There have been 80 acts of physical aggression against Ukrainian journalists during 2017, Ukraine's Union of Journalists has said.

"According to monitoring data in the "Index of physical security of journalists in Ukraine," which the union conducts jointly with partner organizations, over the first ten months of 2017 there have been 80 incidents of "physical aggression against journalists," the union's website says.

According to the report, during October five journalists in Kyiv and environs, as well as in Kherson region, took place.

Deputy head of the investigations directorate of the union Oleksandr Kovtun said 200 criminal investigations involving journalists have been opened this year. He said 17 had been sent to the courts and 120 closed.