Illia Ponomarenko | |
|---|---|
| Ілля Пономаренко | |
| Born | (1992-02-25)25 February 1992 (age 33)[1] Volnovakha,Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Website | https://kyivindependent.com/author/illia-ponomarenko |
Illia Ponomarenko (Ukrainian:Ілля Пономаренко; born 25 February 1992) is a Ukrainian journalist, war reporter and defense analyst who worked forThe Kyiv Independent from 2021 to 2023, covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In January 2023, given his prominent role in reporting from the conflict, he was described byDer Spiegel as "likely the best-known Ukrainian after PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy".[2]
Ponomarenko was born in 1992.[3]
Shortly after theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Ponomarenko saw his Twitter following soar to over one million, as many sought on-the-ground information in the early days of the invasion;Der Spiegel wrote that "for people worldwide, he became the most important chronicler of the war during this period."[2] Since then, he has been regularly cited in international media, as well as writing translated opinion pieces, such as forNorwegianAftenposten.[4]
Ponomarenko grew up inVolnovakha, and studied atMariupol State University.[2] He has stated he was studying international relations inMariupolwhen the city was occupied in 2014 by Russian-backed forces. He began reporting on the clashes forBBC Radio in this period.[5] He previously wrote forKyiv Post, but following the abrupt reformatting and temporary closure of Kyiv Post in November 2021, Ponomarenko was among the team of journalists who foundedThe Kyiv Independent.[6]
| International | |
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| National | |
