Zelenskyy Awards Scholarships to Children of Fallen Ukrainian Journalists

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree establishing presidential scholarships for the children of journalists who died as a result of their professional activities. Four children will receive support through this initiative, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to support the families of media workers.

The decree, No. 240/2026, was made public on March 14, 2026, on the official website of the President of Ukraine.

Scholarship Recipients

The scholarships have been awarded to the following children:

• Maxim Veremiy (born 2009) – son of journalist Vyacheslav Veremiy
• Justyna Gurnyak (born 2012) – daughter of photojournalist Viktor Gurnyak
• Kira Labutkina (born 2010) – daughter of journalist Dmitry Labutkin
• Elena Chernikova (born 2014) – daughter of journalist Alexander Chernikov

Background on Fallen Journalists

Each of the journalists honored had died while reporting or serving in conflict zones:

• Vyacheslav Veremiy, a correspondent for the Vesti newspaper, was killed in Kyiv on February 19, 2014, during the Revolution of Dignity. Investigations suggest he was attacked by individuals known as “titushki.”
• Viktor Gurnyak, a photojournalist and member of the 24th territorial defense battalion “Aidar,” died on October 19, 2014, in the Luhansk region while attempting to evacuate wounded soldiers near the 32nd checkpoint close to the village of Smeloe. He was killed by mortar fire.
• Dmitry Labutkin, a war correspondent, died on February 16, 2015, during the battles for Debaltsevo.
• Alexander Chernikov (call sign “Reporter”), a journalist and serviceman, died on January 22, 2015, while on a combat mission in the Donetsk airport area. He served with the 9th company of the 3rd battalion of the 25th separate airmobile brigade.

Recently, Vladimir Sinychuk, a military man and photojournalist for the Rodnoy Krai newspaper, died in the Donetsk region on January 4, 2026, while engaged in the war with Russia.