War in Ukraine: One Year of VOA Coverage
War in Ukraine: One Year of VOA Coverage
From the first hours of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, VOA’s coverage has focused on providing thorough, fact-checked news and information about the war for the people of Ukraine, Russia and the entire world, placing events in context and highlighting the U.S. perspective on the conflict. Heather Murdock was among the first international journalists to bring on-scene accounts of the Russian full-scale assault when it began in the early hours of February 24, 2022.
Covering the War for the Entire World
VOA’s unique position enables it to anticipate, prepare and adapt to rapidly evolving developments in Ukraine and around the globe. VOA’s Myroslava Gongadze, has reported from inside Ukraine on Ukrainians' struggle for normalcy. VOA’s Henry Ridgwell has kept an eye on how the conflict has forced millions out Ukraine and changed Europe's security landscape.
Beyond Europe
VOA's Latin America Division approached the conflict with an emphasis on victims' and refugees' humanitarian needs. In line with the strategic focus, VOA's Spanish Service journalists produced a range of original content, including documentaries specifically tailored for Latin America. The original production "Border to Border" showed the dire humanitarian conditions faced by migrants from Ukraine and Central America as they try to cross the border between Mexico and the United States, while "Lives on Hold" was produced at the border between Ukraine and Poland by Spanish-speaking VOA journalists who covered the story 'in situ' for audiences in Latin America.
China and Ukraine
The U.S. has said it believes that China may be considering providing lethal aid to help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, prompting a direct warning against doing so from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China’s top diplomat. China, in response, said that U.S. is "not qualified" to issue orders on arms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if China sides with Russia in the war, it will bring World War III. How is China helping Russia with non-lethal technologies? What is the likelihood of China providing lethal weapons to Russia and if so, what could be the global impact?
VOA’s Mandarin-language coverage of the war in Ukraine stands apart from Chinese domestic media.
Engaging Washington
Voice of America journalists engage thought leaders and policymakers around the U.S. with events like "War Stories: How Ukraine's Media are Confronting Russia's Aggression" and “Ukraine a Year After the Russian Invasion: A Look Ahead.”
Strong Worldwide Audience Interest
Audiences in countries as diverse as Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Iran, Latin America, Georgia, Albania, and Myanmar demonstrate strong interest in VOA coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Between February 23, 2022, and February 22, 2023, VOA's coverage attracted more than 2.4 billion video views and 144 million engagement actions across social media platforms, as well as 83.5 million visits to VOA websites.
Award-Winning Results
VOA’s Eastern Europe Chief Myroslava Gongadze will receive the 2023 Inamori Ethics Prize, an award reserved for “ethical leaders whose actions and influence have greatly improved the condition of humankind.”
Telling America’s Story
VOA content in 48 languages provides accurate, objective and comprehensive news on conflict from a variety of angles that are often unavailable from local media outlets. In March 2022, VOA Ukrainian produced a live stream with simultaneous translation of President Joe Biden’s address on measures to limit Russia’s aggression, as well as streams of official statements by Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland. More recently, VOA provided in-depth coverage and analyses of President Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine.
An Ongoing Commitment
Voice of America traces its history to World War II. Now, 81 years later, and 12 months into a new European conflict, VOA continues to serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA is committed to providing accurate, objective and comprehensive news and information to audiences worldwide – including those most affected by the war in Ukraine.