Loss in the ranks of Smolensk journalists

On the tenth of October 2026, at the 67th year of life, Lyudmila Eduardovna Azarkevich, Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, Deputy of the Rudnyansky District Council of Deputies and Editor-in-Chief of the Western United Media Editorial Office, died. For more than 36 years she has been the head of the newspaper “Rudnyansky Voice”, being also an active member of the board of the Smolensk regional branch of the Union of Journalists of Russia.

The government of the Smolensk region expressed sincere and deep condolences to the relatives, friends and colleagues of the deceased, noting that her departure was an irreparable loss for the Rudnyansky district and the entire region. Colleagues describe Lyudmila Eduardovna as a true professional, sincerely dedicated to his work. As editor-in-chief, she not only managed the publication, but also built a lively connection between the district and its residents, carefully preserving the traditions of local journalism and passing on this invaluable experience to the younger generation.

The journalist made a significant contribution to the coverage of the development of the agro-industrial complex of the region, for which in 2023 she was awarded the regional administration in the nomination for the best coverage of this sphere in the media. No less important page of her biography was systematic work with children's essays on military topics: thanks to her support, materials of schoolchildren from the Rudnyansky district were regularly published in the newspaper and participated in specialized competitions, which contributed to the preservation of the historical memory of the country's heroic past.

The departure of Lyudmila Eduardovna Azarkevich marks a loss in the ranks of regional journalism. Her many years of work laid a solid foundation for the development of local media. Her professional legacy will live on not only in archival publications, but also in the careers of the journalists she personally mentored. The memory of her sensitivity, indifference and devotion to the chosen path will forever remain in the history of the Smolensk press and in the hearts of grateful readers.