
UNESCO has reacted to the appeal by Ukraine’s Permanent Representation in the organization on the death of Ukrinform journalist Tetiana Kulyk as a result of the Russian drone attack in Kyiv region on February 25.
This was reported by the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, Ukrinform saw.
As noted, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in a statement called for a thorough and transparent investigation to hold those responsible to account.
“I condemn the killing of Tetiana Kulyk and call for a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Journalists serve the critical role of informing the world in conflict situations and must therefore be protected. I reiterate my call for the observance of international humanitarian law, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of conflict, a status reaffirmed in the UN Pact for the Future,” said the UNESCO Director General.
As it is noted, the Permanent Representation has been in close contact with representatives of the UNESCO Director General’s Office and the press service of the organization in order to ensure the appropriate UNESCO response to the death of Ukrainian journalist Tetiana Kulyk. In particular, the representation sent on February 26 to the UNESCO Member States, UNESCO leadership, and structural units of the Secretariat of the Organization a report on the Russian drone attack targeting Kyiv region on February 25, emphasizing that the Ukrainian media, art and academic communities are being massively affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The permanent representation condemned the horrific war crimes and atrocities committed by Russia against Ukraine and the UNESCO mandate. Communication called for UNESCO to strengthen its efforts to protect UNESCO values in Ukraine and to respond to the war crimes committed by Russia.
The UNESCO chief’s statement on the issue also came previously, in October 2024, in response to the UNESCO National Committee for the Information for All Programme, when she called for a transparent investigation into the death of journalist Viktoria Roshchina who had been held in Russia. Her body is yet to be handed to her family, and no details around her death have been provided.
As reported earlier, on the night of February 26, a Russian drone hit a private house in the village of Kriukivshchyna, Kyiv region, resulting in the death of Ukrinform journalist Tetiana Kulyk, author and host of the Nation of the invincible project, who was acting chief of the multimedia department at Ukrinform, and her spouse Pavlo Ivanchov, an oncology surgeon, chief of the surgical department at the National Medical University.
Tetiana Kulyk was a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine. Previously, she worked as editor-in-chief and host at the Central Channel (KDTRK), the World Radio Broadcasting Service of Ukraine,.
She studied at the National University of Culture and Arts. In 2015-2017 she was deputy director of Khreshchatyk 26, the branch of the National Public TV and Radio Company of Ukraine, Kyiv Regional Directorate.
Source: UNESCO condemns killing of Ukrinform journalist Tetiana Kulyk