On Monday, Russian journalist and editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, Dmitry Muratov, made an unprecedented decision to auction off his Nobel Peace Prize medal for a staggering $103.5 million dollars in order to aid Ukrainian child refugees through UNICEF. The Norwegian Nobel Institute endorsed the sale of its medal awarded to Muratov last year in recognition for defending free speech in Russia despite hostile government conditions towards independent journalism within the country during the war with Ukraine.

Since March this year when Novaya Gazeta announced its closure due to those same conditions, Muratov has sought out creative solutions for assisting those most vulnerable among the population; namely refugees who have fled their homes due to violence stemming from the conflict. So far, UNICEF has reported that more than 1.7 million people have been affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine and many thousands of children are living without access to basic essential needs like food, water, and medical assistance.

In an effort to combat such disparities, Muratov has decided to honor his commitment to human rights by using the funds generated from his noble sacrifice and donating it towards supporting refugee children affected by the crisis. It is important to note that journalists covering these events are often subjected to harsh punishments under Russian law if they refer to it as a ‘war’ instead of what is preferred by the Kremlin – a ‘special military operation’. Additionally, spreading false information about said events can lead to fines or even imprisonment for up to 15 years.

While there is no monetary value that can bring back what has been lost due to this conflict, it is comforting knowing that individuals such as Dmitry Muratov are willing not just to speak out against injustice but also actively participate in pursuing solutions for those suffering its effects. By turning his Nobel Prize into millions of dollars that will be used directly towards helping citizens impacted by war and poverty in Ukraine, he is setting a remarkable example of how we all should approach our respective responsibilities towards global responsibility and peace-building initiatives.