When Liubov Sitak took the stage in Brussels, tears welled up in his eyes as he began to speak about his work as a war correspondent in northeastern Ukraine.
“At home, I never cry,” she told DW in an exclusive interview after the program. “Only here, far from home, did I realize how much pressure I was under, and that my situation was not normal anywhere else in Europe.”
At only 20 years old, Liubov Sitak has seen far more than most journalists ever will. From the border region of Sumy, she reports for Kordon.media – “kordon” means “border” in Ukrainian – a small independent outlet she joined two years ago. Her work takes her to bombed-out villages and evacuation zones, where she documents the destruction, interviews survivors, and confirms casualties in Russian attacks.
ukrainian media talk
was a young journalist One of 10 Ukrainians to present their workBut “Ukraine Media Talk – Stories from the Frontline.” At the DW Academy event, European policymakers, media experts and advocates discussed how to keep Ukraine’s independent media alive at a time when Russian disinformation is widespread and funding shortfalls are growing.
More than once, Liubov Sitak thought that a reporting mission might be his last. This spring, she narrowly escaped death when two Russian rockets landed less than 200 meters from where she was documenting Red Cross volunteers helping civilians escape. She thought this was the end, but kept filming. She recalls, “My instinct to report was stronger than my instinct to survive.”
a heavy death great
116 journalists have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 18 of them while reporting. Barbara Massing, director general of Deutsche Welle, said, “With every journalist murdered, we lose our voice and a part of our democracy and freedom.”
During his keynote address, he emphasized that in times of war, free information is scarce and people’s ability to make their own choices is at risk. That’s why DW, as Germany’s international broadcaster, is supporting Ukrainian media to make their voices heard.
Cooperation with Ukrainian media continues since the 90s. One of the most important projects was the development of Ukraine’s modern public broadcaster “Suspilne” in 2014. Between 2024 and 2026, the EU is contributing €3.7 million ($4.3 million) to finance DW Academy’s media development projects in Ukraine.
fighting disinformation and fear
This support for Sitak is not abstract. Without these grants, his work would hardly have been possible. As USAID has reduced its aid, partnerships with DW and EU-funded programs have become vital, allowing its small newsroom to pay salaries and stay afloat.
But financial stability is only part of the challenge. “Every month, Russian drones come closer,” he said. “We need an armored vehicle to move safely to the frontline. Pronouncing that you’re a journalist won’t help; the Russians will bomb you either way.”
Journalism as a pillar of democracy
The discussion on the forum of the Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia, where the event was hosted, made clear that people like Liubov Sitak do more than just keep citizens informed, they guarantee the existence of a free press.
“Supporting Ukrainian independent media counters disinformation and protects democracy in Ukraine and across Europe,” said Barbara Messing, DW’s director general. He emphasized that this is also an information war. “These media outlets live where the war is waging, online and on their doorstep. They cannot continue their vital work without European support.”
a country beyond war
When asked what message Liubov Sitak has for an international audience, she doesn’t hesitate. “People abroad should know that there is a war going on in Sumy,” he said. “Very few foreign journalists come here. If we stop reporting, or the world stops paying attention, Sumi will disappear.”
Their determination reflects the spirit of a new generation of Ukrainian journalists, who are young and deeply committed to telling their country’s story, even when the world’s attention turns elsewhere.
Like many of his peers, Sitak dreams of one day reporting on peace rather than war. This would likely mean the end of his role as a war correspondent, but not as a journalist.
She said, “I want to continue my calling, reporting on Ukraine. But I want the people of Europe to know my home as more than war, to see it as a country full of life, creativity and hope.”
Edited by: Rob Mudge