Ukraine: Anastasia Glukhovska Detained by Occupying Russian Forces for 8 Months, Whereabouts Unknown
Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned for the well-being of Glukhovska and her colleagues. They must be immediately released
Location: Ukraine, Melitopol
Date: April 9, 2024
Russian forces have abducted and detained RIA Melitopol reporter Anastasia Glukhovska, holding her in captivity for eight months. In response, her outlet has chosen to publicize her case, seeking to pressure the Russian government into revealing information about Glukhovska and her six colleagues, who have been unlawfully held since August 2023. Women Press Freedom is appalled at Russia's ongoing aggression towards the press and citizens in Ukraine. Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has inflicted casualties among press workers on the frontline, and it has systematically targeted journalists in occupied Ukrainian territories, kidnapping and detaining them. We strongly condemn these actions by Russian forces and implore the international community to take notice of the plight of all press workers unjustly detained by Russia, urging them to ensure their safe release.
WPF strongly condemns the ongoing legal proceedings against Gözde Bedeloğlu, a journalist for BirGün, who is currently facing charges of "insulting a public official" in Istanbul, Turkiye, filed by a Nationalist Movement Party politician.
During the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict, the fundamental principles of press freedom have come under dire threat.
WPF welcomes the judgment of the Fair Work Commission that found that broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf was fired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) following a social media post by Lattouf sharing a Human Rights Watch claim about Israel's actions in Gaza.
At a Council of Europe conference in Kyiv on April 9, 2024, Svitlana Zalizetska, editor-in-chief of RIA South (RIA Melitopol), revealed troubling news about journalist Anastasia Glukhovska.
Glukhovska, along with six administrators of Telegram channels RIA Melitopol and Melitopol in Ukraine, was kidnapped on August 20, 2023, by Russian forces.
Despite tireless efforts by her family and colleagues, her whereabouts remain unknown, leaving her fate uncertain.
Initially kept anonymous at her mother's request for safety, Glukhovska's identity was exposed when the Russian military released a video accusing her and others of terrorism
Glukhovska, along with her fellow detainees, faces bogus charges under multiple articles of the Russian Criminal Code, including public calls for terrorist attacks, treason, and espionage. They face 12 to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Sadly, Glukhovska's horrifying plight is not unique. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, numerous journalists in Russian-occupied areas have been targeted. Iryna Levchenko and her husband were detained in Melitopol in May 2023, while Hromadske reporter Victoria Roschina vanished in eastern Ukraine in August 2023 under circumstances suggesting Russian involvement. Journalists in occupied Crimea have faced intimidation, detention, and imprisonment by Russian authorities.
Women Press Freedom has documented the deaths of eight women journalists in Ukraine since February 2022, all killed in Russian attacks. Numerous frontline journalists have been injured, with six women journalists wounded in Russian attacks in 2024 alone.
In response, Women Press Freedom and 20 other press freedom organizations have issued a joint statement calling for international action against Russia and accountability for its crimes against journalists.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the detention of Anastasia Glukhovska and her colleagues. The international community must exert pressure on the Russian authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the detainees and ensure their safe release. We stand in solidarity with Anastasia Glukhovska, her family, and all journalists unjustly detained by Russian forces.
WPF is deeply saddened by the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roschyna, who died under unclear circumstances while being transferred to a Moscow prison. The circumstances of her death remain uncertain, but one fact is clear: the Kremlin bears responsibility.
WPF strongly condemns the criminal charges brought against Ukrainian journalists Diana Butsko, Olesya Borovik, and CNN’s Nick Peyton Walsh by Russian federal security services for their coverage of Ukrainian military incursion into the Kursk region.
WPF strongly condemns Moscow's legal threats against Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini, who work for the Italian public broadcaster RAI. The journalists stand accused of "illegal border-crossing" after reporting on Ukraine’s counter-invasion in Russia's Kursk region.
