Sonya Bandouil

Team

Sonya Bandouil

North American news editor

Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC. Sonya has a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.

s.bandouil@kyivindependent.com

Articles

War

Kremlin folds occupied parts of Ukraine into Russia's Southern Military District amid renewed mobilization push

by Sonya BandouilNovember 7, 2025

The Kremlin has officially incorporated the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions into Russia’s Southern Military District, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported on Nov. 6.

Hungary

Ukraine submits draft education language law to Hungary, awaits response

by Sonya BandouilNovember 7, 2025

Ukraine has submitted a draft education law to Hungary that partly addresses Budapest’s demands related to language policy in schools, Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka said on Nov. 7.

Norway

Norway to allocate $7 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2026

by Sonya BandouilNovember 5, 2025

Norway will provide Ukraine with $7 billion in 2026 to support its defense sector, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on X on Nov. 5.

Tomahawk missile

Trump 'not really' considering Tomahawk transfers to Ukraine, for now

by Sonya Bandouil, Martin FornusekNovember 3, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 2 that as of now, he is not planning to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Business

India partners with sanctioned Russian firm to produce passenger aircraft

by Sonya BandouilOctober 29, 2025

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) signed a deal with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in Moscow on Oct. 27 to jointly produce the SJ-100 civil passenger aircraft.

Drones

UN report accuses Russia of using drones to hunt civilians near front lines and force them from their homes

by Sonya BandouilOctober 28, 2025

Russian forces have used drones to hunt and displace civilians from their homes near the front line in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Oct. 27, citing a new UN inquiry presented to the General Assembly.

A residential building stands damaged after a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 22, 2025.

War

6 killed, 29 injured in Kyiv and oblast during mass Russian overnight missile and drone attack

by Abbey Fenbert, Sonya Bandouil, Yuliia TaradiukOctober 22, 2025

Explosions rocked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on Oct. 22 as Russia launched a large-scale aerial attack against Ukraine.

Sports

Ukrainian soldier and grandmaster wins gold at European Team Chess Championship

by Sonya BandouilOctober 19, 2025

Ukrainian soldier and chess grandmaster Ihor Kovalenko won the individual gold medal at the European Team Chess Championships, The Guardian reported on October 18, citing tournament organizers.

War

Putin seeks full control of Donetsk Oblast as key to any deal with Ukraine, WP reports

by Sonya BandouilOctober 19, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine hand over full control of Donetsk Oblast to Russia as a condition for ending the war during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump this week, The Washington Post reported on Oct. 18, citing two senior U.S. officials.

News Feed

Lukashenko warns Ukraine could 'cease to exist', blames Zelensky for stalled negotiations

by Sonya BandouilOctober 13, 2025

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview on Oct. 12 that he thinks Ukraine could "cease to exist as a state" unless President Volodymyr Zelensky urgently begins peace talks.

News Feed

Trump says he will urge Putin to end the war or face the US sending Tomahawks to Ukraine

by Sonya BandouilOctober 13, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Oct. 12 that he is prepared to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine but said he plans to first discuss the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

News Feed

Trump calls on Congress to investigate 2019 'hoax' impeachment over Ukraine

by Sonya BandouilOctober 13, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Oct. 12 calling for the reinstatement of the investigation into the 2019 impeachment proceedings against him.

News Feed

Trump meets with Stubb, vows to defend Finland in case of Russian attack

by Sonya BandouilOctober 10, 2025

During a White House meeting on Oct. 9, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would “vigorously” defend Finland if Russia attacked it.

News Feed

'Missiles, one after another' — Kyiv blackouts as Russia strikes Ukraine's energy infrastructure once again

by Lucy Pakhnyuk, Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, Sonya Bandouil, Martin Fornusek, Kateryna HodunovaOctober 10, 2025

Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight on Oct. 10, killing a child and injuring at least 24 people in the country while leaving a part of Kyiv without electricity and water.

News Feed

Belarus fuel exports to Russia surge as Moscow faces domestic shortages

by Sonya BandouilOctober 8, 2025

Belarus’ rail exports of gasoline to Russia surged fourfold in September as Russia has dealt with fuel shortages, Reuters reported on Oct. 7.

Editors' Picks

Duna Oil Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary, on May 24, 2022.

Team

Sonya Bandouil

Articles

Kremlin folds occupied parts of Ukraine into Russia's Southern Military District amid renewed mobilization push

Ukraine submits draft education language law to Hungary, awaits response

Norway to allocate $7 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2026

Trump 'not really' considering Tomahawk transfers to Ukraine, for now

India partners with sanctioned Russian firm to produce passenger aircraft

UN report accuses Russia of using drones to hunt civilians near front lines and force them from their homes

6 killed, 29 injured in Kyiv and oblast during mass Russian overnight missile and drone attack

Ukrainian soldier and grandmaster wins gold at European Team Chess Championship

Putin seeks full control of Donetsk Oblast as key to any deal with Ukraine, WP reports

Lukashenko warns Ukraine could 'cease to exist', blames Zelensky for stalled negotiations

Trump says he will urge Putin to end the war or face the US sending Tomahawks to Ukraine

Trump calls on Congress to investigate 2019 'hoax' impeachment over Ukraine

Trump meets with Stubb, vows to defend Finland in case of Russian attack

'Missiles, one after another' — Kyiv blackouts as Russia strikes Ukraine's energy infrastructure once again

Belarus fuel exports to Russia surge as Moscow faces domestic shortages

Editors' Picks

How Europe plans to phase out Russian oil and gas, explained

These people just escaped Russian-occupied Ukraine — but some say they need to go back

Orban's unexpected headache — Trump's offensive against Russian energy

Analysis: 5 lessons on air defense and underground architecture from Kharkiv