Kherson journalist receives state award for her work during the war

On the occasion of the Day of Radio, Television and Communication Workers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored Olena Hnitetska, a journalist from Kherson region. In total, 21 media professionals were honored.

The corresponding decree No. 847/2025 was published on the official website of the President.

Olena Hnitetska, a correspondent for Vgoru.Kherson, received the Order of Merit III degree. In total, this year's state awards were given to 21 media professionals for their significant personal contribution to the development of television, radio and communications, high professionalism and dedication shown during the coverage of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as for many years of conscientious work. Four journalists were awarded posthumously.

The Order of Merit The Order of Merit, III degree, is a state award of Ukraine, established in September 1996. It is awarded to people for outstanding achievements in the economic, scientific, socio-cultural, military, state, and public spheres.

Olena Hnitetska has been working for Most since February 2023, and now she is working for Vgoru.Kherson. Her materials include an investigation into "underground schools," where the journalist was even attacked while preparing a story. Among other things, she wrote about the suspended reconstruction in Posad Pokrovsk, as well as about civilian prisoners and the problem of their exchanges.

In October, civilian journalist and human rights activist Iryna Danylovych was awarded the 2025 International Prize of European Memory and Conscience for her struggle and independent journalism in occupied Crimea. She was awarded the prize for her defense of human dignity, civic courage and resilience in the profession under Russian occupation. The journalist is currently being held in the Russian women's colony in Zelenokumsk, where the occupation court sentenced her to imprisonment on trumped-up charges.

Recently, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution demanding that Russia immediately release the 26 Ukrainian journalists currently in captivity. Since February 24, 2022, Russia has committed more than 800 crimes against media professionals, including 108 people killed. In the document, PACE emphasized that the practice of torture, murder and persecution of journalists has been going on for years, starting in the occupied Crimea, and since 2022 has spread to other occupied territories.

Анна Бальчінос