The Ukrainian media association Mediarukh is calling for the replacement of Nataliia Humeniuk, the head of the military’s Southern Operational Command’s press department, due to allegations of hindering proper war coverage in Kherson Oblast. The letter addressed to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Chief of the General Staff Anatolii Barhylevych carries 100 signatures of journalists and media workers. The journalists argue that Humeniuk’s actions make it difficult to obtain permission to access relevant places in Kherson Oblast, thereby hindering proper coverage.
The signatories of the letter argue that Humeniuk’s approach not only hides the faces of Ukrainian defenders in the south but also hinders journalists’ efforts to cover Russian crimes in the region. They point to the devastation caused by Russian attacks in Kherson, Beryslav, and other settlements, as well as the consequences of the Kakhovka dam breach the previous summer. The letter also mentions the designation of certain areas as “red zones” by the military, leading to stricter rules regarding media access, with all areas along the Dnipro River and Black Sea being declared as red zones by the Southern Command’s communication department.
Mediarukh’s demands to the military include replacing Humeniuk, ensuring media access to relevant parts of Kherson Oblast, revising the operation rules of press centers under Humeniuk’s command, and ensuring that journalists do not face similar hindrances in the future under any leadership. Hanna Maliar, who was dismissed as a deputy defense minister for strategic communications and information policy in September 2023, is also mentioned in the letter. The Kyiv Independent reached out to the Southern Operational Command and the General Staff’s press department for comment but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.
Recent campaigns against journalists in Ukraine have raised concerns about press freedom in the country. Investigative journalists have faced threatening home visits and covert surveillance in the past week, adding to a series of discrediting campaigns against independent Ukrainian media. These attacks are often supported by anonymous sources, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists reporting on sensitive topics in Ukraine. The incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of independent journalism in Ukraine and the need to support journalists in their efforts to provide accurate and unbiased coverage of important events.
