Kateryna Hodunova

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

200 Ukrainian POWs return home in latest exchange, Zelensky says

by Asami Terajima, Kateryna HodunovaMarch 5, 2026

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed releasing 200 Ukrainian POWs in exchange for the same number of Russian soldiers captured by Ukraine, in a swap brokered by the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.

Video

Exclusive: Inside Ukrainian skeleton racer's disqualification from Olympics

by Kateryna Hodunova, Vladyslav SamusenkoMarch 4, 2026

The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the Olympic Games for wearing a helmet honoring 24 Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia’s war.

War

Ukraine hit 4 Russian ships, killed 3 sailors in March 2 attack on Black Sea port in Krasnodar Krai, SBU source says

by Yuliia Taradiuk, Kateryna HodunovaMarch 4, 2026

"There are no 'protected areas' for Russian military facilities," a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

War

At least 337 Ukrainian POWs 'brutally' executed by Russia, Ukraine's ombudsman says

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 3, 2026

"Russia has turned torture into state policy and uses it as a weapon," Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said.

War

US deploys LUCAS kamikaze drones against Iran 'for first time in combat'

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 2, 2026

The U.S. launched a series of strikes against Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury, carried out jointly with Israel.

War

At least 9 killed, 19 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 2, 2026

Russia launched 94 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said, reporting that Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 84 unmanned aircraft.

War

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,267,730 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 2, 2026

The number includes 960 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Olena Chuieva in a women's penal colony in Southeastern Ukraine on Feb. 5, 2026.

War

'I betrayed my country' — the Ukrainian prison where women collaborators wait for Russia

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 1, 2026

Nelia Checheta served the state for decades — first with the Soviet military in Turkmenistan and later in Ukraine's Emergency Service — earning official honors along the way. At 62, her story continues not with commendations, but with a long prison sentence for collaboration. Checheta was convicted of passing information on Ukrainian troops and aircraft movements to an agent of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). She insisted the case was fabricated, but the evidence presented in court sug

War

Ukraine hits Russia's S-300 air defense radars in series of strikes, shows footage

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 1, 2026

Ukraine also targeted a Russian ammunition depot and a troop position in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast overnight on March 1.

War

'Ukrainians made it through,' Zelensky says on toughest winter of Russia's invasion

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 1, 2026

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that during the final week of winter, Russia launched over 1,720 attack drones, nearly 1,300 guided aerial bombs, and more than 100 missiles of various types against Ukraine.

Politics

UK says Iran fired missiles toward Cyprus amid regional hostilities; Nicosia denies island was targeted

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 1, 2026

U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said he was confident the missiles did not target British military bases, but added that the strikes highlighted the "indiscriminate" nature of Iran's retaliatory campaign.

Russia

For first time, Belgium boards Russian 'shadow fleet' vessel

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 1, 2026

Belgium has detained the Ethera oil tanker linked to Russia's "shadow fleet," carrying out the operation jointly with French forces, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said.

War

At least 6 killed, 28 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day

by Kateryna HodunovaMarch 1, 2026

Russia launched 123 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 110 drones.

War

Ukraine hits 6 Russian military targets, including S-300VM missile launcher, General Staff says

by Kateryna HodunovaFebruary 18, 2026

Ukraine carried out a series of successful overnight attacks on Feb. 17–18 against military facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territories.

War

Russian 'mothership' drones prompt Ukraine to weigh passport requirement for SIM card sales

by Kateryna HodunovaFebruary 18, 2026

Russian forces are using LTE mobile networks and Ukrainian SIM cards to remotely control FPV drones, Serhii Beskrestnov, adviser to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, said.

Editors' Picks

Smoke plumes rise following missile strikes in Tehran, Iran, on March 1, 2026.

Team