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.


Triton arrives /
Ukrainian sea drone can launch missiles and drones

Ukrainian company Global Mark unveiled the Triton uncrewed surface vessel at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris in June, the defense news outlet Militarnyi reported.
27 June, 03:37 PM 753
Nation

Iran track /
Trump envoys’ Kyiv trip remains in limbo for now

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst told NV what he believes is keeping Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner from visiting Ukraine.
27 June, 02:58 PM 851
Nation

First look inside /
NV follows Raid crews on a strike run into Russia

A new major player in deep-strike operations publicly emerged on Ukraine’s front in 2026. But NV has learned that the unit had been secretly attacking Russian rear areas for several years.
26 June, 10:16 PM 1119
Nation

July reset /
Brussels resumes work on Ukraine entry clusters now

The European Union will continue work to open the next five negotiating clusters in Ukraine’s accession talks during Ireland’s EU Council presidency, starting July 1, Suspilne reported, citing an EU diplomat.
26 June, 06:12 PM 124
Nation

No clear break /
Syrskyi tempers hopes for quick battlefield shift

Ukraine’s Armed Forces commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said he cannot say definitively that Russia’s war against Ukraine is nearing a turning point.
26 June, 05:44 PM 561
Russian war

Viral warning /
Ex-soldier tells Putin Russian army could revolt

Alexander Lunin, a blogger from Russia’s Voronezh Oblast who previously fought against Ukraine, published a video appeal to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, claiming he was passing along a message from representatives of Russia’s Defense Ministry and security agencies. Russian Telegram channels published the post.
26 June, 05:23 PM 1541
Nation

Kremlin inner guard /
Sergei Ivanov, Putin’s longtime ally, dies at 73

Sergei Ivanov, a former Russian defense minister and Vladimir Putin’s special representative who served with him in the KGB and later became one of his closest allies, has died at 73, Russian investigative outlet Vazhnyye Istorii reported on June 26.
26 June, 04:06 PM 389
Nation

Home from captivity /
Ukraine returns 160 service members held since 2022

Ukraine and Russia carried out a new round of prisoner exchanges on June 26, bringing home 160 Ukrainian service members who had been held in captivity since 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media.
26 June, 03:55 PM 86
Nation

Forced recruitment /
Russia probes reaction to Penza roundups for army

Moscow is trying to replenish its ranks for the war against Ukraine while avoiding public protests and is testing a “quiet” approach: mass street roundups and forcing Russian men into military contracts, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service said on June 26.
26 June, 02:53 PM 316
Russian war

Valdai lockdown /
Key federal road closes near Kremlin leader’s retreat

Traffic on Russia’s M-11 federal highway in Tver Oblast was closed in both directions on June 26, with no explanation from authorities, the Telegram channel Agentstvo.News reported.
26 June, 02:27 PM 383
Nation

Corporate governance /
NBU signs EBRD deal to strengthen finance rules

The National Bank of Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening corporate governance in Ukraine’s financial sector.
26 June, 01:36 PM 85
Business

Energy security bet /
New 650 MW gas facility aims to harden supply

Ukrainian energy holding DTEK and U.S.-based GE Vernova have signed a memorandum to support construction of new gas-fired generation in western Ukraine, the Energy Ministry said.
26 June, 12:20 PM 147
Business

Wartime capital pitch /
NBU chief urges investors to enter Ukrainian market

National Bank of Ukraine Governor Andriy Pyshnyy urged international investors not to delay decisions on entering or expanding in Ukraine’s market, citing the country’s macrofinancial stability and the resilience of its financial system.
26 June, 11:45 AM 85
Business

Fragile neighbors /
Svyrydenko, Tusk pursue postwar commercial links

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss Polish business involvement in Ukraine’s reconstruction, energy cooperation and joint economic projects, Svyrydenko said on Telegram.
26 June, 11:25 AM 78
Nation

Anchorage ghost story /
U.S. rejects Kremlin version of Trump-Putin talks

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no agreement with Russia was reached during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
25 June, 07:17 PM 527
Nation

No easy volunteers /
Moscow struggles to fill army ranks for Ukraine war

Russia is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit new contract soldiers and hold occupied Ukrainian territory. In Moscow, the number of people willing to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry and go to war against Ukraine fell by one-third in the spring. The same pattern is emerging in the regions.
25 June, 07:00 PM 4179
Russian war

Shadow fleet crackdown /
France intercepts Russian tanker off Sicily

The French Navy on June 23 intercepted Russian shadow fleet tanker Deliver off Sicily after it violated maritime law, French President Emmanuel Macron said on June 25.
25 June, 06:37 PM 191
Nation

Pressure from Gdansk /
Merz urges Moscow toward talks on ending Ukraine war

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Moscow to enter peace talks during a speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, DW reported.
25 June, 04:54 PM 214
Nation

Kremlin war calculus /
Commanders claim manpower can capture four regions

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not want to end the war against Ukraine and has said he is ready to keep fighting for at least another two years.
25 June, 04:05 PM 772
Nation

Gdansk pledge /
Von der Leyen opens 90 billion loan pipeline for Kyiv

Ukraine has received the first tranche of the EU’s Ukraine Support Loan, worth 3.2 billion euros ($3.63 billion), Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Telegram.
25 June, 02:53 PM 251
Business