Ukrainian journalists have won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize – the jury recognised the work of video journalist Mstislav Chernov, photographer Yevhen Malolyetka and video producer Vasilisa Stepanenko. They spent several weeks in Mariupol after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion and covered the horrors of the Russian offensive.
For almost three weeks, they were the only representatives of the Western media in Mariupol, showing the consequences of Russian attacks, acting as a counterweight to Russian disinformation and facilitating the opening of a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol. This was reported by the Associated Press.
The Pulitzer Prize judges recognised the work of three Ukrainian journalists and French reporter Laurie Hinnant, awarding them the prestigious Public Service Award.
Seven AP photographers, including Yevgeny Malolyetka, also won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for their coverage of the war, including in Mariupol. In addition, photo reports from Ukraine on the impact of the war on the elderly were nominated for the award.
These reports had a significant impact. Later, Mariupol officials reported that the journalists’ work influenced the Russians to allow the evacuation, which saved thousands of civilians. “It’s no exaggeration to say that this work was a true public service – telling the world about the human cost of war, dispelling Russian disinformation, and opening a humanitarian corridor,” said AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Julie Pace.
“It was an ambitious task from the beginning, because it had to be, because the stakes were so high for us, for AP, for the team in Mariupol and for the people of the city,” said Laurie Hinnant. – “At the time, we thought our lives would depend on it, and it turned out to be true.
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