Interfax-Ukraine
The 24th of November 1992 marked the birth of Interfax-Ukraine in Kharkiv. A small team of ten people established the agency just one year after Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union. This group began their work with a specific goal to serve the new nation's political and economic news market. They operated out of Kharkiv for only one year before making a significant move. In 1993, the entire organization relocated its headquarters to Kyiv. This shift placed them at the heart of Ukrainian politics and journalism.
Oleksandr Martynenko served as director from the founding day in 1992 until 1998. He returned to lead the agency again in 2003 and held that position until his death in 2024. Yegor Boltrik took over the role immediately following Martynenko's passing. The agency maintains a physical presence through a press centre capable of seating fifty people. Employee numbers stood at 105 staff members by the end of February 2022. These figures reflect the operational scale of the organization during that period.
The agency publishes content across four distinct languages including Ukrainian, Russian, English, and German. Their output includes more than forty separate news products available to subscribers. This multilingual strategy allows them to reach diverse audiences within Ukraine and abroad. Each language stream operates with specific editorial focus tailored to regional needs. The sheer volume of products demonstrates their commitment to comprehensive coverage of political and economic events.
Major global wire services rely on Interfax-Ukraine for information regarding Ukraine. Reuters utilizes dispatches from this agency when covering stories about the country. Bloomberg also incorporates these reports into their own international news coverage. These partnerships extend the reach of local reporting to a worldwide audience. Such collaborations validate the accuracy and timeliness of the agency's daily updates.
Some sources up to 2013 linked the agency to the non-state Russian group known as Interfax Information Services. Critics noted that this Russian entity operates through an offshore company registered in Cyprus. Despite these claims, founders and employees have repeatedly denied any organizational ties. They explain that shared names are the only commonality between the two groups. The agencies share a foreign sales system but maintain complete editorial independence from one another.
Common questions
When and where was Interfax-Ukraine founded?
Interfax-Ukraine was established on the 24th of November 1992 in Kharkiv. A team of ten people created the agency one year after Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union.
Who directed Interfax-Ukraine from its founding until 198 and again from 2003 to 2024?
Oleksandr Martynenko served as director from the founding day in 1992 until 1998. He returned to lead the agency again in 2003 and held that position until his death in 2024.
How many languages does Interfax-Ukraine publish news content in?
The agency publishes content across four distinct languages including Ukrainian, Russian, English, and German. Their output includes more than forty separate news products available to subscribers.
Which major global wire services use reports from Interfax-Ukraine?
Reuters utilizes dispatches from this agency when covering stories about the country. Bloomberg also incorporates these reports into their own international news coverage.
Is there an organizational connection between Interfax-Ukraine and the Russian group Interfax Information Services?
Founders and employees have repeatedly denied any organizational ties despite some sources up to 2013 linking the two groups. They explain that shared names are the only commonality between the two groups while maintaining complete editorial independence.