Alex Stezhensky

Editor and Writer | NV English

A Kyiv native, Alex originally envisioned a career in visual media and sound production before his path shifted in 2006 when he moved to New York. After returning to Ukraine in 2020, he launched his journalism career as a translator at the New Voice of Ukraine. He quickly advanced to editorial and authorship roles, producing original reporting and analysis. Alex specializes in investigative journalism, focusing on international affairs and domestic politics. Outside of the newsroom, he remains passionate about photography and music composition.


Sanctions workaround /
China adds outlet for Russian Arctic LNG cargoes

China is preparing a second import terminal to handle liquefied natural gas cargoes from Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 plant, a project under Western sanctions, Reuters reported on June 22.
22 June, 06:04 PM 1
Business

War footing /
Opposition warns Lukashenko could join Russia’s fight

Belarusian opposition figures believe Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is preparing for direct participation in the war against Ukraine. They have already submitted a report on the matter to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
22 June, 05:23 PM 45
Nation

Tourism shock /
Fuel shortages batter Crimea’s fragile travel trade

The Russian Union of Travel Industry said bookings in Russia-annexed Crimea fell 58% over the past two weeks compared with the same period last year, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported.
22 June, 04:57 PM 16
Nation

Downing Street shake-up /
Starmer sets exit after Labour revolt

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on June 22 confirmed he would step down as Labour leader and leave Downing Street after the party chooses a new leader, The Guardian reported.
22 June, 03:24 PM 67
Nation

Two years in power /
Photos track Starmer’s time as Britain’s leader

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 22 that he is stepping down as leader of the Labour Party. A new Labour leader will replace Starmer as prime minister after being chosen.
22 June, 02:30 PM 64
Nation

Left-bank outage /
DTEK crews push to restore service to homes by 4 p.m.

Energy crews are working to restore power to residents of Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi and Darnytskyi districts after electricity was cut because of an accident, DTEK’s press service reported.
22 June, 02:03 PM 35
Nation

Save-face dispute /
Zelenskyy rejects bid to protect Putin’s wartime pride

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized what he called the mistaken view among some international mediators that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is ready to end the war against Ukraine but needs a way to “save face” to do so.
22 June, 12:50 PM 4027
Nation

Flight chaos spreads /
Moscow attack revives scrutiny of Russian systems

Drones attacked Moscow overnight and in the morning on June 22. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed Russian air defenses had downed about 80 drones flying toward the capital. Debris was reported to have fallen in Moscow Oblast.
22 June, 12:37 PM 1448
Russian war

A sharp Warsaw break /
Kyiv leader likens Nawrocki to Orban over pressure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Polish President Karol Nawrocki is using the same approach as former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban by trying to pressure Ukraine.
22 June, 11:06 AM 105
Nation

Russian draft pressure /
Penza admits monthly sweeps for service evaders

The military commissioner of Russia’s Penza Oblast, Andrei Surkov, said law enforcement officers are conducting raids on residents of the region, Russian media reported. He said the operations are carried out regularly to detain people accused of evading military service.
22 June, 10:28 AM 123
Russian war

Campus militarization /
Russia pushes 250,000 students into drone courses

Russia will introduce a mandatory basic unmanned systems course at all transport universities starting Sept. 1, 2026, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported.
21 June, 11:06 PM 142
Nation

Warmth from Poland /
Public voices reject turning Poles against Ukrainians

Prominent Polish public figures have registered a petition to award Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the Civic Order of the Future, Polish-Ukrainian outlet Sestry reported.
21 June, 10:14 PM 191
Nation

Swiss restart /
Vance joins nuclear and Lebanon talks with Iran

High-level talks between the United States and Iran began in Switzerland, with representatives of mediator states Qatar and Pakistan also taking part, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said.
21 June, 09:30 PM 46
Nation

Iceland’s 84.2% employment /
Social trust helps drive top foreigner ranking score

Iceland and Zurich topped new rankings of the most comfortable places for foreigners to live, according to a study by insurance provider William Russell.
21 June, 08:44 PM 69
Business

Drone-era stalemate /
Kyiv innovations erode Kremlin manpower edge in war

Ukraine’s battlefield innovations are undermining Russia’s manpower advantage, leaving Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s war machine struggling in the drone era even as he remains confident he can still get his way, the Financial Times reported.
21 June, 08:07 PM 468
Russian war

Crimean Bridge pressure /
Ukraine hits ferries, oil depot and air defenses

Footage of burning Russian ferries near Port Kavkaz in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai appeared online after an overnight drone attack by Ukraine’s Defense Forces on June 21.
21 June, 07:34 PM 703
Nation

Hormuz standoff /
Iran sets terms on oil exports and Lebanon fighting

Iran is demanding an end to Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the removal of all restrictions on its oil sales before reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported, citing a source close to the negotiating team.
21 June, 06:52 PM 133
Nation

Moscow’s applause /
Sybiha accuses Nawrocki of wrecking recent progress

Ukraine did not seek tension in its bilateral relations with Poland, but will “mirror” all decisions, especially unfriendly ones, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. Kyiv is urging Warsaw to show “restraint and diplomacy.”
21 June, 06:10 PM 1208
Nation

Pride under air alerts /
Kyiv march draws 5,000 for legal family equality

The 10th KyivPride March took place in downtown Kyiv on June 21, lasting two hours and drawing about 5,000 people, organizers said.
21 June, 05:32 PM 155
Life

Magyar’s warning /
Residents urged to avoid military sites after attacks

Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, released video of strikes on a tank farm at an oil loading terminal in occupied Kerch. 
21 June, 04:53 PM 328
Russian war