In the early hours of May 24, Russian airstrikes targeted Kyiv, resulting in significant damage to the offices of the German media company Deutsche Welle (DW) and other local media outlets. The Ukrainian service of DW reported that the attacks caused destruction to the facilities of the newspaper ‘Real Gazette’ and the German public broadcaster ARD.
Mykola Berdnyk, head of DW’s Kyiv bureau, stated that the shockwaves from the strikes severely damaged windows and ceilings in the office. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and the journalists continue their work despite the ongoing threats.
“While Kyiv increasingly suffers from Russian aerial terror, the motivation of DW journalists working in Ukraine remains unbreakable,” Berdnyk noted.
Barbara Massing, the director general of DW, expressed her shock regarding the attack and highlighted the challenging conditions under which journalists operate to cover events in Ukraine.
“The news we received this morning was shocking and further demonstrated the circumstances under which journalists work to report on events in Ukraine,” she said.
Andriy Dikhtyarenko, editor-in-chief of ‘Real Gazette,’ shared a video on Facebook showing the destruction of their office due to the strike.
“If our ‘Real Gazette’ studio survived flooding last winter, you can now assess the level of damage,” the journalist remarked.
Additionally, Tagesschau, part of the ARD media consortium, reported that its Kyiv studio was partially destroyed as a result of the bombardment. Despite the damage, media personnel are committed to continuing their coverage, utilizing mobile technical solutions and alternative locations for program production and live reports.
Vasyl Holod, director of the ARD studio, expressed immense respect for his team, emphasizing their resilience in the face of aggression and their focus on the mission to report on ongoing events.
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, during the night of May 24, Russian forces launched 90 missiles and 600 drones of various types towards Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted 55 missiles and 549 drones. Kyiv was the primary target of the assault, which resulted in destruction across multiple districts, along with casualties and numerous injuries.
In response to the extensive Russian strike, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced that Kyiv is convening an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, as well as a joint summit of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation and the organization’s Permanent Council.
Russian airstrikes on May 24 caused significant damage to media offices in Kyiv, including Deutsche Welle and local outlets. Despite the destruction, journalists remain committed to reporting on the ongoing conflict.