The Kyiv Court of Appeal reversed a restriction on reporting about 143 properties, while a media watchdog recorded more press-freedom violations in January-August 2026 than in all of 2025.
The Institute of Mass Information (IMI), a Ukrainian media watchdog, recorded 136 violations in January-August 2026, compared with 130 in all of 2025. It attributed 69 cases to Ukrainian actors and 67 to Russian aggression. Nine involved judicial pressure, compared with five for all of 2025.
The Anti-Corruption Action Centre (AntAC) and Slidstvo.Info jointly prepared the investigation, which linked the properties to Oleksandr Sukhachov, brother of State Bureau of Investigation Director Oleksii Sukhachov. Slidstvo.Info reported that eight Ukrainian outlets published the report under the name “Initiative 143” on July 17.
The Pecherskyi District Court ordered interim limits on July 6, before Parkovyi-2 LLC filed its main lawsuit on July 13, according to the appeal ruling. Parkovyi-2 argued that releasing the material could harm it and disclose trade secrets, the ruling says. Slidstvo.Info reported that the lawsuit against its newsroom, AntAC and journalist Alina Stryzhak sought to restrict publication of details about investment contracts, amounts and properties. The Kyiv Court of Appeal overturned the order on Sept. 24.
In a response to the Kyiv Independent, the Pecherskyi court said temporary measures could limit speech and that martial law might support broader restrictions in some situations. The appeal court later overturned the specific ban. Judge Serhiy Vovk dismissed accusations of misconduct, the Kyiv Independent reported. AntAC said violating the order could expose it to fines or criminal prosecution and that enforcement proceedings had begun.
