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At the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine today, April 15, a memorial evening was held for the fallen journalists of the Ukrainian international broadcasting TV channel FREEДОМ Olena Hramova (Hubanova) and Yevhen Karmazin titled “Devoted to the journalistic calling at the cost of their own lives.” During the event, the families of the journalists were presented with the state awards of Olena and Yevhen — the Orders “For Merit” III degree, as well as the National Award for the Protection of Freedom of Speech named after Ihor Lubchenko for 2025.
War correspondent Olena Hramova and cameraman Yevhen Karmazin were killed on October 23, 2025, while performing their professional duties in Kramatorsk as a result of a strike on the FREEДОМ TV channel film crew by a Russian “Lancet” UAV. Special correspondent Oleksandr Kolychev sustained severe injuries and is currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Relatives, close ones and colleagues of the fallen journalists attended the memorial event. They shared memories of Olena and Yevhen, spoke about the need to remember the kindness and light that were in them.
“Zhenia was very open and humane, very devoted to his work. He loved and respected his colleague Olena. They were one team, one whole. They got into different situations, were under shelling, but they were very fearless. They did their work together and left together… The rusnya took my son from me, but they cannot take away the memory,” shared Yevhen Karmazin’s father Oleksandr.
Those present recalled Olena and Yevhen’s devotion to the profession, their desire to live and work in Donbas, to be in the hottest spots despite the danger, in order to convey to the world the truth about Russia’s crimes in Ukraine.
“Olena had such a desire to stay at home and not go anywhere. For the last six months, when it was already very, very dangerous and she lived in Dnipro, she still said that it was necessary to stay at home and not leave her Donbas… — recalled Yuliia Bin, CEO of the ‘Multimedia Platform of Ukraine’s International Broadcasting,’ of which the FREEДОМ TV channel is a part. — With the deaths of Olena and Zhenia, there is one hundred percent less smiles and kindness in this world… And so I kindly ask that when you remember them, and when we remember them at work, we do it with a bright smile and kindness. To balance them in the world, because the ‘rusnya’ cannot take away our goodness…”.
State awards — the Order “For Merit” III degree, with which Olena Hramova and Yevhen Karmazin were awarded posthumously, were presented to the relatives of the fallen journalists by Deputy Minister of Culture Nataliia Movshovych.
“Freedom of speech is not an abstract value. Journalists pay with their lives for this value. Therefore, these awards are not only about honoring and remembrance, they are about this price that we must remember. We are infinitely grateful to Olena and Zhenia that they fulfilled their professional duty to the end,” she noted.
The head of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Serhii Tomilenko, handed over to the relatives of the journalists the National Award for the Protection of Freedom of Speech named after Ihor Lubchenko. The award is given annually to journalists, human rights defenders and organizations that, under conditions of pressure, war or repression, remain faithful to professional ethics and civic duty.
“This event is an opportunity to remember our colleagues devoted to their calling. They were absolutely civilians, but they took risks and continued to fulfill their noble mission. And at the cost of their own lives they confirm that this profession has a great noble mission — to tell the truth, and those who tell and document the truth, fight propaganda, document the crimes of the occupiers, are in a high-risk zone,” emphasized Serhii Tomilenko.
Olena Hramova constantly worked in the hottest spots of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, told the world the truth about how Russian troops destroy her native Donetsk region. Olena was from Yenakiieve, when the Russian aggression began she realized that her calling is journalism. Since 2021 she worked as a war correspondent for Ukraine’s state international broadcasting channels. In June 2023 she was awarded the Order of Princess Olha III degree. In November 2025 — the Order “For Merit” III degree (posthumously). Yevhen Kramazin was born in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. Since 2021 he worked as a cameraman for Ukraine’s state international broadcasting channels. In November 2025 he was awarded the Order “For Merit” III degree (posthumously).
Let us recall, special correspondent Oleksandr Kolychev, who while performing his professional duties sustained severe injuries as a result of a Russian strike on Kramatorsk and is currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, was also awarded the Order “For Merit” III degree. Oleksandr will receive financial assistance from the state. The payment is provided within the framework of state support for media workers affected by Russian aggression.
