Paramedic and volunteer Yuliia Paievska, Espreso correspondent in Poland Bianka Zalewska among winners of International Women of Courage Award

The list of winners was published by the US Department of State.

“Yuliia “Taira” Paievska has demonstrated extraordinary moral and physical courage in defending Ukraine against relentless Russian aggression.  She provided medical treatment to Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity protestors in 2013, and as head of Taira’s Angels, a volunteer unit of paramedics, she provided tactical medical training on the Donbas front lines from 2014 to 2018. Mrs. Paievska is best known for her work secretly filming and smuggling out videos documenting atrocities committed by Russia’s forces in Mariupol.  Russia’s forces detained Mrs. Paievska on March 16 as she attempted to evacuate women and children from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhya, despite her clear non-combatant status.  During a three-month imprisonment, Mrs. Paievska lived in a tiny cell with 22 other women, losing 20 pounds and enduring torture and beatings. Moreover, the Kremlin’s propagandists falsely maligned her internationally as a fascist and war criminal.  Yet Mrs. Paievska refused to be silenced, and since her release has compellingly advocated for Ukrainian democracy and independence both at home and abroad,” the US Department of State noted.

In the photo: Yuliia “Taira” Paievska

Journalist Bianka Zalewska was recognized for documenting Russian aggression in Ukraine, defending the Ukrainian people at the risk of her own life, and helping to integrate Ukrainian refugees.

“Bianka Zalewska is a Polish humanitarian and journalist who has selflessly documented Russian aggression in Ukraine since 2014 and advocated for the people of Ukraine for more than a decade. She persevered through life-threatening injuries suffered when her press car came under fire from Russian proxy forces in Luhansk Oblast in 2014. She persists in the face of disinformation campaigns and online threats personally aimed at her and her family and the risks of violence and injury during her frequent work inside Ukraine.  As a visible advocate for the inclusion of refugees from Ukraine, Mrs. Zalewska advocates as host of one of the most-watched morning shows in Poland while simultaneously compiling the stories of refugees and documenting evidence of war crimes to send to Polish authorities.  In the face of ever-present threats, Mrs. Zalewska remains unintimidated and continues to welcome refugees from Ukraine, bring to light Russian atrocities, report truthfully and responsibly from the frontlines, and personally deliver aid inside Ukraine,” the US State Department emphasized. 

In the photo: Bianka Zalewska

The US Secretary of State's IWOC Award (International Women of Courage Award - ed.) has been awarded for 17 years to women from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in defense of peace, justice, human rights, gender justice and equality, and the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity - often at great personal risk and sacrifice.

In 2014, this award was given to Ukrainian singer and public figure Ruslana Lyzhychko.

Since March 2007, the US Department of State has honored more than 180 women from more than 80 countries with the IWOC Award. US diplomatic missions abroad nominate one courageous woman from their respective host countries, and the finalists are selected and approved by senior State Department officials. Following the IWOC ceremony, the honorees will participate in an in-person exchange through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to connect with US counterparts in US  cities and strengthen global networks of women leaders.

This year's award ceremony will take place on March 8 at the White House. It will be hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and First Lady Jill Biden. The 2023 IWOC Awards will honor a group of 11 women from around the world who are working to build a brighter future for all.

The ceremony will be streamed live on the White House website whitehouse.gov/live and the US Department of State website state.gov.