Support Independent Ukrainian Media Hit by US Aid Freeze

A lifeline for three newsrooms near the front line

On Jan. 21, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid to review whether the distribution aligned with his foreign policy.

This decision has had a devastating effect on Ukraine as it cut funding for humanitarian relief, local community development, and key reforms, among other things.

It also dealt a devastating blow to Ukrainian independent media and its journalists who have been covering the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine for almost three years now.

With the advertising market collapsing because of the full-scale war and citizens focusing on donating to the army, independent Ukrainian publishers have been struggling to stay afloat and keep bringing the truth to their communities. U.S. aid was an important lifeline that helped them keep working.

The U.S. government’s recent aid suspension has left independent Ukrainian media stranded, forcing them to halt much of their activities and face the prospect of shutting down.

The smaller, local media outlets were hit the hardest. Many of them are the sole source of reliable local news for their communities. They are small teams working in difficult conditions, usually on very small salaries, driven by their loyalty to the local community.

Some of them do it close to the front lines. Those are not just news sites — they are voices of resistance. They are storytellers documenting history as it unfolds. And right now, they need our help.

We at the Kyiv Independent are launching a fundraiser to support three local Ukrainian newsrooms, with the goal of raising £40,000 through GoFundMe. This will allow them to pay their journalists, keep the lights on, and continue their reporting.

The raised funds will be shared equally among these three media outlets, operating close to the front lines in Ukraine:

• Tsukr (Sumy, Ukraine): Just 28 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, Sumy has faced relentless attacks since the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Tsukr has been a source of light, telling the stories of the people who refuse to abandon their homes and who are rebuilding despite everything. The aid freeze has slashed 60% of its funding, putting its future at risk. The support for Tsukr, if we reach our goal, would cover almost two months of their operations.

• Gwara Media (Kharkiv, Ukraine): Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has endured wave after wave of airstrikes, but Gwara has never stopped reporting. They document war crimes, fact-check Russian propaganda, and provide in-depth investigative journalism. But without urgent support, their work could grind to a halt. The support from our goal would cover 50% of their budget gap due to the U.S. aid freeze.

• MykVisti (Mykolaiv, Ukraine): In Mykolaiv, where Russian missiles target civilian infrastructure, MykVisti has kept the community informed, providing life-saving news and analysis. Now, with funding pulled overnight, their ability to continue is uncertain. The support from this fundraiser would cover two months of their work.

How you can help:

• Donate: Every contribution, big or small, helps keep independent journalism alive.

• Share: Spread the word. The more people who know about this, the stronger our collective impact.

• Stand with us: By supporting this fundraiser, you are standing for press freedom, truth, and Ukraine’s future.

We at the Kyiv Independent are donating $10,000 of our own money to this fundraiser because we know firsthand that free media is a crucial pillar for a free Ukraine. We are counting on Ukraine's supporters from around the world to join us

Thank you for standing with the free Ukrainian media.