Team
Olena Goncharova
Head of North America deskOlena Goncharova is the Head of North America desk at The Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a development manager and Canadian correspondent. She first joined the Kyiv Post, Ukraine's oldest English-language newspaper, as a staff writer in January 2012 and became the newspaper’s Canadian correspondent in June 2018. She is based in Edmonton, Alberta. Olena has a master’s degree in publishing and editing from the Institute of Journalism in Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv. Olena was a 2016 Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow who worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for six months. The program is administered by the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia.
Articles
Germany to decide on more Patriots for Ukraine 'within days or weeks'
Germany has offered to acquire U.S. Patriot units specifically for transfer to Ukraine, which has recently endured some of the war's most intense Russian attacks.
Congressional sanctions on hold as Trump threatens Russia with 'severe' tariffs
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated on July 14 that the Senate would likely delay advancing a significant package of sanctions targeting Russia's trading partners.
Trump says US will send more Patriots to Ukraine
"We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because (Russian President Vladimir) Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening," U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 13.
Russia denies Putin pushed Iran for 'zero enrichment' nuclear deal
Western countries and Israel suspect Tehran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies, defending what it calls its "non-negotiable" right to develop a civilian nuclear program.
Russian drones kill 1, injure 9 in Sumy Oblast amid attack on civilian, critical infrastructure
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast on July 13 killed one person and injured nine others, Governor Oleh Gryhorov reported, amid a larger attack on the region's critical infrastructure.
French army chief says Russia sees France as 'main enemy in Europe' due to Ukraine support
The head of the French army, General Thierry Burkhard, attributed Russia's view of Paris as a primary adversary largely to France's unwavering support for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Russia's Lavrov cautions West on North Korea security pact
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the U.S., South Korea, and Japan of military buildups around North Korea. "We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia."
Zelensky signals major cabinet reshuffle, calls for defense reforms
Zelensky said Ukraine "requires more positive momentum in relations with the United States, alongside new steps in managing the nation's defense sector."
Ukraine destroys Russian drone unit after Kherson infant killed, child 'should never have been a target,' governor says
"Dmytro should never have been a target. I thank our soldiers for their just retribution. No occupier who brought death and destruction to our land will escape punishment," Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
Putin backs 'zero enrichment' in new Iran nuclear deal, sources tell Axios
Russia's position, conveyed to both U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials, marks a notable shift given Russia's historical public advocacy for Iran's right to enrich.
With partner finances, Ukraine 'will shoot down everything' amid escalating Russian drone attacks, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Russia's intention to drastically escalate its drone attacks, potentially launching up to 1,000 drones per day, but noted that Ukraine already has effective countermeasures.
Ukrainian tech gets $58.5 million boost from global backers
Ukrainian venture capital firm Flyer One Ventures announced the first closing of its new multi-million fund, dedicated to supporting early-stage technology companies across Ukraine as well as central and eastern Europe.
Trump to send weapons to Ukraine for first time via presidential power, sources tell Reuters
Until now, the Trump administration's military aid to Ukraine had only consisted of weapons authorized by former President Joe Biden. The Presidential Drawdown Authority allows the president to directly transfer weapons from U.S. military stocks in response to an emergency.
Russia jails former top general for 17 years in massive military graft case
Colonel General Khalil Arslanov, a former head of the Russian military's communications unit, served as deputy chief of the army's General Staff from 2013 until his removal in 2020.
Russia fails to meet OPEC+ oil production target in June, Bloomberg reports
Historically, Russia, which co-leads the OPEC+ alliance with Saudi Arabia, has faced criticism for poor compliance with production quotas.
