EU Launches Three New Initiatives Worth €6.6 Million to Strengthen Independent Media in Ukraine

At the opening of the Donbas Media Forum today, the European Union announced three new projects worth a total of €6.6 million to bolster Ukraine’s independent media sector.

Building on over €110 million in EU support for Ukrainian media since 2017 — including €57.5 million provided since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 — these initiatives aim to help journalists continue their vital work in informing citizens, exposing corruption, and documenting the truth about Russia’s war of aggression.

“Through these three new projects, the European Union stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine’s independent media. Our aim is to reinforce Ukraine’s ability to provide trusted, essential information, ensure public accountability, and document the truth about Russia’s war of aggression and its crimes,” said EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová. “The EU’s support is unwavering and rooted in our common vision for a transparent and democratic Ukraine.”

The new initiatives will address the urgent needs of media professionals working under wartime conditions, enhance their safety and resilience, and support Ukraine’s ongoing path toward EU integration.

The three projects include:

• “Frontline and Investigative Reporting Media in Ukraine” (€3 million), implemented by Internews International and the Media Development Foundation. The project will provide core grants to 40 frontline media outlets, tailored mentorship and training for 20 others, and institutional support for investigative reporting teams exposing corruption and Russian war crimes.
• “Strengthening the Sustainability of an Independent, Free and Pluralist Media Ecosystem in Ukraine” (€2 million), led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This initiative will deliver emergency support and protective equipment to 400 journalists, promote media sustainability through the Journalism Trust Initiative and the International Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukrainian Media (IFRUM), and advocate for media inclusion in Ukraine’s recovery agenda.
• “Empowering Ukrainian Media for a Sustainable Future” (€1.65 million), coordinated by the Institute for Mass Information and Detector Media. It will strengthen regional and local media, counter disinformation, and provide legal, safety, and professional support to over 500 journalists through 15 newly established regional media hubs.

With these new projects, the European Union reaffirms its enduring partnership with Ukraine and recognises the remarkable progress of its media sector — from the privatisation of state-owned outlets to the creation of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) — despite the ongoing challenges of war.

The 10th Donbas Media Forum (9–11 October 2025) gathers nearly 700 participants, underscoring the essential role of independent journalism in Ukraine’s democracy and resilience in the face of Russia’s aggression.