Ukrainians who are changing the country: Alena Lunova was named among NV’s 100 People list

The Advocacy Director of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, Alena Lunova, was included in the NV’s 100 People rating, a list of Ukrainians who, according to the media, made a significant contribution to the protection and development of Ukraine.

This year’s list was presented on 15 May 2025 during the Big Evening with NV ceremony in Kyiv. The editorial team selected 100 people whom they consider to be their like-minded allies in building a strong, democratic society and those worth being proud of.

The list includes the military, volunteers, journalists, officials, artists, entrepreneurs, athletes – all those who continue to change the country during a full-scale war.

Alena Lunova was nominated in the Society category. At ZMINA, she coordinates advocacy activities covering both national and international levels, including the protection of the rights of war victims, the implementation of transitional justice approaches and reintegration policies, and the achievement of justice and accountability for international crimes. Nomination to the list is a recognition of the importance of human rights work that shapes the future of Ukraine, where human rights are the highest social value.

The NV’s 100 People rating also included Maksym Butkevych, a human rights defender, journalist, public figure, former prisoner of war and co-founder of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. Before the full-scale invasion, he had been defending human rights and developing independent journalism for decades. From the first months of the full-scale war, Maksym joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was captured in June 2022, held in Russia and unlawfully convicted. Thanks to the efforts of the human rights community, diplomats and his family, he was released from captivity in 2024. His presence in the ranking is a recognition of his resilience, courage and unwavering commitment to the values of freedom and human rights.

We sincerely congratulate our colleagues on this recognition and are proud that they are part of our team and the human rights community.

The full 2025 list of “NV’s 100 People” is available on the NV website.

Photo: screenshots from the NV video broadcast.