“Vika’s Last Assignment”, an investigation by Slidstvo.Info, has won the 2025 National Investigative Journalism Competition. The award-winning documentary retraced the story of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna as she prepared a report and collected testimonies about atrocities and her torture in captivity by Russian war criminals.
Generations of Ukrainian investigative journalists have built strong traditions and a powerful professional community that, in wartime, documents enemy crimes and the challenges of recovery. This was emphasized during the award ceremony of the National Investigative Journalism Competition.
The jury selected 10 works out of 60 submissions. Jury members—including a representative of the Souspilnist Foundation—noted that this year’s entries demonstrated technological mastery, thoroughness, systematic approach, and creative scale in journalistic work. Overall, the finalists’ list featured very powerful investigations:
• “When Water Screams,” The Kyiv Independent, author: Olesia Bida. Co-authors: Roman Sydorenko, Maksym Yakobchuk, Kostiantyn Nechyporenko, Anastasiia Mozhova, and Yevheniya Motorevska.
• “Shadows Across the River,” The Kyiv Independent, author: Danylo Mokryk. Co-author: Kostiantyn Nechyporenko.
• “Curated Theft,” The Kyiv Independent, author: Yevheniia Motorevska. Co-authors: Kostiantyn Nechyporenko, Roman Sydorenko, Maksym Yakobchuk, and Anastasiia Mozhova.
• “A Dangerous Trend: FSB Recruits Ukrainian Children to Torch Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Vehicles,” Schemes: Corruption in Details – RFERL (Radio Liberty project), authors: Iryna Sysak, Valeriia Yehoshyna, Yuliia Khymeryk.
• “Your Grace,” NGL.media, author: Maksym Pikho.
• “Pirates of the Azov Sea,” KibOrg, author: Maksym Dudchenko. Team: Oleh Onysko (editor), Nazar Tuziak (layout & graphics), Maksym Savchuk (mentor), Lina Ivanova (manager), and Maksym Slasnyi (motion design).
• “Russia’s Shadow Fleet,” Ukrainska Pravda, author: Mykhailo Tkach.
• “How Russia Prepares Its Strategic Missile Plant for ‘Eternal War’,” The Kyiv Independent, author: Alisa Yurchenko.
• “Vika’s Last Assignment”, Slidstvo.Info, author: Yanina Korniyenko. Co-authors: Anastasiia Stanko, Anna Perepelytsia, and Anna Babinets.
• “Portnov’s Legacy,” Schemes (Radio Liberty project), author: Serhii Andrushko. Co-authors: Kira Tolstiakova (editor) and Anna Peterimova (infographics).
A special award went to the Schemes team of Radio Liberty for “A Dangerous Trend: FSB Recruits Ukrainian Children to Torch Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Vehicles.”
Congratulations to our colleagues—the winners and finalists of 2025!
