The tragic death of Ukrainian journalist Tetyana Kulyk, who was killed in a Russian drone strike just days after the somber three-year milestone of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscores the immense risks that journalists face daily in the war-torn country.
The attack occurred overnight on Wednesday, when a Russian drone struck Kulyk’s house in the village of Kriukivshchyna, located in the Kyiv region. The strike killed both Kulyk and her husband, Pavlo Ivanchov, a respected surgeon and medical university professor. Their bodies were recovered later that day, according to reports from Ukrinform, statements from Ivanchov’s university, and the local Institute of Mass Information (IMI) press freedom group.
Kulyk was well known for her work as the author and host of the interview series Nation of the Invincible, which highlighted the resilience of Ukrainians amid the ongoing war with Russia.
“Tetyana Kulyk was a great journalist. She made many programs about our struggle and our heroes,” said Ukrinform Director General Serhiy Cherevatyi in a statement. “We will avenge our colleague with materials that expose the war crimes of the aggressor.”
Cherevatyi described Kulyk’s death as “yet another barbaric killing of an innocent civilian, our colleague,” emphasizing that “Russia must be held to account for each and every murder they commit.”
The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the attack.
Kulyk’s death adds to the growing list of journalists who have lost their lives in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. At least 17 other journalists and media workers have been killed while reporting on the war. In April 2022, Russian forces shelled a residential building in Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, killing Vira Hyrych, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Ukrainian service. More recently, in April 2024, Russian shelling in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia injured Ukrinform reporter Olha Zvonaryova.
The loss of Kulyk, a journalist dedicated to telling the stories of Ukraine’s resilience and struggle, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by reporters covering the war and the urgent need for accountability in the ongoing conflict.
