Data and investigative journalist Polina Uzhvak works for iStories, an independent Russian media outlet focused on investigative and data journalism. After the large-scale invasion of Ukraine began, iStories reported the truth about the war and was labeled an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government, meaning its journalists could face criminal prosecution for their work. Today, iStories operates from exile.
Drawing from data and investigative reports from the past year, Polina demonstrates the sources and methods used to uncover the truth during wartime. iStories has worked on revealing stories about kidnapped and mistreated Ukrainian civilians in Mariupol and other areas occupied by the Russian military. In collaboration with other Western media outlets and the platform Vertical52, they mapped the destruction of Mariupol, Bakhmut, and Severodonetsk using radar satellite data.
iStories also analyzes Russian open data, including court rulings, demographic statistics, and budget reports, to shed more light on the "special military operation." Since uncovering the truth is paramount for iStories, every article they publish counters the disinformation spread by Russian authorities.
