On 14-15 June 2026, journalists in Kharkiv reported at least three cases of obstruction while covering the aftermath of Russian attacks on the city.
According to the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), journalists from Nakypilo and Gwara Media faced restrictions at two impact sites: the Kharkiv Art Museum and the Kharkiv Zoo. Both locations had been damaged in Russian strikes, and reporters were attempting to document the consequences of the attacks.
At the Kharkiv Art Museum, Nakypilo camera operator Ihor Leptuha said a person in uniform prevented him and another journalist from accessing the site and banned video recording. Later, when paintings were being evacuated from the building, journalists were again verbally prohibited from filming on the grounds that they were allegedly interfering with the work.
The following day, during a press visit near the museum, Nakypilo journalist Alisa Zhynkina said journalists again faced access restrictions. According to her, the museum director objected to the journalists’ presence, criticised their work, and initially refused to let them enter parts of the building, although the visit had reportedly been agreed with the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration. Eventually, journalists were allowed inside in small groups, accompanied by museum staff.
Another incident occurred on 15 June, after a Russian strike on the Kharkiv Zoo. Nakypilo correspondent Pavlo Pakhomenko said journalists were not allowed to access the filming location and that staff shouted at media workers; he also reported that journalist Sofiia Bobok and a journalist from Suspilne Kharkiv were grabbed by the arms.
Gwara Media reporter Yelyzaveta Diachenko also said that only some journalists were allowed into the zoo. After several phone calls and conversations with city officials, journalists were eventually admitted, but only for five minutes. Diachenko said that people at the site then demanded that media workers leave, and some began pushing them out.
In a comment to IMI, Yuriy Sydorenko, director of the Kharkiv City Council’s Department for Information and Public Relations, acknowledged that the behaviour of zoo staff towards journalists had been incorrect. He said the restrictions were linked to the risk of a repeated strike and promised that additional work would be carried out with staff to improve communication with the media.