‘United. Independent": the hosts of the United News National Telethon took part in a special project dedicated to Independence Day

The project was filmed in the working atmosphere of the United News channels - in their studios and newsrooms. 

‘I remember visiting the TSN museum once. And then, while taking pictures in a makeshift studio, I dreamed of becoming a presenter one day. And now the dreams of each of us have transformed - we want to win. We want our children not to hear alarms, explosions, rocket launches. We want a man to be with his wife, to raise his child and to see him grow up,’ says Natalia Ostrovska, host of 1+1 Marathon.

The journalists shared their memories from the day Ukraine declared its independence in 1991 and will talk about their vision of the country's future. 

‘I remember the year 1991 very well. My mum and I were coming back from shopping. I remember how we were travelling in a bus, because at that moment the Verkhovna Rada was broadcasting. At first, everyone was silent, and then they started crying and applauding - everyone had their own reaction. And my mother's reaction: ‘We are independent!’’ recalls Olena Chabak, host of the We Are Ukraine TV channel. 

Viewers will learn how the media workers met the full-scale invasion - and how they had to work without knowing whether there would be a tomorrow. 

‘We should not expect that those who survive this war at the front will come and defend our democracy later. We can do it now, and then they will understand what they are fighting for,’ says Vadym Kolodiychuk, host of the Rada TV channel. 

The project will be dedicated to people and their stories that have impressed journalists the most over the 33 years of independence. And especially during the years of the Great War. 

‘My great-grandfathers' generation was unlucky in the First World War. Then they were unlucky with the Soviet Union. As a result, there was a famine in 1933, repressions in 1937, and the World War in 1939-45. We are the descendants of the survivors. We do it professionally,’ says Vadym Karpiak, host of the ICTV channel.

‘Ukrainians are distinguished by the fact that they have the gene of freedom. This is very annoying for our enemy. And this gene of freedom is activated when they start putting pressure on us. And when they try to mislead us, to make us fools,’ adds Iryna Baglay, host of Inter TV channel.

The hosts will also share their stories with the audience:

Svyatoslav Hrynchuk (1+1 Marathon);

Oksana Gutzeit (ICTV);

Svitlana Usenko, Hanna Homonay (Rada);

Bohdan Mashay, Maria Skyba (We Are Ukraine);

Oleksiy Fadeev (Inter).

You can watch the special project ‘United. Independent’ special project will be available tomorrow, 24 August, on the air of the National TV marathon “United News”.