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The Best Ukraine Social Media Sources

polispandit.substack.com

The Best Ukraine Social Media Sources

Some of the best coverage of Putin's war in English

Logan Stone
Feb 28, 2022
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The Best Ukraine Social Media Sources

polispandit.substack.com
Ukraine battle map
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine, or as I like to call it - Putin’s Folly - is far from over. Even if a cease-fire agreement is reached, Ukraine is in shambles. Cities have been destroyed, civilians uprooted, and families torn apart. It will take time to rebuild.

It will also take time to document the human rights abuses and war crimes that bleed from Putin’s hands.

When this war first started, I turned to cable news here in the United States. I flipped between CNN, Fox News, and Bloomberg. I wanted all perspectives. As you probably know, cable news here is fraught with biases, agendas, and sensationalism. By sweeping the main channels, I hoped to counterbalance the perspectives and get as close as possible to the truth.

The information, however, was inevitably filtered through an American lens. Even when these networks had boots on the ground, with war correspondents reporting live from the scene, Americana seeped into reporting.

So I turned to Twitter. I scoured the Twitterverse for local Ukrainians, many of whom risked their lives to report to the world. There were a few other independent journalists and policy experts I found, all of whom appeared well-versed on the evolving situation and its history.

Below are the best social media sources I’ve found for quality and up-to-date news in Ukraine. For some of my other articles on Ukraine, be sure to check out the following:

  • To Those Blaming NATO or the United States For Russian Aggression

  • NATO Must Use the Threat of Force To Defend Ukraine

  • Why Russia’s Cyber Attack on Ukraine Forebodes What’s to Come

  • Two Main Reasons For Putin’s Ukraine Aggression

The Kyiv Independent

The best independent Ukrainian journalism I’ve found to date in English. Others seem to agree as its following has increased significantly from a few hundred thousand before the war to approximately 1.3 million as of this writing.

This media outlet was started by journalists who were fired by the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence. Below is a recent tweet, and their website features quality, well-reported articles.

Twitter avatar for @KyivIndependent
The Kyiv Independent @KyivIndependent
While Ukraine has so far been successful at pushing back Russian forces, Russia’s advance into Ukraine continues on multiple fronts as heavy fighting takes place in different cities and regions. There are several options to help the Ukrainian military. kyivindependent.com/national/heres…
1:31 PM ∙ Feb 28, 2022
1,984Likes630Retweets

Olga Tokariuk

A freelance correspondent based in Kyiv. She’s knowledgable, blunt, and clear in her reporting. Her information often appears well before it hits western media. I highly recommend supporting her work.

Twitter avatar for @olgatokariuk
Olga Tokariuk @olgatokariuk
If you enjoy my Tweets, please consider donating to support my work as an independent journalist in Ukraine. I am doing most of what I do on a voluntary basis - because I love Ukraine and I want the world to know it better. You can support me here:
buymeacoffee.comOlga TokariukI am an independent journalist, trying to do my best to spread the news from Ukraine across the world in these difficult times, via Twitter. I dedicate most of...
12:03 PM ∙ Feb 28, 2022
448Likes154Retweets

Terrell Jermaine Starr

This guy defines quality independent journalism. I think he’s American, although I’m not positive, but regardless, his reporting is vivid, real, and raw. He is in the thick of the action and mingles with local Ukrainians as they take up arms against the Russian invaders. Follow him to dive right into the action.

Twitter avatar for @terrelljstarr
Terrell Jermaine Starr @terrelljstarr
Thank you but I wanna clarify: I don't have "a crew." I'm a freelance reporter here on my own. I'm not with any of these media outlets as a paid reporter. I am just a regular guest and it appears I am on staff; I am not. I am funding this reporting on my own dime/contributions.
Twitter avatar for @HGodlewski
Heather Godlewski @HGodlewski
@terrelljstarr Thank you for all your work and bravery. Praying for safety for you, your crew and the innocent people forced to protect their homes.
7:36 AM ∙ Feb 28, 2022
4,653Likes519Retweets

Illia Ponomarenko

Possibly my favorite follow on this list. Illia works for The Kyiv Independent (see above), and features a lot of videos live from the action. He’s based in Kyiv, but from Donbas.

Twitter avatar for @IAPonomarenko
Illia Ponomarenko @IAPonomarenko
Curfew in Kyiv from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. tonight
1:20 PM ∙ Feb 28, 2022
4,394Likes601Retweets

Oleksiy Sorokin

Another journalist from The Kyiv Independent. He also features plenty of videos that capture what’s going on in various regions across Ukraine. Based in Kyiv as well, but with a great grasp of the conflict everywhere.

Twitter avatar for @mrsorokaa
Oleksiy Sorokin @mrsorokaa
⚡️Heavy fighting in Kharkiv, Russians began shelling residential areas with Grad missile launchers. 1/2
12:54 PM ∙ Feb 28, 2022
104Likes41Retweets

Michael McFaul

A Political Science professor at Stanford, Michael was formerly in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014).

He tweets a lot. And given his experience and knowledge of Russia and the region, his tweets are filled with history and detail. His Twitter threads in particular provide great context on the situation as it evolves.

Twitter avatar for @McFaul
Michael McFaul @McFaul
It is not brilliant, savvy, or smart to launch a senseless war against a peaceful neighbor that results in the destruction of your own economy. This "analysis" of Putin is wrong.
1:01 PM ∙ Feb 28, 2022
4,161Likes677Retweets

Anastasiia Lapatina

Another fantastic reporter from The Kyiv Independent. Like her colleagues above, she features quality content and reporting. Many of her tweets are filled with humanity and realism, giving her audience a clear sense of how this war is impacting everyday people in Ukraine.

Twitter avatar for @lapatina_
Anastasiia Lapatina @lapatina_
Ukraine is still winning, 96 hours later. Good morning world
7:22 AM ∙ Feb 28, 2022
80,524Likes6,530Retweets

If there are others you would recommend, please comment below. Also, please consider supporting these journalists and policy experts, many of whom are risking their lives to give the world an accurate picture of this conflict as it unfolds.

Here’s to hoping it’s over soon and Ukrainians can return to their normal lives. With their territorial integrity and desire for self-government respected by all.

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