- 
French
 - 
fr
German
 - 
de
Italian
 - 
it
Spanish
 - 
es
English
 - 
en
UKR
National Union of Journalist of Ukraine

THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE

No Result
View All Result
DONATE
  • Home
  • News
  • Stories
  • Affected Media
  • Our Partners
  • About NUJU
  • Contacts
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Stories
  • Affected Media
  • Our Partners
  • About NUJU
  • Contacts
DONATE
THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Stories
  • Our Partners
  • DONATE
Home Stories

Julia Boyko: “Personally, for me, it was probably the hardest and the shortest shoot”

NUJU By NUJU
23.12.2024
in Stories
1
0
YUliia Boyko1
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSent by emailScan QR

After coming under fire, I suffered a concussion and severe panic attacks. Eventually, I decided to take a break from work—it was becoming too difficult to continue in that state. However, the shelling wasn’t the sole reason for this decision; it was simply the last straw. Over the two years of war, living in Kharkiv has meant enduring daily sheilings and witnessing the aftermath in liberated settlements. The cumulative pain and trauma became overwhelming. That particular shelling was especially hard because it happened so close to home. It was around 1 a.m. I had just finished working on the news feed for the website around midnight and gone to bed. The first shell hit a few houses away, followed by another that struck a three-story residential building nearby. For about 30 minutes, we assessed the damage, ensuring our windows were intact. The house had been slightly damaged by the blast wave, but everything seemed okay.  

Once I confirmed everything was fine at home, I went to the site to report. I worked for about 10 minutes before people began shouting that another attack was underway. I remember walking toward a large intersection, something stopping me, and deciding to go back closer to the house. I fell near the curb, and at that moment, an explosion occurred. That night, three rescuers died at that intersection when a mine hit their vehicle. I realized how close I had come to being another victim. If I had gone just a little further toward the rescue vehicle, we might not be having this conversation now.  

YUliia Boyko 4

This shelling left a deep scar on me. It wasn’t just the physical proximity—it was the realization that danger doesn’t only strike at work but also at home. Kharkiv has been like this for almost three years. There hasn’t been a single month without attacks, and no part of the city is safe from missiles. It’s a daily reality: you’re walking down the street, and a message appears in monitoring Telegram channels about a missile flying over the city. I’ve had moments where I was in a taxi and had to stop the car to find shelter. The constant stress deeply affected my psychological state, but taking a break from journalism has helped. I feel more stable now and have decided to stay in Kharkiv. I made that choice at the start of the full-scale invasion, and despite everything, I’ve stayed true to it. Filming in Kharkiv is inherently dangerous, especially at impact sites. The Russians often re-attack the same locations, targeting areas where emergency services, law enforcement, and journalists are working. Every assignment carries risks, but it’s part of the job.  

YUliia Boyko3
YUliia Boyko z kolehoiu
YUliia Boyko
YUliia Boyko v tsentri zkolehamy

 

I dislike being called a “war journalist” or “military correspondent.” Our work hasn’t fundamentally changed—we still report on what’s happening in our city, in Kharkiv. Military journalists actively go to war zones to document the conflict. We don’t. We live here, and the war unfolds before our eyes every day. This makes the work morally challenging. In any profession where you work with people, the priority is not to harm. When interviewing people at impact sites or even conducting street surveys, you never know if your questions might hurt someone emotionally. What sustains me most is my family. The war has brought us even closer. My mother, who is currently serving as a military officer, has been a pillar of strength. My family’s support has been invaluable in helping me recover.  

YUliia Boyko 5

 

 

Animals have also been a great comfort. We are very fond of animals and now have four cats rescued from Balakliya and other formerly occupied territories. At the start of the invasion, I also adopted a dog from an abandoned kennel. Caring for them has been therapeutic—it forces me to focus on their needs and keeps me from dwelling on my own pain. Friends and colleagues have also played a vital role. Many came on the first day of the invasion to support us morally and professionally. Their presence and encouragement have been a tremendous help. Our work has always been about informing people about what’s happening around us. Despite the interruptions, risks, and personal costs, we continue because it’s a duty we chose when we entered this profession.  

YUliia Boyko na zyomkakh

Created as part of the project “Raising awareness among target groups in Ukraine and abroad about Russian war crimes against journalists in 2024 and increasing public pressure for the release of captured journalists”, which is implemented by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine with support of the Swedish non-profit human rights organization Civil Rights Defenders.

 

Previous Post

How to defend human and journalistic rights while performing professional duties: round table in Chernivtsi

Next Post

Yevhen Khrypun: “There is a firm understanding that equipment may be needed at any moment”

Related Articles

photo 2025 01 03 12 13 22 7
Stories

Olena Tsyhipa, wife of Russian civilian prisoner Sergiy Tsyhipa:  “We cannot live, wake up, or breathe peacefully while our loved ones remain in captivity.”

2025/01
photo 2025 01 03 07 25 27 6
Stories

“Russians hunt people with drones”

2025/01
photo 2024 12 31 14 48 56
Stories

“The rocket hit the civilian convoy directly”

2025/01

Discussion about this post

TOP News

  • Frédéric Pétry during filming in Orekhov. Photo by 65 SMB / Andrii Andriienko

    French photojournalist Frédéric Pétry documents realities of the war in Zaporizhzhia

    58 shares
    Share 23 Tweet 15
  • List of journalists killed since start of russia’s full-scale aggression (UPDATE)

    277 shares
    Share 111 Tweet 69
  • “Protect the economic viability of professional information production!” – UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay

    3 shares
    Share 1 Tweet 1
harkiv brazyliya1

“I see and feel the history of war”: Brazilian media worker recording military events in Ukraine

23.07.2025
Vladlen Abdulkadyrov. Crimean solidarity

Ukrainian journalists support repressed colleagues from Crimea

23.07.2025
Generated by AI

Media Grant Competitions: Closed System or Professional Selection?

21.07.2025
zobrazhennya viber 2025 07 17 16 09 16 930

“A colleague said, “Stop thinking like a regional journalist.” And I replied that this is my advantage,” – Vasylisa Stepanenko

18.07.2025
The film was released with English subtitles for foreign viewers

Pages of Hope – a film about indomitable might of front-line journalism

17.07.2025
1 1 1

The Enemy Can Destroy Broadcasting Towers But Cannot Break Media’s Resilience – Danielė Rožėnaitė

17.07.2025

National Union of Journalist of Ukraine

National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), according to its Statute, it is a national all-Ukrainian organization a creative union uniting journalists and other media workers.

Contacts

E-mail: [email protected]

© 2023 NUJU - National Union of Journalist of Ukraine

  • Home
  • News
  • Stories
  • Affected Media
  • Our Partners
  • About NUJU
  • Contacts
No Result
View All Result

© 2023 - 2025 NUJU - National Union of Journalist of Ukraine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In