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Illia Ponomarenko

Former Defense reporter

Illia Ponomarenko was a defense and security reporter at the Kyiv Independent in 2021-2023. He has reported about the war in eastern Ukraine since the conflict’s earliest days. He covers national security issues, as well as military technologies, production, and defense reforms in Ukraine. Besides, he gets deployed to the war zone of Donbas with Ukrainian combat formations. He has also had deployments to Palestine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as an embedded reporter with UN peacekeeping forces. Illia won the Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellowship and was selected to work as USA Today's guest reporter at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Articles

Ukraine holds urban warfare drills in Chornobyl Zone

Ukraine holds urban warfare drills in Chornobyl Zone

by Illia Ponomarenko

PRYPYAT, CHORNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE – Cold and tired after so many sleepless days in battle, Ukrainian troops with National Guard special units go on the offensive, smashing the last resisting enemy troops at the roadway strongpoint in hard combat. Minutes later, Ukrainian troops backed by the KORD special police forces continue

What we know about Polish anti-aircraft weapons sent to Ukraine

What we know about Polish anti-aircraft weapons sent to Ukraine

by Illia Ponomarenko

Poland, which recently joined the club of nations supporting Ukraine with weaponry against the looming Russian aggression threat, decided to provide Ukraine with better weapons than previously expected. Instead of PZR Grom, the Polish military's workhorse anti-aircraft missile systems promised to Kyiv, Poland is sending a more advanced and modern

Zelensky issues decree to bolster Ukraine's military

Zelensky issues decree to bolster Ukraine's military

by Illia Ponomarenko

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Feb. 1 to increase the total number of active service personnel with the Armed Forces and improve the conditions of service in the military. The document, signed to "bolster the nation's defense capacity and the appeal of military service," says that the armed

UK’s defense aid to Ukraine skyrockets amid Russia threat
War

UK’s defense aid to Ukraine skyrockets amid Russia threat

by Illia Ponomarenko

This January could be declared the month of Britain in Ukraine. Ever since pictures emerged on the internet showing the Royal Air Force’s transport aircraft at the Boryspil Airport outside Kyiv on Jan. 19, the United Kingdom’s popularity in Ukraine soared into the stratosphere. For the cargo pallets

Poland to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons

Poland to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons

by Illia Ponomarenko

The Polish government has approved providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid and weaponry amid the ongoing all-out war threat from Russia. "A decision was made to transfer munitions of defensive, rather than of offensive, nature to the Ukrainian party," Pawel Soloch, the leader of Poland's National Security Bureau, said on Jan.

Ukraine ratifies deal with UK to boost navy

Ukraine ratifies deal with UK to boost navy

by Illia Ponomarenko

Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has ratified a deal to get a loan worth $2.3 billion (1.7 billion pounds) from the United Kingdom and procure warships and key naval infrastructure. The bill was supported by 236 lawmakers in the final voting on Jan. 27. The deal particularly envisages

What we know about US bunker busters sent to Ukraine

What we know about US bunker busters sent to Ukraine

by Illia Ponomarenko

Allies in the West keep sending their emergency assistance to Ukraine, including extraordinary amounts of lethal weaponry, as Russia continues threatening a mass invasion. Over the last few days, the United States alone, as part of its additional $200 million aid package, has sent nearly 700 FGM-148 Javelin missiles and,

US delivers 300 more Javelins to Ukraine

US delivers 300 more Javelins to Ukraine

by Illia Ponomarenko

Nearly 300 new FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank system launchers and missiles have been delivered to Kyiv on Jan. 25 as part of the United States' skyrocketing military support to Ukraine amid the looming threat of Russia's all-out invasion. Besides, the new delivery included SMAW-D anti-fortification weapons, also provided by the U.

