Team

Yana Prots photo

Yana Prots

Newsroom Intern

Yana Prots is an intern on the business desk of the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a journalist at the NGO Center of United Actions and as a social media editor at Hromadske media. Yana holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and completed a year as an exchange student at the University of Zurich. Now, she is pursuing a master’s degree in International Finance and Investment at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Articles

A PayPal sign at the company’s headquarters in San Jose, California, U.S., on Jan. 30, 2024.

PayPal, WhatsApp, Grammarly — 10 global companies you didn't know have Ukrainian roots

by Yana Prots
It's a fact little known around the world: Some of the biggest names in tech were founded by Ukrainian-born entrepreneurs, including PayPal, WhatsApp, and Grammarly. These companies, now headquartered across the U.S. and Europe, owe part of their success to Ukrainian-born entrepreneurs whose innovations have shaped how millions communicate, pay, and work online. Here are 10 of the world's most recognizable tech companies founded or co-founded by Ukrainians. PayPal / Affirm Co-founder Max Le

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 35

by Yana Prots
Editor’s note: This is issue 35 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from July 30–Aug. 12, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Key updates Ukraine restores NABU and SAP independence Ukraine’s law restoring the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specia