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


Doctoral path /
Syrskyi enrolls in Defense University doctoral program

Former Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has enrolled in a doctoral program at the National Defense University of Ukraine, Hromadske reported, citing a source close to him on Aug. 26.
26 August, 06:39 PM 222
Nation

Peace efforts /
Zelenskyy says Ukraine in 'detailed work' with U.S. after CIA visit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is "working" with the United States following CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow on Aug. 26.
26 August, 06:21 PM 386
Nation

Russia-Japan rift /
Russia threatens Japan over Kurils, invokes nuclear weapons

Russia publicly threatened Japan over the territorial dispute involving the Kuril Islands, again invoking its nuclear arsenal, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said, according to Russian state media on Aug. 26.
26 August, 05:57 PM 317
Nation

Abrupt reversal /
Kanye West's St. Petersburg concerts abruptly canceled

American rapper and Putin supporter Kanye West's planned October concerts in St. Petersburg were abruptly canceled, with organizers citing the lack of an agreement with the stadium set to host the shows on Aug. 26.
26 August, 02:56 PM 383
Life

Unresolved issues /
Nawrocki raises 'tense issues' in letter to Zelenskyy

Polish President Karol Nawrocki sent Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an Independence Day letter that addressed tensions between the two countries over historical issues, presidential aide Marcin Przydacz told RMF24 on Aug. 26.
26 August, 02:12 PM 98
Nation

Spy convicted /
Russian spy sentenced to four years in prison in Estonia

Harju County Court in Estonia sentenced Nikita Kuzmin, a dual Estonian-Russian citizen, to four years in prison for spying for Russia, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on Aug. 26.
26 August, 01:04 PM 123
Nation

'Dual strategy' /
ISW explains why Russia is striking Ukraine-Moldova border

Russian forces intensified strikes on Ukrainian and Moldovan border infrastructure in August to disrupt Ukraine's overland export routes and create an "atmosphere of instability" at border crossings, ISW said on Aug. 26.
26 August, 11:25 AM 241
Nation

Another plant strike /
Ukraine strikes Russian rocket fuel plant again

Ukrainian forces carried out a second strike on the Kombinat Kamensky plant in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Russia's Rostov Oblast, Ukraine's General Staff said on Aug. 24.
24 August, 09:10 PM 273
Nation

Draft rules change /
Ukraine may lower upper mobilization age to 50-55

Ukraine's General Staff is considering lowering the upper age limit for mobilization to 50-55, Roman Kostenko, secretary of parliament's national security, defense and intelligence committee, told Ukrainska Pravda on Aug. 24.
24 August, 06:56 PM 244
Nation

Political weapon /
Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies risk 'parallel government' role

Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies are increasingly becoming participants in political battles rather than merely referees, risking becoming a "parallel government" and political weapon, The Economist reported on Aug. 24.
24 August, 06:36 PM 358
Nation

EU path forward /
Ukraine's EU membership is best security guarantee

European Council President António Costa said Ukraine's future membership in the European Union is the best guarantee of security and long-term democratic stability for both Ukrainians and Europeans on Aug. 24.
24 August, 06:14 PM 80
Nation

Deadly morning /
Russian attack on Izium kills one, injures nine

A Russian attack on Izium in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast killed a 46-year-old man and injured nine others, including a 13-year-old girl, regional governor Oleh Synehubov said on Aug. 24.
24 August, 04:46 PM 129
Russian war

Long-range drones /
Ukrainian drones reach Russia's Plesetsk cosmodrome for first time

Ukrainian drones may have reached Russia's Arkhangelsk Oblast, home to the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, for the first time, with at least two drones reported near Plesetsk on Aug. 22, Russian monitoring sources said.
24 August, 04:05 PM 449
Nation

Warsaw's concern /
Poland warns Ukraine of EU problems over Bandera and Shukhevych

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki said including Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych in Ukraine's National Pantheon would create "major problems" for the country's EU integration, he told RMF24 on Aug. 24.
24 August, 02:20 PM 192
Nation

Championship glory /
Ukrainian Ihor Potieria wins FightStar Championship title

Former UFC fighter Ihor Potieria (21-8) won the FightStar Championship light heavyweight title.
24 August, 12:04 PM 181
Life

'Give Ukraine air defense' /
Wladimir Klitschko appeals to world on Independence Day

Former heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-5, 53 KOs) congratulated Ukrainians on the country's Independence Day.
24 August, 11:38 AM 263
Life

Postponed trip /
Witkoff and Kushner Ukraine trip delayed but not canceled

A long-awaited visit to Ukraine by U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner has been postponed but not canceled, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alex Raufoglu reported, citing sources on Aug. 24.
24 August, 10:55 AM 381
Nation

European support /
European leaders arrive in Kyiv for Independence Day

Leaders of several European countries and institutions arrived in Kyiv to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence and take part in international meetings, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Aug. 24.
24 August, 10:12 AM 149
Nation

Airfield strike /
Ukraine's drone forces hit Russian Su-33 and MiG-29 jets

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck Russian Su-33 and MiG-29 fighter jets in Vityazevo, Russia's Krasnodar Krai, commander Robert Brovdi, call sign Madyar, said on Aug. 24.
24 August, 09:00 AM 202
Nation

Export disruption /
Russia plans state grain purchases amid port export disruptions

The Russian government is considering grain purchases to offset major export disruptions and plans measures to support local farmers, including loan extensions and sales subsidies, Interfax reported, citing Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut on Aug. 24.
24 August, 08:45 AM 199
Business