Russia has won the hybrid war in Europe
The 2025 World Press Freedom Index: economic fragility a leading threat to press freedom.
Although physical attacks against journalists are the most visible violations of press freedom, economic pressure is also a major, more insidious problem. The economic indicator of the RSF World Press Freedom Index now stands at an unprecedented, critical low as its decline continued in 2025. As a result, the global state of press freedom is now classified as a “difficult situation” for the first time in the history of the Index.
“In 2025, a red line was crossed. For the first time in the history of the RSF World Press Freedom Index, the conditions for journalism were are ‘difficult’ or ‘very serious’ in half the world’s countries.” Fiona O’Brien, RSF UK Director.
