Surviving the Strike: Ukrainian Journalist Endures Five Surgeries After Drone Attack

November 06, 2025 – Ukraine/Russia – 

Oleksandr Kolychev, a special correspondent for the Ukrainian international broadcaster Freedom TV, has survived five major surgeries after being critically wounded in a drone strike in eastern Ukraine. On 23 October 2025, while reporting alongside colleagues near a gas station in Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast, their vehicle was struck by a Russian “Lancet” drone. Two of their crew, journalist Aliona Hramova and cameraman Yevhen Karmazin, were killed immediately, and Kolychev was severely injured.

Following the strike, Kolychev was rushed to the hospital in Dnipro, where he was placed on a ventilator for nearly four days, according to the hospital’s director. He required massive blood transfusions — at least three litres — and underwent five surgeries to address life-threatening wounds, including multiple fractures and shrapnel damage. Doctors described his injuries as hardly compatible with life. Despite his condition, Kolychev has reportedly regained consciousness and is now actively working with therapists. One doctor noted that he no longer dwells on his pain but focuses on his wife and children instead.

The attack has raised urgent questions about the targeting of media crews in conflict zones. The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that Kolychev’s case, alongside the deaths of his colleagues, underscores the increasing danger facing journalists near Ukraine’s front lines. Ukrainian authorities are investigating the incident as a war crime.

Kolychev’s recovery remains uncertain and long. While his legs have been reconstructed and medical teams work to preserve his sight, full rehabilitation will likely take months. The incident also highlights the grave risks journalists assume while documenting war, and the thin line between carrying a camera and being counted as a casualty. Kolychev’s survival stands as a somber testament to resilience and the perilous nature of frontline reporting.

Reference –

https://imi.org.ua/en/news/wounded-freedom-tv-correspondent-oleksandr-kolychev-survives-5-surgeries

https://112.ua/en/oleksandr-kolicev-opritomniv-pisla-ataki-drona-detali-poratunku-zurnalista-110240