TERWIN Corporation, together with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine and Kyiv City State Administration, establishes a memorial square honoring journalists who di
To mark Journalist’s Day, TERWIN Corporation honored the memory of Ukrainian journalists who lost their lives during the full-scale war by planting trees in memory of each fallen media professional. The creation of the Memorial Square was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine and the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA).
Journalists from leading Ukrainian media outlets joined TERWIN’s initiative, along with members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and representatives of the Kyiv City State Administration, planting trees together. This is the first memorial square in Ukraine dedicated to journalists who died as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The initiative was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of KCSA, and the VARUS supermarket chain.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, more than 100 Ukrainian media professionals — journalists, reporters, photographers, camera operators, and editors — have been killed since 2022 as a result of Russian aggression. They were the ones holding the informational front line and remain forever a part of our shared memory.
The Memorial Square, initiated by TERWIN, has become a symbol of gratitude, respect, and remembrance for those who gave their lives for truth and for Ukraine’s right to be heard by the world.
“Journalists are an essential part of our society. Thanks to their daily, courageous work, the world knows the truth about the war in Ukraine. Remembering each one who has fallen is our duty. As a responsible corporation, this year we decided to honor our late colleagues instead of giving traditional gifts for Journalist’s Day. The trees that will grow in this square will remind us — and future generations — of the price we are paying in this terrible war,”
— said Olena Zubarieva, Director of Strategic Communications and Development at TERWIN Corporation.
“They were ordinary people — they loved, dreamed, and had plans. Their lives were cut short by the war: some died while on duty, some on their way to work, and others were tortured in Russian captivity. The most important thing we can do is preserve the memory of each of them,”
— said Yevhenii Brahar, Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech.
“I thank responsible businesses for such socially important initiatives. We remember all those who died while performing their professional duties — those who told the world the truth about the war and made sure the world knows about Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, 107 media representatives have already been killed. This square will become a symbolic place of remembrance — everyone who visits it will reflect on the contribution Ukrainian journalists have made to our shared struggle. We have the Armed Forces, who defend Ukraine’s independence with weapons in hand, and we have journalists, who from the frontlines, with cameras and recorders, carried the truth. And that is no less important,”
— said Andrii Nadzhos, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine for European Integration.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than a hundred Ukrainian media professionals — journalists, editors, cameramen, reporters, and photographers — have died. They gave their lives so the world would know the truth about Ukraine. We are grateful to businesses that join such important initiatives and help the city,”
— noted Serhii Saburov, Acting Director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of the KCSA.
The official part of the event was attended by:
Yevhenii Brahar, Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech;
Andrii Nadzhos, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine for European Integration;
Mykhailo Budilov, Director of the Department of Territorial Control of Kyiv;
Serhii Saburov, Acting Director of the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of the KCSA;
Olena Zubarieva, Director of Strategic Communications and Development at TERWIN Corporation.
The national supermarket chain VARUS became an event partner, providing products from its private label brand Varto.
Additionally, the corporation launched a Memorial Website dedicated to the journalists who lost their lives during the full-scale war. The information is collected from open sources and updated on a regular basis. Those wishing to share stories or personal memories about their colleagues can send them to d.bakarzhieva@terwingroup.com — they will be published on the website.
The trees planted have become roots of memory, growing together with a free Ukraine and preserving the remembrance of the journalists whose lives were taken by the brutal war.