WPF condemns the sentencing of Ukrainian TV presenter Natalia Moseychuk to five years in prison by a Moscow court, in yet another transnational repression attack on press freedom.
War photographers Olga Kovalova and Vladyslav Krasnoshchok were injured by Russian shelling while covering the conflict in Toretsk, Donetsk.
Russian-US journalist and author Masha Gessen was convicted in absentia by a Moscow court on charges of spreading false information about the military.
The Interior Ministry issues arrest warrants for at least 13 women and non-binary journalists.
Russian military forces detained Zhanna Kyseliova, editor of the Kakhovska Zoria newspaper, on June 27, 2024, in Kakhovka, Kherson, following a raid on her apartment.
On July 1, 2024, Ukrainian authorities reported the detention of Zhanna Kyselova, a journalist and former editor of the newspaper Kakhovska Zorya, by Russian occupying forces in Ukraine’s Kherson region. Kyselova was detained at her apartment in Kakhovka on June 27, and her current location remains undisclosed.
WPF strongly condemns the violent threats made against seasoned war correspondent Anna Kalyuzhna and her family.
Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who went missing in August 2023, is being held by Russia’s Ministry of Defence, WPF can confirm.
WPF is appalled by the ongoing intimidation and harassment of renowned Tatar journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva by Russian occupying forces in Crimea.
Russian forces have abducted and detained RIA Melitopol reporter Anastasia Glukhovska, holding her in captivity for eight months.
WPF strongly condemns Russia for its missile strike in Zaporizhzhya, which resulted in the injury of journalists Olha Zvonaryova and Kira Oves; Zvonaryova required hospitalization.
The recent attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where journalist Yulia Boyko was seriously injured as a result of a Russian drone strike, highlights a grave and unacceptable trend.
WPF strongly condemns the legal actions taken by Mayor Yuri Yagodka of Ostroh against journalist Tetyana Klymchuk after she questioned the authenticity of a public relations effort by the Ostroh City Council regarding support for the military.
WPF vehemently condemns the recent actions taken by Moscow-installed authorities in Crimea against Lutfiye Zudiyeva, a Crimean Tatar journalist and activist, under the spurious charges of "misuse of freedom of mass media."
CFWIJ and WPF expresses deep concern over the deliberate targeting of independent media and investigative journalists by anonymous Telegram channels openly aligning with the government.
WPF strongly condemns the detention and late-night raid on the home of revered Crimean Tatar journalist Zera Bekirova.
CFWIJ and WPF is outraged by continued Russian aggression against civilians, with Nakipilo reporter Anna Myasnikova the latest reporter injured by Russian shelling.
CFWIJ and WPF is deeply disturbed and outraged by the recent missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, which specifically targeted a hotel hosting journalists from the Anadolu Agency, including Özge Elif Kizil.
CFWIJ and WPF firmly stands with Oksana Petruk in her legal battle against Lisy Ukrainy (Forests of Ukraine).
Svitlana Dolbysheva, a producer for the German television group ZDF, was injured during the shelling of the Kharkiv Palace Hotel.
Vlada Liberova was reporting from the frontlines when her vehicle was struck by Russian fire in eastern Ukraine.
Crimean journalist Iryna Danilovych, who has been held in detention by Russian authorities since April 2022, is facing a deteriorating health condition.
Serhiy Semeniuk files lawsuit against journalist Yanina Korniienko and Slidstvo.Info and attempts to manipulate the case distribution system to ensure a favorable judge hears his case.
Deliberately targeting journalists, shelling their facilities, and engaging in arbitrary detentions and torture clearly violate international humanitarian law and press freedom.
Local city council member tries to prevent journalist Olena Kozubovsk and NikVesti crew from attending council session. Police disagrees and allows journalists to cover the event.
Ukrainian journalists with Radio Svoboda came under fire while reporting on Russia’s war in east Ukraine.
Alyona Bereza and her crew from media outlet ZHAR.INFO were prevented from entering the regional administration hall in Khmelnytsky, western Ukraine.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.