The European Union is launching three new projects with a total value of 6.6 million euros aimed at bolstering independent media in Ukraine.

This announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Matherova, on October 9 at the Donbas Media Forum, as reported on the website of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

The new initiatives will focus on:

• addressing the urgent needs of journalists working in war conditions,
• enhancing their security and resilience,
• and supporting Ukraine's continued path towards EU integration.

“Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to provide reliable information, ensure governmental accountability, and document the truth about Russia's aggressive war and its crimes,” stated the ambassador.

Projects funded by the EU include:

• 3 million euros for the project “Frontline and Investigative Media in Ukraine,” implemented by Internews International and the Media Development Foundation. This project will provide grants for the core operations of 40 frontline media outlets, specialized mentoring and training for 20 others, as well as institutional support for teams of investigative journalists uncovering corruption and war crimes by Russia.
• 2 million euros allocated for the project “Strengthening the Resilience of an Independent, Free, and Pluralistic Media Ecosystem in Ukraine,” led by the organization “Reporters Without Borders.” This initiative plans to offer urgent support and protective equipment to 400 journalists, promote sustainable media development through the “Trust in Journalism” initiative, and advocate for media inclusion in Ukraine's recovery agenda.
• 1.65 million euros directed towards the project “Empowering Ukrainian Media for a Sustainable Future,” coordinated by the Institute of Mass Information and “Detector Media.” This project aims to strengthen regional and local media, counter disinformation, and provide legal, security, and professional support to over 500 journalists through 15 newly established regional media centers.

Since 2017, the EU has allocated over 110 million euros to support Ukrainian media, including 57.5 million euros provided since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.