Freeview adds Ukrainian news channel to counter Putin’s propaganda Business

A Ukrainian all-news channel fighting back against Kremlin propaganda on the Russian invasion is now available to UK viewers.

Ukraina 24 is now broadcast on Britain’s largest free-to-air television service to ensure refugees reaching the UK can access unbiased information in their own language.

The 24-hour network which offers content from seven Ukrainian broadcasters is available on Freeview via Channelbox, a service offering 35 news and entertainment channels to TVs with an internet connection.

The channel broadcast from kyiv is coming to British shores following an agreement between Channelbox and the Association for International Broadcasting.

Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the association, said it has been working to bring the channel to the UK since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion.

“We wanted to make a contribution to support Ukraine and its citizens,” he added. “Bringing Ukraina 24 to viewers in the UK, whether expat or refugee, helps them stay connected through the toughest times in their lives.”

Ukraina 24 is produced by media companies 1+1 International, Ukraine 24, Inter+, ICTV, UATV and Suspline with the aim of creating accurate and unbiased information that challenges disinformation peddled by Russia.

It is available on the Freeview 271 channel or on a smartphone by downloading the Channelbox application.

His UK debut comes less than a month after the media regulator permanently banned RT after ruling it was ‘not fit’ to broadcast following a wave of potential breaches of the impartiality.

Ofcom has said it has been impossible for RT to comply with its broadcasting rules since Mr Putin banned independent journalism by punishing journalists with up to 15 years in prison if they do not did not toe the Kremlin party line.

RT was previously fined £200,000 by Ofcom in 2019 for breaching impartiality rules over its reporting on the Salisbury poisonings and the war in Syria.

Britain is set to take in tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees after 150,000 expressed interest in housing those fleeing war.

Tanya Kronfli of Channelbox said, “We are honored to be part of this project and to be able to help Ukrainians access information from home. This is a truly lifesaving broadcast and demonstrates how modern technologies like connected TVs are able to support people in times of crisis.”