On the occasion of Journalist’s Day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding over 30 media professionals with orders and medals.
Among the honorees are journalists, hosts, editors, and cameramen who report on the war from the front lines and locations hit by Russian strikes, tell the world the truth about Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression, have joined the Security and Defense Forces, survived captivity, or were wounded in the line of duty as a result of Russian aggression – and those who, sadly, gave their lives for Ukraine.
Reuters cameraman in Ukraine Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey was awarded the Order of Merit, II class. He covered the Revolution of Dignity, Russia’s occupation of Crimea, and the liberation of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in 2014. He and his colleagues found themselves trapped in the “Ilovaisk Cauldron.” In August last year, he was working with the Reuters team in Kramatorsk when Russia launched a missile strike on the hotel where the crew was staying. Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey was severely wounded and remained in a coma for more than 40 days. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation and plans to return to work.
The President also awarded media professionals with the Orders of Merit, III class. One recipient, honored posthumously, is photographer, cameraman, reporter, and service member Ruslan Hannushchak. He documented the Revolution of Dignity and Russian war crimes in Donbas. In 2022, he covered the hostilities in the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions, where he repeatedly came under fire. Later, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served as a driver in a drone reconnaissance unit. Ruslan Hannushchak was killed in action in the Kursk region on January 11 this year.
The Order of Merit, III class, was also awarded to journalist, photographer, and war correspondent Serhii Nuzhnenko, who works with several international media outlets, and to Pavlo Zarva, a war correspondent, cameraman, and photographer from Sumy. He documents the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, including from the front lines. Until recently, he served in the patrol police and trained others in battlefield first aid. On June 3, after a Russian missile strike on Sumy, he provided aid to injured civilians at the site of impact.
The Order “For Courage,” III class, was awarded to Maksym Butkevych, a host at Hromadske Radio and human rights defender, who holds the rank of senior lieutenant. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he joined the Armed Forces and took part in the liberation of the Kyiv region and battles in the East of Ukraine. In June 2022, he was captured by Russian forces and unlawfully sentenced on fabricated charges. Maksym Butkevych was brought back home in October last year.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has already killed 125 media professionals. Dozens more Ukrainian journalists remain in Russian captivity. Ukraine is doing everything possible to secure their release and return. Unfortunately, even being listed for a prisoner exchange is no guarantee of return. Viktoriia Roshchyna died in captivity despite Russia’s commitment to release her.
The journalist covered the situation at the front and in temporarily occupied territories. She was detained twice by Russian occupiers – first in March 2022, then again in August 2023. News of her death emerged on October 10 last year, when she was already on the exchange list. Russia returned her body, bearing multiple signs of torture, only in February this year. The relevant forensic examinations are ongoing. Once complete, the President will honor Viktoriia Roshchyna with a state award – this decision has already been made.