How we got here: 5 years of independent Kyiv.
Five years ago today, a group of journalists in Kyiv were fired for standing up to the owner of their newspaper. He wanted to take control of editorial decisions and end their critical coverage of the Ukrainian authorities.
These journalists were faced with a choice - accept it quietly or try to start something completely new. Driven by the belief that Ukraine needed a truly independent voice in English, they dared to launch Kyiv Independent.
Three months later, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the team's uncompromising reporting quickly turned the Kyiv Independent into a news source for millions around the world.
More than 38,000 members in over 100 countries now support the publication, providing about 70% of its revenue and helping to maintain access to the press without a paywall.
Photo: Bogdana Ferguson / The Kyiv Independent.