Vasilisa Stepanenko

File:Vasilisa Stepanenko F20624.jpg

Stepanenko in 2024.

Vasilisa Stepanenko (Ukrainian: Василиса Степаненко, romanized: Vasylysa Stepanenko, Russian: Василиса Степаненко) is a Ukrainian journalist and video producer. In 2023, she shared the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service with Evgeniy Maloletka, Mstyslav Chernov, and Lori Hinnant for her work with the Associated Press covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Life and work

Stepanenko started working as a freelancer with the Associated Press in January 2022. In February and March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Associated Press staff member Mstyslav Chernov, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, and Stepanenko, freelancers working for AP, stayed in Mariupol, which was encircled by the Russian troops, under siege, and extensively bombed, whereas the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Defense Ministry claimed that Russia only targets military installations. Chernov, Maloletka, and Stepanenko were among the few journalists, and, according to the AP, the only international journalists in Mariupol during that period, and their photographs were extensively used by Western media to cover the situation. Stepanenko acted as video producer.

She was one of the producers of 20 Days in Mariupol.

Awards

• 2023: Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, shared with Evgeniy Maloletka, Mstyslav Chernov, and Lori Hinnant for her work with the Associated Press covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• 2024: Shevchenko National Prize