Nataliya Gumenyuk in Kharkiv, 13 March. Photo: Andrii Bashtovyi
Ukrainian journalists face a daunting task. They are working to keep the world informed about Russia’s relentless attack on their country, and what that looks like from the inside. While doing so, they are watching their country crumble around them, their loved ones flee, and their colleagues disappear.
War correspondents have tackled the difficulties of reporting under fire for decades. What is unique about the Ukrainian journalists’ situation is that they are reporting in their own country – and many of them have never covered conflict. They have found themselves thrown into a “trial by fire” situation. Olga Rudenko, editor in chief of The Kyiv Independent, tells Time, “I think it’s fair to say that it is more difficult for us than, say, for foreign journalists. We’re not just telling the story, we’re living the story.”
Their work is further complicated by the fact that Russia is targeting journalists. Rudenko explains, “We have to remember that this is an invasion by an authoritarian regime that has been targeting journalists and media consistently for decades now.” Ukrainian journalist, Victoria Roshchyna, has been missing since March 12 and is believed to be held captive by Russians. Cameraman, Yehvenii Sakun, was killed March 1, when Russians led a missile attack on a television tower in Kiev. Twenty-four-year-old Oleksandra Kurshynova lost her life while helping a Fox News crew navigate Kiev, when they came under fire from Russian troops. They are but a few of many.
While Putin’s rhetoric and attack both intensify, these brave souls fight back by showing the world the truth. Reporter, Nataliya Gumenyuk, tells crd.org, “The most vulnerable people, the poorest people, the people in the streets whose houses have been shelled. Their stories should be told. You really need to go there, you need to take photos, you need to verify.”
These journalists are watching their families flee the country, yet they are staying behind: behind their cameras, their keyboards, and their microphones. And they are doing so under fire. What a lesson in integrity.
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