On 29 September 2024, local residents in Zaporizhia obstructed journalist Elmira Shahabutdynova and prevented her from reporting on a recent Russian missile strike in the area, according to the journalist, who spoke with the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), a Ukrainian press freedom group.

According to the journalist, who works for local online outlet 061.ua, local residents blocked her passage, insulted her, threatened her and demanded that she delete photos which she had taken of the area. Shahabutdynova heard accusations that journalists allegedly only interfere following attacks, and that Russian attacks are carried out because of them.

“While I was working, an unknown local woman stopped me, blocked my way, started shouting and demanded [that I] delete photos I had already taken. I introduced myself, showed my [journalist’s] certificate and accreditation. However, this did not help. The woman continued to shout, curse and accuse me, [saying] that journalists are only interfering and that attacks are perpetrated precisely because of us,” Shahabutdynova said.

According to the journalist, the woman tried to grab her phone from her hands and threatened to call the police. Several other local residents later joined the woman and blocked the path of the journalist, shouting at her and blocking her passage. The woman who first obstructed her then called the police. However, when the patrol arrived, residents reportedly did not let the journalist go speak with them.

“As far as I know, the woman wrote a statement of unknown content against me to the police. In turn, I also wrote a statement about the obstruction of [my] professional activities,” the journalist said.

According to Shahabutdynova, police representatives who arrived at the scene did not listen to any explanations that she attempted to provide them with, but simply wrote down statements by both sides of the conflict and left. Later, after the journalist contacted the communications department of the National Police Force in Zaporizhia region, its representatives came to the scene and tried to dialogue with the woman who first obstructed her work. Shahabutdynova noted that the woman also behaved aggressively with the police representatives. In the end, security forces gave the journalist official permission to work, and she was able to report from the scene.