Knowledge Bank

The research focuses on the trending yet sensitive topic of the war in Ukraine. It examines the impacted group of Ukrainian war-displaced individuals – the internally displaced persons (IDPs). The writing aims to explore the portrayal of IDPs in the Ukrainian media discourse from the onset of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine (2022-2025) to analyze how various factors influence their representation and to understand how displaced persons are depicted in the Ukrainian media. It assesses the stability and transformation of IDPs’ representation by comparing the findings with existing research in this area, identifying key differences in the portrayal of IDPs before and after the Russian full-scale invasion. The research uses critical discourse analysis, supplemented by framing and content analysis elements, to examine articles published by reputable Ukrainian media sources about IDPs. The findings validate the assumption that the media sources’ affiliations significantly influence how IDPs are portrayed in Ukrainian media discourse, as well as the region of publication, changes in Ukrainian laws concerning IDP status and rights, and messages from public officials. Several articles discuss the challenges faced by IDPs in Ukraine and how civil society has responded since the full-scale invasion. However, research on media portrayals of IDPs since 2022 remains limited, creating a gap in understanding how government actions, international migration policies, and other factors influence public perceptions of IDPs and their decisions to leave Ukraine or return to occupied territories, which is essential for improving migration policies.