In occupied Crimea, ten rating Ukrainian satellite TV channels were encoded, which negatively affects the situation with access to information in Crimea. These actions significantly limit the ability to receive alternative information about the consequences of armed conflict. This was reported by the Crimean human rights group.
"The encoded private TV channels: STB, Іnter, ICTV, Novy channel, TVTsі, M1, M2, Film.ua, Bolt, Dacha. At the same time, some Ukrainian TV channels remain in free access. For example, in Simferopol it is free to watch on satellite such channels like 1+1, UA: Krym, TRK Ukraine", the report said.
It is noted that in conditions of systemic illegal blocking of Ukrainian media by the Russian Federation, the encoding of the satellite signal of TV channels by Ukrainian owners significantly limits the options to receive alternative information about the consequences of the armed conflict to the residents of the occupied territories.
"Citizens of Ukraine forced into occupation are in a difficult humanitarian situation, which has been exacerbated by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Russian and Kremlin-controlled Crimean media massively spread hate speech, misinformation about Ukraine, and propaganda for the war and service in the Russian army, and there is no information on the protective measures in the context of the spread of COVID-19,” the human rights activists added.