Meeting with Zakhar Protsiuk: How The Kyiv Independent Speaks to the World About Ukraine

Recently, as part of the academic course on Media Relations, fourth-year students of the International Communications programme met with Zakhar Protsiuk, a graduate of the Institute of International Relations and the Chief Operating Officer of the English-language media outlet The Kyiv Independent. 

During the event, the guest shared the story of the media's creation, its role in covering the Russian-Ukrainian war, and shaping the international perception of Ukraine. 

The speaker explained the peculiarities of the outlet's digital-only model, which operates without a print version and relies heavily on reader support. He also emphasised that one of the most important challenges for an international media is building trust among audiences in different countries, which requires adapting communication strategies to diverse media consumption practices. 

During the lecture, he also briefly touched on the creation of documentary films by The Kyiv Independent journalists about Russian war crimes. Although the content is produced in two languages, English and Ukrainian, the primary target audience remains international readers. For them, the materials serve as a kind of reminder of the real consequences of Russian aggression. 

At that moment, the meeting was symbolically interrupted by an air raid alert, which only emphasised the relevance and value of the topics being discussed.

Diana Kokhno, 4th-year student, International Communications