Ukrainian Photojournalist Yefrem Lukatsky Wins February 2026 AP Photo Contest for News Photography

Ukrainian photojournalist Yefrem Lukatsky has been recognized as one of the winners of the February 2026 AP Photo Contest in the News Photography Story category.

This was announced by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine on March 13.

The Associated Press editorial team recognized Lukatsky for his photo series capturing the Veterans Theatre in Kyiv. This theatre features aspiring actors of all ages, including Ukrainian army veterans with amputations, severe burns, and vision loss, as they prepare for their first performance.

Lukatsky is recognized as one of Ukraine's well-known photojournalists, with a long career as a correspondent for the Associated Press since 1989.

According to the National Union of Journalists, his work has covered key political events and conflicts worldwide, including in the Balkans, Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A large portion of his work focuses on documenting Ukraine's modern history, from its journey to independence to the Revolution of Dignity and the ongoing war with Russia.

This recognition of Yefrem Lukatsky’s work comes alongside another notable achievement for Ukrainian media, with the audio production Unborn for War claiming a prestigious award at the 2026 BBC Audio Drama Awards.

The audio production Unborn for War, a collaborative project between Radio Culture and the Third Army Corps, has won the “Best European Drama” award at the 2026 BBC Audio Drama Awards. The ceremony took place on March 1, 2026, at the Radio Theatre in the BBC Broadcasting House in London.

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Category

Culture

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The production is based on the real-life experiences of volunteers serving in the Third Army Corps. Leading actor Yevhen Avdieienko, who is also a professional actor, has joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

At the same time, the organizers of a musical event at King’s College London have decided to remove a mention of the Russian Kalinka festival from their program after receiving a request from Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the ministry explained that the Ukrainian Embassy in London had contacted the event organizers, urging them that promoting a Russian festival was inappropriate while Russia is engaged in its full-scale war against Ukraine.

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