Dmitry Gordon, a well-known Ukrainian journalist, has explained why he has not gone to fight on the front line, saying he is barred from doing so because his presence could put other soldiers at greater risk. Gordon's comments were reported by the Ukrainian outlet Strana.ua.
According to Gordon, he is "forbidden" from serving because his presence at the front could create an additional threat for the military personnel around him. He said that people would hunt him, and that many people would end up being killed as a result.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the war has continued for more than three years since. Prominent Ukrainians who support their country's war effort, including journalists, have faced legal action and sanctions from Russian authorities over that period.
Who is Dmitry Gordon
Gordon is a longtime Ukrainian journalist and television host, known for decades of long-form interviews with politicians, cultural figures and public officials across the former Soviet Union. His interviews have featured a wide range of guests, from heads of state to entertainers.
Russia's Ministry of Justice has designated Gordon a "foreign agent," a legal status Moscow applies to individuals and organizations it says are influenced by or funded from abroad, subjecting them to additional reporting requirements and restrictions. Russia's federal financial monitoring service, Rosfinmonitoring, has also placed him on its register of terrorists and extremists.
Sons living outside Ukraine
Gordon has previously addressed questions about whether his own sons serve in Ukraine's armed forces. He said his sons, who are of conscription age, do not live in Ukraine.
Sentenced to 14 years in absentia
In July 2024, a court in Moscow sentenced Gordon in absentia to 14 years in prison. The court based its ruling on his calls for a nuclear strike against Russia and on accusations that he had spread false information about the Russian armed forces.
