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


Military upgrade /
Ukraine tests Ryf air defense system

Ukraine's Defense Forces have begun deploying a deeply modernized version of the Soviet-era Strela-10 short-range air defense system, adapting the former frontline missile complex to counter modern aerial threats, NV reported on July 1.
1 July, 09:37 PM 12
Nation

War industry /
HUR exposes Russian Polyus Defense Institute

Ukraine's military intelligence agency identified Russia's M. Stelmakh Polyus Research Institute as a key developer of high-tech weapons and a legitimate military target, releasing detailed material on the enterprise's structure on July 1.
1 July, 08:27 PM 15
Nation

Fuel crisis /
Russia turns to India for gasoline imports amid fuel crisis

Russia has begun importing gasoline by sea from India to ease fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes on its energy infrastructure, Reuters reported, citing industry and trade sources on July 1.
1 July, 06:48 PM 52
Business

Aerial threat /
New Russian Gerbera drone tactic seen over Ukraine

Russian Gerbera drones fitted with additional fuel tanks have recently been observed flying over Ukraine, potentially extending their operational range, Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's defense minister, said on July 1.
1 July, 05:40 PM 122
Nation

Visual evidence /
New satellite image reveals damage at Titan-Barrikady plant

Satellite imagery published online appears to show the aftermath of a June 27 strike by FP-5 Flamingo missiles on the Titan-Barrikady defense plant in Russia's Volgograd, according to images circulated on social media on July 1.
1 July, 04:49 PM 148
Nation

Political risk /
Lukashenko worried Putin could order his elimination

Alexander Lukashenko believes Vladimir Putin could ultimately order his assassination, prompting him to seek stronger security guarantees from China, political analyst Vadym Denysenko told Radio NV on July 1.
1 July, 04:02 PM 257
Nation

Supply chain /
Fuel crisis delays food deliveries to St. Petersburg stores

Food producers have warned retail chains in St. Petersburg of delivery delays due to fuel shortages following Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, The Moscow Times reported, citing notifications sent to retailers on July 1.
1 July, 02:52 PM 88
Nation

Tech breakthrough /
AI drone spots plastic landmines

A UK researcher has developed a drone-based system that uses an onboard camera and software to detect Soviet-designed PFM-1 "Butterfly" landmines, with the technology requiring only a consumer laptop, drone and camera for field deployment on July 1.
1 July, 01:36 PM 78
Nation

Expert analysis /
Ukraine's drone strikes hit Russia's fuel market – expert

Ukraine's sustained strikes on Russian oil refineries have triggered a systemic fuel market crisis in Russia, with fuel sales restrictions across dozens of oblasts underscoring the industry's problems, A-95 Consulting Group Director Serhii Kuiun told Radio NV on July 1.
1 July, 12:38 PM 153
Nation

Energy strike /
Drones hit West Crimean power substation – satellite images

Drones struck the 330/110 kV West Crimean electrical substation near the village of Karierne in occupied Crimea, with satellite imagery indicating damage to the facility, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported on July 1.
1 July, 10:50 AM 120
Nation

Night assault /
Russia launches overnight Shahed drone attack on Ukraine

Air raid alerts were declared across parts of Ukraine as Russia launched drone attacks, with explosions reported in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast coming under attack, Ukrainian officials said on July 1..
1 July, 10:43 AM 40
Russian war

Record interest /
Yandex searches on war's end hit record high

More than 137,000 Yandex searches asking when Russia's so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine would end were recorded between June 22 and June 28, the highest weekly total since the full-scale invasion, independent outlet Mozhem Obyasnit reported on June 30.
30 June, 09:12 PM 165
Nation

Grid under fire /
Russia strikes energy sites in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Russian forces struck energy infrastructure facilities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast over the past 24 hours, from June 29 to June 30, private energy company DTEK said on June 30.
30 June, 05:53 PM 80
Russian war

Financial aid /
Ukraine receives first €3.9 billion EU defense loan tranche

Ukraine has received 3.9 billion euros from the European Union under the first defense tranche of the Ukraine Support Loan program, with the funds transferred to the state budget's special fund, the Finance Ministry said on June 30.
30 June, 05:44 PM 61
Business

Natural resources /
Kyiv court returns major granite deposit to the state

A commercial court in Kyiv has invalidated the results of a State Service of Geology and Subsoil electronic auction for a granite deposit in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast, along with the resulting sales contract and special permit, the Prosecutor General's Office said on June 30.
30 June, 04:37 PM 131
Business

Military debris /
Romania finds Russian drone debris with warhead

Romania's Defense Ministry said debris believed to be from a Russian drone used in air attacks on Ukraine's port infrastructure in April 2026 was found in the village of Rachelu in Tulcea County on June 30.
30 June, 04:28 PM 88
Nation

Blast inquiry /
Suspect in Monaco parcel bomb blast may have fled to France

Authorities in Monaco have ruled out terrorism in their investigation into a parcel bomb explosion that injured three people, including Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev and his companion, BFMTV reported, citing a source close to the probe on June 30.
30 June, 03:20 PM 125
Nation

Russia under strain /
Russia's economy under pressure – Sberbank CEO

Russia's economy is already overheating in reverse, with high interest rates exerting further pressure and investment falling sharply, Sberbank CEO Herman Gref said, arguing the central bank's monetary policy has reached a dead end, Interfax reported on June 30.
30 June, 03:08 PM 311
Business

Investigation /
Crimean zoo founder named suspect in Askania case

Ukrainian prosecutors have notified the founder of Crimea's zoos of suspicion in a war crimes case linked to the alleged looting of the Askania-Nova biosphere reserve, the Office of the Prosecutor General said on June 30.
30 June, 02:33 PM 55
Nation

Logistics boost /
Nova Post opens largest hub in Moldova

Nova Post has opened its largest logistics hub in Moldova near Chisinau, expanding its delivery network with a facility capable of processing up to 10,000 parcels per hour, the company said on June 30.
30 June, 12:29 PM 74
Business