Ukrainian media professionals sharpen security skills at OSCE training

Twenty-five Ukrainian media professionals, journalists and media managers enhanced their understanding of ways to protect themselves and their editorial offices from a range of the most pressing dangers in times of war at an in-depth five-day training. Held from 21 to 25 April 2026, the event was organized by the OSCE in co-operation with the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee of Freedom of Speech, the Situation Center for Cybersecurity of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, and the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting. 

The “Physical and Digital Security of Journalists During Wartime” training offered an overview of risks media workers face and how these risks could be mitigated through co-operation between journalists and security agencies. 

“Independent journalism is not in tension with security. It is part of it. Without reliable information, societies become more vulnerable—not less. Maintaining accuracy, independence, and responsibility under pressure is not easy. But it is exactly what gives journalism its value”, said Ambassador Jan Braathu, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, addressing the participants. 

Protecting  personal devices from break-ins, using AI with precaution, defending digital resources from attacks, mine risk education and medical first aid, safety in hostage-taking situations and in emergencies were addressed during the event.  This provided a refresher for journalists with extensive frontline experience, and guidance for the editors and media managers who are responsible for ensuring the safety of staff working in challenging environment.   

“We see that if earlier the inscription ’press’ could provide some protection, now, especially in recent years, such an inscription on a car is like an additional argument for an attack. We understand that we cannot provide everyone with protection from drones at the moment, so our task is to make it most difficult to attack media workers. But this requires the cooperation of all institutions, both civil society and the state,” said Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, Head of the Parliament’s Committee on Freedom of Speech. 

“Physical threats to journalists or issues digital security are very urgent during the war. But after it ends, at the end of the real fighting, on the battle field, the work of journalists still will be dangerous. As the country will prepare for elections, building democracy, media professionals may become again a target of attacks, so I hope the knowledge you receive today will help you be safer now, but also it will be relevant in future,” said Ambassador Petr Mares, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship – Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The training was organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) with the expertise of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. This effort is part of the project financed by the Organization’s participating States and partners for co-operation, see the full list of donors here.

Earlier, the OSCE SPU, Parliament’s Committee of Freedom of Speech, the Situation Center for Cybersecurity of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, and the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting developed three sets of practical technical recommendations for media on how to defend their mobile communications, personal computers and web-resources from current cybersecurity threats.