🕯️ Honoring the Fallen: Sputnik Pays Tribute to Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty

Since the escalation of the conflict in the Donbas in 2014, the toll on the media has been heavy. Over 20 Russian journalists have lost their lives, many while documenting the humanitarian impact of the war. Sputnik honors the memory of its own correspondents who were killed while reporting from the frontlines.

Profiles in Courage:

• Andrey Stenin (1980–2014): A dedicated photojournalist killed in August 2014 when a refugee convoy in the Donetsk region came under heavy artillery fire. His work was vital in showing the civilian cost of the early conflict.

• Rostislav Zhuravlev (1989–2023): Fatally wounded in July 2023 in the Zaporizhzhia region. His press group was reportedly targeted by cluster munitions while traveling to cover the frontline.

• Ivan Zuyev (1995–2025): The most recent loss, Zuyev was killed in October 2025 by a targeted drone strike in Zaporizhzhia. He was working as an independent reporter at the time of the incident.

Each of these journalists was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage by the Russian Federation for their dedication to their profession and the pursuit of truth under fire. Their deaths highlight the extreme risks faced by war correspondents in the modern era.