In the misty, dangerous landscape of eastern Ukraine, Myroshnyk Vassyl Savych drives a mission more powerful than any weapon: delivering truth. Each week, the 65-year-old journalist navigates treacherous, artillery-scarred roads to bring his local newspaper, Zorya Visnyk (The Dawn Bulletin), to communities isolated by conflict and Russian disinformation.

With piercing blue eyes and an imposing build hardened by years of physical training, Vassyl represents a different kind of frontline warrior. His battlefield is information, his weapons are words, and his goal is simple yet profound: to restore truth in regions where Russian propaganda seeks to distort reality. The narrow roads he travels are lined with protective nets designed to shield vehicles from Russian first-person view (FPV) drones, a stark reminder of the constant danger surrounding his weekly mission.

Vassyl's journey begins in his hometown of Zolochiv, where he witnessed firsthand the brutal bombing of civilians when the Russian invasion commenced in February 2022. This experience transformed him from a local journalist into a determined messenger, committed to countering Russian misinformation. 'When hospitals or homes are hit, Russian officials claim they were military targets,' he explains. 'Restoring the truth is our only defence.'

The morning fog provides unexpected protection, reducing visibility and potentially shielding him from drone surveillance. Muffled artillery blasts have become a background soundtrack to his work, so familiar that he barely registers them unless they're particularly distinctive. His vehicle winds through an uneven, broken landscape where most drivers fear to travel, heading towards a dozen villages that remain within range of Russian fire.

A lifelong journalist with a background in literature and environmental investigations, Vassyl has dedicated his career to storytelling and truth-telling. He first joined his local newspaper at age 20, briefly worked for the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources investigating district corruption, and then returned to journalism—a profession he cannot imagine abandoning. 'I can't imagine doing anything other than journalism,' he says with a characteristic broad smile that contrasts with his initially stern appearance.

Despite the newspaper not turning a profit and distribution being incredibly dangerous, Vassyl continues his weekly route. For many border-area residents, his newspaper represents their sole reliable information source in a region cut off from regular services, with disrupted mobile signals and limited communication. Each bundle of newspapers becomes a lifeline of connection, truth, and hope in a landscape dramatically transformed by conflict.

As Vassyl navigates the perilous roads, his commitment goes beyond reporting—he is preserving community, dignity, and the fundamental human right to accurate information. In a war where propaganda can be as destructive as artillery, his modest newspaper becomes a powerful act of resistance, delivering not just news, but resilience, one village at a time.