Olesia Tytarenko is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of News at the National Public Broadcaster of Ukraine (Suspilne) and former Special Correspondent of Radio France Internationale in Kiev. She participated in the M100YEJ in 2017 and the M100Colloquium in 2022.
Twitter: @OlesiaTytarenko
This war is online. Since 24 February, I’ve learned a lot about missiles, drones, and electricity cuts. The high society of Patriots, Leopards, and F-16 replaced the previously desired world of Eighth Avenue, le quai d’Orsay, and Boston, MA. During these 12 months, I’ve been rediscovering journalism, getting used to the breaking news regime, and coping with my own war experiences. I stayed home and traveled within the country a lot. As if I was afraid of never seeing the fields, the boundless steppes, the Dnieper’s plunging shore again. Like never before, I enjoyed the family weekends, my mom’s welcome dinner, my brother’s giggles, and my father’s “see you soon” while boarding the train back to Kyiv. As if I was…
Alongside the other journalists and editors, I participated in the 24-hour news telethon, wrote articles, conducted interviews, went on air, and gave numerous comments on how Russia made our lives hell. My goal was to ensure that the international audience understands: There is no conflict. This is a war.
Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine needs help. Ukrainians can’t lose their motherland like 100 years ago again. We, together with our allies, have to win and restore justice. Now, seeing Volodymyr Zelensky singing the national anthem at the EU parliament special session, we can definitely say that the world heard us. Ukraine is à la mode. Because of the war? Yes. Because of geopolitics? Yes, sure. But mostly because of us, Ukrainians. All these 12 months, I keep asking myself if my contribution was considerable, am I doing enough? Surely not. I am not a soldier, not a politician, not a volunteer, once a week, I observe this war from my windows and most of the time live it online. At work, I have to get in touch with different people, listen, and talk to various speakers. Asking them incompetent questions or not mastering a topic well enough aren’t my principal fears anymore.
I’m afraid to read “last seen a long time ago” on their profiles. I’m afraid to find out one day that my contacts are no longer online, while the war still is.
