Olga Rudenko, editor of the Kyiv Independent, has emphasized that her news outlet maintains a duty to provide balanced coverage of the ongoing war, despite the intense desire of its readers to see Russia suffer. Speaking ahead of an event in London, Rudenko noted that while stories about Ukrainian deep-strike attacks on Russian warehouses often draw the most engagement, the publication must avoid the trap of becoming a propaganda outlet that marginalizes Russian military successes or ignores Ukrainian political corruption.
Rudenko described a specific internal discussion within her newsroom regarding the tendency for the website to feature content about Ukrainian attacks in the mornings. She argued that the media organization’s core mission is to avoid acting as a PR service for the government. The challenge, she acknowledged, lies in the fact that many readers seek out stories where things go "boom," yet the newsroom must remain committed to its editorial standards rather than simply providing more of what the audience prefers.
The editor expressed no expectation that the conflict will conclude in the near future, noting that Russia has intensified its bombing campaigns against Kyiv ahead of the winter months. Meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes continue to impact the Russian economy, even as diplomatic efforts remain stalled. The long-term nature of the war has deeply affected the staff, with Rudenko mentioning that for the first time, employees did not even include a peacetime scenario in their annual strategy sessions.
Regarding the state of media freedom under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rudenko remarked that while the situation has not worsened, she would struggle to argue that it has improved. She noted that while journalists can generally write without fear of immediate consequences, a concentration of power around the presidency persists. Zelenskyy has not held a press conference for independent Ukrainian media since February 2025, and tensions remain following his previous attempts to neutralize anti-corruption agencies.
Rudenko highlighted a critical editorial published by the Kyiv Independent last July, which criticized the government for attempting to undermine the independence of anti-corruption bodies established after the 2014 revolution. Despite these criticisms, she noted that a "critical mass" of the Ukrainian public currently does not support holding presidential elections, which have been suspended under martial law. Recent protests regarding the firing of former defense minister Mykhalio Fedorov were described by Rudenko as being small enough for the president to ignore.
The Kyiv Independent, which was launched with a $100,000 grant three months before the full-scale Russian invasion by former Kyiv Post journalists, has seen significant growth. The number of contributing members, most of whom pay $5 a month, has risen from 14,000 at the start of 2025 to 25,500 a year later and to 36,000 currently. This financial support has allowed the publication to expand its staff to 99 employees and move into larger office space.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.