Best of AP — Honorable Mention

Dogged source work and innovative AI use uncover spy ship exclusive

Military officials say this photo taken from a nearby vessel shows smoke rising from a fire aboard the Russian spy ship Kildin off the coast of Syria on Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo)
NATO Russia Spy Ship

Paris chief correspondent John Leicester secured exclusive audio and video of a Russian spy ship fire in the Mediterranean, revealing Moscow’s naval struggles amid the Ukraine war.

Leveraging military sources cultivated over years, Leicester obtained distress call recordings and video showing flames rising from the Kildin’s smokestack. His reporting, featuring analysis from a retired French vice admiral and a London-based naval expert, provided a compelling Only on AP deep dive, giving global audiences an unprecedented look at Russia’s fleet of spy ships.

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