The Bohodukhiv-based newspaper Mayak [Lighthouse] should have marked its 92nd birthday with a festive issue. It was ready on February 23, and it should have been printed the following day. But it saw the world that had changed only in May. But head of the newspaper, Tetiana Luchynska, did not leave her readers without news and took it upon herself to publish a front-line newspaper in the format of a combat leaflet. Thus, for a few months, the Mayak newspaper turned into a self-publisher.
Battle card
At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it was as hot in near Bohodukhiv as it was along the entire front line. However, despite the danger, the difficult financial situation and the lack of staff, Tetiana practically single-handedly published the first issue of the frontline newspaper on March 4. She did not change the name. It was the well-known Mayak.
“It was in color, A4 format. I printed at my sister’s place. The front-line newspaper was published in a very small circulation of only 200-300 copies, with the largest number being 400. This was before Easter. I distributed it wherever I could, asking everyone to read it and pass on to others. My sister printed the newspaper for free on an ordinary printer. There was money for the paper. Nothing more was needed. I also distributed it for free,” the journalist began her story.
During the day, Tetiana volunteered, and in the evening, she wrote news and articles for the battle leaflet.
“The front-line newspaper provided official information, advice for local residents and internally-displaced persons, as well as emergency phone numbers. It also contained interviews with employees of the TsNAPs [Administrative Services Centers]. In it, we tried to talk as much as possible about volunteers and people in general. And we also conducted our Mayak Auctions: in that way we started collecting funds to help the AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine]. All the time we had popular sections called Your People, Bohodukhiv, and World of Passion. I told about people who create paintings, make all kinds of products of wood. Later, they began to offer their works on the Mayak Auctions. Readers very actively participated in this, a lot of money was transferred to the AFU thanks to this,” says Luchynska.
Revived Mayak
In May, the Bohodukhiv Mayak got a second wind. Ukrposhta took up the distribution of the newspaper. The first issue of the updated Mayak was published on eight pages.
“I tried to make the first issue as a mix of a front-line newspaper. I understood that we had 2,500 subscribers, and the circulation since the beginning of the war was 200-300-400 copies. Therefore, I took topics that are interesting to the reader, expanded them, added several materials for the 92nd anniversary of our newspaper. It was truly a Lighthouse for subscribers waiting for the paper. They were glad. I specially ordered a larger edition. People were incredibly happy to hold a real newspaper in their hands. It inspired everyone, and I understood that it is really necessary, because it instills hope in people,” says our interlocutor.
Now Mayak is published in four columns. Tetiana works on the newspaper together with a typewriter. The edition has now become much more optimistic. “If earlier we focused on problems, now I talk more about the wonderful people who live next to us, about volunteers, about those who were able to find themselves in this incredibly difficult time, about displaced people who managed to settle in a new place, start life from a clean slate. I am talking about children, young patriots. I wish peace and victory in almost every material. People take the district newspaper, and read positive articles about people who are around, those who believe in victory and inspire others. There will be victory, everything will be great. I am optimistic about the future: I believe that everything will be fine,” Tetiana Luchynska concluded her story.
JOURNALISTS ARE IMPORTANT. Stories about Life and Work in the Conditions of War is a cycle of stories prepared by the team of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine with the support of the Swedish human rights organization Civil Rights Defenders.
