Yuriy Nikolov

Ukrainian investigative journalist; co-founder and editor of Nashi Groshi

Yuriy Nikolov specialises in scrutiny of public procurement and state spending. He co-founded the anti-corruption outlet Nashi Groshi (“Our Money”), whose work draws on contracts, price comparisons and business relationships. In an investigation published by ZN.UA on 21 January 2023, he examined a contract to feed Ukrainian soldiers and identified pricing irregularities; the reporting prompted debate over oversight of defence spending. In “Just business”, published on 11 December 2024, he investigated business connections among people associated with the Defence Ministry’s leadership. In 2024, he received the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism, selected by the Nieman Fellows at Harvard University. CPJ has reported attempts to intimidate him over his work. His candidacy recognises documenting how public funds are spent, comparing officials’ statements with records and defending the principle that war does not remove the need for public scrutiny of those in power.