Posthumous Honor for Fallen Journalists Alena Gramova and Yevhen Karmazin with National Free Speech Award.

National Free Speech Protection Award

According to UATV: The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine has posthumously awarded the Igor Lubchenko National Prize for the Protection of Freedom of Speech to journalists Alena Gramova and Yevhen Karmazin. The two were killed in Kramatorsk on October 23, 2025, while carrying out their professional duties. This award recognizes their significant contributions to defending free speech and journalistic work under perilous conditions. The honor underscores the extreme dangers journalists face while reporting from conflict zones.

Alena Gramova, originally from Yenakiieve, was 43 at the time of her death. She had previously been honored with the Order of Princess Olga, III degree, in June 2023 for her journalistic achievements. Yevhen Karmazin, a native of Kramatorsk, was ten years younger than Alena and was 33 when he died. Both journalists were posthumously awarded the Order of Merit, III degree, in November 2025.

Honoring the Journalists' Legacy

The Igor Lubchenko National Prize for the Protection of Freedom of Speech was established in 2012. Igor Lubchenko, who led the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine from 1997 to 2012, is a symbol of the struggle for free speech in Ukraine. The prize aims to honor the memory of journalists who risk their lives in pursuit of the truth.

Sergiy Tomilenko emphasized that 'they were killed by a Russian drone, but they have not vanished from our memory. Alena and Yevhen were courageous journalists who chose truth even under mortal threat. We will always remember them.'

These words reflect a profound respect for the heroism of journalists who, despite the danger, continued to fulfill their duties.

Past laureates of the prize include notable figures such as:

• Sergiy Tsyhipa
• Vladyslav Yesypenko
• Stanislav Aseyev
• Roman Sushchenko
• and many others.

All have made significant contributions to protecting freedom of speech and journalists' rights. The award presented to Alena Gramova and Yevhen Karmazin highlights the importance of their work and serves as a reminder of the risks journalists confront in Ukraine and globally.

This award is not only a recognition of the personal achievements of Alena Gramova and Yevhen Karmazin but also a testament to the challenging conditions under which journalists operate in Ukraine, especially during wartime. It underscores the importance of free speech as a cornerstone of democratic society and reminds us that journalistic work is often accompanied by grave risks. Honoring the memory of fallen journalists calls for societal solidarity and support for media working in dangerous circumstances.