37 Journalists Receive State Honors from President Zelenskyy

State Awards Recognize Journalists' Contributions

According to Главком: On the occasion of Journalist's Day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding state honors to 37 media professionals from both Ukrainian and international outlets. This decision aims to acknowledge the critical role journalists play in covering events and providing informational support amid ongoing challenges. The awards highlight the importance of press freedom and the risks media workers face in conflict zones.

Among those honored posthumously is producer and Ukrainian Armed Forces Lieutenant Viktoriia Bobrova (Kvitka), who received the Order of Merit, Third Class. She assisted a wounded comrade during an artillery attack in August 2025 and participated in filming the documentary 'Warriors of the Mountains.' Bobrova passed away on April 23, 2026, in the city of Barvinkove, Kharkiv region.

List of Awardees

• Nataliia Humeniuk - Order of Merit, Third Class, Executive Director of the NGO 'Public Interest Journalism Lab' and co-founder of The Reckoning Project.
• Kseniia Vasylenko (Sonia Koshkina) - Order of Princess Olga, Third Class, Editor-in-Chief of 'LB.UA.'
• Robert Opalenyk - Order of Merit, Third Class, Editor-in-Chief of 'TSN. Tyzhden z Alloiu Mazur.'
• Yuliia Kyriienko-Merinova - Order of Princess Olga, Second Class, War Correspondent for TSN.
• Pavlo Pavlov - Order of Merit, Third Class, Camera Operator for 24 Channel.
• Kostiantyn Doroshenko - Order of Merit, Third Class, Correspondent for Radio France International Ukrainian.
• Daryna Krasnolutska - Order of Princess Olga, Third Class, Head of the Bloomberg News Bureau in Ukraine.
• Viktoriia Butenko - Order of Princess Olga, Third Class, Senior Producer for CNN International and EMMY Award winner.

Notable foreign journalists also received recognition. Ibrahim Naber from Germany, Chief Correspondent for Welt, was awarded the Order of Merit, Third Class, after being wounded in a Russian FPV drone attack in October 2025. Zarina Zabrisky from the US, a war correspondent for Byline Times, and Kaylan Patrick Robertson from Ireland, who moved to Ukraine in 2024 to live and work, also received the Order of Merit, Third Class. Stephane Siohan from France, a correspondent for Liberation, received the same honor for his coverage of Russian aggression since 2014.

The honorary title 'Honored Journalist of Ukraine' was conferred upon Oleh Borysov, Nataliia Bratushka, Ihor Darmostuk, and Serhii Cherevatyi. On June 6, President Zelenskyy extended his greetings to journalists on their professional day, emphasizing the importance of their work in the context of the modern information war.

These state awards underscore the vital role journalists play amid the information war, particularly during the armed conflict in Ukraine.

By honoring both Ukrainian and international media workers, this gesture acknowledges their contributions to reporting on the country's current situation and upholding journalistic standards under difficult circumstances. It may also help enhance safety measures for media professionals operating in dangerous zones.

As the recognition of the invaluable contributions of journalists continues, it is essential to reflect on previous acknowledgments by President Zelenskyy. His recent honors not only celebrate individual achievements but also underline the ongoing challenges faced by media professionals. For a deeper understanding of this commitment to press freedom, explore how the President has previously celebrated journalists on their professional day in our detailed coverage highlighting the significance of their work.