How a century-old news agency became the voice of a modern nation
In short: Founded in 1918, Ukrinform has evolved from a fledgling press bureau into Ukraine's primary state news agency. Today, it serves as a critical bridge between the government and the global stage, broadcasting in eight languages while navigating a complex history of reorganization and the ongoing realities of wartime journalism.
Established during the Ukrainian War of Independence in 1918 as the Bureau of Ukrainian Press, the agency has undergone numerous structural shifts over the last century. Its early iterations included the Ukrainian Telegraph Agency, led by its first director Dmytro Dontsov, and later, during the Soviet era, it functioned under the umbrella of the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union. The agency has seen several rebrandings, transitioning through names like RATAU in 1921 and DINAU in 1996, before settling into its current identity as the Ukrainian National Informational Agency.
Despite its state-owned status, the agency operates under a 1997 Cabinet of Ministers decree intended to ensure its activities remain independent of political influence. Its core mission involves documenting public policy and life in Ukraine for government bodies, foreign embassies, and international media outlets. In 2015, the agency integrated into the Multimedia Broadcasting Platform of Ukraine, further expanding its reach. By 2022, the Institute of Mass Information formally recognized the outlet as a reliable and trustworthy source of news.
The agency maintains a robust international presence as a member of the European Alliance of News Agencies and the Black Sea Association of National News Agencies. It facilitates global information exchange through partnerships, such as a 2018 agreement with the Athens–Macedonian News Agency. Today, Ukrinform delivers reports in eight languages, including Japanese, Spanish, and German. This commitment to information dissemination continues even under extreme duress; in February 2025, the agency suffered a profound loss when Tetiana Kulyk, a multimedia editor and project host, was killed during a drone attack.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ukrinform
- Also: Wikidata — Ukrinform · CC0
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