Germany’s largest private television channel, RTL, has hired a Ukrainian anchor to host a daily news show aimed at Ukrainians arriving in the country following Russia’s invasion.
Karolina Ashion, 46 years old, who herself fled her homeland after the start of the war, will host the 10-minute show Mondays to Fridays in the Ukrainian language. The target audience of the “Ukraine Update” program includes an estimated 200,000 people who have arrived in Germany from Ukraine so far, according to RTL.
“The situation of the people in Ukraine and the refugees in Germany is depressing—with ‘Ukraine Update’ we want to give you a reliable overview of the news,” said Stephan Schmitter, managing director of RTL News.
Ms. Ashion has had a two-decade career working for various Ukrainian television channels as a reporter and presenter. When the war broke out late February, she embarked on a 40-hour journey, first reaching Romania by car and then flying to Dortmund in Germany.
“The Germans saved my life,” Ms. Ashion told RTL. “I want to be as useful as possible with my contribution. I want to inform people.”
The network said it would be expanding the team with more Ukrainian reporters. The show is available on RTL platforms and YouTube.