OSCE WHDC side event: Journalists and Volunteers Facing New Challenges of Drone Warfare

The side event “Under Fire: Journalists and Volunteers Facing New Challenges of Drone Warfare” takes place on October 13, 2026, at 9:00 — 10:00 in the Plenary room on the margins of the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (WHDC). It is organized by the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, the Institute of Mass Information and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organisations in Vienna with the co-sponsorship of the Permanent Delegation of the EU to the OSCE, the Permanent Delegation of the UK to the OSCE and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee.

Russia’s war against Ukraine is transforming the nature of modern warfare, with drones becoming one of its defining features. Their widespread use, including against civilians, has created new risks for those operating in frontline areas. Journalists documenting the war and volunteers evacuating civilians or delivering humanitarian assistance are increasingly targeted by Russian drone attacks despite their civilian status.

At least 139 media workers have been killed since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, while 115 volunteers have also lost their lives. At least 27 civilian media workers remain in Russian captivity.

Thus, the new realities of warfare also raise difficult questions for international humanitarian law. Journalists and volunteers may use drone detectors, electronic warfare and other protective technologies simply to protect their lives. At the same time, such measures may create a risk of their civilian status being questioned. Similarly, media and humanitarian markings intended to ensure protection may instead make vehicles more visible to attackers.

The event aims to provide a platform to present documented cases, discuss emerging challenges and develop recommendations for OSCE participating States, ICRC and the international community.

The side event will explore:

• first-hand stories from a journalist and a volunteer operating in frontline areas;
• new security risks created by modern warfare;
• legal implications of civilians using protective technologies;
• recommendations based on documented cases.

Opening remarks:

• Ms Catalina Bolma-Dupont, Deputy Permanent Representative of the EU to OSCE

Speakers:

• Ms Ana More, Head of the Civil Society Protection Program, Human Rights Centre ZMINA
• Ms Kateryna Diachuk, Head of the Freedom of Speech Monitoring Department, Institute of Mass Information
• Ms Daria Litovchenko, Ukrainian journalist reporting from the frontlines
• Mr Bohdan Zuiakov, Ukrainian volunteer conducting civilian evacuations from frontline areas, whose evacuation vehicle was hit by a Russian FPV drone

Closing remarks:

• Ambassador Neil Holland, Head of the United Kingdom’s Delegation to the OSCE

Moderator:

• Ms Adriana Lori, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Italy to the OSCE

Access to the event will be granted only to registered participants of the OSCE WHDC.

Contact: Tetiana Zhukova, Human Rights Centre ZMINA, tz@zmina.ua