On May 14–16, 2026, the 12th Lviv Media Forum (LMF 2026) took place in Ukraine. The international conference brought together more than 700 participants from 36 countries, including media professionals, researchers, policymakers, and civil society representatives. The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) was represented at the forum by communications specialists Yuliia Begletsova and Kateryna Besedina.
This year’s theme was “Reality Under Attack: Freeze, Flight or Fight?”. Discussions focused on two main dimensions:
- challenges facing media and democracy in a global context;
- practical aspects of journalists’ and communications professionals’ work.
LMF 2026 featured more than 20 events, including discussions, public talks, and case study sessions.
NAKO representatives attended several events during the forum. Among them was a side event on how open data can help counter the narrative of “total corruption” in Ukraine. The discussion was organized by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.
In addition, the forum hosted its first-ever Taiwan-focused session. The discussion addressed a shared challenge for Ukraine and Taiwan: how to counter information attacks by authoritarian regimes. NAKO representatives also held meetings with Taiwanese partners during the event.
Advocating for Ukraine’s interests abroad was the focus of another discussion held in an “aquarium” format. The session began with remarks from civil society leaders Yuliia Marushevska and Olga Rudneva, after which invited participants joined the conversation.
During the discussion, NAKO Communications Manager Kateryna Besedina spoke about the exhibition of neutralized Russian drones that the team organized in the Netherlands last year. The exhibition helped visitors understand that a significant share of the microelectronics used in these UAVs is produced by Western companies. NAKO’s research shows that Russia continues to gain access to Western-made components despite sanctions.
💬 “People in the Netherlands saw with their own eyes the Russian drones that attack peaceful Ukrainian cities almost every day. This visual example had a strong impact on the audience,” Kateryna Besedina said.
