crimea: the war before the war

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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.

For media & speaking inquiries:
press@kyivindependent.com

Articles

A Hungarian election poster depicting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Budapest, Hungary, on March 19, 2026.

Fact-check: How Kremlin disinformation targets Hungary's election

by Martin Fornusek
As Hungary heads into a high-stakes election, Moscow has deployed its propaganda and disinformation machine to bolster its preferred candidate. Viktor Orban, Hungary's Kremlin-friendly strongman, faces a real chance of defeat on April 12 that could end his 16-year grip on power. For weeks, Russian propagandists and bot networks have pushed falsehoods about alleged attempts by Brussels and Kyiv to sway the vote, or even steal it in a "Maidan-style coup." The methods deployed by Kremlin disinfo
Slovakia's former minister of foreign affairs and presidential candidate Ivan Korcok in Senec, Slovakia, on April 6, 2023.

Slovak opposition vows break from Fico's Ukraine course

by Martin Fornusek
Since returning to power in 2023, Prime Minister Robert Fico has transformed Slovakia from one of the most Ukraine-friendly countries to one of its sharpest critics. A Russian-friendly populist, Fico has halted military aid to Ukraine, traveled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and obstructed EU backing for Kyiv. Slovakia's pro-EU opposition wants to change course after next year's elections. Fico's Ukraine policy has been "disastrous" and a "huge loss of credit for Slovakia