The Kyiv Independent marked five years since its founding by looking back on its coverage of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The English-language news site was founded in 2021 by journalists who had been dismissed from the Kyiv Post after disagreements with its owner over editorial independence. It now has more than 2 million monthly readers, many of them outside Ukraine, and says at least 70% of its funding comes from subscriptions and donations.

Deputy editor Toma Istomina said the newsroom continued to scrutinize the Ukrainian government and military during the war, including alleged abuses, corruption and incompetence. The outlet reported on abuses within the army and criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky over a law abolishing anti-corruption agencies; it later experienced a major DDoS attack. Istomina said the newsroom had also been monitored by Ukraine’s SBU after its reporting on the military. The outlet has plans for a temporary departure from Kyiv if necessary, while staff members describe themselves as exhausted ahead of another difficult winter.