Get to know
the Kyiv Independent team
the Kyiv Independent team
OUR HISTORY
The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s fastest-growing English-language media outlet, created in November 2021, just three months before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent was born out of a fight for freedom of speech. It was co-founded by a group of journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post, then a prominent newspaper, as the owner attempted to take the newsroom under control and end its critical coverage of Ukrainian authorities.
Instead of giving up, the fired team founded a new media outlet to carry on the torch — and be a truly independent voice of Ukraine. Jnomics, an international media consultancy with Ukrainian roots, co-founded the publication, bringing their expertise in media management.
Just three months after the Kyiv Independent was launched, Russia invaded Ukraine. Our team stayed in Ukraine and kept on reporting on what was now a war against their country.
The team’s resilience and uncompromising reporting quickly made the Kyiv Independent a key source of news from Ukraine for millions of people around the world.
We vowed to serve the principles of honest journalism even during an ongoing war. We have published investigations, including into misconduct within the Ukrainian military. It has solidified our readers’ trust in us as an independent news source. The Kyiv Independent has won multiple awards for its work.
We had to grow fast. Today, the Kyiv Independent is a dynamic organization producing stories, video reports, newsletters, documentaries, and more. In March 2023, we formed a separate unit within the team to investigate Russian war crimes. The team has published nine documentaries so far, uncovered multiple war crimes, and seven international awards for its work.
Unlike many news organizations, the Kyiv Independent has no single owner or external source of financing. Instead, the majority of our funding comes directly from our readers — most of whom give just $5 a month. In 2024, 70% of our revenue was from membership and donations.
Thanks to the support of our readers, the Kyiv Independent doesn’t need to depend on a wealthy owner — and doesn’t have a paywall. Our journalism is free and accessible to everyone, regardless of ability to pay, because we believe that everyone should have access to accurate and reliable information.
OUR VALUES
1
The Kyiv Independent serves its readers and community, and nobody else.
2
The Kyiv Independent won’t be dependent on a rich owner or an oligarch. Support from our readers, donors, and commercial activities fund the publication.
3
The newsroom decides and executes the publication’s editorial policy in the community’s best interests. Attempts to influence it from outside will not be tolerated.
4
The Kyiv Independent will always be at least partly owned by its journalists.
5
The Kyiv Independent strives to maintain financial sustainability to preserve its independence.
OUR MISSION
Serve as the bridge between Ukraine and the world, delivering reliable news, context, and on-the-ground reporting.
We are hiring and always looking to grow our team.
Check out our current vacancies.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Almost 3 million monthly readers in 2025
Millions of people now read the Kyiv Independent every month. Our monthly website audience grew from 13,000 readers in January 2022 to close to 3 million monthly readers in 2025.
Over 30,000 stories
have been published since launching the Kyiv Independent, including daily news updates, war coverage, business, culture, and opinions.
More than 150 field reports
Since the start of the war, we’ve published more than 150 field reports, including dozens of stories from the front lines, bringing you on-the-ground coverage from places like Avdiivka, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, and Vovchansk.
30 investigations
including an award-winning investigation into alleged misconduct in Ukraine’s International Legion and leaked documents showing Russia’s plan to take over Belarus by 2030.
7 newsletters
The Kyiv Independent currently has seven active newsletters with a total of over 230,000 subscribers. They cover the latest events in Ukraine, front-line dispatches, business news, and much more.
More than 20,000 members
We built a vibrant community of more than 20,000 members. More than 50,000 people have supported the Kyiv Independent financially since its launch.
We have won 20 awards
for our journalism and one award for our audience growth.
We grew our team from 18 to 70+ people
A bigger team allows us to increase the impact and reach of our journalism.
9 documentaries
Our War Crimes Investigations Unit has produced nine investigative documentaries about Russia’s systemic atrocities in Ukraine, including the deportation of children and torture of POWs.
KI’s YouTube channel
We produce video content, including reports from the front lines, a show about the latest news “Ukraine This Week,” exclusive interviews, and much more. So far in 2025, we have reached over 14 million views and 270,000 subscribers.
Everything we do is possible because of our readers.
