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

For media & speaking inquiries:
press@kyivindependent.com

Articles

War

Ukrainian drone attack targets multiple Russian oblasts, Bryansk reportedly left largely without electricity

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 15, 2026

Russian officials reported a large-scale drone attack targeting multiple regions on Feb. 15, including areas near Moscow and Bryansk Oblasts.

War

Pope Leo sends 80 generators, thousands of medical supplies to Ukraine

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 10, 2026

Pope Leo XIV has sent 80 generators along with medical and food supplies to Ukraine to help civilians cope with freezing winter temperatures and constant attacks, the Vatican said on Feb. 9.

Politics

IOC bars Ukrainian athlete’s helmet honoring athletes killed during war

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 10, 2026

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych said on Feb. 10 that he has been barred from using a custom helmet at the 2026 Winter Olympics that honors Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's war.

War

Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter crew killed during combat mission

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 9, 2026

The crew of a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter was killed while carrying out a combat mission, the 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade “Kherson” reported.

Europe

Gerbera-type drone used by Russia in war against Ukraine found in Moldova

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 7, 2026

An unidentified drone was found on Moldovan territory on Feb. 6, Moldovan authorities reported.

Ukraine

US approves $185 million sale of spare parts for Ukraine’s vehicles and weapon systems

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 7, 2026

The U.S. Department of State on Feb. 6 approved a potential $185 million “Foreign Military Sale” to Ukraine for spare parts and related equipment to support U.S.-supplied vehicles and weapon systems.

Politics

Trump backs Orban ahead of April elections in Hungary

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 6, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections in a Feb. 5 post on his Truth Social platform.

War

Power, heating outages reported in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast following missile attack

by Sonya BandouilFebruary 6, 2026

Blackouts and heating outages were reported in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast overnight on Feb. 6 following a reported missile attack that damaged key energy infrastructure, including a thermal power plant and an electrical substation.

War

Ukraine distributes boilers from Italy to support heating for up to 90,000 homes

by Sonya BandouilJanuary 30, 2026

Ukraine has distributed industrial boiler equipment delivered by Italy among communities in 10 regions as part of a broader support program aimed at strengthening the country’s heating infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said on Jan. 29.

Politics

Hungary, Slovakia to challenge EU Russian gas ban in court

by Sonya BandouilJanuary 27, 2026

Hungary and Slovakia plan to sue the European Union over its REPowerEU plan to phase out imports of Russian oil and gas, officials wrote on Jan. 26.

War

Belgorod under heavy fire in 'most massive' attack, Russian governor claims

by Sonya BandouilJanuary 25, 2026

The Russian city of Belgorod was hit on Jan. 24 by what regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described as “the most massive” strike on the city, allegedly involving HIMARS.

Politics

Orban accuses Ukraine of threats and Hungarian election interference; FM Sybiha rejects accusations, calls him Kremlin ally

by Sonya BandouilJanuary 24, 2026

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Jan. 24 accused Ukraine of meddling in Hungary’s parliamentary elections, saying Kyiv had “gone on the offensive” and was now “issuing threats and openly interfering in the Hungarian elections.”

Russia

11 reported injured, 1 killed in southern Russia as separate drone strike hits oil refinery

by Sonya Bandouil, Lucy PakhnyukJanuary 21, 2026

Eleven people were injured, and one was killed in an overnight attack in Russia's Republic of Adygea, while a separate drone strike sparked a fire at an oil refinery in neighboring Krasnodar Krai, local authorities and media reported Jan. 21.

Politics

Trump blames Ukraine war negotiations deadlock on Moscow, Kyiv failing to align on talks

by Sonya BandouilJanuary 21, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Jan. 20 that he has been unable to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, claiming that neither side is consistently willing to agree to a deal at the same time.

Politics

Trump, Putin envoys call Davos talks on Ukraine 'very positive,' and 'constructive'

by Sonya BandouilJanuary 21, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys met with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Davos on Jan. 20 to discuss Washington’s peace plan for Ukraine, with both sides describing the talks as constructive.

Editors' Picks

Europe's new gamble on Russia's exiles, explained

Team

Sonya Bandouil

Articles

Ukrainian drone attack targets multiple Russian oblasts, Bryansk reportedly left largely without electricity

Pope Leo sends 80 generators, thousands of medical supplies to Ukraine

IOC bars Ukrainian athlete’s helmet honoring athletes killed during war

Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter crew killed during combat mission

Gerbera-type drone used by Russia in war against Ukraine found in Moldova

US approves $185 million sale of spare parts for Ukraine’s vehicles and weapon systems

Trump backs Orban ahead of April elections in Hungary

Power, heating outages reported in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast following missile attack

Ukraine distributes boilers from Italy to support heating for up to 90,000 homes

Hungary, Slovakia to challenge EU Russian gas ban in court

Belgorod under heavy fire in 'most massive' attack, Russian governor claims

Orban accuses Ukraine of threats and Hungarian election interference; FM Sybiha rejects accusations, calls him Kremlin ally

11 reported injured, 1 killed in southern Russia as separate drone strike hits oil refinery

Trump blames Ukraine war negotiations deadlock on Moscow, Kyiv failing to align on talks

Trump, Putin envoys call Davos talks on Ukraine 'very positive,' and 'constructive'

Editors' Picks

Europe's new gamble on Russia's exiles, explained

Why Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid aren’t ‘revenge’ for Kyiv’s deep strike campaign

Russia just laid out its Ukraine war endgame — here's what Moscow actually wants

Can Ukraine survive without the US — and can Europe fill the gap?