Team

Kateryna Hodunova

News Editor

Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport. Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards. She holds a bachelor's degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master's degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

k.hodunova@kyivindependent.com

For media & speaking inquiries:
press@kyivindependent.com

Articles

War

Russia unleashes large-scale attack with jet-powered drones as Kyiv faces at least 9 air raid alerts in a single day

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 18, 2026

At around 7:45 p.m. local time, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said debris from Russian drones had been reported at two locations in the Dniprovskyi district.

Video

Ukrainian soldier on surviving 200 days in the kill zone

by Kateryna Hodunova, Oleksandra DiachenkoAugust 12, 2026

In this interview, the Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with “Khvoryi,” a soldier in Ukraine’s 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar,” about what it takes to survive for more than six months at a combat position.

War

Cheaper than a missile, just as hard to down — Russia's Banderol munition adds strain to Ukraine's air defenses

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 12, 2026

Odesa, one of southern Ukraine's most popular domestic tourist destinations, has spent much of this summer listening not to the sounds of a beachside holiday, but to air raid alarms — sometimes nearly every hour. "You don't hear the air raid siren because you're in a deep sleep," Yehven, 34, a resident of Odesa who asked to identified by first name only, told the Kyiv Independent. "You just wake up at some point to the sound of something with a jet engine flying overhead." "That engine is the

War

Ukrainian unit reports shortages of food, water on front line, command promises evacuation when 'security situation allows'

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 12, 2026

Platoon Commander Anatolii Syshchuk said his unit arrived at the position in April to relieve troops who had been stationed there for eight months without rotation. Their deployment was initially expected to last one month, he said.

War

Ukraine's HUR reveals size of Russia's Geran attack drone stockpile

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 12, 2026

During periods when Russian forces are replenishing their stockpiles, however, they typically launch around 150–200 drones per attack, with the number occasionally reaching approximately 300, the report read.

War

Russian attacks kill 8, injure 57 across Ukraine over past day, as deadly strike hits oil tanker truck in Odesa Oblast

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 12, 2026

Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight on Aug. 12 with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, an anti-radiation Kh-31P missile, Kh-35 guided air-launched missiles, and 138 Shahed-type drones, the Air Force said.

War

Explosions rock Russia's Novorossiysk after 'unique operation' targeting Black Sea Fleet, Zelensky says

by Lucy Pakhnyuk, Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, Kateryna HodunovaAugust 12, 2026

Drone attacks were reported overnight in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and across occupied Crimea, with explosions heard near Sevastopol and the Crimean Bridge.

War

Ukraine's military intelligence reveals Russian missile production figures 'exceeding monthly targets'

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 10, 2026

Russia had already fulfilled its annual production targets for the Zircon and Oniks missiles, with 33 and 60 units manufactured in the first seven months, respectively, Vadym Skibitskyi said.

War

Ukraine strikes Russian petrochemical plant more than 2,000 kilometers from border, General Staff says

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 10, 2026

The depth of the strike marks "a very significant achievement" for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Aug. 10.

War

Fedorov continues talks with Musk on using Starlink to help counter Russian ballistic missiles

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 7, 2026

"We're in touch with Musk; we last spoke a few days ago. And it's, let's just say, a difficult task right now to achieve the outcome we need through this communication," Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview with his former adviser, Serhii Sternenko.

War

60% of Ukrainians oppose ceding Donbas to Russia, but same share back freezing war with security guarantees, poll shows

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 7, 2026

According to the poll results, 33% of respondents said they would be willing to give up territory in eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

War

One of Ukraine's largest football stadiums damaged in Russian strike on Odesa

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 7, 2026

The attack occurred at around 3:30 p.m. local time, shortly after Ukraine's Air Force warned that jet-powered drones were approaching Odesa Oblast.

War

Russian attacks kill 9, injure 89 across Ukraine over past day as Dnipropetrovsk Oblast comes under nearly 80 attacks

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 7, 2026

Russia launched 147 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine overnight on Aug. 7, with air defenses shooting down 114 of them, the Air Force said.

War

Ukraine attacks Wildberries logistics center in Russia located nearly 2,000 km from front line

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 7, 2026

The first photos and videos emerged on Russian social media around 5 a.m. local time, showing smoke rising from the Wildberries facility.

War

Ukraine's air defense missile deliveries drop by two-thirds, new Russian tactic compounds problems for Kyiv

by Kateryna HodunovaAugust 5, 2026

Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent that a shortage of interceptors was not the decisive factor behind Ukrainian forces’ failure to intercept missiles during the Russian strike on Aug. 5.

Editors' Picks

Can Ukraine choke off Russia’s LNG trade at the source?

Kateryna Hodunova

Articles

Russia unleashes large-scale attack with jet-powered drones as Kyiv faces at least 9 air raid alerts in a single day

Ukrainian soldier on surviving 200 days in the kill zone

Cheaper than a missile, just as hard to down — Russia's Banderol munition adds strain to Ukraine's air defenses

Ukrainian unit reports shortages of food, water on front line, command promises evacuation when 'security situation allows'

Ukraine's HUR reveals size of Russia's Geran attack drone stockpile

Russian attacks kill 8, injure 57 across Ukraine over past day, as deadly strike hits oil tanker truck in Odesa Oblast

Explosions rock Russia's Novorossiysk after 'unique operation' targeting Black Sea Fleet, Zelensky says

Ukraine's military intelligence reveals Russian missile production figures 'exceeding monthly targets'

Ukraine strikes Russian petrochemical plant more than 2,000 kilometers from border, General Staff says

Fedorov continues talks with Musk on using Starlink to help counter Russian ballistic missiles

60% of Ukrainians oppose ceding Donbas to Russia, but same share back freezing war with security guarantees, poll shows

One of Ukraine's largest football stadiums damaged in Russian strike on Odesa

Russian attacks kill 9, injure 89 across Ukraine over past day as Dnipropetrovsk Oblast comes under nearly 80 attacks

Ukraine attacks Wildberries logistics center in Russia located nearly 2,000 km from front line

Ukraine's air defense missile deliveries drop by two-thirds, new Russian tactic compounds problems for Kyiv

Editors' Picks

Can Ukraine choke off Russia’s LNG trade at the source?

Analysis: Russia doubles down, setting stage for new phase of total war

Exclusive: Ukraine whispers to Trump that Russia may not capture Donbas even in 2027

Is Wildberries a legitimate military target?