crimea: the war before the war

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Monday, March 23, 2026
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Martin Fornusek

Reporter

Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

m.fornusek@kyivindependent.com
For media & speaking inquiries:
press@kyivindependent.com

Articles

Europe

Suspected leaks to Moscow rattle EU — but Hungary stays at the table

by Tim Zadorozhnyy, Martin Fornusek
EU diplomats are concerned about Hungary's contacts with the Kremlin following reports that Budapest may have shared information from EU meetings with Moscow. At the same time, they note that Hungary cannot be excluded from key discussions. The alarm follows reporting that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto briefed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on discussions during EU meetings — a development that has reinforced long-standing suspicions within the bloc. Some officials have
Russia

'We'll become Belarus' — Orban's opponents see election as last chance

by Martin Fornusek
BUDAPEST, Hungary — For some Hungarians, next month's parliamentary election is a chance to break with Russia, a country many believe holds a grip over their homeland. In power since 2010, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has fostered political and economic ties with Moscow while blocking EU assistance to Ukraine, deepening the rift between Budapest and Brussels. For some of Orban's opponents who came to the Tisza party rally in Budapest on March 15, it was a chance to reject the governme
Europe

After bashing allies, Trump now wants their help — except from Ukraine

by Martin Fornusek
Editor's note: The story has been updated with additional comments. After months of disparaging his European allies, U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly seeks their assistance. But none rush to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid Washington's ongoing war with Iran, even as Trump warns that a lack of action would be "very bad" for NATO's future. Experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent see an emerging pattern. "Take unilateral actions without including allies, then bully them

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