Ukraine: Russian Shelling Claims the Life of Oksana Haidar, First Woman Journalist Killed
CFWIJ condemns the killing of Oksana Haidar, urges international community to intervene
Location: Ukraine, Shevchenkove
Date: March 11, 2022
Oksana Haidar, a renowned Ukrainian journalist and blogger known as "Ruda Pani," was tragically killed during the Russian artillery shelling of Shevchenkove village, situated northeast of Kyiv. Haidar is the first woman journalist who has lost her life since the beginning of the war. The Coalition For Women In Journalism deeply mourns the devastating loss of Oksana Haidar and strongly denounces Russia's deliberate targeting of journalists. We urgently call upon the international community to impose stricter sanctions on Russia in response to these egregious actions.
On or around March 11, 2022, Oksana Haidar tragically lost her life during the Russian artillery shelling of Shevchenkove village. The information was initially shared by her friend, Larysa Vakulnytska, through a Facebook post and was subsequently confirmed by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU). According to reports, Russian forces were heavily shelling the Brovary district, where Shevchenkove is situated, during that time.
The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine confirmed that Oksana Haidar and her mother's bodies were discovered in a residential garden in Shevchenkove on April 7, 2022. The investigation concluded that the injuries sustained during the shelling were the direct cause of their tragic deaths.
On April 8, 2022, criminal proceedings were launched by the prosecutor's office of the Kyiv region under part 2 of Article 438 of the Ukrainian criminal code. The charges pertain to the "violation of the laws and customs of war" in relation to Haidar's tragic death.
Immediately after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the media landscape in the country underwent significant changes at all levels - local, regional, national, and international. As the initial shock of the invasion settled, organizations within and outside Ukraine were compelled to swiftly respond to the constantly evolving situation on the ground, prioritizing the safety and protection of journalists covering the war.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism deeply mourns the tragic loss of Oksana Haidar. We strongly condemn her senseless killing and call upon the international community to stand in solidarity with the journalists reporting in Ukraine, condemn these heinous acts as well as exert diplomatic pressure, impose more stringent sanctions, and use all available means to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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