The Cabinet of Ministers is launching a mechanism for one‑time financial assistance in the event of the death or injury of journalists while performing their professional duties. This was announced on December 13 by Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. The program is included in the state budget for 2026. The first compensation will be issued to the father of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who was killed in Russian captivity.
According to the Ministry of Culture’s press service, as reported by *Detector Media*, 500,000 UAH has been allocated for compensation payments in 2026. The mechanism for implementing these payments is defined by Resolution No. 776 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, dated September 28, 2016. One‑time assistance will be paid through the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers submitted an inquiry to the Institute of Mass Information (IMI) asking whether independent journalists fall under the provisions of Resolution No. 776 from a formal legal standpoint, and how this can be applied in practice.
According to media lawyer Volodymyr Zelenchuk (IMI), among the documents required under Resolution No. 776 is proof of a journalist’s status and confirmation that they were performing professional duties at the time of the event that caused injury or death.
Journalist status, as defined by Article 1 of the Law “On State Support of Media, Guarantees of Professional Activity, and Social Protection of Journalists,” is confirmed by a document issued by a media entity or by a professional or creative journalists’ union. In other words, for a journalist or their family to be eligible for the one‑time payment, the journalist must hold an official press ID.
Confirming the performance of professional duties is more complicated, the lawyer notes, because neither Clause 4 nor other provisions of Resolution No. 776 specify which documents can serve as proof. The resolution also does not require an editorial assignment or order. Depending on the circumstances and the nature of the journalist’s work, proof may include: an editorial assignment, an accreditation press card, a travel order, a civil‑law contract, or even, theoretically, screenshots of correspondence with an editor.
“Each case of injury or death will be evaluated by the Interagency Commission based on the available documents. Even if a journalist works as a sole proprietor and plans to work in high‑risk areas, they must ensure they have all necessary evidence, including documentation confirming that they were performing professional duties at that location,” says IMI lawyer Volodymyr Zelenchuk.
Thus, independent journalists, freelancers, and documentarians do fall under the provisions of Resolution No. 776 from a formal legal standpoint. However, whether they (or their families) receive compensation depends on whether the commission deems the submitted evidence sufficient to confirm the performance of professional duties.
The Ukrainian online outlet *Detector Media*, citing the Ministry of Culture’s press service, reports on the compensation procedure and payment amounts. As of December 2025, the amount for a journalist killed in the line of duty exceeds 300,000 UAH — equivalent to 100 subsistence minimums. For injured journalists, the payment equals 50 subsistence minimums for able‑bodied persons at the time of payment. The father of the late journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna will receive compensation as soon as the funds are transferred to the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting. A government order has already been issued.
Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko noted that since the beginning of the full‑scale invasion, Russian forces have killed 21 journalists — both Ukrainian and foreign — while they were performing their professional duties. Law enforcement agencies classify the killing of journalists as a war crime.
Viktoriia Roshchyna had been captured by Russian forces twice since the start of the war. Her first captivity, in March 2022, lasted 10 days. A year later, she was captured again. Despite agreements between the parties, only her body was returned — in late February 2025. DNA testing was required to confirm her identity. The body showed numerous signs of torture, and due to its condition, the cause of death could not be determined. The Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating her death as a war crime combined with intentional murder.
Contributors:
Research and text: Yana Yevmenova
Literary editor: Yuliia Futei
