The Kyiv Independent. A Ukrainian Outlet Born from Conflict

source: kyivindependent.com

The 1990s brought major changes to Europe. In December 1991, the Soviet Union officially ceased to exist. Many “friendly nations” breathed a sigh of relief, and the former republics began making significant changes to their laws, constitutions, economies, and daily life.

On July 16 of that year, Ukraine’s parliament adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty, and on August 24, it declared independence. The first years of freedom were not easy. Free elections, then rigged ones, partnership with Russia, friendship with the EU, and protests from both sides - typical of any nation.

Independent Media and English-Language News

In this atmosphere of difficult beginnings, independent media emerged. Alongside the state-owned broadcaster UT-1 (since 1963), private channels like Ukraina and ICTV appeared. The print market flourished. Since 1918, Ukrinform has delivered global news. When Russian papers left the market, independent Ukrainian dailies emerged. English-language media followed suit. Among them was the Kyiv Post, launched on October 18, 1995, by American Jed Sunden. Its mission:

• supporting democracy
• integrating with the West
• promoting a free-market Ukraine

The paper changed ownership three times. Sunden sold it to British-Pakistani businessman Mohammad Zahoor. On March 21, 2018, it was bought by Adnan Kivan, a Syrian-born businessman from Odesa.


The publication faced political and economic challenges. Many Ukrainian journalists felt at odds with the new owner. They believed he bowed too easily to political pressure and was removing uncomfortable staff.

Tensions peaked in October 2021 when staff learned from Facebook that the owner planned to launch a Ukrainian-language edition of the Kyiv Post with a handpicked team and himself as editor-in-chief. The newsroom saw this as a violation of editorial freedom. The dispute escalated. On November 8, Kivan shut the paper down and fired the entire team. Many saw it as an act of revenge, especially since Kivan refused to sell the paper or its name.

A Newspaper with Conflict in Its Birth Certificate

In protest, on November 12, the dismissed Kyiv Post journalists launched the Twitter campaign @savekyivpost and announced plans for a new independent outlet.

On November 15, a group of 30 of the 50 dismissed journalists declared the birth of a new newsroom, publication, and platform. On November 22, The Kyiv Independent was officially launched:

We’re launching The Kyiv Independent because Ukraine needs high-quality English-language journalism from the ground, and our community needs a trustworthy news source…

The first release was the Ukraine Daily newsletter. On December 2, with the help of Dudka.Agency (working pro bono), the website kyivindependent.com went live. That day, they tweeted: With Kyiv Post still asleep, we’re taking the torch. Ukraine is no longer without a global voice.

To secure funding, the team launched a Patreon campaign. Within a week, 500 subscribers signed on. By year’s end, that number neared 700, contributing $10,000 monthly. They also received a $200,000 grant from the European Endowment for Democracy and the Canadian government.

The newsroom partnered with London-based Jnomics Media, founded by Kyiv Post alumni Daryna Shevchenko (now CEO) and Jakub Parusinski (now CFO). Olga Rudenko was unanimously chosen as editor-in-chief.

Ukraine’s Independent Voice

Rudenko is the most experienced journalist at The Kyiv Independent. She began at Kyiv Post in 2011 in the Lifestyle section but by 2014 was reporting from Donbas. In 2016 she became a national reporter, and by 2017, deputy editor-in-chief.


When the Kyiv Post closed, Rudenko was on a fellowship in the U.S. Her colleagues called to tell her the news and their plans for a new outlet. Her response: I’m in. She returned to Ukraine and was unanimously chosen as editor-in-chief. Together with her team, she laid out a vision:

• The new publication will serve its readers and community - no one else.
• Kyiv Independent won’t depend on a wealthy owner or oligarch. It will rely on reader donations and future commercial work.
• The newsroom will set and execute editorial policy in the public’s best interest. External pressure won’t be tolerated.
• Journalists will own at least part of the Kyiv Independent.
• The goal is financial stability to ensure lasting independence.
• They pledge to be Ukraine’s genuine, independent voice.

Just days after launch, a potential funder offered generous support - on the condition of ownership. Rudenko declined. She didn’t trust claims of non-interference. The team chose to rely on their audience.

Although salaries fell by 30-50%, no one complained. They were home. The closure of Kyiv Post was shocking. Though it relaunched on December 24 with new staff, the Kyiv Independent already had friends, a loyal readership, and recognition from major news agencies. The site is divided into:

• National
• Politics
• Business
• Opinion
• Eastern Europe
• Tech
• Culture
• Podcasts

Until February 2022, reports focused on Russian troop buildup. On February 25, a new section appeared: War.

Reporting from the Front and Beyond

In early February, ads and sponsored content appeared, but the Russian invasion halted commercial activity. The outlet’s main revenue now is crowdfunding. By March 2022, it had raised £1.4 million.

The Kyiv Independent team is young, and half are women. Despite being new, they’ve faced no discrimination. Like other media, they attend government briefings, receive vital information, and are asked to intervene in public matters. The war has reshaped their mission. War coverage is now the priority. Illia Ponomarenko reports from the front, while Daria Shulzhenko and Igor Kossov cover civilian struggles. Nearly all reporters contribute to the War section.

