New Media Rules – ATO (Donbas) wef 01/01/17

 BY NIKOLAI HOLMOV 

For those few journalists that still attempt to cover the war in eastern Ukraine and the continuing relay an almost daily death toll, be advised that with effect from 1st January 2017, new rules apply:

“Since January 1, 2017, a new procedure of work for media representatives covering the ATO in the east of Ukraine will be implemented.

According to this procedure, media accredited to the Security Service of Ukraine will receive two types of press cards such as first and second level accreditation.

Second level accreditation press card (blue) allows working within the ATO area, except for forward positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The procedure of reception of this press card is the same.

Meanwhile, the first level accreditation press card (pink, with number 1) allows working within the ATO area and allows working directly at the conflict line (at forward platoon strongpoints, company defence positions).

Media must undergo three day training at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (National Defence Ivan Chernyakhovskyi University — two days of theory, as well as at the 169^th Training Centre of Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Desna, Chernihiv oblast (one-day practical training) to receive the press card of first level accreditation.

Foreign media accredited to the Security Service of Ukraine will receive first level accreditation press card only after obligatory one-day briefing!

More than 250 persons are undergoing training and will receive first level accreditation press cards this December. Considering the popularity of the training, three-day training will be conducted in January 2017, please, follow our updates.

Please note, a new procedure of visiting the ATO area is implemented as required by the Order of the First Deputy Director of the Anti-Terrorism Centre at the Security Service of Ukraine (Director of the Anti-Terrorism Operation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) of 19.01.2016 No. 45 ‘On procedure of media admission to military facilities in the Anti-Terrorism Operation area in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts’ (Annex 4, Order of First Deputy Director of the Anti-Terrorism Centre at the Security Service of Ukraine (Director of the Anti-Terrorism Operation) of 27.10.2016 No. 555).

If you have questions don’t hesitate to contact us +38 (067) 223 16 43; (044) 245 44 01″

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