Institute of Mass Information (IMI)

In the 38 months since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces have killed 12 reporters, kidnapped 29, and threatened or intimidated 129.

The phishing emails were sent by the hacker group UAC-0050, which is affiliated to the Russian intelligence services.

On 1 April, FSB agents raided the home of Gulsum Halilova’s parents. Halilova works in Kyiv for the Crimean Tatar television company ATR, and has been arrested in absentia.

Many of these detained Ukrainian journalists face dubious terrorism or spying charges; several have been tortured, abused and beaten.

The latest bomb threat received by IMI came with the message: “Today your building will explode, and your loved ones will be picking you up piece by piece”.

Threats were the most common attack on journalists in Ukraine in January, with press outlets continuing to receive anonymous bomb threats via email.

Of the 268 attacks on freedom of expression recorded by IMI, 155 were committed by Russian forces, and included killings, woundings, kidnapping, cyberattacks and threats.

“The Russians had pre-made lists of Ukrainian journalists and purposefully detained and kidnapped them. This was done to prevent the media from reporting on Russia’s crimes to the world” – IMI