By documenting and reporting on the realities of war, I aim to contribute to the rebuilding of Ukraine’s future and ensure that the stories of resilience and resistance are heard, both now and for generations to come.
Despite the challenges, I continue this work because I believe in the power of facts and the role of journalism.
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A series of mass protests in Ukraine in 2013-2014 against the authoritarian regime of President Yanukovych. The protests led to his escape and the change in political power, marking a crucial step toward European integration and democratic reforms in Ukraine.
A Boy Looks at a House Hit by a Missile in Kharkiv’s Industrialnyi District, After the Russian Army Shelled Five Locations and Injured 97 People, Including 22 Children. August 2024
Photo Credit: Serhii Prokopenko
My journey into journalism began with a deep sense of confusion during the Revolution of Dignity in Kharkiv. At the time, I was working in the IT sector, but I felt a strong need to understand what was happening around me. I had a deep desire to create a media outlet that would explain complex issues in simple terms and promote the creative economy.
After a series of meetings and reflections, I realised that meaningful change requires a shift in culture and innovation — this helps people feel connected to a greater purpose, especially their own country. This vision inspired the founding of Gwara Media in 2015.
Initially, we developed projects such as books for visually impaired readers, audiobooks, podcasts, and actively translated articles about startup culture and the creative economy. We experimented with long reads and multimedia and launched a podcast series, Gwara Talks, featuring local voices from the creative sector.
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The most challenging stories to cover are reports from frontline villages, which are both emotionally and physically demanding. These narratives come from places like Dovhenke village or Izium, both of which were under occupation during the war, with Izium suffering significant destruction before its liberation.
However, our biggest challenges now are staffing and resources. Since the full-scale invasion began, it has been difficult to retain specialists — some have left from Kharkiv, while others are experiencing burnout. Planning is also tricky; any missile strike can derail the entire workflow. Another significant challenge is the lack of access to information. For instance, we attempted to investigate fortifications in the Kharkiv region, but government institutions refuse to respond to our requests.
When the war began, we pivoted our media focus to social and political reporting, with our primary focus on news coverage, fact-checking, and frontline journalism. We also write extensively about the lives of people living in border villages in the Kharkiv region who face constant shelling. These stories are inspiring and motivate us to keep working. Our journalism is grounded in humanity, showcasing real people at the centre of these narratives. We are also expanding into investigative journalism and essays. Initially, we walked around the city to document the destruction, but eventually, we recognised the need for a more impactful approach. This led to the creation of the Perevirka (FactCheck) bot. Today, a dedicated fact-checking team manages this effort, and we've also launched a news department. That's how Gwara has evolved into what it is today.
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Before the Revolution of Dignity, I saw in Poland and Lviv how culture and innovation can strenghten society. I want the same for Kharkiv. But today, as the city endures daily attacks, my work focuses on documenting the war.
Reporter and editor-in-chief of Gwara Media.
Founder of the local media outlet Ser,ii Prokopenko covers news from Kharkiv and its region — the closest to the frontline big city that constantly suffers from shelling.
Serhii
Prokopenko