International Women's Media Foundation Honour The Washington Post Journalists for Coverage of Ukraine Conflict

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) has awarded The Washington Post's team of journalists with the prestigious 2023 Courage in Journalism Award for their exceptional coverage of the conflict in Ukraine during 2022. The award is bestowed annually upon women journalists who exhibit extraordinary bravery and dedication in uncovering the truth under challenging circumstances.

The recognized journalists include bureau director Isabelle Khurshudyan, Siobhan O'Grady, Anastacia Galouchka, and Kamila Hrabchuk, who are currently stationed full-time in Kyiv. Additionally, several contributors and team members who traveled to Ukraine in 2022 were also honored for their impactful reporting. Among them were video journalists Whitney Shefte and Whitney Leaming, contributing photojournalist Heidi Levine, national security reporter Missy Ryan, and bureau chiefs from various locations, including Baghdad, Bogotá, and Berlin.

The Washington Post's coverage of the conflict in Ukraine has been comprehensive, comprising firsthand reporting in text, images, and videos from various regions, including towns, cities, and frontline areas. The team shed light on transgressions that would have otherwise remained concealed amidst the chaos of war.

Their reporting delved into the use of trench warfare, drone-guided artillery fire, and clandestine resistance fighters by Ukrainian forces in their efforts to repel the Russian occupation. By providing in-depth details and insights from sources cultivated over months, the journalists accurately portrayed the profound human cost of war on the civilian population.

The journalists from The Post were on the ground in Kyiv when the full-scale invasion began, facing the danger of Russian shelling. Notably, Khurshudyan and Leaming were among the last correspondents from Western media to leave Kharkiv as the city came under intense bombardment. O'Grady and Galouchka experienced targeted artillery bombardment twice while covering the artillery conflict in the Donetsk area.

Whitney Shefte, who contributed to the account of women giving birth in underground bunkers, had been stationed with a military unit in Mariupol since 2014, battling rebels with Russian support.

In recognition of their exceptional journalism, private events will be held in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles in the autumn to honor the recipients of the 2023 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award. The awardees' dedication to uncovering the truth amidst perilous circumstances serves as an inspiration to journalists worldwide and highlights the vital role of women in journalism.

The Washington Post and its journalists continue to exemplify the highest standards of journalistic integrity and courage, ensuring that the world remains informed about critical global events.