Investigative reporting in Ukraine looks ahead

In Ukraine, investigative journalists and media outlets are significantly affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion and the recent USAID ‘stop-work’ order. The question now is how to survive and retain strength and relevance.

By Line Wolf Nielsen

In Ukraine, investigative journalism has been a priority for decades, leading to a high level of expertise. Unfortunately, that might change soon. “After the USAID stopped all support to investigative reporting in Ukraine, we lost one-third of our budget. We really relied on it,” says Iryna Shpakovska, programme director at Bihus.Info, one of Ukraine’s leading investigative media outlets.

“As of now, our journalistic priority remains the same: to focus on anti-corruption investigations. But some six months ago, we were also working hard to secure core funding. Now, with donors down-scaling we don’t even dare to dream about it. Instead, we are burning through savings from previous crowdfunding campaigns and scrambling to create new ones,” says Iryna Shpakovska.

Iryna Shpakovska and other reporters and managers from Ukraine’s investigative reporting community have gathered inside a co-working space in one of Kyiv’s charming courtyards. ‘Kyiv Media Hub’. reads the sign on the door. It is early spring – around two months after the Trump administration abruptly suspended funding for media development and journalism under the USAID programme. The decision has left many organisations facing a sudden and severe funding shortage. US funding was particularly invested in investigative journalism in Ukraine and with the funding freeze, investigative media are forced to prioritise and rethink their approaches.

Ukrainian media has been strongly affected by the US funding freeze with nine out of 10 media outlets experiencing budget cuts of 50-85%.

According to a recent study conducted by Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information (IMI), nearly 60% of Ukrainian media outlets risk ceasing operations due to the suspension of US financial support. The research highlights the sector’s heavy dependence on American funding, with 35% of Ukrainian outlets receiving over 75% of their budget from US grants, and an additional 16% relying on US support for 50–75% of their funding.

Change in the air

All the journalists at this meeting are here to discuss the most important priorities going forward. It is clear to most in the room that certain investigations will have to stop or be paused. Bihus.Info is already planning to make cuts and reduce its content production to save funds and lower costs.

Anna Babinets, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the independent investigative agency Slidstvo.Info, explains that they lost 82% of their budget. “We had a contract until the end of 2026 – the news came as a shock. We still have no replacement,” she explains. “We are in dialogue with other international donors and our members and audiences, but it is a challenge to get Ukrainians to pay. International members are used to paying and supporting investigative reporting, but in Ukraine, it is not yet common – and households are squeezed because of the war too.”

She is trying to spare the team, but also recognises that in another few months’ time, she will either have to cut the size of the newsroom or announce salary cuts. Slitdsvo.info does not accept advertisements in order to remain fully independent and free to investigate all of society. Now Babinets finds that to operate her media outlet, she must choose between independence – a founding value – and money.

“We are in survival mode now. “Things were already stressful because of the full-scale invasion, with five men drafted to the army out of a team of 15. Since our establishment in 2012, this is by far the hardest time for us. I am angry.”

Anna Babinets

Other than investigative media, community, local and regional media are also severely impacted. Only 3-15% of their budgets come from advertising, making it impossible for these media outlets to depend solely on advertising as a source for revenue. Ukraine is in its third year of a full-scale invasion, but media organisations who are documenting war crimes are also severely affected.

Next steps

For IMS and the Regional Press Development Institute (RPDI), who called for the meeting at the co-working space, it is important to ensure collaboration between relevant outlets and actors and convey a shared understanding of needs and priorities to other donors and media development implementors.

“In response to the urgent crisis facing investigative media in Ukraine, IMS has taken swift action to ensure the continuity of independent journalism,” explains Gohar Khodjayan, IMS’ Ukraine Team Lead and head of IMS’ newly opened office in Kyiv. “We are committed to providing emergency support that prioritises content production, while also extensively coordinating with donors to align with the immediate needs and evolving context. By focusing on both operational sustainability and impactful storytelling, we aim to safeguard press freedom and accountability in these critical times.”

Everyone in the room agrees that there is an urgent need for strategies that will enable outlets to sustain operations in the immediate future and stay viable in the long term. There is also an overall agreement that it is best to form alliances and speak in unison.

One of the recommendations that came out of the meeting was for Ukraine’s investigative media to develop an IJ (investigative journalism) network, build coalitions and enhance collaboration. Networks and coalitions can be a tool to not only facilitate the sharing of knowledge and expertise, but also to strengthen professional solidarity, cost efficiency and financial viability. Coalitions could also create new possibilities for project development and proposals.

Donors must also take note. Considering the current situation, there is agreement around a need to prioritise training on fundraising and media viability. There is also a call for donors to stop calls for proposals on specific themes, which might not correspond to the existing needs of investigative journalism. For outlets working in the front-line regions their needs may relate to war crimes whereas the need for media based in the Kyiv Oblast might relate to the reconstruction process.

Reconstruction needs investigative reporting

Investigative journalism has played a vital role in fostering a more democratic and just Ukraine. (Do read our story about the YanukovytchLeaks  which proved to be a watershed moment for investigative reporting in Ukraine back in 2015).

High-quality investigations have repeatedly led to tangible societal impact by exposing abuses of power and uncovering corruption. Within the current context, where three processes are unfolding simultaneously – Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, the commencement of reconstruction efforts in several regions, and the potential of forthcoming peace talks – it is crucial that Ukraine’s investigative media find a way forward to continue their important watchdog role in Ukrainian society. Defining a set of strategic priorities and recommendations is merely the beginning.

Recent investigative reporting from Ukrainian media

The Kyiv Independent

Slidstvo.Info

Ukrainska Pravda

Bihus.Info

Suspilne

Abot RPDI

IMS’ strategic partner RPDI has been working to promote investigative journalism in Ukraine since 2006, where they started with travelling around all regions in Ukraine to conduct trainings for investigative journalists. RPDI argues that Ukraine has a long tradition when it comes to investigations and particularly on anti-corruption. Their work has focused on strengthening the capacity of investigative journalists, offer legal support and promote investigative journalism. RPDI has been organising an investigative journalism conference since 2007.

RPDI has also been severely affected by the US funding freeze, with 50% of the budget cut.

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