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Toma Istomina

Deputy Chief Editor

Toma Istomina is the deputy chief editor of the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked for the Kyiv Post from 2017-2021, first as a staff writer, later taking editor roles. For co-founding the Kyiv Independent, Toma was selected as one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in 2022. She holds a master’s in international broadcasting from Taras Shevchenko University.

Articles

Volker: West has made a lot of mistakes in Russia-Ukraine war

Volker: West has made a lot of mistakes in Russia-Ukraine war

by Toma Istomina

The West doesn’t spend enough time analyzing its miscalculations in the Russia-Ukraine war, Kurt Volker, a former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations, said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent. “We have made many mistakes, from just before Russia's invasion and throughout. The biggest mistake was holding

Lavrov: Putin, Erdogan tentatively agree on unblocking Ukrainian ports

Lavrov: Putin, Erdogan tentatively agree on unblocking Ukrainian ports

by Toma Istomina

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the two leaders agreed during a phone call on May 30 that as soon as Turkey clears the Ukrainian ports of mines, cargo ships will be able to leave. Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s ports prevents the export of about 22 million tons of grain, creating a threat of famine in countries dependent on the grain, according to Ukrainian officials.

SBU confirms Kramatorsk train station was attacked from Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast.

SBU confirms Kramatorsk train station was attacked from Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast.

by Toma Istomina

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) spokesperson Artem Dekhtiarenko said on May 21 that the SBU “got indisputable evidence” that Russia was behind the attack on the Kramatorsk railway station that killed 61 and injured 121 people on April 8. The SBU established that a missile was launched by the Tochka-U ballistic missile system from the territory in Donetsk Oblast which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

BREAKING: Battle of Donbas starts, Zelensky says.

BREAKING: Battle of Donbas starts, Zelensky says.

by Toma Istomina

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia had concentrated a significant part of its forces for the offensive in the east of Ukraine. "No matter how many soldiers are drawn there, we will defend ourselves. We will fight. We will not give up anything Ukrainian," he said in a recent address.

Merkel believes she made the right decision to block Ukraine's NATO membership in 2008.

Merkel believes she made the right decision to block Ukraine's NATO membership in 2008.

by Toma Istomina

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's press secretary said that to the German Press Agency in response to President Volodymyr Zelensky's criticism that Russia's atrocities in Ukraine are the result of Europe's years-long concessions to Moscow. She did not respond to Zelensky's invitation to visit Bucha to see how Ukrainians were tortured but supported international efforts to end Russia's war.

Defense Ministry about reported Belgorod attack: Ukraine not responsible for catastrophes in Russia.

Defense Ministry about reported Belgorod attack: Ukraine not responsible for catastrophes in Russia.

by Toma Istomina, Agatha Gorski

Following Russian claims that Ukraine attacked an oil depot in Russian Belgorod, Oleksandr Motuzianyk, Ukraine’s defense ministry spokesperson, neither confirmed nor denied it, adding that we've seen multiple accusations like that. He said that “Ukraine is conducting a defense operation to repel Russian armed aggression” on its territory, and it doesn't bear the responsibility for all “miscalculations, for all catastrophes, and all events” in Russia, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Russia’s war kills at least 145 children, wounds 222 others.

Russia’s war kills at least 145 children, wounds 222 others.

by Toma Istomina

Since Russia began its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 69 children were either killed or injured in Kyiv Oblast, 49 in Kharkiv Oblast, 54 in Donetsk Oblast, 39 in Chernihiv Oblast, 30 in Mykolaiv Oblast, 28 in Luhansk Oblast, 22 in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, 25 in Kherson Oblast, 16 in the city of Kyiv, 15 in Zhytomyr Oblast, and 16 in Sumy Oblast, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Zelensky: There should be no conditional sanctions.

Zelensky: There should be no conditional sanctions.

by Toma Istomina

In a recent video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that there are signs and warnings that some sanctions, such as the Russian oil embargo, will be imposed if Russia uses chemical weapons against Ukraine. "I have no words. Just think about what it all came down to — waiting for chemical weapons," he said.

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