**Russia’s Campaign to Silence Ukraine’s Press: A Pattern of Targeted Attacks on Hotels**
A chilling report by Truth Hounds and Reporters Without Borders has revealed a disturbing pattern of attacks on hotels in Ukraine, where journalists, aid workers, and civilians have been targeted. Since 2022, at least 31 hotels have been struck by Russian forces, resulting in the deaths of one media worker and injuring 25 journalists.
**A Deliberate Campaign to Silence Independent Media**
The report’s findings are stark: Russia has deliberately targeted hotels where journalists work and sleep, using high-precision ballistic missiles to strike these civilian facilities. The attacks were not random shellings, but rather a systematic campaign to silence press coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Hotels near the front lines have become essential hubs for journalists, offering power, internet, and safety in a war zone. But these lifelines are now under fire. In 30 of the 31 documented cases, the hotels were operating as civilian facilities, housing civilians, including journalists, aid workers, and volunteers.
**A War Crime Under International Law?**
The report argues that this pattern of targeting may constitute war crimes under international law. By attacking these buildings, Russia is not just striking infrastructure; it’s attacking press freedom itself.
**Journalists Among the Injured and Killed**
At least 25 journalists and media professionals have been injured or killed in these hotel bombings, including Reuters safety advisor Ryan Evans, who was killed during a strike on his hotel in Kramatorsk in August 2024. Other journalists were wounded in similar attacks, such as Davit Kachkachishvili of Türkiye’s Anadolu agency and Violetta Pedorych, a Ukrainian producer for France 2.
**A Hotspot Emerges: Kryvyi Rih**
The intensity of hotel attacks increased sharply in August-October 2024, with Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast becoming a major hotspot. Over several months, Russia attacked at least five hotels in the city.
**Civilian Hotels Hit Even When Closed or Banning Military**
Most Russian strikes targeted operational hotels serving civilians, including journalists, aid workers, displaced residents, and business travelers. While military personnel occasionally stayed in some facilities, their presence was minimal and uncoordinated. Some hotels explicitly banned military personnel, yet were still struck.
**Closed Hotels Not Spared**
Even closed hotels were not spared from Russian attacks. In Chernihiv, Hotel Ukraina was bombed in March 2022 despite being non-operational during the siege. The Druzhba Hotel in Pokrovsk was hit in August 2023, killing 10 and injuring 93, days after it had closed for safety reasons.
**Conclusion**
The report by Truth Hounds and Reporters Without Borders is a stark reminder of Russia’s campaign to silence independent media in Ukraine. As the conflict continues, it’s essential to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and to protect journalists and civilians from targeted attacks.
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