Help us support Ukrainian media hit by the US aid freeze (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent members, 

Thank you for your continued support of the Kyiv Independent.  Today, we’re standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian-language media affected by the U.S. foreign aid freeze and asking you to support three local Ukrainian newsrooms, if you’re able. 

We were not impacted by the U.S. aid freeze, as the Kyiv Independent does not receive grants funded by U.S. taxpayers. It’s literally thanks to you — our community of 14,000 members — we remain secure. We did receive such grants in 2022 and 2023 while we were still growing, and they were instrumental in giving us the runway to become sustainable. Though we can keep working, uninterrupted, the same is not true for other local media organizations. 

On Jan. 21, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid to review whether the distribution aligned with his foreign policy.

This decision has had a devastating effect on Ukrainian civic society, as it cut funding for humanitarian relief, local community development, and key reforms, among other things.

It also dealt a devastating blow to Ukrainian independent media and its journalists who have been covering the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine for almost three years now. 

The smaller, local newsrooms were hit the hardest. They are small teams working in difficult conditions, usually on very small salaries, driven by their loyalty to the local community. Many of them are the sole source of reliable local news for their communities.

Some of them work close to the front lines. Those are not just news sites — they are voices of resistance. They are storytellers documenting history as it unfolds. And right now, they need our help. 

We at the Kyiv Independent are launching a fundraiser to support three local Ukrainian newsrooms, with the goal of raising $50,000 (£40,000) through GoFundMe. This will allow these newsrooms to pay their journalists, keep the lights on, and continue their reporting. 

We are donating $10,000 (£8,000) of our own money to this fundraiser because we know firsthand that free media is a crucial pillar for a free Ukraine. We know that Ukraine's supporters from around the world will join us.

Even with only a few dollars, you can make a big difference in helping these outlets survive, despite this period of uncertainty. You can find the fundraiser here: gofundme.com/f/save-ukrainian-media

The raised funds will be shared equally among these three media outlets, operating close to the front lines in Ukraine:

Tsukr (Sumy, Ukraine): Just 28 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, Sumy has faced relentless attacks since the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Tsukr has been a source of light, telling the stories of the people who refuse to abandon their homes and who are rebuilding despite everything. The aid freeze has slashed 60% of its funding, putting its future at risk. The support for Tsukr, if we reach our goal, would cover almost two months of their operations.

Gwara Media (Kharkiv, Ukraine): Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has endured wave after wave of airstrikes, but Gwara has never stopped reporting. They document war crimes, fact-check Russian propaganda, and provide in-depth investigative journalism. But without urgent support, their work could grind to a halt. The support from our goal would cover 50% of their budget gap due to the U.S. aid freeze. (Pictured above, journalist Daria Levchenko of Gwara Media reporting after a glide bomb attack on Kharkiv on June 24, 2024.)

MykVisti (Mykolaiv, Ukraine): In Mykolaiv, where Russian missiles target civilian infrastructure, MykVisti has kept the community informed, providing life-saving news and analysis. Now, with funding pulled overnight, their ability to continue is uncertain. The support from this fundraiser would cover two months of their work.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate: Every contribution, big or small, helps keep independent journalism alive.

Share: Spread the word. The more people who know about this, the stronger our collective impact.

Stand with us: By supporting this fundraiser, you are standing for press freedom, truth, and Ukraine’s future.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping make a difference when it matters the most. 

Best, The Kyiv Independent team