The press tour of Indonesian journalists began in Kyiv, where the delegation saw how the capital has adapted to wartime conditions: metro stations serve as bomb shelters, street art reflects resilience, and schools, businesses continue to operate amid frequent air raid alerts. The journalists also visited Irpin — a city that became a global symbol of Ukrainian resistance and recovery — where they witnessed the devastation of war and heard moving testimonies from residents.

Throughout the week, the journalists met with representatives of Ukraine’s Muslim communities, human rights defenders, cultural leaders, and prominent figures from the Crimean Tatar community. Discussions held at the Islamic Cultural Center and the Ukrainian Institute focused on faith, repression, cultural heritage, and resistance. The delegation also conducted interviews with Refat Chubarov (Ukrainian Crimean Tatar politician and public figure), Tamila Tasheva (Member of the Ukrainian Parliament), Akim Galimov (author of documentary and historical projects), Dmytro Butkevych (former Kremlin prisoner, human rights activist, journalist), and Aider Rustemov (Supreme Mufti of Crimea).
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A powerful highlight of the visit was the delegation’s participation in Superhumans Reunion’25 — a landmark event in Kyiv uniting over 600 veterans, their families, diplomats, officials, and advocates. The gathering celebrated resilience and the reintegration of those affected by war. During the event, Indonesian journalists also had the opportunity to speak with Masi Nayem — a member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and co-founder of “Princip”, a human rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights of servicemen.

Another impactful visit took place in the Chernihiv region. In the village of Lukashivka, the delegation saw the scars of occupation and met local farmer Hryhorii Tkachenko. His “Naporivske” farm, once destroyed during the Russian invasion, has since been rebuilt from the ground up —  a testament to the unbreakable spirit of Ukraine’s rural communities.

“As a big city person, I don't usually let my emotions into my reporting. But both of my parents are from Aceh — a region in Indonesia’s Sumatra province that experienced nearly three decades of armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian government. The violence ended in 2005 through a peace agreement mediated by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. I remember visiting my grandparents in the 1980s and 1990s, when the fear of sudden clashes was always present. During our visit to Bucha and Chernihiv, those memories came flooding back. The stories shared by the women and teenage boy we met mirrored what families in Aceh went through. It was truly a personal journey for me, and I found myself in tears every time I looked at their photos and listened to their stories.”— Wella Sherlita, journalist and international producer (Alif.ID Kultural, Indonesia)

Each day of the tour was filled with meaningful encounters and profound conversations. For the Indonesian journalists, it was more than a reporting trip — it was a personal journey. For Ukraine, it was a step toward deeper dialogue, mutual understanding, and global solidarity.In August, the exchange will continue as Ukrainian journalists travel to Indonesia to explore the country, connect with local media, and share their own stories.

From the Ukrainian side, 48 journalists applied to join the press tour, representing leading media outlets such as 1+1, Ukrainian Radio, LB.ua, Zaxid.net, Informer.od.ua, Ukrainska Pravda, and Public Broadcasting (Suspilne). The following participants were selected to take part:
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- Yuliia Sheludko, Ukrainian Radio
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- Alina Polyakova, Ukrainska Pravda
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‍- Yana Slesarchuk, 1+1
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- Andrii Marchenko, cameraman, 1+1