The latest World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) highlighted a growing divide between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine improving its position despite wartime pressures while Russia sank deeper into the ranks of the world’s most repressive states for journalists.
In an interview with Kyiv Post, RSF Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk manager Jeanne Cavelier said the broader region continues to experience a decline in press freedom driven by authoritarianism and increasing state control over independent media.
Russia ranked 172nd out of 180 countries in the 2026 index, placing it firmly in RSF’s “very serious” category.
“Journalism is now effectively criminalized,” Cavelier said.
According to Cavelier, the Kremlin has intensified its crackdown since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, using laws on terrorism, extremism, and national security to suppress independent reporting.
“At least 48 journalists are now in prison, including 26 Ukrainians,” she said.
According to RSF, most independent Russian media outlets have been shut down, forced into exile, or designated as “foreign agents” or “undesirable organizations.”
“The information space is tightly controlled, including the internet,” Cavelier said. “There is strict censorship, especially on war coverage.”
In contrast, Ukraine rose to 55th place in the 2026 index despite Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“It’s an improvement despite the war, but it remains in a problematic situation,” Cavelier said.
She credited the improvement to gains in the index’s political and social indicators, as journalists and civil society groups continued pushing for reforms and accountability during wartime.
“For example, parliamentary committees were reopened to journalists earlier this year after sustained advocacy from media outlets,” Cavelier noted.
She pointed to Ukraine’s active media sector as one of the reasons for its improved ranking.
“Independent journalism remains active and resilient, as does civil society,” she said. “Ukrainian reporters continue to investigate not only Russian crimes but also corruption inside Ukraine, and they counter disinformation.”
Despite the improved ranking, Ukraine continues to perform poorly in RSF’s safety indicator because journalists operate in an active war zone.
“The first threat is physical safety,” Cavelier said.
Journalists targeted in the line of duty
Reporters are no longer merely caught in the crossfire; they are increasingly being identified and directly targeted by Russian forces. This is most evident in the growing use of drone strikes against journalists covering the front line.
“Last year, unfortunately, three journalists were killed in such targeted attacks,” Cavelier noted.
Their deaths underscore a deadly shift in the risks facing media workers in Ukraine: even journalists clearly marked as “PRESS” have been attacked while reporting away from direct combat zones.
According to the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, 147 media workers have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Of those, 21 were killed while performing professional duties, while 28 journalists remain in Russian captivity, often facing fabricated charges of terrorism or espionage.
Russian disinformation remains another major challenge, particularly in occupied territories heavily targeted by Kremlin propaganda campaigns.
Many Ukrainian journalists face exhaustion and psychological strain after years of war coverage. To address the problem, RSF and local partners provide psychological support programs for journalists, including counseling and recovery initiatives.
“These efforts are essential because the sustainability of independent journalism also depends on the mental health of those who produce it,” Cavelier said.
A divide between democracy and authoritarianism
The 117-spot difference between Ukraine (55th) and Russia (172nd) on the RSF index, despite both being at war, highlights the fundamental divide between democratic and authoritarian regimes. Cavelier emphasizes that this ranking gap underscores the contrast between Kyiv’s efforts to maintain transparency and Moscow’s near-total elimination of independent reporting
“States have a fundamental duty to establish and maintain protections for journalists and to safeguard the conditions that allow independent media to operate. When a state undermines or attacks independent press rather than protecting it, this represents a serious breach of that responsibility.”
Ultimately, the rankings reveal a broader truth: in the fifth year of Russia’s war, the freedom to report remains one of its central battlegrounds.