Report from Sadovoy Wins at 'Iskra Yuga' Competition

The report by V1.RU correspondents on events in the village of Sadovoy in the Republic of Kalmykia was recognized as the best report at the Smirnov National Media Competition «Iskra Yuga 2025». The authors are Elena Rubleva and Ilya Vorobushkin.

In 2025, tragic events occurred in Sadovoy. First, a group of teenagers brutally beat a 14-year-old schoolboy, recording the incident on video, which later spread on social media. The teenager took his own life. A few days later, one of the witnesses to the bullying was found dead.

To investigate this story and prevent it from being hushed up, a group of journalists traveled to Kalmykia, which also included honored photography master Alexey Volkhonsky. His photographs became an important visual part of the material.

The award ceremony took place on January 30 in Rostov-on-Don. Three works reached the final in the «Best Report» nomination.

The finalists were:

• Anastasia Malyshkina with a report on cranberry picking in the Siberian Arctic, which showed how this trade is linked to people«s survival.
• Nikita Zyryanov with a piece on rescuing birds affected by a fuel oil spill in the Black Sea, and on the work of volunteers during the New Year holidays.
• Elena Rubleva and Ilya Vorobushkin with their investigation into the tragedy in Sadovoy.

«The guys weren»t afraid to gather in neighboring Kalmykia and made a report about the monstrous: about the tragedy of two teenagers, about child suicides, about bullying, about harassment,« said jury member, editor-in-chief of 161.RU Olga Sergeeva. She noted that the journalists managed to find people willing to talk and bring up the story that was being attempted to be swept under the rug.

Sergeeva emphasized that choosing the winner among three strong works was very difficult. «This is a clear demonstration that journalism is still creative, still strong, and still fearless,» she added.

Elena Rubleva, who was present at the ceremony, could hardly believe the victory. «When they said we were laureates, I almost had a cardiogenic shock... Making it into the top three out of more than 100 works was already a victory,» the journalist admitted, thanking colleagues and management.

Ilya Vorobushkin called this report a serious test of professionalism. «One of the most important pieces in my entire journalistic career. It seems like only yesterday we were discussing how to get to Sadovoy... And now we»ve won. I«m just in shock,» he shared.