The media front in the war - Between unity and pluralism in Ukraine

Unified information policy in a state of emergency

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's media landscape has changed dramatically. In an unprecedented move to ensure a "unified information policy," the country's major television stations were merged under martial law. But what does this mean for press freedom and media pluralism in a young democracy simultaneously fighting for its survival?

The telemarathon as a reaction to the war

Shortly after the outbreak of war, in March 2022, Ukraine passed a law effectively merging its national television channels into a "United Telemarathon." This measure, based on a decision by the National Security and Defense Council, was intended to ensure a consolidated information supply under martial law. Major players such as StarLightMedia, Media Group Ukraine, and InterMedia Group confirmed their "cooperation." However, criticism was swift: journalists complained about the lack of balance in the format, which primarily presented the official line and showed signs of censorship. The opaque distribution of state funds among the content producers—some with close ties to the presidential administration—also fueled suspicion.

A public broadcaster under pressure

The public broadcaster UA:Suspilne movlennja, which only emerged from reformed state structures in 2015, suffers from massive underfunding. Although it receives EU support, the funds are barely sufficient for independent productions. In contrast, substantial state funding (around €49 million in 2023) is allocated to the telemarathon. This once again brings the risk of state influence into sharp focus – a development also observed in other former Eastern Bloc countries.

Digital sovereignty as a line of defense

Nevertheless, Ukraine is demonstrating remarkable resilience. This is primarily due to the high level of media literacy and digital engagement among the population: around 74% use social media, most notably YouTube (74%), Facebook (36%), and TikTok (36%). Viber (98%) and Telegram (86%) serve as important information channels. Media researcher Marc Stegherr praises the Ukrainians' ability to use social media strategically to obtain independent information. The openness of many media outlets to even address abuses within their own military testifies to a vibrant, pluralistic discourse.