Irish reporter receives Ukraine’s Order of Merit award
In a message posted on social media, Mr Robertson said he was "completely blown away" by the recognition and called it a "profound honour".
An Irish journalist documenting the war in Ukraine has received one of the country’s official honours, with President Volodymyr Zelensky presenting Kilkenny reporter and social media figure Caolan Robertson with an Order of Merit.
Robertson was among a group of Ukrainian and international journalists recognised for their reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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In a message posted on social media, Mr Robertson said he was “completely blown away” by the recognition and called it a “profound honour”.
The Kilkenny native also wrote that “powerful people want the truth about Ukraine buried” and said it was a “privilege to be able to tell it”.
Here is Nikopol, a Ukrainian city where civilians are being targeted by drones. I examined how Russians are now launching those drones FROM Europe’s largest nuclear power plant on the opposite side of the river. Russian aggression is putting the entire world at risk of nuclear… pic.twitter.com/IwDL1fk7Qv
— Caolan (@CaolanReports) May 26, 2026
Mr Zelensky paid tribute to journalists and media workers who “show the world what our people have to endure”.
“We also thank all dedicated foreign media professionals who stand on the right side of history and ensure that the world does not forget or remain silent about what is happening in Ukraine.
“It is precisely this active support that helps us secure assistance at the political level,” he said.
Mr Zelensky also said: “All of us must preserve the memory and honour the contribution to our fight of those journalists who were killed in this war.”
A Reporters Without Borders report released in February said 16 journalists have been killed while covering the conflict since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Before his work on Ukraine, Mr Robertson was employed by the Canadian far-right outlet Rebel News and also produced videos for far-right figures including Alex Jones and Tommy Robinson.
In an interview with Newstalk radio in 2021, Mr Robertson said he regretted creating extremist content.
He said he is now committed to “exposing the far-right, exposing disinformation”.
