During recent Russian nighttime attacks on the Ukrainian capital, the ARD studio in Kyiv suffered massive damage. According to WDR, the damage is likely due to a pressure wave, which reportedly caused windows to shatter, rooms to be ravaged, and walls to collapse. At the time of the attack, no staff members were present in the studio.
WDR stated that the building’s structural integrity must now be thoroughly evaluated. Despite the severe damage, reporting from Ukraine is set to continue. The production and current live coverage will be maintained through the use of mobile technical solutions and alternative operational arrangements.
Vassili Golod, the ARD studio manager in Kyiv, commented on the relentless hostility, saying, “The Russian air attacks have been massive and relentless for years, and they are part of the brutal everyday reality in Ukraine”. He noted that the consequences include thousands of civilian casualties, destroyed hospitals and schools, and the destruction of editorial offices. Golod added, “I have huge respect for our team, who are not intimidated by this aggression and are fully focused on our task: to report what is happening”.
The WDR holds the responsibility for operating the ARD studio in Kyiv.
