Award for Coverage of Ukraine: WELT Chief Reporter Ibrahim Naber Wins the German Television Award

WELT chief reporter Ibrahim Naber was awarded the German Television Prize on September 9, 2026, in the category "Best Hosting / Individual Achievement in News." The jury recognized his ongoing reporting from the war zone in Ukraine.

Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Naber has been reporting from the contested front lines and on the impact of the state of emergency on civilians. Journalistic work in a war zone is carried out under constant risk. In the fall of 2025, Naber, his producer, and his cameraman were wounded by a Russian drone attack while conducting research.

In his laudatory speech, ZDF host Markus Lanz said: "You told me how war has changed, how the very nature of war has changed, and what that does to us as a society. You almost died then; you had a brush with death. What makes you so special is that you've always stayed. I saw that the last impact changed something in you. I also saw the fear in your eyes. I realized, okay, you can keep doing this for a while, but maybe not forever. You've spoken openly about it yourself. It moved me to see how you're staying anyway.

One might ask, why do people do this? Why do they put themselves in danger? The answer is simple: Because in war, truth is the first casualty. And we need people like you-people who are incorruptible, who tell it like it is without fanfare or drama-on both sides. People who report impartially. That's why I value you so much, and that's why your audience values you."

Ibrahim Naber, WELT Chief Reporter: "I am incredibly happy and grateful to have been awarded the German Television Prize. This award also goes to the editorial team and my Ukrainian colleagues Ivan and Viktor, who have risked so much for our reports during countless trips to the front lines. I see the German Television Prize as a mandate to continue our reporting."

Helge Fuhst, Editor-in-Chief of WELT: "When disinformation and distortion are deliberately used as weapons, verified reporting from the front lines serves as the corrective force that journalism is meant to provide. Ibrahim Naber and his team are risking their lives to bring information and clarity, so that people can grasp the truth in Ukraine."

You can find Ibrahim Naber's analyses, reports, on-camera interviews on WELT TV, and TV documentaries on the war in Ukraine here on his author page.