The organization “Reporters Without Borders” has presented the new 2026 Press Freedom Index, in which Ukraine ranks 55th among 180 countries, receiving a score of 66.1 out of 100 possible points. Compared to last year, the country has risen seven places — it was in 62nd place then.
This is reported by Finway
Freedom of Speech in the World: Trends and Challenges
According to analysts, the regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia remain among the most problematic regarding freedom of speech. In particular, Belarus has dropped even lower in the ranking, occupying 165th place, while Russia is in 172nd position, one place higher than the previous year.
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine shows positive dynamics in the field of press freedom. According to experts’ conclusions, the country “has demonstrated slight improvement despite the ongoing war.”
Features of Ukraine’s Media Landscape
The report notes that the Ukrainian media landscape remains diverse and resilient to external and internal challenges. Although the influence of oligarchic structures on the media persists, it has significantly decreased since February 24, 2022. At the same time, the strengthening role of the state in the market has become a noticeable trend in recent years. Despite these changes, independent media “are capable of providing reliable information and combating misinformation.”
The organization characterizes Ukraine’s media landscape as “diverse and resilient.” While some media outlets are controlled by oligarchs, their influence has diminished since February 24, 2022, while the state has become a central player in the media market. Nevertheless, independent publications “are capable of providing reliable information and combating misinformation.”
Overall, according to the Index data, the situation with freedom of speech has worsened in 100 countries worldwide over the past year. In particular, the United States has dropped to 64th place, losing seven positions over the year.