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


New appointment /
Cabinet names Ivan Fedorov head of Ukraine’s Restoration Agency

Ukraine’s Cabinet dismissed Serhii Sukhomlyn as head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development and appointed Ivan Fedorov to replace him, government representative Taras Melnychuk said on Sept. 4.
4 September, 12:48 PM 53
Nation

Smoke over Kyiv /
Drone may have hit aircraft at Kyiv’s Zhuliany Airport

Russian forces may have struck an aircraft at Kyiv’s Zhuliany Airport, the Kyiv Post reported on Sept. 4.
4 September, 12:42 PM 121
Nation

New banknote /
Ukraine introduces new 2,000-hryvnia banknote

The National Bank of Ukraine introduced a new 2,000-hryvnia banknote, the country’s highest denomination, featuring Ukrainian dissident poet Vasyl Stus on Sept. 4.
4 September, 11:52 AM 146
Business

Public opinion /
More than half of Germans support arms supplies to Ukraine

About 52% of Germans surveyed support supplying weapons to Ukraine, according to an ARD-Deutschlandtrend poll on Sept. 4.
4 September, 10:59 AM 171
Nation

Flames over Sochi /
Video purportedly shows strike on Sochi oil depot

A video posted online purportedly shows the moment a strike hit an oil depot in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai overnight on Sept. 4.
4 September, 10:38 AM 163
Nation

Military aid boost /
Germany to boost Ukraine aid after Russian sabotage

The German government plans to increase military aid to Ukraine after Berlin attributed an August drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia, Der Spiegel reported, citing sources on Sept. 3.
3 September, 06:19 PM 180
Nation

Liberation continues /
Khartiia troops liberate 4 more square kilometers near Kupiansk

Ukraine’s 23rd Assault Regiment R.U.H. liberated another 4 square kilometers in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast, clearing areas between Dvorichna and Zapadne, the Khartiia Corps said on Sept. 3.
3 September, 06:04 PM 152
Nation

No sugarcoating /
Koretskyi’s financial briefing shocks Ukrainian officials

Ukraine’s new prime minister, Serhii Koretskyi, is not seeking close personal ties with lawmakers or sugarcoating the country’s financial situation, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Sept. 3.
3 September, 05:36 PM 244
Nation

Landing craft hit /
Ukraine strikes Russian BK-16 landing craft in Crimea

Ukrainian forces struck several Russian military targets on Sept. 2 and overnight into Sept. 3, including a BK-16 landing craft in Sevastopol, Ukraine’s General Staff said.
3 September, 04:19 PM 216
Nation

‘Psychological pressure’ /
RVC deputy says he admitted FSB ties under pressure

Russian Volunteer Corps deputy commander Stepan Kaplunov told Radio NV he admitted to alleged FSB ties under “psychological pressure” after his detention, which he called an abduction, but now denies any contact with the agency on Sept. 3.
3 September, 03:52 PM 152
Nation

‘Pure elegance’ /
Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla step out in total white

French first lady Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla stepped out in dresses featuring a similar color palette as the Macrons visited Britain and met with the British royals.
3 September, 03:28 PM 319
Life

Gas flows rise /
Russia boosts gas supplies to Europe via TurkStream

Russian gas giant Gazprom’s supplies to Europe via the TurkStream pipeline rose 3% year over year in August to 51.9 million cubic meters per day, The Moscow Times reported on Sept. 3.
3 September, 02:19 PM 262
Business

Russia steps up war /
Russia has found new way to escalate war – Zelenskyy

Russia continues to intensify its war against Ukraine and shows no intention of de-escalating, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, commenting on the latest Russian strikes on Sept. 3.
3 September, 12:37 PM 169
Russian war

Mass drone attack /
Ukraine downs 135 of 163 Russian drones overnight

Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight with 163 strike drones, including Shaheds, about half of them jet-powered, as well as S8000 Banderol, Gerbera and Parodiya decoy drones on Sept. 3.
3 September, 11:17 AM 95
Russian war

Conflict zone risks /
ICAO updates aircraft safety guidance after Ukraine warning

The International Civil Aviation Organization is updating safety guidance for civilian aircraft operating over or near conflict zones amid growing global risks, ICAO said on Sept. 2.
3 September, 10:55 AM 85
Nation

Warning to NATO /
U.S. Ambassador urges NATO to be ready for Russian attack

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said allies must be prepared to deter Vladimir Putin or other adversaries in the event of an attack, according to a Sept. 2 interview with USA Today.
3 September, 10:19 AM 93
Nation

Power grid hit /
Russian attack leaves 350,000 Odesa homes without power

Russian forces launched a massive missile and drone attack on key energy facilities in Odesa Oblast overnight, leaving more than 350,000 households without power, DTEK said on Sept. 2.
3 September, 09:00 AM 56
Nation

Fraud fight /
Zelenskyy submits bills targeting fraudulent call centers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted two bills to parliament to toughen penalties for fraudulent call centers and strengthen protections against illegal use of payment instruments and bank accounts on Sept. 2.
3 September, 08:00 AM 59
Nation

Operational shift /
Skelia Regiment comes under Azov Corps command

Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia was placed under the operational command of the National Guard’s 1st Azov Corps, both units said on Sept. 2.
2 September, 05:19 PM 219
Russian war

Kyiv’s request /
Ukraine asks EU to fund Patriot missiles – von der Leyen

Ukraine has formally asked the EU for the first time to finance PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems through its €90 billion loan, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sept. 2.
2 September, 04:52 PM 108
Nation