THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
A warm and touching meeting of the employees of the Ivano-Frankivsk Journalists’ Solidarity Center (JSC) of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) with the well-known Ukrainian journalist/military officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Andrii Solomka, took place at the Center. Before the full-scale war, Andrii worked on the Priamyi TV channel, and now he defends Ukraine as part of the 38th Separate Marine Brigade named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi.
We have recently published two interviews with Andrii Solomka. The first part talked about how Andrii got into journalism, the second part was about his voluntary decision to take up arms, the daily realities of a marine, and his views on the future. During the conversation, which was then conducted online, he promised, at the first opportunity, to visit the Center. So, he kept his word. Almost two hours of friendly communication passed very swiftly. Viktoriya Plakhta, the Center‘s coordinator and current colleague, was especially pleased with the long-awaited visit of her student.
“When I worked as a lecturer at the Department of Journalism of the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, I taught future media professionals the basics of journalistic ethics. I remember the great pleasure of teaching classes in the group where Andrii studied. He, in particular, showed great interest in the subject, discussed, and expressed his thoughts. Such classes have a positive effect on the teacher’s motivation, creating a more favorable atmosphere for learning and exchanging knowledge,” Viktoriya Plakhta said.
She also briefly spoke about the main areas of activity of the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC, aimed at providing comprehensive assistance and support to media professionals in their profession. In the context of a conversation about the Center‘s work, Andrii Solomka noted that the functioning of a network of such Centers in Ukraine is important for media professionals, especially in times of war. After all, according to the journalist, the JSCs are a necessary space for work, exchange of experience, and mutual support.
During the meeting, Andrii Solomka spoke about his military life and the challenges he faced on the front lines. He also drew attention to how his journalistic skills repeatedly came in handy during his military service.
Viktoriya Plakhta expressed gratitude and respect to Andrii Solomka for his courage and dedication. Also, she presented a symbolic gift that will come in handy – a flashlight.
It is worth noting that such meetings in the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC indicate that the media community remains united and united even in the most difficult times of the ongoing full-scale war.
The network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers is an initiative of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, implemented in collaboration with the International and European Federations of Journalists and UNESCO, and with the support of the People of Japan. Our primary goal is to assist media professionals working in Ukraine during the war. The Centers are active in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk. The project is part of UNESCO’s broader efforts to support the Safety of Journalists and Freedom of Expression in Ukraine.
Contact the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC at 066 677 0726 (Viktoriya Plakhta, the coordinator of the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC). The Center’s address is 25 Sichovykh Striltsiv Street.
Bohdana Zasidko
Ivano-Frankivsk JSC
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