Team
Dominic Culverwell
Business ReporterDominic 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.
Articles
Splitting Europe's largest nuclear plant between Russia, Ukraine in peace deal won't work, experts say
Restarting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant under both Russian and Ukrainian control as part of any peace deal would be practically impossible in the plant’s current condition, several experts told the Kyiv Independent.
Under a 28-point peace proposal put forth by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and leaked to the public last week, the plant would generate electricity equally for both countries with supervision from the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It is un
How $100 million nuclear scandal derailed Zelensky
Ukraine is facing its biggest wartime corruption scandal. The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell explains how Energoatom — Ukraine's nuclear energy operator — became a breeding ground for corruption during the war, how a $100 million kickback scheme in the nuclear energy sector reached the highest levels of power, and what this crisis means for President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country.
Built during war, shattered overnight — Kyiv distribution center hit hard by Russian strike
The facility, Ukraine's first green distribution center with freon and ammonia-free refrigeration, opened in 2024.
Russian strikes spared Ukraine's nuclear plants. Corruption didn't
While Russian attacks pounded Ukraine’s power system, one energy company remained mostly unscathed — becoming the cash cow that fueled the largest corruption scheme of President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency.
Earlier this month, Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau (NABU) raided the homes of ex-Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and Zelensky's former business partner Timur Mindich in connection with a $100 million kickback scheme involving Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear operator. So far, NA
'Capitulation and betrayal' — Ukraine rages at controversial US peace plan, piles pressure on Zelensky
Amid mounting pressure from the White House, Kyiv is now grappling with a U.S. 28-point peace plan that many in the country view as a "capitulation."
Ukrainian activists, lawmakers, soldiers and veterans warn that the proposal could strengthen Russia's position, leading to further conflict rather than resolution — and not just on the front lines, but on the streets of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Ariev, a lawmaker with the opposition European Solidarity party, said that the leaked plan appears to be "a
US official contradicts Ukraine’s Umerov’s claim that he didn’t amend peace plan
The draft reportedly originally proposed an audit of all international aid to Ukraine, but the language was later changed to offer "full amnesty for actions during the war" to all parties involved.
Destroy. Fix. Repeat: Russia is creating a devastating doom loop inside Ukraine’s energy system
Within weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion, Oleksiy Povolotskiy found himself suddenly in charge of the recovery office at one of Ukraine's largest energy companies. His task: source replacements for energy equipment destroyed or damaged by Russian attacks.
Povolotskiy says that at first, he and his colleagues at DTEK had to guess the email addresses of their European counterparts, whom they'd never needed to contact before. After a few successes, they began building an impressive address boo
Global consulting firm joins Ukraine minerals deal fund as investment advisor
Alvarez & Marsal has been tapped as the investment advisor for the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, officials announced on Nov. 14, the latest step in a widely-watched agreement to invest in Ukraine's critical resource sectors.
'They could go after anyone' — Ukraine’s ex-energy chief on Zelensky’s blackout blame game
President Volodymyr Zelensky knew a major energy scandal involving his allies was about to break and moved to pin the blame elsewhere, according to the recently detained former head of Ukrenergo, who is accused of failing to protect Ukraine's infrastructure from Russian attacks.
On Nov. 10, Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau (NABU) raided the homes of ex-Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and Zelensky's former business partner Timur Mindich in connection with a $100 million kickback scheme invol
Ukraine slaps new sanctions on Putin's team and propagandist publishers
Names on the list include Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for investment Kirill Dmitriev, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut, and FSB agent Aleksey Komkov.
Russian attacks kill 3 and injure 18 in Donetsk and Kherson oblasts over past day
Russian forces launched 69 drones at Ukraine overnight, with 32 hitting nine locations across the country, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.
Ukraine's nuclear safety still at risk even after Zaporizhzhia plant connected to backup power
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has restored access to backup power for the first time in six months after its second power line was repaired, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Nov. 8.
'The threat was constant' — Russian drone flew over Angelina Jolie during her Ukraine trip
"The threat of drones was a constant, heavy presence. You hear a low hum in the sky," Jolie wrote on Instagram on Nov. 9.
Russia's Lavrov says he is ready to meet Rubio in person to discuss war in Ukraine
"It is important for discussing the Ukrainian issue and advancing the bilateral agenda," Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RIA Novosti.
Ukraine secures 300 million cubic meters of American LNG amid Russian attacks on gas production
Orlen will deliver three cargoes of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2026.
