Ukraine: Russian Forces Injure Vlada Liberova, CFWIJ Condemns Attack
Well-known photojournalist sustains shrapnel wound
Location: Ukraine, Donetsk
Date: December 22, 2023
Vlada Liberova was reporting from the frontlines when her vehicle was struck by Russian fire in eastern Ukraine. This marks the sixth woman journalist assaulted by Russian forces in Ukraine in 2023. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the attack on media personnel. Deliberately targeting civilians is a war crime. We urge safety and protection for all press reporting from conflict zones and call on the International Criminal Court to investigate this incident.
On the afternoon of December 22, 2023, photographer Vlada Liberova was wounded in Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces allegedly targeted the vehicle in which she was traveling, injuring her leg.
According to information provided by the Prosecutor General's Office, the attack occurred when Russian troops fired upon a section of the road in the Pokrovsk district. A car carrying military personnel and press was caught in the crossfire, resulting in the injury of Vlada Liberova.
Liberova's husband, photographer Kostiantyn Liberov, who was also present during the attack says that the doctors will not remove the shrapnel from his wife’s leg.
"The shrapnel will remain in place because it is at such depth and close to the bone that surgery could cause more harm. If there are no complications, it will stay that way," Konstantin reported.
Providing updates on her Instagram stories, Vlada Liberova expressed feeling better and announced her continued treatment in one of Kyiv's hospitals.
The Liberova couple, renowned for their pre-war photography, shifted their focus to documenting the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine, specifically in cities like Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sievierodonetsk, Irpin, and Bucha. Their work aims to capture the human side of the conflict, portraying the stories, grief, and resilience of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.
This attack on Liberova is just one example of the dangers faced by journalists in Ukraine. In 2023, at least six women journalists were attacked by Russian strikes while reporting from the frontlines. CFWIJ has documented the killing of at least five women journalists since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Oksana Baulina, Oksana Haidar, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, Victoria Amelina, and Vira Hyrych have all lost their lives due to Russian forces' shelling.
These assaults on journalists' lives are integral to Russia's broader strategy to intimidate the press in Ukraine, complemented by detentions and criminal prosecutions targeting media workers and their relatives. In response, CFWIJ, alongside 20 other press freedom organizations, issued a joint statement urging international organizations to take action against Russia and hold it accountable for war crimes against journalists.
The Coalition for Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom denounces Russia’s continued attack on media workers in Ukraine. We wish Vlada Liberova a swift recovery and urge an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
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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