Team

Dominic Culverwell

Business Reporter

Dominic is the business reporter for the Kyiv Independent, reporting on Ukrainian companies, investment, energy, corruption, and reforms. Based in Kyiv, Dominic joined the Kyiv Independent team in 2023, having previously worked as a freelancer. He has written articles for a number of publications, including the Financial Times, bne IntelliNews, Radio Free Europe/Liberty, Euronews and New Eastern Europe. Previously, Dominic worked with StopFake as a disinformation expert, debunking Russian fake news in Europe.

d.culverwell@kyivindependent.com

For media & speaking inquiries:
press@kyivindependent.com

Articles

War

Explosion at major Ukrainian postal company kills one, injures two in Kyiv

by Dominic CulverwellJune 5, 2026

The explosion occurred at 4:15 a.m. local time at a sorting depot in the capital’s Obolon district during a quiet night without any Russian air attacks, Nova Post’s press service confirmed to the Kyiv Independent on June 5.

Business

Thousands of bogus Ukrainian companies involved in massive capital flight scheme, tax authority says

by Dominic CulverwellJune 3, 2026

More than 2,300 companies carried out over Hr 198 billion ($4.5 billion) in foreign trade transactions and then largely vanished, State Tax Service head Lesya Karnaukh wrote on social media. The majority — 1,243 companies — were involved in exporting goods.

Business

World’s largest shipping firm invests in Ukrainian port near Odesa despite war risks

by Luca Léry Moffat, Dominic CulverwellJune 2, 2026

The Swiss-headquartered Mediterranean Shipping Company acquired a stake in the TIS container terminal in Ukraine's Pivdennyi Port, one person with close knowledge of the deal confirmed to the Kyiv Independent, who was granted anonymity to discuss closed talks.

Business

Ukraine steelmakers warn new EU limits could cost them customers

by Dominic Culverwell, Chris PowersMay 19, 2026

MEPs in Brussels agreed on May 19 to slash the EU’s tariff-free steel imports to 18.3 million metric tons per year — a 47% reduction from what is currently allowed — starting in July 2026.

Business

Ukrainian e-sports stars beat Russians to first place at US tournament

by Dominic CulverwellMay 18, 2026

Natus Vincere — known as NAVI — took home their second championship trophy of the year as well as $125,000 in prize money after beating German team GamerLegion 2-1 in the popular first-person shooter video game.

Business

Another blow for Energoatom: Key US nuclear veteran exits as reform drive falters

by Dominic CulverwellMay 15, 2026

Patrick Fragman, the former CEO of U.S. nuclear energy firm Westinghouse Electric Company, resigned from his position at Energoatom, which operates Ukraine’s three working nuclear power plants, less than five months after being appointed to the board, the company announced on May 15.

Business

Ukraine searches 100 illegal vape shops in clampdown on shadow economy

by Dominic CulverwellMay 12, 2026

Ukraine’s business police, known as the Bureau of Economic Security, searched and confiscated products from e-cigarette sellers in 12 regions, including Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Zakarpattia, Pavlo Buzdyhan, the bureau’s deputy director, told the Kyiv Independent.

Business

Ukraine is already running out of time to prepare Kyiv for winter, officials warn

by Dominic CulverwellMay 8, 2026

As the springtime sun coaxes Kyiv’s residents outdoors, memories of a winter without reliable heat or electricity caused by Russian strikes are beginning to fade — creating a dangerous distraction from the government's failure to prepare for the upcoming season. Kyiv expects Moscow to launch another brutal campaign against its energy infrastructure this winter. But efforts to diversify Kyiv’s power generation and heating sources either started too late or not at all, several people in the energ

Business

Poland's PZU acquires Ukraine's top insurance company

by Dominic CulverwellMay 4, 2026

MetLife Ukraine makes up 50% of the Ukrainian market, earning nearly Hr 1 billion ($22.6 million) in profits last year from its 900,000 clients.

Politics

Zelensky invites Slovak leader to Kyiv ahead of Moscow trip

by Dominic Culverwell, The Kyiv Independent news deskMay 2, 2026

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the two countries need to have "strong relations" and that the two leaders should meet in person soon.

War

US to delay arms shipments to Europe, potentially affecting Ukraine, FT reports

by Dominic Culverwell, The Kyiv Independent news deskMay 2, 2026

Several sources told the Financial Times that the United States has informed the United Kingdom, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia that there will be long delays, with two sources also mentioning possible delays to Asia.

War

Russian attacks kill at least 3, injure at least 42 in Ukraine

by Dominic Culverwell, The Kyiv Independent news deskMay 2, 2026

In Kharkiv, an overnight Russian drone attack hit an apartment block, injuring two men and a woman, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synehubov reported on May 2.

War

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,332,950 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

by Dominic Culverwell, The Kyiv Independent news deskMay 2, 2026

The number includes 1,240 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

War

At least 2 killed, 8 injured after Russian drones strike buses in 'brutal safari' in Kherson

by Sonya Bandouil, Dominic CulverwellMay 2, 2026

At least two people were killed and seven others injured after a Russian drone struck a civilian bus in Kherson in the early hours of May 2.

War

Russia targets infrastructure across Ukraine in overnight drone attacks

by Sonya Bandouil, Dominic CulverwellMay 2, 2026

Russian forces launched overnight drone attacks targeting critical and energy infrastructure across several Ukrainian regions early on May 2, with strikes reported in Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Odesa Oblasts, according to regional authorities and local reports.

Editors' Picks

Why Zelensky's letter wasn't about Putin as Kremlin rejects meeting

Dominic Culverwell

Articles

Explosion at major Ukrainian postal company kills one, injures two in Kyiv

Thousands of bogus Ukrainian companies involved in massive capital flight scheme, tax authority says

World’s largest shipping firm invests in Ukrainian port near Odesa despite war risks

Ukraine steelmakers warn new EU limits could cost them customers

Ukrainian e-sports stars beat Russians to first place at US tournament

Another blow for Energoatom: Key US nuclear veteran exits as reform drive falters

Ukraine searches 100 illegal vape shops in clampdown on shadow economy

Ukraine is already running out of time to prepare Kyiv for winter, officials warn

Poland's PZU acquires Ukraine's top insurance company

Zelensky invites Slovak leader to Kyiv ahead of Moscow trip

US to delay arms shipments to Europe, potentially affecting Ukraine, FT reports

Russian attacks kill at least 3, injure at least 42 in Ukraine

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,332,950 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

At least 2 killed, 8 injured after Russian drones strike buses in 'brutal safari' in Kherson

Russia targets infrastructure across Ukraine in overnight drone attacks

Editors' Picks

Why Zelensky's letter wasn't about Putin as Kremlin rejects meeting

'Just a show for Putin' — Inside the 2026 St. Petersburg Economic Forum

Why Ukraine is talking about ending 'hot phase' of Russia's war before winter

Road to the kill zone: With Ukrainian troops on the lifeline from Kramatorsk to Kostiantynivka