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Tim Zadorozhnyy

Reporter

Tim Zadorozhnyy is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent covering foreign policy, U.S.-Ukraine relations, and political developments across Europe and Russia. He studied International Relations and European Studies at Lazarski University and Coventry University. Tim began his journalism career in Odesa in 2022 as a reporter for a local television channel. He later spent a year and a half at the Belarusian independent media outlet NEXTA, first as a news anchor and later as a managing editor. He is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

t.zadorozhnyy@kyivindependent.com
For media & speaking inquiries:
press@kyivindependent.com

Articles

Politics

Ex-foreign minister Kuleba may become Ukraine's ambassador to US, sources say

by Tim Zadorozhnyy
Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba may become Ukraine's next ambassador to Washington, as Kyiv looks to fill one of its most important diplomatic posts, people familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. The position has been vacant for several weeks after Olha Stefanishyna stepped down amid an ongoing corruption investigation. President Volodymyr Zelensky had initially planned to send recently dismissed Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko to Washington, but she declined the offer, forc
Politics

'He's sort of like Hitler' — Trump's ex-Ukraine envoy Kellogg warns Putin won't stop at Donbas

by Tim Zadorozhnyy, Jimmy Rushton
Russia would not end its war against Ukraine even if it captured all of Donbas, former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told the Kyiv Independent in an interview conducted on Ukrainian Independence Day. Kellogg made the comments during his sixth visit to Ukraine and his first since leaving office. He met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and received briefings on the latest war developments. For Kellogg, the central issue is not how much territory Russia captures, but whether Russi
Politics

Fedorov broke Ukraine's wartime election taboo. What happens next?

by Tim Zadorozhnyy, Martin Fornusek, Yevgeniya Doluda
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has broken one of Ukraine's most politically sensitive wartime taboos by publicly calling for elections, bringing into the mainstream a debate that Kyiv had largely rejected when raised by Russia and the United States. Fedorov said Ukraine needs a "safe and realistic mechanism" to hold elections during wartime that protects the voting rights of soldiers, Ukrainians abroad, and people in front-line regions. "We must not let Putin decide when Ukrainians c
Politics

Exclusive: Dismissed Ukrainian defense minister Fedorov mulls US visit, sources say

by Tim Zadorozhnyy, Jimmy Rushton
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is considering a trip to the United States, U.S. and Ukrainian officials familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. The potential trip comes as Fedorov has emerged as a more outspoken critic of Ukraine's wartime political system. On Aug. 18, he called for Ukraine to find a way to restore a full democratic process while the war continues, advocating for elections. The trip could take place as soon as next week, one person said. It remains uncle
Politics

Exclusive: Ukraine whispers to Trump that Russia may not capture Donbas even in 2027

by Tim Zadorozhnyy
Kyiv privately told the Trump administration that Russia may be unable to capture the remaining Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donetsk Oblast even in 2027, according to a document seen by the Kyiv Independent. The assessment comes as Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk Oblast as part of the U.S.-led peace process. Kyiv is instead arguing that Russia's battlefield gains have slowed so sharply that Moscow may struggle to achieve its territorial goals through force. Ukra
Politics

Ukraine's new plan to pressure Russia remains a mystery to Washington

by Tim Zadorozhnyy
Washington has not yet received President Volodymyr Zelensky's new plan to pressure Russia into ending its war, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. Zelensky said on Aug. 12 that Kyiv and its international partners have developed a joint plan based on pressure against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The plan comes as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepare to visit Ukraine and Russia in another attempt to revive stalled peace talks. "Putin does not
Politics

Ukraine’s protest movement has run into a wall

by Tim Zadorozhnyy
After weeks of protests over the dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the movement is losing momentum as organizers struggle to decide what comes next and President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to ignore their central demand. Zelensky's lack of a public response has caught organizers off guard. While they say the protests have achieved some of their initial goals, they are now uncertain how to pressure the president into reinstating Fedorov. "I've been feeling some total frus

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