Dmytro Basmat

Team

Dmytro Basmat

Senior News Editor

Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.

d.basmat@kyivindependent.com

Articles

War

Pro-Ukrainian partisans sabotage substation in Russia's Udmurt Republic, disrupt power supply to military‑industrial plant, group claims

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 28, 2026

The Atesh partisan group sabotaged an electrical substation in Russia's Udmurt Republic, disrupting power supply to the nearby "BUMMASH" military‑industrial plant, the group claimed in a Telegram post on Jan. 28.

War

Casualties, damage to infrastructure reported as Russia launches missiles, drones at various regions of Ukraine

by Lucy Pakhnyuk, Dmytro Basmat, Kateryna HodunovaJanuary 28, 2026

Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks on several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv and surrounding areas, overnight on Jan. 28, local authorities reported.

War

Ukrainian drones strike oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 26, 2026

Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an oil refinery in the town of Slovyansk-na-Kuban in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on Jan. 26, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

Politics

Ukrainian parliamentarian Orest Salamakha killed in quad bike accident

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 26, 2026

The accident occurred in the community of Sokilnyky in Lviv Oblast around 6:15 p.m. local time, the State Bureau of Investigation announced. Preliminary information appears to indicate that Salamakha entered oncoming traffic before colliding with a commercial minibus.

Russia

Trump says Putin accepted Board of Peace invite — while Russia mulls paying for permanent seat with frozen assets

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 22, 2026

"Given the special relationship with the Palestinian people, Russia could direct $1 billion from Russian assets frozen under the previous U.S. administration to the Board of Peace," Putin said, referring to Trump's indications that a $1 billion payment would secure a permanent seat on the board.

Europe

Moldova moves to withdraw from Russian-led CIS, Foreign Minister says

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 20, 2026

Moldova is in the process of formalizing its exit from the Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi told Radio Moldova on Jan. 19.

War

Russia targets nuclear power plant substations, thousands in Kyiv without power, water

by Abbey Fenbert, Dmytro Basmat, Asami Terajima, Dominic Culverwell, Tania Myronyshena, Kateryna HodunovaJanuary 20, 2026

At least one person in Kyiv has been injured, local authorities reported. Ukraine's Air Force has warned that Russian ballistic missiles are targeting multiple regions, including the capital.

War

Pro-Ukrainian partisans sabotage electrical substation in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, group claims

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 18, 2026

The Atesh partisan group sabotaged an electrical substation in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, disrupting power supply to "key" components of Russia's war machine, the group claimed in a Telegram post on Jan. 18.

War

Over 163,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 18, 2026

Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 163,606 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine.

Europe

Crashed Russian drone discovered in Moldova, authorities report

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 18, 2026

The drone was found by a hunter in the village of Nucareni, in the Telenesti District of the country, which is located approximately 54 kilometers (33 miles) from the Moldova-Ukraine border, authorities said.

Europe

Poland charges 4 Ukrainians, 1 Russian in alleged Russia-backed sabotage plot

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 17, 2026

Polish authorities have charged five men in an alleged Russia-orchestrated plot to send out parcels with explosives to various Western countries, Poland's National Prosecutor's Office announced on Jan. 16.

Politics

US considering creating 'Board of Peace' for Ukraine, modeled after plan for Gaza, FT reports

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 17, 2026

American officials have put forward the idea of expanding the Gaza 'Board of Peace' to include other countries affected by war and conflicts, including Ukraine and Venezuela, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Jan. 16.

War

'Energy workers have done the nearly impossible' — Power reconnected in Kryvyi Rih after Russian drone strikes left 45,000 without electricity

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 14, 2026

Russian Shahed drones carried out the attack leaving 700 buildings without heat across the city, Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, said.

Russia

Russia's own air defense missile reportedly hits apartment building in Rostov-on-Don, fire seen at nearby factory

by Abbey Fenbert, Dmytro BasmatJanuary 14, 2026

The circumstances around the reportedly self-imposed strike were not immediately clear.

War

Russia strikes ambulance in Chernihiv Oblast, injuring 2 medics

by Dmytro BasmatJanuary 12, 2026

Russian forces struck an ambulance in the town of Semenivka in Chernihiv Oblast on Jan. 11, injuring two medical workers, a local official reported.

Editors' Picks

U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026.

Team

Dmytro Basmat

Articles

Pro-Ukrainian partisans sabotage substation in Russia's Udmurt Republic, disrupt power supply to military‑industrial plant, group claims

Casualties, damage to infrastructure reported as Russia launches missiles, drones at various regions of Ukraine

Ukrainian drones strike oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai

Ukrainian parliamentarian Orest Salamakha killed in quad bike accident

Trump says Putin accepted Board of Peace invite — while Russia mulls paying for permanent seat with frozen assets

Moldova moves to withdraw from Russian-led CIS, Foreign Minister says

Russia targets nuclear power plant substations, thousands in Kyiv without power, water

Pro-Ukrainian partisans sabotage electrical substation in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, group claims

Over 163,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation

Crashed Russian drone discovered in Moldova, authorities report

Poland charges 4 Ukrainians, 1 Russian in alleged Russia-backed sabotage plot

US considering creating 'Board of Peace' for Ukraine, modeled after plan for Gaza, FT reports

'Energy workers have done the nearly impossible' — Power reconnected in Kryvyi Rih after Russian drone strikes left 45,000 without electricity

Russia's own air defense missile reportedly hits apartment building in Rostov-on-Don, fire seen at nearby factory

Russia strikes ambulance in Chernihiv Oblast, injuring 2 medics

Editors' Picks

'Absurd' — Trump's Board of Peace project falls flat in Ukraine

Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution

We asked an expert about Russia's 'updated' mass missile, drone tactics

Europe's far-right parties face growing obstacle: Donald Trump