Reporting trip to Kupiansk district. The next day, a Russian FPV drone hit the car we used to film volunteers rescuing horses. November–December 2024
Photo credit: Oksana Savoskina
The hardest part for me is interviewing the relatives of the deceased — visiting the sites of impact and seeing loved ones standing by the rubble, waiting for any news from the rescuers. But I have firmly told myself: "My stories are about people and for people." That’s why I will continue. I will always stand by their side and try to tell the stories of the injustices they face. Through my work, I document a specific period of time, capturing people and their stories, because people are the most important part of this war.
Journalist at Hromadske.
Over six years of experience, Savoskina primarily focused on healthcare and human rights, but she now reports on news from the frontlines and frontline territories.
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Since the full-scale invasion, my primary focus has been on documenting the lives of people in the liberated territories and reporting on Russian war crimes. Subsequently, we expanded our coverage to include in-depth reports on the daily lives of our military and the process of reclaiming Ukrainian land.
A significant challenge I face today is the inability to work as close to the front lines as we did in 2022–2023, due to the widespread use of FPV drones and other technological limitations. Reflecting on it, I regret not having had the chance to write about the frontline more frequently, despite our assignments being as often as every other week. This limitation has restricted our ability to report extensively on the experiences of our infantry and mortar units.
I have aspired to journalism since school, always reacting strongly to injustice and believing that journalism has the power to contribute to positive change in the world. My focus has been on international events and human rights issues, which I have consistently explored in my work.
Today, when women in Ukraine have to give birth in basements, endure occupation, flee with their children under shelling, and face violence, the idea of gender equality cedes to survival. That’s why I now dedicate my work to telling stories of people — especially stories of women whose strength redefines resilience.
Oksana
Savoskina