Help us keep bringing the truth to light, even when Russia turns the lights out.

Shop and support
KI logo
Back
Team
Martin Fornusek photo

Martin Fornusek

Assistant Editor

Martin Fornusek is an assistant editor at the Kyiv Independent. Until recently, Martin held the role of foreign affairs reporter specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, focusing on 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

War

Ukrainians fled west for safety. Now Russian drones are following them

by Yuliia Taradiuk, Martin Fornusek, Kate Tsurkan
Andrii Mazur has spent 24 years with Ukraine's State Emergency Service in Volyn Oblast, but during all that time, nothing has compared to the situation that has unfolded in recent weeks. He and his team have been dispatched to disaster areas eight times in seven days, operating round the clock as swarms of Russian jet-powered drones bombard Western Ukraine. "Above all, we fear for our colleagues on site, as nothing outweighs the worth of a human life," he told the Kyiv Independent. Russia has
Politics

New Poland-Ukraine dispute looms as local authorities move to honor UPA military leader

by Martin Fornusek
Warsaw has denounced Lviv Oblast authorities' plans to honor the World War II-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and its military leader, Roman Shukhevych. The move signals a fresh rift in the already strained Kyiv-Warsaw ties just days after President Volodymyr Zelensky said the relations had finally improved. The council of the western Ukrainian region adopted decrees on Oct. 20 symbolically declaring 2027 as the Year of the UPA, the Year of Shukhevych, and the Year of Oleh Olzhych, a Ukrain
Europe

Russia's war reaches Bulgaria's shores, putting Radev's Moscow-friendly stance to the test

by Martin Fornusek
The balancing act of Bulgaria's Moscow-friendly leader stands on shaky ground. Since taking office in May, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has taken a harsh line on Ukraine while adopting steps his critics say are accommodating to Moscow. Radev's course has now come under scrutiny as Bulgaria, a southeastern NATO member state, feels first-hand the spillover of Russia's war against Ukraine. Four merchant vessels were hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast in October. Two of the ves

Editors' Picks