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

Ukraine confirms drone strike on major Russian oil refinery in Yaroslavl

by Sonya BandouilDecember 12, 2025

Russia’s Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Yaroslavl, one of the country’s five largest, is reportedly on fire after being struck in an overnight drone attack on Dec. 12, officials and local Telegram channels said.

War

Russian attack on Odesa damages critical infrastructure, leaves parts of the city without power and water

by Sonya BandouilDecember 12, 2025

A Russian airstrike on Odesa on Dec. 12 damaged infrastructure and left parts of the city without electricity and water, the head of the Odesa Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, reported.

War

Drone reportedly hits apartment building in Russia's Tver, officials say 7 injured

by Sonya BandouilDecember 12, 2025

A drone explosion damaged the lower floors of a residential building in the Russian city of Tver on Dec. 12, injuring at least seven people, according to regional officials and local Telegram channels.

War

Ukraine's military denies claims that Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad encircled by Russian forces

by Sonya BandouilDecember 6, 2025

Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces said on Dec. 5 that neither Pokrovsk nor its sister city Myrnohrad is encircled, stressing that defense units are expanding logistics routes and maintaining control over key positions in the area.

Business

US Treasury extends waiver allowing Lukoil gas stations outside of Russia to operate, despite sanctions

by Sonya BandouilDecember 5, 2025

The Trump administration on Dec. 4 extended a waiver that lets Lukoil-branded gas stations abroad stay in business, softening elements of the sanctions imposed on the firm in October.

War

Daughter of former South African president resigns from parliament amid investigation into Russian military recruitment scheme

by Sonya BandouilNovember 30, 2025

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, resigned from parliament after being accused of helping lure 17 South African men to fight for the Russian military in Ukraine, her party announced on Nov. 29.

War

1 killed, 19 injured in Russian drone attack on Kyiv Oblast town

by Sonya BandouilNovember 30, 2025

A Russian drone attack killed a man and injured 19 people in the town of Vyshhorod in Kyiv Oblast overnight on Nov. 30, local authorities reported.

Russia

Russia declares Human Rights Watch an 'undesirable organization'

by Sonya BandouilNovember 30, 2025

Russia’s Ministry of Justice has designated Human Rights Watch an “undesirable organization,” effectively banning the group from operating in the country, on Nov. 28.

Russia

Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan damaged after Russia’s 'Soyuz' launch to the International Space Station

by Sonya BandouilNovember 28, 2025

Russia’s Roscosmos space agency reported that the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan sustained significant damage during the Soyuz MS-28 launch to the International Space Station, according to multiple Russian media reports published on Nov. 27.

War

4 killed, 13 injured in Kharkiv amid Russian drone attack

by Sonya BandouilNovember 24, 2025

Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Kharkiv on the evening of Nov. 23, killing at least four people and injuring at least 13, regional officials said.

Politics

Ukraine, US reportedly cut down peace plan to 19 points, but key decisions left for leaders

by Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, Sonya Bandouil, Martin FornusekNovember 23, 2025

"I think we all recognize that part of getting a final end to this war will require for Ukraine to feel that it is safe and it is never going to be invaded or attacked again," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Energy

Zelensky pledges rapid reform of state energy firms amid major government scandal, calls for new leadership

by Sonya BandouilNovember 16, 2025

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Nov. 15 that Ukraine is beginning a full "reboot" of its key state-owned energy enterprises, involving management overhauls and comprehensive financial audits.

War

'A new tragedy caused once again by the Kremlin' — Widow of Chornobyl's first victim killed by Russian attack on Kyiv 39 years later

by Sonya BandouilNovember 15, 2025

Nataliia Khodemchuk, the widow of Valerii Khodemchuk, the first victim of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, died in Kyiv overnight on Nov. 14–15 after suffering severe injuries in a mass Russian attack on the city.

War

Kyiv, Moscow reach deal on prisoner exchange to free 1,200 Ukrainians

by Sonya BandouilNovember 15, 2025

As a result of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the two sides have agreed to move forward with the Istanbul agreements and carry out the release of 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov said on Telegram on Nov. 15.

War

Ukraine strikes major Russian oil terminal in Novorossiysk with drones, SBU confirms

by Sonya Bandouil, The Kyiv Independent news deskNovember 14, 2025

Ukrainian drones struck the Russian port city of Novorossiysk on Nov. 14, damaging an oil terminal and sparking a large fire, multiple Russian Telegram channels reported.

Editors' Picks

Mirage of energy sanctions against Russia

Team

Sonya Bandouil

Articles

Ukraine confirms drone strike on major Russian oil refinery in Yaroslavl

Russian attack on Odesa damages critical infrastructure, leaves parts of the city without power and water

Drone reportedly hits apartment building in Russia's Tver, officials say 7 injured

Ukraine's military denies claims that Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad encircled by Russian forces

US Treasury extends waiver allowing Lukoil gas stations outside of Russia to operate, despite sanctions

Daughter of former South African president resigns from parliament amid investigation into Russian military recruitment scheme

1 killed, 19 injured in Russian drone attack on Kyiv Oblast town

Russia declares Human Rights Watch an 'undesirable organization'

Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan damaged after Russia’s 'Soyuz' launch to the International Space Station

4 killed, 13 injured in Kharkiv amid Russian drone attack

Ukraine, US reportedly cut down peace plan to 19 points, but key decisions left for leaders

Zelensky pledges rapid reform of state energy firms amid major government scandal, calls for new leadership

'A new tragedy caused once again by the Kremlin' — Widow of Chornobyl's first victim killed by Russian attack on Kyiv 39 years later

Kyiv, Moscow reach deal on prisoner exchange to free 1,200 Ukrainians

Ukraine strikes major Russian oil terminal in Novorossiysk with drones, SBU confirms

Editors' Picks

Mirage of energy sanctions against Russia

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