The laureates

Anna Romandash is an award-winning Ukrainian journalist, author, and correspondent specializing in human rights, media freedom, and armed conflicts. She is internationally recognized for her in-depth coverage of Russia’s war against Ukraine, particularly from combat zones and recently liberated territories, giving a voice to civilians, survivors, and on-the-ground actors. She writes about Ukrainian children abducted by Russia in the occupied territories, Ukrainian civilians illegally detained and imprisoned by the Russians, and the lives of people living under Russian occupation and under attack.

She is the author of two books: Women of Ukraine: Reportages from the War and Beyond, a collection of reports published in English that brings together the experiences of Ukrainian women facing the Russian invasion and its human, social, and cultural consequences; and Stories of Resilience, a literary and journalistic project supported by English PEN and PEN Ukraine, which explores cultural and social resilience in times of war through in-depth interviews with writers, artists, historians, and activists.

Her work has been featured in international media outlets and institutions such as CNN, Radio Free Europe, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and others, where she covers political transformations, human rights, and the long-term impact of war.

For her journalism, Anna has received numerous awards, including the title of “Ambassador for Media Freedom in Ukraine” for her commitment to press freedom, as well as awards from Internews, the Council of Europe, and the Samovydets Literary Contest for her reporting.

She combines on-the-ground reporting, in-depth investigations, and immersive storytelling to raise awareness among international audiences about the reality in Ukraine—from daily life during wartime to the challenges of reconstruction and justice.