We are a newsroom from Kyiv and this is our story

If you’re reading Mediapart, chances are you care about journalism that doesn’t answer to political or corporate pressure. Here at the Kyiv Independent, we’re the same. 

We’re a newsroom based in Kyiv, Ukraine. We report on Russia’s full-scale war from inside the country it’s actively trying to destroy. And we do it in English, so the world can understand what’s happening — directly from Ukrainian journalists on the ground.

This week, Mediapart has generously offered us space to share our story — and to invite their readers to stand behind independent journalism from Ukraine at a moment when it matters most.

We’ve recently launched a campaign to grow our global community of members. Our goal is to reach 20,000 members — and we want to explain why this is important, and how we got here.

A newsroom born out of resistance

The Kyiv Independent was launched in November 2021 by a group of journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s oldest English-language newspaper, after resisting editorial interference.

Rather than give up, we started something new. A newsroom that would be independent by design — not owned by a billionaire, not tied to a state or oligarch, and not locked behind a paywall.

We launched with a small team and a simple mission: to serve our readers with accurate, reliable journalism from Ukraine, with full editorial freedom. We didn’t expect that just three months later, Russia would launch its full-scale invasion.

When the war began, we kept reporting — often from basements, bomb shelters, or while moving between cities. Within weeks, millions of people were reading our work. Today, we are one of the most trusted sources of English-language journalism from Ukraine.

Why we rely on our readers

Today, The Kyiv Independent is a team of nearly 70 people, including journalists, editors, managers, and producers based mostly in Ukraine. We report on the war, but also on European politics, Ukrainian culture, corruption, human rights, business and the economy, disinformation, and the day-to-day reality of living through a full-scale invasion. 

But what makes us different isn’t just what we report — it’s how we’re funded.

We don’t have a billionaire owner. We don’t take Ukrainian state money. And we don’t have a paywall.

Instead, we’re funded mostly by our members — over 18,500 people around the world who support us with small monthly or yearly contributions. This model gives us the freedom to report without compromise — and to keep our journalism accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live or what they can afford.

Why we’re campaigning now

This month, we’ve launched a campaign to grow that community. Our goal: reach 20,000 members.

Joining our membership program doesn’t just help fund our newsroom. It protects our model. It allows us to push back against disinformation, cover war crimes, and hold those in power accountable, both at home and abroad.

We’re especially focused on countries like France, where support for Ukraine and independent journalism can’t be taken for granted — but where we’ve seen real solidarity, and readers who care deeply about press freedom.

That’s why we’re appearing here on Mediapart. We see this partnership not just as a platform, but as a shared mission. We know Mediapart’s readers value the same principles we do: editorial independence, truth-telling, and journalism that serves the public — not power.

If you believe in keeping Ukrainian journalism free, independent, and global — we’d be honored to have you with us.

For as little as $5/month, you can become a member of the Kyiv Independent. You’ll be directly supporting our team in Ukraine, helping us plan for the long term, and keeping our journalism open to all.

Thank you for reading. And thank you to the Mediapart community for standing with independent media — especially in times like these..

Support the Kyiv Independent -  become a member or make a one-time donation.