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Kyiv, 15 June 2026 – The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) has announced the winners of the «Voices of the Missing» Journalism Competition, which recognizes outstanding reporting on the issue of missing persons in Ukraine and the experiences of families searching for their missing loved ones.
The competition was organized by ICMP with the support of Norway through a NORAD grant to highlight the important role of journalists and journalism students whose work brings attention to the human impact of disappearances, the rights of families of missing persons, and the importance of continued efforts to account for all those who remain missing.
The representative from the Norwegian embassy Ingrid Schøyen paid tribute to the prize winners and to efforts to keep the issue of missing persons on the global agenda. She concluded: “How a nation treats the issue of missing persons says something about who we are as a nation”.
A total of 53 journalistic works from across Ukraine were submitted to the competition. Entries were evaluated by an independent jury composed of representatives of the media community, civil society, and families of missing persons.
The winners of the competition were:
First Prize – Kateryna Rotarenko for the article «I Become More Alive by Carrying Death in My Arms.»
Second Prize – Olha Hlechyk for the article «My Heart Told Me This Was My Son: How a Mother from the Odesa Region Single-Handedly Found Her Missing Soldier Son in Captivity.»
Third Prize – Anna Tolstosheieva for the article «I Wait Because I Love. A Rally in Support of Prisoners of War and the Missing in Action Took Place in Sumy.»
«Behind every missing person is a family searching for answers. Journalists play an essential role in ensuring that these stories are heard, the experiences of families are recognized, and that the issue of missing persons remains a priority. The quality and sensitivity of the submitted works demonstrate the commitment of Ukrainian journalists to reporting on this issue with dignity and care,» said Nihad Brankovic, Deputy Head of ICMP’s Ukraine Program.
During the award ceremony, the winners received prizes to support and further enhance their journalistic work, including professional equipment such as laptops, cameras, and other tools that will help them continue telling important stories.
In addition to the three winners, the jury recognized ten other authors whose works were included in the competition’s shortlist. They received gift certificates in recognition of their contribution to raising awareness of the issue of missing persons and supporting their families.
The «Voices of the Missing» Journalism Competition provided a platform for journalists to help society understand the human dimension of disappearances during wartime. Through their reporting, they tell stories of waiting, searching, loss, and hope, ensuring that the voices of missing persons and their families continue to be heard.
ICMP extends its gratitude to all competition participants, jury members, and the Government of Norway for supporting this initiative.
About ICMP
The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating and identifying persons missing as a result of armed conflict, human rights violations, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes, and to assist them in doing so.
