The lives of children whose parents have died in the line of duty during hostilities are forever changed by the irreparable loss. Such children face a reality where the absence of a loved one is combined with the need to adapt to the social and psychological challenges that accompany their daily lives. The loss of a father or mother in such circumstances is not limited to emotional pain, it affects education, financial security and the overall stability of the family. In this context, state initiatives aimed at supporting the children of deceased journalists become important, which allow at least partially compensating for the consequences of the tragedy.
Establishment of scholarships for children of deceased journalists
On March 14, 2026, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree №240/2026, which established scholarships for children of journalists who died in connection with the performance of their professional duties. This state support provides for regular financial assistance, which is aimed at providing opportunities for education and development of children left without parents. The decree came into force from the moment of publication, which allows for the immediate provision of scholarships to recipients.
Among those who received scholarships are:
-
Maksym Veremiy, born in 2009, son of Vyacheslav Veremiy, a correspondent who died in the center of Kyiv during the events of February 2014;
-
Yustyna Gurnyak, born in 2012, daughter of Viktor Gurnyak, a photojournalist and soldier of the 24th Territorial Defense Battalion “Aidar”, who died on October 19, 2014 under mortar fire in Luhansk region;
-
Kira Labutkina, born in 2010, daughter of Dmitry Labutkin, a war correspondent, who died on February 16, 2015 during the battles for Debaltseve;
-
Elena Chernikova, born in 2014, daughter of Alexander Chernikov, a soldier of the 9th company of the 3rd battalion of the 25th separate airmobile brigade, who died on January 22, 2015 near the Donetsk airport.
Details of the tragedies
The loss of a father for a child in wartime is accompanied by simultaneous shock and instability of the environment. Thus, Vyacheslav Veremiy was killed in the center of Kyiv in February 2014 during the confrontations, leaving behind a son who later had to get used to life without his father’s support.
Viktor Hurnyak’s death was the result of mortar shelling as he tried to rescue the wounded in the area of the 32nd checkpoint near the village of Smile in Luhansk region, leaving his young daughter with a deep sense of loss and fear for her safety.
Dmytro Labutkin died in the battle for Debaltseve while performing his professional duty as a war correspondent, which highlights the constant risk for journalists on the front lines and the psychological strain on their children.
Elena Chernikova, born in 2014, was left without her father, Oleksandr Chernikov, who died in January 2015 during the battle near Donetsk airport. She is growing up without remembering him, and the state is now providing her with a scholarship to support her education and development in the circumstances left by the war.
A state scholarship cannot completely replace parental support, but it creates an opportunity for education, development, and participation in social programs that help children adapt to new living conditions. Such initiatives demonstrate that society and the state are taking on some of the responsibility for those who find themselves in the most difficult situation as a result of hostilities, providing a certain stability in times of uncertainty.
Children who receive scholarships are able to focus on their studies and creative pursuits without feeling the constant financial pressure that often accompanies the loss of a breadwinner. In addition, such programs can help with social adaptation and the formation of a sense of community support, which is important for overcoming the psychological trauma of war.
