Kyiv Independent editor: ‘Our readers want Russia to suffer but we can’t be propagandists’

A top editor of Ukraine’s leading English-language news outlet argues that the site must balance public demand for reports on Russian military setbacks with a responsibility to cover Kyiv’s own challenges, including corruption and political struggles. She acknowledges that some of the most popular stories focus on Ukrainian deep strike operations into Russia, raising concerns that such coverage could skew perceptions of the broader conflict. The editor emphasizes that while readers may favor narratives of Russian losses, a rigorous news outlet must also address the complexities and difficulties facing Ukraine itself. The remarks come ahead of an upcoming event in London.

Olga Rudenko says news site has duty to report on Russian military gains and Ukrainian corruption even if subjects are not so well readReaders of Ukraine’s leading English news site “really want Russia to suffer” but that should not lead the title to downplay the military and political problems facing Kyiv, its editor has said.Speaking to the Guardian before an event to London, Olga Rudenko said many of the Kyiv Independent’s most-read stories described Ukrainian deep strike attacks into Russia, potentially distorting its coverage. Continue reading...