Ольга Звонарьова. Авдіївка, травень 2023 року. Фото: Дмитро Смольєнко
Journalist of the Ukrainian National News Agency Ukrinform, Olha Zvonarova, has become a laureate of the Italian Premio Montecatini di Giornalismo 2026, which recognizes reporting on defense, security, and military affairs.
Ukrinform reported that the decision was made by the award jury chaired by Professor Matthew Hibberd.
The Montecatini journalism award considers editorial works focused on defense and security issues, as well as coverage of officers and service members of the armed forces.
According to Hibberd, the Ukrainian journalist’s reports stand out for their deep insights, ability to engage audiences, and sensitive portrayal of people affected by the war.
Ukrinform Director General Serhii Cherevatyi emphasized that the award recognizes the journalist’s professionalism, courage, and civic stance. He noted that Zvonarova has worked in numerous frontline areas and produced a large number of reports helping inform both Ukraine and the world about the war.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), Alexandru Ion Giboi, congratulated the journalist on the award, highlighting her dedication to the profession and work in difficult wartime conditions.
“I can only congratulate the winner on her outstanding career, built on deep dedication to informing the public under the most difficult conditions during the war in Ukraine. Olha’s work is compelling evidence of why artificial intelligence will never replace real journalism. Ukrinform has become the second EANA member whose journalist has won the Montecatini war journalism prize, after Romania’s Agerpres last year, and this makes me sincerely proud of my colleagues,” he said.
According to the agency, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zvonarova, together with photojournalist Dmytro Smolienko, has worked more than 100 times in frontline areas and locations of military units. She has covered the work of:
artillery divisions
drone operators
electronic warfare units
military hospitals
evacuation of civilians from frontline communities
life in temporarily occupied territories
Olha Zvonarova and Dmytro Smolienko.
Over more than four years of the full-scale war, more than 6,000 of her news reports, 12 interviews, 103 field reports, 56 long-form articles, and nearly 450 photos and videos have been published on the agency’s website.
In April 2024, while working at the site of a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia, Zvonarova came under a secondary attack and sustained serious injuries, including fractures and multiple shrapnel wounds. Despite this, she returned to work within a few months and in July published her first major report after being wounded.
Previously, Zvonarova was awarded the Ukrainian presidential distinction For the Defense of Ukraine and the Order of Merit, Third Class (Ukraine).
The award ceremony will take place on May 13, 2026, in Montecatini Terme, in Italy’s Tuscany region.
What is known about the award
The Montecatini Prize was established by UNUCI, a non-profit organization of former officers of the Italian armed forces. The official ceremony will be held on May 13, 2026, in Montecatini Terme during the Bookfest Montecatini cultural festival.
In previous years, the award has also been given to foreign journalists covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including Marta Serafini, a reporter for Corriere della Sera, and war correspondent Cristian Lupascu of the Romanian agency Agerpres.
