On October 8, 2026, journalists from 'Ukrainian Truth' were detained in Austria while carrying out an editorial assignment. Operator Yaroslav Bondarenko was injured during the detention and is currently in the hospital, while his colleague Mykhailo Tkach was released after more than 12 hours of detention.
Details of the Detention
The detention of the journalists took place on the night of October 9. According to the chief editor of the publication, Sevgil Musayeva, Yaroslav Bondarenko sustained serious injuries during the arrest. Currently, he is being interrogated by Austrian law enforcement.
Status of the Journalists
Mykhailo Tkach, who was detained alongside Bondarenko, has been released, but his communication devices have not yet been returned, complicating the editorial team's ability to contact him. Sevgil Musayeva noted that the procedural status of both journalists remains unknown. She also emphasized that the charges brought against the journalists during their detention raise serious questions.
Government Reaction
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy stated that Ukrainian diplomats are actively working with their Austrian counterparts to resolve the situation. The Ukrainian authorities are demanding explanations regarding the circumstances of the detention and the reasons for Yaroslav Bondarenko's injuries.
- Yaroslav Bondarenko - operator of 'Ukrainian Truth'.
- Mykhailo Tkach - head of the investigative journalism department.
- Detention occurred on October 8, 2026.
- Tkach was released after 12 hours of detention.
- Bondarenko was injured during the detention.