Romeo Kokriatski

Managing Editor, NV English

Romeo is a Ukrainian-born New York native that returned to the homeland after the Euromaidan, and has had a career in journalism spanning Ukrainian independent media, including Hromadske and Zaborona.

Co-host and founder of independent podcast Ukraine Without Hype. Inveterate political junky.

Romeo is a fan of video and tabletop games, and is chronically online at @VagrantJourno.


Who's next in line? /
The Day After Putin

The alleged health problems of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin are fueling debate over what kind of change will happen to the Russian government in the event of the tyrant's death or incapacity. Who will assume power in the Kremlin once the dictator is gone, and what will happen in Russia next?
25 June, 10:26 AM 1266
Nation

Mercenary aircrew /
Russia using Wagner pilots due to insufficient trained personnel, says UK intelligence

Russia is using mercenary pilots from the Wagner private military company due to insufficient numbers of suitably trained personnel caused by its combat losses in the war against Ukraine, the UK Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence assessment on June 24.
24 June, 01:28 PM 806
Nation

War in Ukraine /
Pace of Russian offensive to decrease significantly in coming weeks, ISW believes

The assault on Lysychansk will not give Russia a decisive advantage in the war, nor will the capture of Severodonetsk, said the U.S.-based conflict think tank the Institute for the Study of War in their daily update on June 23.
24 June, 01:18 PM 616
Nation

Enemy losses /
Russian troop losses in Ukraine hit 34,530, says Ukraine's General Staff

Russia has already lost about 34,530 soldiers since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine's General Staff said in a Facebook post on June 24.
24 June, 12:38 PM 360
Nation

Help from our friends /
Continuation of HIMARS deliveries to Ukraine is ‘very likely’ says White House

The United States plans to continue the supply of multiple launch rocket artillery systems (MLRS) to Ukraine with the aim of helping Ukraine beat back Russia, stated John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council, according to The Voice of America on June 23.
24 June, 12:28 PM 489
Nation

Historic day /
European Union grants Ukraine candidate status

The leaders of the 27 EU countries, at the European Council summit on June 23, supported granting EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, tweeted on June 23.
24 June, 12:10 PM 287
Nation

Cost of collaboration /
Prominent collaborator killed in Kherson car bomb attack

Dmytro Savluchenko, a prominent collaborator in Russian-occupied Kherson, was killed on June 24 when his car exploded, said Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko via Telegram messenger.
24 June, 11:33 AM 529
Nation

Fast track /
French President Macron promises to speed Ukraine’s way into EU

EU representatives will make every effort to ensure that Ukraine obtains membership under a simplified procedure, said French President Emmanuel Macron, during a briefing on June 23.
24 June, 11:26 AM 133
Nation

War in Ukraine /
Zelensky visits frontline city of Mykolaiv, says President's Office

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the frontline city of Mykolaiv, where he held a meeting on the problems facing the war-affected region, Presidential Office chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak said on the Telegram messenger on June 18.
18 June, 07:18 PM 397
Nation

Another bird down /
Ukrainian military shoots down Russian Su-25 warplane in Donetsk Oblast

Ukraine’s 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade has shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft using an Igla MANPADS in Donetsk Oblast, the Ukrainian army unit said in a post on Facebook on June 18.

18 June, 04:07 PM 3508
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Plan of attack /
Ukraine’s army looks to launch counteroffensive near Izyum to discourage attack on Slovyansk — ISW

Ukrainian forces are likely to conduct a counterattack northwest of Izyum to deter Russian troops from attacking Slovyansk, the U.S. think tank the Institute for the Study of War said in its June 18 update.
18 June, 04:03 PM 1298
Nation

Deadly birds downed /
Two Russian cruise missiles shot down over Odesa Oblast overnight

Ukrainian air defense forces shot down two Russian cruise missiles over Odesa Oblast overnight that were launched from Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea, Odesa regional military administration spokesperson Serhiy Bratchuk said in a Telegram post on June 18.
18 June, 03:58 PM 807
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Award during war /
Ukrainian brand Faina Gallery wins award at prestigious Design Miami/Basel exhibition

The FAINA Gallery brand of Ukrainian designer Victoria Yakusha has received the award for Best Presentation at the annual design exhibition Design Miami/Basel.The FAINA Gallery brand of Ukrainian designer Victoria Yakusha has received the award for Best Presentation at the annual design exhibition Design Miami/Basel.
18 June, 03:53 PM 213
Life

Surprise visitor /
Boris Johnson arrives in Kyiv on unannounced visit, second since Russian invasion

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on June 17, his second since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and just a day after four EU leaders were also in the Ukrainian capital.
17 June, 07:49 PM 1373
Nation

Extermination /
Photographer takes terrifying video of Lysychansk under Russian fire

Ukrainian journalist Denys Kazanskyi on June 12 published on Telegram a video taken by AFP news agency photographer Aris Messinis showing the horrific consequences of the shelling of Lysychansk by Russian invasion forces.
12 June, 05:47 PM
Nation

Russia Day /
Invaders preparing ‘provocations’ against civilians in Enerhodar, says city mayor

The mayor of Enerhodar, a Russian-occupied city in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, has warned its citizens against turning out for “Russia Day” celebrations on June 12, saying the invaders are planning “provocations” against civilians.
12 June, 05:35 PM 826
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War footing /
Zelensky establishes Lysychansk Military Administration and appoints its governor

With the Luhansk Oblast town of Lysychansk coming under increased fire by Russian invasion forces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has established the Lysychansk Military Administration and appointed Valerii Shybik as its head.
12 June, 05:32 PM 499
Nation

Threatening behavior /
Russia says NATO force buildup in Poland will see ‘proportionate response’

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has promised a "proportionate response" to a buildup of NATO forces in Poland, according to news agency Reuters.
12 June, 05:27 PM 907
Nation

Witness to war /
EC president visits injured Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv hospital

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on June 11, visited Ukrainian soldiers injured at the front.
12 June, 05:24 PM 508
Nation

Weaponizing food /
Russian missile strike on railcar repair plant was attack on grain export infrastructure

Russia’s war on Ukraine returned to Kyiv with a vengeance early on June 5 as a salvo of Russian cruise missiles blasted the capital’s Darnytskyi and Dniprovsky districts.
6 June, 12:10 PM 1048
Nation
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