Still, life goes on. In Culture, readers find book and movie tips, especially in Western Ukraine, where life is calmer.

• Artur Korniienko runs Weekend in Kyiv, highlighting cultural events and reminding readers about COVID.
• Daryna Antoniuk leads the Tech section, praising local scientists.
• Maria Yeryoma covers Belarus-related topics.
• Oleg Sukhov and team report national news beyond the war.
• Natalia Datskevych and Anna Myroniuk handle business.
• Kostyantyn Chernichkin manages visual content.

Thanks to grants, they now have a modest office - enough for the staff who stayed. Many left Kyiv or Ukraine. Reports come in daily online. During air raids, reporters work remotely, like Veronika Melkozerova, a translator and national desk writer.


The Opinion section features expert commentary (e.g., Timothy Ash of BlueBay Asset Management), editorials from Ukrainian State Enterprises Weekly, and insights from diplomats like U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker - all with consent.

Professional Social Media Strategy

Kyiv Independent invested in social media. A dedicated team works globally. Daria Vashkulat leads digital marketing. Brook Manning oversees international content. Olena Honcharova is both development lead and Canadian correspondent. Their Twitter, Facebook, and Telegram efforts are high-level. Daryna Shevchenko says:

We have native English speakers bringing great value: high journalistic standards, strong storytelling, excellent language. Some live in different time zones, allowing us to publish around the clock - even when Ukraine is asleep.

Aware of Russian threats, they prepared for war early in February 2022. Everyone had an evacuation plan, cash in case banks failed, and passwords shared with friends in Canada. The site had to stay online. Still, nothing prepared them for February 24. Everyone in Kyiv mobilized. Their battlefield was the web.

In the following weeks, Kyiv Independent became the top source of credible English-language journalism. Their news reached major agencies. Global outlets like the Times and The Globe and Mail cited them. Illia Ponomarenko’s frontline reports made history. The EU Parliament quoted their stories (Ursula von der Leyen, March 1, 2022). Alongside Belarusian Nexta, Kyiv Independent enjoys wide media trust - especially as its reporters remain in Kyiv.

Even Trusted Sources Make Mistakes

Three days into the war, their Twitter following jumped from 30,000 to 1 million. Nine months in, it reached 2 million. Their journalists not only report, they support: clearing debris, burying victims, helping civilians. They work remotely, but never stop. Amid hardship, they aim to grow - and offer readers peace and hope.


In addition to articles, the site features podcasts. Journalists Anastasiia Lapatina, Agatha Gorski, and Catarina Bachatskiy cover regional life in their daily podcast. The recent series (since June 2) is titled Did the War End? Earlier, Elina-Alem Kent hosted Media in Progress, covering press freedom and media. She is seen as the site’s chronicler.

The young outlet and its team remain active. This is their battlefront. Even those who fled Kyiv remain vigilant. Olga Tokariuk, fearing for her daughter’s safety, left the capital but reports from the field. She writes about life in western Ukraine, volunteers, and shelter life. Her updates appear daily. As Olga Rudenko says: We don’t just tell the story - we live the story.

In wartime, accuracy matters. Rudenko insists on verification. Russian propaganda, hackers, and trolls are a threat. Telegram and Twitter updates must be verified. Still, mistakes happen.

Besides our regular stories, we compile quick summaries - Rudenko says - This means we make mistakes and must issue corrections daily. This happened with early reports on Kharkiv, which fell shortly after. They correct, apologize, and move on. They are Ukraine’s free voice.

We’re lucky to support Ukraine’s cause - as if we were on the front. Lucky to have a job that lets us make a difference. It’s taken a toll, but we’re also lucky to be journalists now. (Time, 2022)

The Kyiv Independent Timeline

• 2021, November 22 - Kyiv Independent launches
• 2021, November - Ukraine Daily newsletter begins
• 2021, November 25 - first podcast episode
• 2021, December 2 - website kyivindependent.com goes live
• 2022, February - first ads and sponsored articles
• 2022, February 24 - Russia invades Ukraine
• 2022, February 25 - WAR section added to site
• 2022, March 1 - EU Parliament quotes Kyiv Independent journalists

sources:

• https://kyivindependent.com/
• https://voxeurop.eu/en/source/the-kyiv-independent/
• https://www.britannica.com/place/Kyiv/Kyiv-in-an-independent-Ukraine
• https://kyivindependent.com/about
• https://cpj.org/2022/02/ukraine-editor-olga-rudenko-on-starting-kyiv-independent-as-russia-amasses-troops-on-border/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kyiv_Independent
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyiv_Post
• https://t.me/s/KyivIndependent_official
• https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/09/media/kyiv-post-closure/index.html
• https://globalvoices.org/2021/11/30/with-ukraines-kyiv-post-shut-down-journalists-launch-new-independent-media-outlet/
• https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-post-staff-new-project/31573725.html
• https://www.patreon.com/kyivindependent
• https://time.com/6155219/ukrainian-journalists-challenges-reporting-war-kyiv-independent/
• https://time.com/6174883/olga-rudenko-kyiv-independent/
• https://katapult-magazin.de/de/artikel/der-kyiv-independent-die-stimme-der-ukraine