For Ukrainian regional media, 2025 marked a year of losing any remaining illusions about stability and predictability. While in 2024 some newsrooms spoke of gradually adapting to a protracted war, in 2025 the media sector faced a new wave of turbulence: the suspension of U.S. foreign assistance programs, escalating security risks, a deepening staffing crisis, and mounting psychological fatigue among media teams. At the same time, the challenges that have accompanied regional media since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion remained unresolved: chronic funding shortages, staff deficits, dependence on grant funding, and the difficulty of long-term planning.
Against this backdrop, local newsrooms continued to operate while simultaneously responding to the daily realities of war and seeking to build more resilient operating models. For many, the priority was no longer growth in the conventional sense, but rather the ability to retain staff, maintain continuity of operations, and ensure basic financial stability.
This report is based on 61 survey responses submitted by independent local media outlets from across Ukraine, as well as 10 in-depth interviews with media managers. In addition, we incorporated insights from six experts specializing in media financing, management, distribution, audience engagement, and human resources.
The report examines how the challenges and risks facing local media evolved in 2025, how newsrooms navigated the crisis triggered by the suspension of United States foreign assistance programs, what their financial models look like, and the extent to which donor dependency remains entrenched. It also explores team management, content production, audience engagement, and distribution strategies. The report concludes with recommendations for media organizations, donors, and other stakeholders supporting the sector.
