Management’s reason for the reassignments was the impersonal sounding, consultant lingo of “optimization of business processes.” There is a more persuasive explanation, one that is historically consistent with managerial interference into the editorial decisions made by journalists at the agency owned by billionaire Igor Kolomoisky. 

According to Valentina Romanenko, one of the journalists who was denied access to office computers when she showed up to work on Aug. 28, her reassignment and that of Alexander Volyn, Lyubov Zhalovaha, Tetyana Maydanovich and Roman Romaniuk was political and in retaliation for the group sounding the alarm earlier this year about UNIAN management’s attempt to censor stories posted to its website and to even taking money for some “news” articles. 

UNIAN’s fall from grace could have been predicted before that, though, when a mass exodus of journalists dedicated to editorial independence made way for a new crew of crony phonies.

But the 20-year-old news agency is far from the only media outlet in trouble. In the latest disturbing trend of consolidation in the media sector by those in power, one of the largest media holdings in the country, UMH group, was sold to 27-year-old businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, whose rapid rise in wealth and influence in Ukraine is suspicious.

The holding includes such reputable news magazines as Forbes Ukraine and Korrespondent. While it is unclear exactly what they will look like once the final buck is paid for next year, it is likely that the critical coverage they’re known for may cease to exist. In the case of Forbes, the anticipated fear of censorship already has resulted in the resignation of a number of its valuable journalists, including the chief editor.

Ukraine ranked 126 out of 179 in the Reporters Without Borders world press freedom index for 2013. It is shameful. This is all bad news for journalists, but it is worse news for Ukraine’s citizens, who, without independent and critical news coverage, will be stuck with fewer people fighting for – and articulating – their best interests.