Olga Dorovskykh

Olga Dorovskykh

Olga Dorovskyh-Kolgusheva is a Ukrainian journalist and communications professional whose career began in her native Donetsk, which has been under Russian occupation for the past 11 years. She lost her home when the war first reached the city, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to truth and storytelling.

Olga started out reporting for local newspapers and online media in Donetsk, covering politics, society, and human rights. She later joined Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, telling stories from Eastern Ukraine for an international audience, and went on to work in business journalism in Kyiv, sharpening her investigative skills and ability to communicate complex issues with clarity and impact.

A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Olga has expanded her expertise into digital strategy and design. Today, as founder of Applet Studio, she combines her journalistic rigor with an eye for design and marketing, building platforms that help individuals and organizations tell their stories authentically. She remains deeply active in the Ukrainian community, advocating for displaced Ukrainians and helping share their stories with the world.

Olga describes the Alfred Friendly Press Partners Fellowship as therapeutic and practical:

“It helped me recognize the skills I already had while learning an entirely new set of tools. It gave me an incredible sense of community – something I desperately needed. Being displaced and disconnected from my country of origin had left me feeling lost and uncertain. Through this program, I found clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose. I now feel empowered and ready to face whatever the future holds.”