Prominent Ukrainian Journalist Stabbed in Kyiv, Police Investigate Kremlin Link

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the stabbing of Ukrainian journalist and Suspilne media producer Yuriy Makarov may have been linked to his coverage of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

At the same time, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said investigators are also considering a domestic dispute as a possible motive.

“Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs, just reported to me about the attack on Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Makarov. He was stabbed. Thank God, Mr. Makarov is alive,” Zelensky told reporters on April 17.

“Investigative teams and experts are now working. One version is that the attack was related to his professional activities – specifically, his coverage of Russia’s war against Ukraine – but I believe the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the police will provide a more detailed explanation,” the President added.

The attack occurred on the evening of April 16, when an unknown assailant stabbed Makarov twice in the arm and abdomen at around 10:44 p.m. He is currently hospitalized. After the attack, Makarov called the police himself and received first aid from a patrol officer.

According to Klymenko, law enforcement is considering a range of possible motives, including a domestic disagreement or the involvement of Russia’s intelligence services. He said that he had taken personal control over the investigation and efforts to solve the case.

Other Topics of Interest

Russian Drone and Bomb Attacks Kill Two Civilians in Sumy Region

Russian aerial attacks killed two civilian residents in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region on Saturday, June 6, 2026. In the Khutir-Mychailivska community of the Shostka district, law enforcement officers recovered the body of a 77-year-old woman from the ruins of her home, which had been destroyed by a strike drone the previous evening. Separately, a morning bombardment combining drones and guided aerial bombs targeted the Vorozhba community, killing a male civilian on the grounds of his private property.

Yuriy Makarov, 69, is a prominent Ukrainian journalist, TV host, and documentary filmmaker. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he worked for 1+1, First National, and TVi channels. He is known for special projects such as Document, Cultural Front, and Civilization.

Since 2015, he co-hosted the talk show War and Peace on UA: Pershyi with journalist Yevhen Stepanenko. In 2017, he joined the board of Ukraine’s public broadcaster (NSTU) and later became its executive producer.