RFE/RL and VOA provide unstinting and unique reporting on violence in Ukraine
As violence escalates in Kyiv, the networks of the Broadcasting Board of Governors are providing critical information across multiple platforms to the people of Ukraine. In an extremely dangerous environment, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America have harmonized their efforts to share dramatic and fast-moving updates from Kyiv.
RFE/RL is live-blogging news, photos and tweets in English from its correspondents and others following events in Kyiv and elsewhere. Its Ukrainian Service, Radio Svoboda, is providing dramatic live streaming video and a live-blog. The network also filed up-to-the minute reports on the use of live ammunition in the violent clashes in Kyiv between protesters and police.
RFE/RL is providing important context and analysis through correspondents Claire Bigg and Oleksandr Lashenko including an examination of the far-right youth group Pravyy Sektor, which has vowed to fight the Ukrainian authorities to the bitter end. And Brian Whitmore, author of The Power Vertical, spoke with RFE/RL journalist Natalia Churikova in a February 20 RFE/RL interview to get the latest in this fluid and rapidly developing story.
Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, one of the most recognized international broadcasters in the country, is providing breaking news coverage and international perspective on this explosive story. In addition to its popular evening TV newscast, “Chas-Time,” VOA is also doing a live report today on U.S. reaction to the crisis for 1+1, one of Ukraine’s biggest TV channels.
VOA is closely following global reaction to the violence, and bringing responses from the White House and President Barack Obama, as well as U.S. lawmakers, including Senators Robert Menendez, and Ben Cardin and Representatives Eliot Engel and Chris Smith. VOA is reporting the emergency EU meeting in Brussels along with live blogging reaction from international leaders, foreign governments and global media.
The situation remains increasingly dangerous for reporters. On January 20, two Radio Svoboda journalists were brutally beaten by members of Ukraine’s Berkut riot police force while they were covering protests.