Local newspapers are a lifeline in Ukraine, but USAID cuts may force many to close or become biased mouthpieces

Local newspapers are a lifeline in Ukraine, but USAID cuts may force many to close or become biased mouthpieces

Three years into Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, Ukrainian journalists are facing enormously difficult challenges to continue their work. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, 40% of Ukrainian media outlets have been forced to close down, mostly due to the Russian occupation or financial difficulties caused by the war. Many of these are in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian journalists and media outlets have also become targets. More tha…