The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal announced on May 8 to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican News.
George Simion, leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, who won the first round of the presidential election with nearly 40% of the vote, reiterated that if elected, he would oppose any further assistance to Ukraine and shift Romania’s focus inward.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed their countries' relationship on May 8, vowing to increase cooperation in all areas, including military ties.
"There is Turkey, which maintains channels of communication. And then, above all, there is the People's Republic of China, which, more than anyone else, has the means to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin come to the negotiating table and soften his demands," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on May 8.
The United States will be ready to "walk away" from the negotiating table if it does not see Russia making progress in negotiation to end the war, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on May 8.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrived in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate Victory Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
US President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia. Writing on Truth Social, Trump expressed his hope for "an acceptable ceasefire," with both countries "held accountable for respecting the sanctity of... direct negotiations."
The Kyiv Independent J-School training course for journalists in 2023. (The Kyiv Independent)
The Kyiv Independent and UNESCO launch J-School 2.0, a training course for journalists and media managers aspiring to report for foreign audiences
The Kyiv Independent and UNESCO have partnered to organize the Kyiv Independent J-School 2.0 — a training course for English-speaking Ukrainian media professionals aiming to enhance their skills in English-language reporting and media management. The program is part of UNESCO's broader efforts to support the safety of journalists and freedom of expression in Ukraine.
J-School 2.0 will be divided into two study sessions and will take place offline in Kyiv and online from October 29 to November 2 and from November 26 to November 30. The call for application submission is open until October 7.
As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine drags on and war fatigue settles in, there is an increasing need to strengthen Ukraine’s voice internationally. This training program is designed to boost the volume of quality news from Ukraine on the world stage. Last year, the Kyiv Independent organized J-School for the first time. Based on this experience, we have made the program more specialized and focused to provide in-depth knowledge in specific areas of English-language journalism.
“The world will never be the same again. Whether we want it or not, we, Ukrainians, are on the frontlines of world history, and the further development of events will depend on how strong and convincing Ukraine’s voice is on the global stage. Kyiv Independent has already become the voice of our country, but we cannot do it alone.
At our school, we are ready to share all the knowledge and experience we have gained in recent years of active work in the global information space. For us, passing on this experience and strengthening Ukrainian media is a natural step in fulfilling our mission. This is not about grandiosity; it’s about collective actions and efforts,” — says Daryna Shevchenko, the Kyiv Independent CEO and lead expert of the Media Management track.
The Kyiv Independent J-School training course for journalists in 2023. (The Kyiv Independent)
The Kyiv Independent J-School training course for journalists in 2023. (The Kyiv Independent)
The Kyiv Independent J-School training course for journalists in 2023. (The Kyiv Independent)
The Kyiv Independent J-School 2.0 is an intensive training that will consist of two sessions each lasting five days. The program will be divided into four learning tracks: general track, reporting track, editing track, and media management track.
The topics covered during the program include differences in reporting style and approaches between Ukrainian and international media, funding independent journalism and developing a sustainable business model, growing an audience and building a community out of it, finding good stories and pitching them successfully, ethical front-line reporting, designing a dream newsroom and managing it, strategy development, leadership basics, and much more.
“I know from our experience that there are many Ukrainian journalists who want to write in English for a global audience, and they are very motivated, but they haven’t gotten the right skills yet, and often don’t know where to start. We want to help them and to share what we know. Ultimately, the goal is to bring more Ukrainian voices into the conversations about Ukraine, to make the reporting about Ukraine even better by involving more locals,”— says Olga Rudenko, the Kyiv Independent editor-in-chief and lead expert of the general track.
Training will be conducted by experienced journalists, editors, and media managers from the Kyiv Independent, as well as invited experts from leading international and national media organizations.
J-School 2.0. also provides two significant opportunities. All participants will have a chance to develop and pitch their project to the training committee. Three winning projects will have the opportunity to be implemented in collaboration with the Kyiv Independent team.
Also, five participants will be invited to attend a month-long paid internship at the Kyiv Independent’s editorial or management team. During the internship, each intern will publish at least two stories on the Kyiv Independent’s platforms. Management interns will help manage real projects and managerial workstreams.
The call for application submission is open from now until October 7 here. Participation is free of charge. Anyone, regardless of their place of residence in Ukraine, can participate offline, as all travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the training program upon request. . All applicants will receive an announcement of the jury’s decision within a week after the call for applications is closed.
The project “The Kyiv Independent J-School 2.0” is designed and implemented by the NGO "KI Media" (The Kyiv Independent), with the support of UNESCO and the People of Japan. The program is part of UNESCO's broader efforts to support the Safety of Journalists and Freedom of Expression in Ukraine.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
