UA|TV, a TV channel of the International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine, has tentatively started broadcasting in occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas, Ukraine’s Ministry of Information Policy announced in a press release.

In particular, from the TV tower in Chonhar, Kherson Region, the tentative broadcasting of UA|TV is carried out on channel 50 frequency with a capacity of 1 kV in DVB-T2 digital format. The Broadcasting, Radiocommunications and Television (BRT) Concern has turned on UA/TV from the TV tower in Volnovakha, Donetsk Region, on channel 22 frequency with a capacity of 1 kV in DVB-T digital format.

“The broadcasting from the TV towers in Chonhar and Volnovakha is only a beginning. The Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine commits itself to ensuring full-fledged broadcasting of UA|TV in Crimea. And we will fulfil this commitment,” Yuriy Stets, the Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine, was quoted as saying.

According to Stets, UA|TV is set to start broadcasting in Luhansk Region as well.

Petro Semerei, Director-General of the BRT Concern, said that the state operator carried out all technical tasks in a timely manner within the framework of the Commission on Ensuring the Stable Functioning of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting System under the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine. “I am convinced that our cooperation with the Ministry will continue to be as effective as is now since I was appointed Director of the BRT Concern,” he added.

Liudmyla Berezovska, the Director-General of the SE ‘International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine’, noted the key aim of the establishment of the Ukrainian international broadcasting system was to ensure the audience make up their own mind on events and developments in Ukraine independently.

“It is what is lacking in Russia propaganda-laden territories along the line of demarcation in the East and on the administrative border with Crimea. Soon, this gap will be filled by UA|TV, alongside other Ukrainian TV channels,” she underscored.

UA|TV started broadcasting on 1 October 2015. Its operation is legally sustained by the Law ‘On the International Broadcasting System of Ukraine’, which was drafted by the Ministry of Information Policy, passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on December 8th, and signed by the President on 28 December 2015. The channel broadcasts news and own-produced programs via satellite and cable networks in five languages – Ukrainian, English, Russian, Arabic, and Crimean Tatar.