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


Unidentified drone /
Drone approaches U.S. missile defense base in Poland

An unidentified drone approached a U.S. missile defense base in Redzikowo, Poland, on Sept. 15, but the Polish Defense Ministry said it was a civilian drone and posed no threat to the military facility, Onet reported on Sept. 22.
23 September, 01:29 AM 281
Nation

In flames /
Satellite images reveal damage at Kuibyshev oil refinery

Journalists published satellite images showing the aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Kuibyshev oil refinery in Russia on Sept. 22.
22 September, 11:52 PM 300
Nation

Ankara’s proposal /
Kremlin confirms Erdoğan made Ukraine proposal to Putin

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that Turkey had proposed that Russia and Ukraine halt strikes on vessels in the Black Sea, Russian state media reported on Sept. 22.
22 September, 09:55 PM 230
Nation

Production halted /
Russian ballistic strike on Interpipe plant kills four

Russia launched a ballistic missile strike on an Interpipe industrial facility in Dnipro overnight on Sept. 22, the company said.
22 September, 05:50 PM 289
Business

Operation MoLoChKa /
Ukraine hits 300 Russian shadow fleet vessels in 11 weeks

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces struck 300 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet over 11 weeks as part of Operation MoLoChKa, the service said on Sept. 21.
22 September, 03:55 PM 336
Nation

Strikes deep in Russia /
Ukraine confirms strikes on two Russian oil refineries

Ukrainian forces struck two Russian oil refineries, Bashneft-UNPZ in Ufa and the Kuibyshev refinery in Samara, sparking fires at both facilities, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Sept. 22.
22 September, 02:35 PM 242
Nation

‘Steel industry is gone’ /
Russian strikes halt 90% of Ukraine’s steel production

Three plants that accounted for 90% of Ukraine’s steel production have halted operations following Russian strikes, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 21.
22 September, 11:56 AM 259
Business

Winter defense boost /
Macron meets Zelenskyy, pledges winter support package

French President Emmanuel Macron met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York and said France would help Ukraine through the winter and strengthen its air defenses on Sept. 22.
22 September, 11:37 AM 71
Nation

Diplomatic push /
Zelenskyy to discuss war de-escalation proposals with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began his visit to New York by meeting with U.S. senators and discussing de-escalation proposals he plans to raise with U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy said on Sept. 21.
22 September, 10:45 AM 120
Nation

From Putin to party /
Kremlev got Putin award before Trump Jr. wedding party

Russian oligarch and IBA President Umar Kremlev, who paid for a party after Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding, received Russia’s Order of Friendship from Vladimir Putin weeks before the event, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on Sept. 21.
22 September, 09:00 AM 251
Nation

Released from custody /
Carthage case: Kropyva’s driver posts UAH 3M bail

Serhii Kutsyi, driver for Prosecutor General’s Office official Serhii Kropyva and a figure in the Carthage case involving alleged protection of scam call centers and money laundering, was released from custody after posting bail, Suspilne reported on Sept. 21.
22 September, 08:43 AM 55
Nation

Rumors and evidence /
Reports of Lyudmyla Yanukovych’s death surface online

Lyudmyla Yanukovych, 76, the former wife of ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, may have died in Russia in June, according to a Television Toronto investigation published Sept. 18, though her death has not been officially confirmed.
21 September, 04:17 PM 71
Nation

Ban-free route /
Russia boosts diesel exports to Central Asia 2.5-fold

Russia increased diesel shipments to Central Asian countries 2.5-fold in August from July, exporting more than 370,000 metric tons to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan amid restrictions on exports to other markets, The Moscow Times reported on Sept. 21.
21 September, 03:25 PM 380
Business

High-value strike /
Ukraine рits $60M Russian Kasta radar, drone command post

Ukrainian forces struck several key Russian military targets overnight on Sept. 20-21, including a Kasta radar station near Pikuzy in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine’s General Staff said.
21 September, 02:17 PM 201
Nation

‘Payments aren’t going through’ /
Autostrada reveals UAH 15 billion debt that forced it to halt work

Ukraine owes Autostrada about UAH 15 billion ($360 million) for completed work, while the company hopes funding for key projects will resume, founder Maksym Shkil told Interfax-Ukraine on Sept. 21.
21 September, 01:53 PM 181
Business

Isolated and hungry /
Hunger grips Oleshky as 2,000 remain cut off from supplies

Hunger is spreading in Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, where food deliveries have been blocked since May 26, roads are mined and evacuation is nearly impossible, Polish-Ukrainian outlet Sestry reported on Sept. 21.
21 September, 12:58 PM 1024
Russian war

Deadly double strike /
Russia attacks Kramatorsk twice, killing one, injuring others

A Russian airstrike on Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 20 sparked a 4,800-square-meter fire at a two-story educational facility and injured two people, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said on Sept. 21.
21 September, 11:16 AM 100
Russian war

Night strike /
Drones attack Ufa overnight, Bashneft refinery may be target

Drones attacked Ufa in Russia’s Bashkortostan, home to Bashneft oil refineries, Telegram channels Exilenova+ and Supernova reported on Sept. 21.
21 September, 10:51 AM 153
Nation

Massive naval drills /
Turkey holds major naval drills with 100 ships

Turkey launched its Denizkurdu-I/2026 naval drills on Sept. 20, involving 100 ships, 50 aircraft and about 14,000 personnel, with the exercises set to run through Sept. 25, the Defense Ministry said.
21 September, 10:39 AM 217
Nation

Probe underway /
Forrest Gump: Stolar says he will not evade investigation

Ukrainian MP Vadym Stolar, a suspect in the Forrest Gump case, said he has no intention of hiding, evading the investigation or obstructing criminal proceedings.
11 September, 05:40 PM 99
Nation