Those Who Joined the Heavenly Host: Fallen Journalists Honored in Cherkasy

A roundtable was held in Cherkasy as part of the Journalists’ Memory Week, with the participation of students from Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Cherkasy National University and media practitioners. The event was organized by the regional organization of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).

The future journalists visited the museum room, Vasyl Symonenko’s Office in the newsroom of Cherkasy Region, and learned about his fate. The head of the regional organization of the NUJU, Tetiana Kalynovska, reminded that on September 16, Ukraine honors fallen journalists, the date is associated with the murder of Georgy Gongadze.

Cherkasy colleagues were also remembered: Ihor Hrushetskyi, Mykola Rakshanov, Vasyl Serhiienko, and Vadym Komarov. The memory of journalists and graduates of the Cherkasy National University who were killed in the war was honored: Oleksandr Kutsokon, Vitalii Taranushenko, Yevhen Starynets, Serhii Morenko, Pavlo Tymoshenko, Roman Chornomaz, Volodymyr Hamalytsia, and Volodymyr Mukan.

Those present talked with Volodymyr Mukan’s mother, who shared his life and service story. It was noted that the Union of Journalists supports the families of the deceased, organizes assistance, and holds memorial events in their honor.

Young media professionals also heard about the challenges of the profession during martial law. Halyna Ryzhak outlined the legal aspects of journalists’ work, and Valentyna Dushok emphasized that journalism is a craft that requires training and practice. She invited students to an internship and urged them to join the NUJU.

The media community of the Cherkasy Region paid tribute to all colleagues who were killed, because the memory of them is stronger than death.