2026 National Media Literacy Assessment in Ukraine
Between October 26 and 30, nearly 65,000 Ukrainians participated in the 2026 National Media Literacy Test hosted on the Diia.Education platform, earning personalized certificates of achievement. An impressive 93.5% of those tested demonstrated advanced or expert-level media literacy skills. This initiative was organized by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Digital Transformation as part of the nationwide media literacy project called “Filter.”
A total of 64,916 individuals completed the test, with results distributed as follows:
- 52,175 participants (80.4%) reached the "Guru" proficiency level;
- 8,527 (13.1%) attained "Almost Guru" status;
- 3,012 (4.6%) were classified as "Beginners";
- 1,202 (1.9%) fell into the "Novice" category.
The highest number of certificates came from the Lviv region with 6,413 recipients, followed by Poltava (5,550), Vinnytsia (5,538), Dnipropetrovsk (4,693), Zaporizhzhia (3,647), and Kyiv city (4,382). Additionally, 199 participants took the test abroad, with 154 of them achieving the "Guru" level.
Breakdown by Age and Occupation
The majority of participants (44,010, or 67.8%) were aged between 31 and 60 years. Young adults aged 18 to 30 accounted for 9,796 participants, seniors over 60 years numbered 5,686, and children and teenagers under 17 made up 5,424. Notably, women represented nearly 70% of all participants. The sectors with the most active participation included:
- Government officials: 22,738 (35%)
- Employees from various other industries: 15,392
- Educators: 11,542
- Students and schoolchildren: 10,060
Participants took the test for various reasons: 29,695 (45.7%) wanted to assess their current knowledge, 11,280 (17.4%) sought to learn new information, 7,577 were encouraged by teachers or supervisors, and 6,370 aimed to improve skills and unlock potential.
The test covered five key areas: verifying information accuracy and influence, social media literacy, responsible and ethical media behavior, fact-checking, and cybersecurity including online safety practices.
Tetyana Berezhna emphasized: "In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, this is especially critical. The enemy uses disinformation to spread panic, divide society, and undermine trust among people."
The outcomes of this national assessment highlight a growing media awareness among Ukrainians, a vital development amid ongoing challenges such as war. Strong media literacy equips citizens to navigate the complex information landscape, helping to guard against misinformation and manipulation. This project also underscores the essential role of media education in safeguarding public information security.
Oksana Ferchuk added: "Media literacy today is one of the fundamental digital skills. It’s necessary not only for spotting fake news but also for effectively navigating the information environment, evaluating content quality, and making informed decisions."