Kyiv, Ukraine
Illia is a defense reporter at the Kyiv Post. He’s been covering the proxy war with Russia since it arrived in his hometown near the Eastern front five years ago when he was still a student.
“I did not select journalism; journalism selected me,” Illia said.
He began working three years ago for the Kyiv Post, an English language daily newspaper renowned for its high quality and independence. (Here’s a link to his author page).
Along with the war and security issues, Illia has covered the United Nations missions in Congo. He is the sixth consecutive fellow from the Kyiv Post, and his fellowship was sponsored by funds from Bill and Christy Gautreaux and a crowdfunding campaign by his editor, Brian Bonner.
Illia was invited to work for five months at USA Today in Washington, on the defense beat under the tutelage of the primary Pentagon reporter, before the Covid-19 pandemic caused the program’s suspension.