NATO sends more military power to eastern flank

NATO sends more military power to eastern flank

by Illia Ponomarenko

A number of NATO militaries are putting their forces on standby and sending more warships and jet fighters to eastern Europe in a bid to deter Russia's aggressive build-up in and around Ukraine. In a statement released by the alliance on Jan. 24, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he

UK provides Ukraine with anti-tank weapons

UK provides Ukraine with anti-tank weapons

by Illia Ponomarenko

U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace has announced that his country will provide Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to boost the Eastern European nation's security against escalating Russian threats. "In light of the increasingly threatening behavior from Russia, and in addition to our current support, the UK is

Russian military runs combat readiness tests in Far East

Russian military runs combat readiness tests in Far East

by Illia Ponomarenko

Russia launched a surprise combat readiness check of its military forces deployed in the Far East, amid an ongoing security crisis which threatens an escalation of Russia’s war with Ukraine. The drills envisage testing the capacity of the country's transportation grid to project military force "by large distances," according

Ukraine receives $450 million in foreign defense aid in 2021

Ukraine receives $450 million in foreign defense aid in 2021

by Illia Ponomarenko

Amid Russia's ongoing war, Ukraine in 2021 ended up getting a total of nearly $450 million in defense assistance, mainly from the United States, UK, Lithuania, and Latvia. The shipments to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression included weapons, vehicles, medical equipment, munitions, and many other items, according to

Mriya aircraft endures minor breakdown in Poland

Mriya aircraft endures minor breakdown in Poland

by Illia Ponomarenko

The world's largest cargo aircraft An-225 Mriya operated by Ukraine's legendary Antonov company has endured a technical problem at an airfield in Poland. The incident took place at the Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport on Jan. 10 in the country's southeast, according to Antonov. During a touchdown, the aircraft's right-side landing gear

Who can and can't join Ukraine's Territorial Defense Force

Who can and can't join Ukraine's Territorial Defense Force

by Illia Ponomarenko

Starting from 2022, Ukraine's Territorial Defense Force will be a standalone branch of the country's armed forces. It's calling on all willing volunteers to join and help to defend their own homes as "weekend warriors" — working their usual civilian jobs but doing occasional drills and exercises in their spare time.

Ukraine to get at least 3 Mark VI boats in 2022

Ukraine to get at least 3 Mark VI boats in 2022

by Illia Ponomarenko

Ukraine expects to get at least three brand new Mark IV patrol boats in 2022, as part of a $600 million deal approved by the U.S. government under the Foreign Military Sale program. "There should be three or more," Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova was quoted

Ukraine closes inland waters to Russian ships

Ukraine closes inland waters to Russian ships

by Illia Ponomarenko

After over seven years of war, Ukraine has banned Russia from using its river navigation routes and ports. A new bill on the country's inland water transport came into force on Jan. 1 to prohibit cargo or passenger ships under the flag of Russia, which is officially declared as "the

These Ukrainian soldiers were killed in Donbas in 2021

These Ukrainian soldiers were killed in Donbas in 2021

by Illia Ponomarenko

Lieutenant Colonel Serhiy Koval, a 43-year-old career officer, has served with Ukraine’s military for the entirety of his adult life. He was a top minesweeper with Ukraine’s 143rd Landmine Defusing Center. He had served as a peacekeeper in Afghanistan. And he had been at the front lines of

Ukraine's soldiers may soon get better, warmer boots

Ukraine's soldiers may soon get better, warmer boots

by Illia Ponomarenko

It looks like Ukraine's military can soon expect a new goodie to stay warm in the nasty weather. The Armed Forces are currently completing field tests of new soldier boots for wintertime. These are expected to outmatch standard-issue models produced by Ukrainian company Talan, a major contractor for the military.

Antonov rolls out new An-178 aircraft
War

Antonov rolls out new An-178 aircraft

by Illia Ponomarenko

Ukraine's major aviation manufacturer Antonov has unveiled a new An-178-100P cargo jet, one of the three aircraft being built for Ukraine's Armed Forces. The new airplane is now ready to leave the workshop and face certification tests, the state company said on Dec. 28. Antonov is a legendary aircraft manufacturer

Russia has 122,000 troops close to Ukraine's border

Russia has 122,000 troops close to Ukraine's border

by Illia Ponomarenko

Russia currently has nearly 122,000 troops deployed within 200 kilometers of the Ukrainian border, according to Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council secretary. Russian manpower deployed within 400 kilometers is estimated at 143,500, the official said on Dec. 22. Ever since Russia launched its undeclared war

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