Russian Drone Kills Two Ukrainian Journalists in Eastern Ukraine

Two Ukrainian journalists, war correspondent Olena Hubanova (also known as Alyona Gramova) and cameraman Yevhen Karmazin, were killed when a Russian Lancet drone struck their car near the front lines in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. Their deaths highlight the escalating danger for journalists reporting in the region, as drone attacks now reach more than 12 miles from the front line, making the work increasingly perilous. The journalists were honored in a funeral service at Kyiv's St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, where they were praised for their dedication to covering enemy crimes, civilian evacuations, and stories of Ukrainian defenders since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The state-run FreeDom TV channel, where Hubanova worked, emphasized her commitment to telling the truth about the destruction caused by Russian forces in her native Donetsk region. Colleagues and officials noted that attacks on journalists have become more frequent, with the enemy viewing such strikes as a form of victory. These killings are part of a broader pattern of targeting media workers, with at least 135 journalists killed since the war began, underscoring the extreme risks faced by those covering the conflict.