Delfi Meedia, Mondo and The Kyiv Independent launch joint initiative to support independent media in Ukraine
A free and resilient media is one of Ukraine's most important lines of defence. Delfi Meedia, Mondo and The Kyiv Independent have launched a new project to help Ukrainian newsrooms withstand the challenges of war and counter propaganda.
The project is funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
Over the past several years, many journalists have been forced to work in dangerous conditions as missiles, drone attacks and prolonged power outages have damaged newsrooms and technical infrastructure. At the same time, operating costs have risen significantly, because of the need to purchase generators and invest in safety equipment.
According to a study conducted by the United Nations and UNESCO, since 2022, 28% of Ukrainian media organisations have been forced to suspend operations either temporarily or permanently, while 37% of their staff have had to evacuate.
One of the most serious challenges facing Ukraine's regional media is the lack of sustainable funding. According to a study by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, 26% of regional media outlets are operating without paying salaries because funding has been interrupted and no alternative revenue sources are available. The data also show that more than 77% of small media organisations operate on monthly budgets of less than €2,000, which is enough to cover essential costs but not long-term development or strategic growth.
Before the war, Ukraine's media sector relied on international donors for approximately 80–90% of its funding, including media programmes supported by USAID. Such dependence on external funding has made it difficult for news organisations to build independent, sustainable business models while maintaining editorial independence. Meanwhile, advertising revenue remains extremely limited, accounting for only 3–10% of total income for many outlets, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Independent, reliable journalism is the foundation of democracy
Local media outlets have historically served as one of the most important safeguards against Russian disinformation and propaganda. It is therefore critical that their capacity and reach do not continue to decline. The spread of unchecked and malicious disinformation directly affects people's decisions, sense of security and the resilience of local communities.
A joint project by the NGO Mondo, Delfi Meedia and The Kyiv Independent aims to strengthen the editorial, operational and financial capacity of Ukraine's regional and local media outlets, enabling them to continue providing reliable and independent journalism even under wartime conditions.
As the war has also reduced readers' purchasing power and businesses' ability to invest in advertising, the need for new revenue models has become increasingly urgent. At the same time, the importance of local journalism continues to grow, as regional reporters are often the first to detect and debunk disinformation campaigns and propaganda targeting their communities.
"Many of our colleagues in regional media do critical work with fewer resources and in tougher circumstances than we have. This is our way of helping close that gap and build a more financially sustainable future for Ukrainian media, together," said Daryna Shevchenko, CEO of The Kyiv Independent.
A key priority of the partnership is to help Ukraine's local media identify and implement new revenue streams and develop sustainable business models to strengthen their independence.
According to Maria Mägi, the editor-in-chief of Delfi, the project presents an opportunity to build long-term partnerships with independent Ukrainian media at a time when trusted journalism has never been more important.
"Through this project, we can share our experience in developing digital media, managing newsrooms and reaching audiences. Equally important, however, is learning from our Ukrainian colleagues, who work under extraordinarily difficult conditions and have developed innovative approaches to both journalism and audience engagement," Mägi said.
As part of the project, journalism and organisational training programmes will be held in Ukraine, alongside mentoring, study visits between Estonia and Ukraine, and a pilot content-sharing initiative between Delfi Meedia and its Ukrainian partners. At least five regional Ukrainian media outlets and their journalists will participate in these activities.
Delfi Meedia and The Kyiv Independent, together with local outlets operating near the front line where feasible, will also pilot reciprocal content sharing, quality-assurance processes and technical workflows. The aim is to improve public access to high-quality, verified journalism, strengthen media cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine, and develop a sustainable model for future collaboration.
"Testing a content-sharing model is particularly important for us, as it will allow Estonian readers greater access to reliable, firsthand reporting from Ukraine. At the same time, we believe this collaboration will bring valuable lessons back to Estonia about newsroom resilience, crisis management and innovation," said Mägi.
As a result of the project, participating media outlets will be better equipped to counter Russian disinformation, implement sustainable operational and funding practices, and support democratic public debate within their communities.
In the longer term, the project will also contribute to Ukraine's path towards European Union membership. EU accession requires candidate countries to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law and media freedom in line with the EU’s accession criteria. An independent and resilient media sector is essential for ensuring transparent public debate, preventing corruption and strengthening trust in public institutions. Regional journalism plays a particularly important role in this process, as local media reach communities where disinformation and Russian information operations are often most pervasive.
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