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


Corruption claims /
Yermak lawyer denies laundering allegations

Lawyer Ihor Fomin said corruption allegations against former Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak are “groundless,” denying his client’s involvement in laundering 460 million hryvnias through an elite housing project near Kyiv on May 12.
12 May, 12:56 PM 69
Nation

Truce broken /
Russia ended days of relative calm by resuming attacks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched about 200 attack drones overnight in a massive strike on Ukraine, accusing Moscow of escalating attacks despite calls for a ceasefire on May 12.
12 May, 11:50 AM 149
Russian war

'This is unacceptable' /
Russia wanted abducted Ukrainian children added to swap lists

Ukrainian FM Andrii Sybiha said Russia had proposed including abducted Ukrainian children in prisoner exchange lists, speaking at a meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in Brussels on May 11.
12 May, 10:48 AM 77
Nation

Hungary decides /
Hungary rules out sending troops to Ukraine

Anita Orbán said that Hungary would not send troops to Ukraine, speaking during a hearing before the European Affairs Committee, according to Hungarian outlet Index.hu on May 11.
11 May, 06:19 PM 173
Nation

Support for children /
Lithuania to allocate €10M for Ukrainian children

Lithuania plans to allocate more than 10 million euros to support efforts to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, provide psychological and medical rehabilitation, strengthen child care systems and ensure accountability for war crimes, Andrii Sybiha said on May 11.
11 May, 05:55 PM 54
Nation

Modernized four times /
Russia modified Kh-101 missile to penetrate air defenses

Russia has upgraded its Kh-101 strategic cruise missile at least four times since the start of the full-scale invasion, aiming to improve its ability to penetrate Ukrainian air defenses after analysis of missile fragments, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on May 11.
11 May, 05:34 PM 306
Nation

'We did not achieve the key result' /
Prisoner swap talks have stalled – Kostiantyn Yelisieiev

Political tensions surrounding President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decree allowing a parade in Moscow were unlikely to derail a reported 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev said in an interview with Radio NV on May 11.
11 May, 03:46 PM 150
Nation

Economic strain /
Russia’s budget deficit grows despite higher oil prices

Russia’s federal budget deficit continued to widen despite rising oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, exceeding the country’s full-year target by 50% in the first four months of the year, The Moscow Times reported on May 11.
11 May, 03:19 PM 194
Business

Oil supply route /
Japan restarts oil imports from Azerbaijan

Japan is set to receive a tanker carrying Azerbaijani crude oil, marking its first oil shipment from Central Asia since the outbreak of war in Iran in February, according to Japan’s industry ministry and a Reuters report on May 11.
11 May, 03:01 PM 87
Business

Voices in Venice /
Protests erupt over Russia’s return to the Venice Biennale

The 61st Venice Biennale officially opened on Europe Day on May 9, but tensions around the event began days earlier when the Russian pavilion temporarily opened for a press preview, drawing criticism and protests.
11 May, 02:56 PM 169
Life

Defense effort /
Ukraine has stabilized front line and strengthened air defenses

Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine had stabilized the front line and was strengthening its air defenses, speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry on May 11.
11 May, 01:56 PM 77
Nation

Turning point /
Russia’s role in Africa weakens after Mali loss

When Russian forces were pushed from positions in the northern Malian town of Kidal in April, they lost more than territory, CNN reported, citing evidence that exposed Moscow’s covert operations and growing military footprint in Africa on May 10.
11 May, 01:02 PM 185
Nation

Freedom announced /
Trump thanks Lukashenko after release of prisoners

Donald Trump said five foreign political prisoners had been released from prisons in Belarus and Russia, thanking Alexander Lukashenko for what he called “cooperation and friendship” in a post on Truth Social on May 11.
11 May, 11:47 AM 59
Nation

Arms cooperation /
Ukraine and Norway will jointly produce 155 mm shells

Ukraine and Norway had agreed to jointly produce long-range 155 mm artillery shells, as Kyiv seeks to expand domestic and allied defense manufacturing during the war with Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 11.
11 May, 10:41 AM 103
Nation

Strike strategy /
Ukraine drone commander questions strike on Moscow parade

Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said a strike on Moscow’s Victory Day parade would generate headlines but have little military value, arguing that attacks should instead target less protected Russian infrastructure on May 8.
8 May, 06:45 PM 2734
Nation

Diplomatic plans /
Trump representatives may visit Kyiv this summer – Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that special representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to visit Kyiv in late spring or early summer following a briefing from Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov on May 8.
8 May, 06:19 PM 96
Nation

EU pressure /
EU to expand Russia sanctions over deported children

The European Union will add new names on May 11 to its sanctions list targeting people involved in the abduction or illegal deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia, a senior EU official told Ukrainian media outlet European Pravda on May 8.
8 May, 06:03 PM 86
Nation

Long-range hit /
Ukrainian drones hit major Russian refinery in Perm for third time

Ukraine’s Security Service struck the Permnefteorgsintez oil refinery and an oil pumping station in the Russian city of Perm for the third time, targeting facilities more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from the Ukrainian border on May 8.
8 May, 04:57 PM 194
Nation

Art of resilience /
PinchukArtCentre opens new exhibition at the Venice Biennale

The exhibition 61st Venice Biennale opened its official parallel program with Still Joy — From Ukraine Into the World, a showcase of contemporary Ukrainian and international art exploring joy as an act of resilience and humanity on May 7.
8 May, 03:50 PM 265
Life

War through art /
Ukrainian artist presents war-themed sculpture at Venice Biennale

Ukraine opened its “Security Guarantees” pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring “Origami Deer,” a sculpture by Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova as the exhibition’s central installation on May 7.
8 May, 03:36 PM 152
Life