Overview of Ukraine’s Media Landscape
Ukraine currently holds 6,995 active media licenses, excluding those that have been suspended. According to the Register of Media Entities, print publications dominate the market, accounting for 53% of all licenses. Notably, one-third of the country’s media outlets are registered in the Kyiv region, highlighting a strong concentration of media business in and around the capital.
The Register lists 3,160 media owners in total. Among these, 42 licenses are linked to foreign capital, and 10 beneficiaries are foreign nationals. Among individual entrepreneurs, Ihor Tril holds the largest number of licenses with 119. Taras Khotymchuk and Oksana Tanasiichuk follow in second and third place, owning 85 and 53 licenses respectively. Other major owners include:
- Andrii Lobachov - 49 licenses
- Pavlo Khotymchuk - 46 licenses
Leading companies in the media market include:
- Art-Complex Publishing House - 71 licenses
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv - 61 licenses
- Editorial Systems - 53 licenses
- Ivan Franko National University of Lviv - 50 licenses
- Suspilne Movlennia (Public Broadcasting) - 45 licenses
Market Structure and Security Concerns
Online media represent 27% of the market, with 870 registrants. Audiovisual service providers account for 9.8%, or 309 entities. Print media are controlled by 1,675 companies or individual entrepreneurs.
Regionally, the Kyiv area hosts 1,107 media owners, followed by Lviv with 207, Odesa with 200, Kharkiv with 170, and Dnipropetrovsk with 164.
Importantly, May 2026 saw 22 Russian attacks targeting journalists and media outlets, including civilian reporters, newsrooms, and media infrastructure. In April 2026, there were 8 such attacks, bringing the total verified incidents for the first five months of 2026 to 60. These figures underscore the urgent need to protect media professionals and press freedom amid escalating aggression.
The analysis reveals a diverse media market in Ukraine, with print publications holding a clear majority. The concentration of media in the Kyiv region points to a centralization trend that may affect access to and diversity of information for regional audiences. The rising number of attacks on journalists highlights a critical need to ensure media worker safety and safeguard freedom of expression in the country.
As the media landscape in Ukraine continues to evolve, the recent spike in attacks on journalists raises significant concerns about the safety and stability of media operations. With a documented record number of incidents targeting journalists in May, it becomes increasingly vital to understand the implications for media freedom and the protection of reporters in the field.