a member of the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine and the National Association of Insurers of Ukraine. The company's network of representative offices is located throughout Ukraine, and four call centers support clients 24/7.
In 2022, "Krayina" launched a series of special accident insurance programs covering war risks—"Bronepolis." The insurance programs were created in response to the challenges of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war to provide financial protection to our citizens under the most difficult conditions. "Krayina" offers two separate product modifications—the classic "Bronepolis" and the "Bronepolis Media," which is adapted to legislative requirements. The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers discusses the features and conditions of the "Bronepolis Media" program, created specifically to protect the life, health, and working capacity of journalists, camera operators, fixers, and other media professionals.
Insurance as a Basic Necessity
For many years, the work of media professionals in Ukraine has been synonymous with high risk. Journalists, photographers, camera operators, fixers, and drivers travel daily to frontline territories and the front line to document life during the war and record war crimes. Today, insurance is a basic necessity for protecting freelancers and media workers while operating in combat zones.
Ukrainian legislation clearly stipulates that every journalist heading to frontline or temporarily occupied territories must be insured. This obligation falls entirely on the employer. The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, together with the National Bank of Ukraine, approved clear "Procedure and Conditions for Insurance." This made the mechanism fully operational for the commercial insurance market.
The "Bronepolis Media" program from "Krayina" operates in accordance with Order No. 810 of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, dated 26.09.2025. The insurance mechanism is fully verified by the state, and employers who issue this policy fully comply with their legal obligations to media workers.
Working in conditions of war forces media companies to review work safety rules. The main task of the editorial office, when its employees travel to frontline cities and combat zones, is to protect them. The modern "Bronepolis Media" insurance program takes on financial obligations.
Insurance Without Borders
"Bronepolis Media" is designed to insure journalists against war risks. Any injuries, wounds, concussions, or death of a journalist during a work trip to a combat zone or temporarily occupied territories are recognized as insured events. Coverage applies if a person is injured due to the direct or indirect influence of war: during shelling, terrorist attacks, sabotage, or military exercises, as well as from fragments of missiles, mines, ammunition, or the actions of military equipment.
The geographical scope of "Bronepolis Media" is not limited by borders. The policy is valid worldwide, but its main value is reliable coverage during assignments in active combat zones and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. A separate priority is the speed of financial support. All bureaucratic procedures are minimized: monetary compensation is paid within 7 working days after drawing up the insurance act. This makes it possible, for example, to quickly start treatment and rehabilitation.
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Insurance as a Safety Constructor
Depending on the format of their work trips, media workers can choose one of two convenient insurance options—periodic or permanent. The periodic insurance option is suitable for media professionals who frequently take short trips. Such a contract is valid for a year, and the total duration of stay on trips during this time should not exceed 30 days. The permanent insurance option is designed for long assignments. In this case, the policy term can be chosen independently—from one week to a year. The number of days spent within the chosen term is not limited in this case. It is important that the start and end dates of the insurance clearly match the dates in the travel orders or route sheets.
The main "Bronepolis Media" insurance additionally covers special war risks—being taken captive and being declared missing in action. If a journalist was held captive, the insurance payout will be made after they return to Ukraine. If the media worker is declared missing in action, the payout is processed after a court officially recognizes the fact of their death.
The policy does not provide a separate service for organizing or transporting the body home. The program works on the principle of monetary compensation for the very fact of death. The received funds can be used by the family or heirs of the deceased for any needs, including covering repatriation costs.
It should also be noted that the "Bronepolis Media" program is intended exclusively for the insurance of human life and health. It does not cover material damage or any property losses, such as equipment—cameras, laptops, drones, etc.—or filmed work materials.
Insurance and Freedom of Treatment
"Bronepolis Media" is valid worldwide, except for the Russian Federation, Belarus, Iran, and North Korea (DPRK). At the same time, insurance protection fully extends to the combat zone if the person is there for work. For the payout to be processed, the fact of performing such work must be confirmed by relevant documents.
The insurance policy is designed specifically to protect against direct or indirect war risks. The coverage includes trauma, wounds, and other injuries, temporary and permanent loss of working capacity, meaning when the insured person receives a disability or changes to a higher disability group, as well as death.
It should be noted that "Bronepolis Media" does not provide for the organization or direct provision of medical services, including evacuation. The transportation of the wounded from dangerous zones is handled by specialized services. Evacuation is organized by medical institutions or specialized evacuation teams, including military medics, volunteer organizations, or state rescue services.
The "Krayina" insurance company pays monetary compensation for the very fact of receiving a trauma, wound, or other health damage. The injured person or their family can use this money at their own discretion, including covering treatment costs. There are also no restrictions on the place of treatment. The insured media worker chooses where to undergo treatment and rehabilitation, in Ukraine or abroad, independently and at their own discretion.
Insurance as a Priority for Media
"Bronepolis Media" does not provide for separate targeted payment for psychological assistance, for example, in the case of post-traumatic stress disorder. Instead, the "Krayina" insurance company pays monetary compensation for receiving a physical injury or wound. How to dispose of these funds—whether to spend them on medication, physical rehabilitation, or psychological support—is decided by the insured media worker themselves.
The insurance policy also covers freelancers. However, the main condition for the policy's validity in this case is the official confirmation of the journalist's business trip. Having journalistic accreditation or a permanent contract with a media outlet is not mandatory. It is sufficient to provide any document that confirms the assignment, such as an order, official directive, task from the editorial office, or route sheet. It is important that under the "Bronepolis Media" program, not only journalists but also camera operators, photographers, fixers, drivers, and other members of filming crews who ensure the editorial office's work in the field can be insured.
The primary task for the editorial office is to preserve the life and health of its employees. In the event of an insured incident, "Krayina" must be notified within 48 hours. You can write to the company's email address—CorporateSales@krayina.com. For the insurance company to pay the funds, it is necessary to prove that the incident occurred precisely during work. For this, you need to provide the company with a document confirming the assignment, for example, an order, official directive, task from the editorial office, or route sheet.
Information on the insurance cost, contact details, and the list of documents required for payment can be found directly on the "Krayina" insurance company's website Krayina.com.
This material was created with the support of the British Council’s “Creative Economy Grants” program
SC "Krayina" — a Ukrainian insurance company that has been operating in the Ukrainian insurance market since 1994. The company holds valid licenses for insurance against 23 risks within 18 classes of insurance and is ranked among the TOP-20 insurance companies in Ukraine by the amount of insurance premiums.SC "Krayina" develops a wide range of insurance products, including medical insurance, auto insurance, insurance for legal entities, and specialized programs, including insurance for journalists. The company is an associate member of the Motor Transport Insurance Bureau of Ukraine and a participant in the National Association of Insurers of Ukraine.
An important part of SC "Krayina"'s work is client-oriented service, 24/7 support, and the development of online services. The company has a high level of financial stability and creditworthiness according to the National Scale, as well as many years of experience working with private clients, businesses, and institutions.
In its activities, SC "Krayina" combines insurance expertise, service support, and modern digital solutions, aimed at protecting people, organizations, and professional communities in Ukraine.
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