Russian occupation authorities have sentenced retired Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko to 15 years in prison on espionage charges, prompting renewed concerns over the treatment of Ukrainian journalists and media workers detained by Russia.
The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Court announced on September 4 that Levchenko, 64, had been sentenced to 15 years behind bars. She has been detained since 2023 and was accused of allegedly passing information to Ukrainian intelligence services.
In a statement published on Telegram, the court referred to Levchenko only as “L., born in 1961.” However, footage accompanying the announcement made it possible to identify her as the former journalist.
Levchenko was detained by Russian forces in May 2023, alongside her husband, Oleksandr, in the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol. Before leaving journalism in February 2022 following the occupation of the city, she had worked for several Ukrainian media outlets, including Noviy Den, Mltpl.City, and Fakty i Kommentarii.
While her husband was released in August 2024, Levchenko has remained in Russian custody. It is currently unclear whether the approximately three and a half years she has already spent in pretrial detention will be counted toward her 15-year sentence.
Levchenko’s family has endured years of uncertainty regarding her whereabouts and condition. Her sister, Olena Rudenko, told the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) that the verdict had left the family devastated. Levchenko turned 65 on September 16, meaning that the sentence could keep her imprisoned well into her later years.
The NUJU has called for Levchenko’s immediate release and described the sentence as illegal. CPJ has previously reported that she was held under harsh conditions and that communication between Levchenko and her family was severely restricted.
Her family is still waiting for information about where she will serve the remainder of her sentence. Rudenko told CPJ that they had yet to receive confirmation about her future place of detention.
The case is part of a broader pattern of repression against Ukrainian journalists and media workers under Russian occupation. In March, CPJ called on the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration to prioritize efforts to secure the release of Ukrainian journalists detained by Russia, including Levchenko and journalist Anastasiya Glukhovska, who was also detained in 2023.
At Free Press Alliance, we strongly condemn the 15-year prison sentence imposed on Iryna Levchenko and call for her immediate and unconditional release. Detaining and prosecuting journalists on espionage charges because of their identity, profession, or alleged connection to independent reporting represents a serious attack on press freedom and fundamental human rights. We urge Russian authorities to end the persecution of Ukrainian journalists and media workers and to ensure that those currently detained are treated in accordance with international human rights standards.
Levchenko’s case is a painful reminder of the enormous risks faced by journalists in territories affected by war and occupation. Journalism must never be treated as a crime, and journalists should not be imprisoned for carrying out their profession or for their identity. Protecting media workers and ensuring their freedom is essential to preserving access to independent information, particularly during times of conflict.