Editor of the Orikhiv newspaper Trudova Slava Svitlana Karpenko: “The paper version of the newspaper still in the most considerable demand.”

On April 5, 2023, the first issue of the Trudova Slava newspaper was published after a long break, which was caused by the russian invasion and lasted more than a year. In the same year, in 2023, fellow countrymen received 16 issues, in 2024 – already 23 issues. This was achieved thanks to the tangible, constant support of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) and the union’s international partners. Comprehensive support from such non-governmental organizations as the Institute for Regional Media and Information (IRMI, Ukraine), the Independent Regional Publishers Association, and the Laboratory of Public Interest Journalism.

Currently, the creative union helps the publication follow its chosen path and recommends it to various grant projects.

The newspaper is distributed free of charge. The newsroom is assisted in this by the heads and elders of five communities – Orikhiv, Mala Tokmachka, Preobrazhenka, Tavriyske, Komyshuvakha, as well as the Zaporizhzhia department of the State Emergency Situations Service (SESS), the Orikhiv (now Polohivska) District organization of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine, and the Pivden Foundation. This is effective support!

Together with reliable friends – employees of the SESS of Zaporizhzhia – Svitlana Karpenko regularly visits residents of the district. Recently, they visited Preobrazhenka (Preobrazhenka Community) and Orikhiv (Orikhiv Community). More precisely, their surroundings. People who live here are afraid to move around the territory due to intense and unpredictable shelling. Therefore, they go to temporary centers only when necessary.

Rescuers constantly support the local population: they deliver bread, drinking water, food, treats, animal feed – everything that volunteers give. This list also includes the local Orikhiv newspaper, which is also the most necessary.

When asked what else they need, the residents of the Orikhiv Community answer succinctly: “Peace. We want peace. We don’t need anything else…”

Svitlana Svitlova,

Photo by Anna Lohvynenko