From front-line reports to war crimes investigations — our journalism exists thanks to the support of people like you. Become a member and help us keep going.
become a memberOUR AWARDS
2025
Honor of the Profession
The Kyiv Independent's Olesia Bida, the author of "He Came Back" our investigative documentary, which exposes sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, won the 2025 Ukrainian journalism award, "Honor of the Profession."
2024
Bucha Journalism Conference Prize
The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigations Unit won the Bucha Journalism Conference Prize in the Best Investigation of Russian War Crimes category for "Uprooted"
2024
Global Media Awards
The International News Media Association commended the launch of our War Crimes Investigations Unit and chose it as the winner in the Best New Video Product or Feature category as a national brand.
2023
Bonnier Prize
The Kyiv Independent was awarded this prize along with the Estonian media outlet Delfi, for a joint investigation into the potential misuse of funds by Estonia's biggest charity supporting Ukraine.
2023
IRE Award
Olesia Bida, the author of "Uprooted", our first investigative documentary, won the 2023 Investigative Reporters and Editors award in the Video – Division I category.
FAQs
How big is the team, and where are they located?
We are a team of over 70 people, with most of them based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Some of our team members work remotely from North America and Europe.
What editorial products does the Kyiv Independent have?
Besides our regular reporting — including field reports and front-line coverage, and our sections for business, investigations, opinions, culture, and Explaining Ukraine — we also keep a continuously updated news feed on our website.
We currently have seven active newsletters: Ukraine Daily, Ukraine Weekly, War Notes, WTF is Wrong With Russia?, Belarus Weekly, Ukraine Business Roundup, and Explaining Ukraine.
Our War Crimes Investigations Unit has already produced five investigative documentaries, shedding light on the human stories behind the war crimes Russia has committed in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, which number over 80,000, according to Ukrainian authorities.
We have a weekly video series, “Ukraine This Week”, which you can find on our YouTube channel. We also share our reporting on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Twitter (X), Telegram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.
How do we finance our work?
We believe that in order to preserve our independence we have to maintain financial sustainability and earn money for our work. The majority of our revenue comes from our readers. Membership and one-time donations keep us sustainable as a news organization and allow us to keep our journalism free and accessible to everyone. Kyiv Independent also makes money from advertising, syndication deals, book publishing, and other commercial activities. We also work with donor organizations and receive grants to support some of our editorial projects.
Why should I become a member or donate?
Your monthly support allows us to bring independent, locally-sourced news about Ukraine to the world. Membership and one-time donations keep us sustainable as a news organization and allow us to keep our journalism free and accessible to everyone. This model also allows us to connect and engage with our community of readers.
Our monthly or annual members get access to exclusive newsletters, events, direct communication with our staff, and many more benefits. You can learn more about exclusive benefits by reviewing our tiers or writing to us at [email protected].
What is the difference between a single donation and membership?
There are two options when choosing how to support the Kyiv Independent. A single payment is just a one-time contribution – you will only be charged once, but you won’t receive membership benefits.
Membership is a monthly payment, with recurring billing, meaning you will be charged on the same day each month. By choosing this option, you will receive membership benefits. For example, our special weekly email blast with behind-the-scenes updates and recommended readings. Different tiers of membership come with different benefits.
You also have the option to join as a member with an annual payment. In this case, you will also receive membership benefits, but you will only be charged once a year on the date you signed up. Members who pay annually receive a 15% discount.
How can I communicate with the Kyiv Independent team?
You can email anyone on the team personally (more information can be found here). If you would like to pitch a story or share important information, you can send us an email at [email protected]. We have a community server on Discord, offering an exclusive space for our members to connect directly with the team. You can ask us questions, reach out to specific team members, participate in polls, and share memes, tips, and information with other members. We also have channels set up for how to help Ukraine and regular Ukrainian classes. Certain tiers of membership such as Partners and Insiders also have one-on-one calls with our leadership. You can find more information on becoming a member here.
What should I do if I want to work for the Kyiv Independent?
If you’re interested in working with the Kyiv Independent, we’re always looking to grow our team, and you can check out our current vacancies here.
How can I report errors and typos in news coverage of the Kyiv Independent?
If you would like to report a type or a factual mistake in our reporting, please send us an email at [email protected].
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