Alona Sonko

Translator, Editor | NV English

Alona is a journalist, editor, and translator with experience working in Ukrainian media, advertising, and PR agencies.

She completed a journalistic internship at the TV channels 1+1 and Ukraina. She has academic training in journalism: she wrote a research paper for the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and received multiple awards.

She worked as an editor-translator at the Adsapience advertising agency, where she was responsible for adapting text, video, and audio materials into English, as well as a copywriter at Trembita PR Agency, where she prepared press releases, news, and analytical materials for the media


Fighter goes down /
Russian Su-57 fighter jet crashes near Moscow

A Russian military aircraft, believed to be a Su-57 fighter jet, crashed in the Odintsovo district of Moscow Oblast, Russian Telegram channels reported on July 23.
23 July, 02:17 PM 8
Nation

Culture in danger /
UNESCO adds Tauric Chersonese to world heritage in danger list

The Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora in Russian-occupied Sevastopol has been added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger, Ukraine's Culture Ministry said on July 23.
23 July, 01:52 PM 6
Nation

Pages in the rubble /
Half a million books destroyed in Russian strike on Konvi

A massive Russian missile attack on Kyiv overnight July 19 destroyed parts of Konvi, one of Ukraine's three largest printing houses, with commercial director Viktoria Haidai showing NV the damage and detailing the losses on July 23.
23 July, 01:16 PM 11
Russian war

Sanctions bargain /
Greece unblocks EU Russia sanctions after securing LNG exemption

Greece secured an exemption in the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia that will allow it to continue re-exporting Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries under certain conditions, European Pravda reported on July 23.
23 July, 12:17 PM 36
Nation

'Putin struck Jesus Christ' /
Laura Loomer visits Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra damaged by Russia

U.S. blogger and Trump ally Laura Loomer visited the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and inspected the Dormition Cathedral and other sites damaged in a Russian strike on June 15, she said on X on July 22.
23 July, 11:49 AM 78
Nation

Sabotage attempt /
SBU detains suspected Russian agents over train derailment plot

Ukraine's Security Service said it detained two suspected Russian agents in Chernihiv Oblast who were allegedly plotting to blow up a railway track to derail a freight locomotive and disrupt logistics in northern Ukraine on July 22.
23 July, 10:48 AM 19
Nation

Flames in the Urals /
Key Russian oil hub burns after drone attack

Drones attacked Russia again, targeting the Subkhankulovo oil pumping station in Bashkortostan, a key part of Transneft's pipeline system in the Urals, Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported on July 23.
23 July, 10:19 AM 120
Nation

Trust landscape /
Zaluzhnyi and Fedorov lead Ukrainians' trust ranking – poll

Ukraine's ambassador to the UK and former military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi has the highest trust rating among Ukrainians, followed by former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, according to a Rating Group poll on July 22.
22 July, 06:00 PM 138
Nation

Defense deal /
Ukraine signs deal to produce British L119 Light Guns

British defense company BAE Systems has signed a licensing agreement with a strategic partner in Ukraine to produce 105 mm L119 Light Guns, the company said July 21.
22 July, 05:03 PM 126
Nation

Blaze spreads smoke /
Smoke from Wildberries fire could reach Putin's palace

Smoke from a massive fire at a Wildberries warehouse in Krasnodar could reach Russia's Black Sea coast, including Cape Idokopas near Gelendzhik, home to a palace linked to Vladimir Putin, according to a Meteoweb forecast on July 22.
22 July, 04:44 PM 272
Nation

Sea drone expansion /
Ukrainian Magura sea drones to be produced in U.S.

U.S. special operations boat maker ReconCraft will produce Magura unmanned vessels under a memorandum signed with Ukrainian manufacturer Uforce in Washington last week, The Wall Street Journal reported July 21.
22 July, 03:56 PM 147
Nation

Attack on civilians /
Russian drone strikes residential building in Odesa

Russian forces attacked Odesa again, injuring several people, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said on July 22.
22 July, 03:08 PM 82
Russian war

Supply disrupted /
Russian strike destroys Global Spirits warehouse

A Russian missile strike completely destroyed the main warehouse of alcohol producer Global Spirits, leaving the company unable to deliver products to customers on July 22.
22 July, 01:15 PM 454
Business

Fires persist /
Wildberries warehouses still burn after Ukrainian strikes

Large fires continued to burn at Wildberries warehouses in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol Krai after Ukrainian drone strikes, with one facility ablaze outside Krasnodar, Astra reported on July 22.
22 July, 12:40 PM 192
Nation

Global breakthrough /
Miss Monique to perform on Tomorrowland mainstage

Ukrainian DJ and music producer Olesia Arkusha, known professionally as Miss Monique, will perform a set on the main stage of the popular Tomorrowland electronic music festival on July 22.
22 July, 11:46 AM 61
Life

Reserves shrink /
Russia sells record 44 tons of gold to plug budget gap

Russia's central bank has sold 43.5 metric tons of gold from its reserves since the start of 2026 to help cover a federal budget deficit that reached nearly 6 trillion rubles in the first half of the year on July 22.
22 July, 10:57 AM 189
Business

Ukraine firsthand /
FM Sybiha welcomes Trump ally Laura Loomer to Ukraine

Acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the arrival in Ukraine of U.S. blogger and President Donald Trump ally Laura Loomer, Sybiha said on X on July 22.
22 July, 10:45 AM 105
Nation

Stronger protections /
Zelenskyy signs new law expanding support for IDPs

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law aimed at ensuring the rights and freedoms of internally displaced people, according to the Verkhovna Rada's website on July 21.
21 July, 07:01 PM 91
Nation

Maritime threat /
Sybiha condemns Russian strike on Gas Lisbon near Romania

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia's strike on the Gas Lisbon near Romania showed the war threatens not only Ukraine but also freedom of navigation, Black Sea security and NATO's eastern flank on July 21.
21 July, 06:45 PM 103
Nation

Global recognition /
Ukrainian director Mula joins U.S. Television Academy

Ukrainian filmmaker Volodymyr Mula has joined the U.S. National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which presents Emmy Awards for daytime, news and documentary, sports and other programming, his representatives told NV on July 21.
21 July, 05:35 PM 65
Life