BBC News Ukraine marks 30th anniversary amid Russian invasion

BBC News Ukraine marks 30th anniversary amid Russian invasion

As Russia's war on Ukraine continues to hold the global centre stage, the BBC is marking 30 years of serving its Ukrainian-speaking audience.

On 1 June 1992, the BBC started short- and medium-wave radio broadcasts for then newly independent Ukraine.  Today, BBC News Ukraine – BBC News Україна – is serving its audience via the website bbc.ua, its YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and Viber.  The BBC News Ukraine Monday to Friday TV news programme is rebroadcast by Ukraine's national TV channels Espreso, Priamyj and 5 Kanal.

The Ukrainian service was the BBC's first non-Russian language service for the post-Soviet states.  First based in London, with correspondents in Ukraine, the service then moved to digital platforms, primarily delivered from Kyiv.  Its TV news programme is produced in and presented from London.

Senior Controller of BBC News International Services and Director of BBC World Service, Liliane Landor, says: "The excellent work of the BBC's Ukrainian service has gone from strength to strength over the decades.  Their coverage of the war really showcases their outstanding and often selfless professionalism, as demonstrated by each and everyone in the team.  Their journalism has been crucial, both for their direct audience and for the BBC's UK and global audiences."

As Russia launched its assault on Ukraine in the early hours of 24 February 2022, the BBC News Ukraine website bbc.ua started its live coverage, Russia's war against Ukraine. Published as the first explosions shook Kyiv, the live page, maintained by contributions from every member of the team, hasn't stopped its flow of comprehensive reporting and analysis.

Since 24 February, the BBC News Ukraine TV news bulletin has been extended from 15 to 30 minutes.  During the first two weeks of the war, to keep the viewers abreast of the fast-moving developments, the TV team produced a second daily 30-minute edition while also contributing to the BBC's English-language news coverage.  Weekly channel viewing on YouTube grew tenfold compared to the pre-war period.  Since 11 May, two more national TV channels, Priamyj and 5 Kanal, have been rebroadcasting the BBC News Ukraine TV programme.  

BBC News Ukraine Editor, Marta Shokalo, comments: "While each of us, be it in Kyiv or London, has been personally affected by the life-shattering developments, our work as journalists has continued. From the very first day we were fully aware – also on a personal level – how crucial trusted information was when life-and-death decisions had to be made.  Those of us in Ukraine learned that we can work anywhere, even in a bomb-shelter.  I'll always remember the relief after morning and evening rollcalls confirming every member of the team was accounted for and safe.  And the unwavering support of the BBC colleagues in London and around the world."    

On the first week of the Russia invasion, BBC News Ukraine reached a record 5.6 million people across the website bbc.ua and social platforms. Over the following two months, the service has maintained a weekly digital audience that is more than double its average for previous years.  Among the service's popular content, Albiy Shudrya's piece from the trenches in the Donetsk region about the contents of the Ukrainian army fighter's dry ration has clocked 1.4 million views on YouTube and 2.8 million views on the service's newly launched TikTok channel.

Alongside bringing the BBC's global news coverage to Ukrainian audiences, BBC News Ukraine continues to be a crucial part of bringing Ukraine to international audiences.  And even as the service's resources are dedicated to the all-consuming war coverage, Viktoriia Zhuhan's documentary about the Eurovision winners, Kalush Orchestra, provided the BBC's UK and international audiences with exclusive access to the group, following them from the war-torn outskirts of Kyiv to their triumph in Turin.

As it delivers the BBC's global news coverage to Ukrainian audiences, BBC News Ukraine continues to be a crucial part of bringing Ukraine to international audiences, with correspondents appearing across the BBC, helping shape the BBC storytelling with expert voices and analysis.

BBC News Ukraine is part of BBC World Service.

(BBC Press Release)