What is the Kyiv Independent Community?The Kyiv Independent is a Ukrainian independent media outlet with no single owner or external source of financing. The majority of our funding comes from our community members — readers who make recurring monthly or annual contributions.Our community has more than 30,000 members from over 100 countries — people who believe that independent journalism matters. Their support helps us keep reporting independently and fearlessly from Ukraine, pushing back against disinformation, and standing up for democratic values. And, because of them, our journalism remains free and accessible to everyone, without a paywall.We truly appreciate our members’ support and see them as active participants in the Kyiv Independent’s work — they engage with our journalists, share opinions, and help Ukraine. That’s why staying connected with them matters so much to us. So much so, that we have created dedicated spaces for this: a member-only website comment section, our Discord server, and Patreon.To maintain respectful and secure communication for all, we ask everyone to follow our Community Guidelines. These guidelines apply to comments on the Kyiv Independent website, communication on the Discord server, communication with our team via email, and all other interactions with our team and within the community. We’ve also developed specific Commenting Guidelines and Discord Community Guidelines.All communication on the Kyiv Independent Patreon is subject to the Patreon Community Guidelines.Community GuidelinesTreat everyone with respectEngage with community members and the Kyiv Independent team with respect. Personal attacks, intimidation, harassment, and/or abusive behavior are not acceptable and may result in account suspension or termination.Respect privacyRespect privacy, both your own and others’. Do not share personal or sensitive information in our community spaces and keep anything you learn about other members within the community.We are committed to protecting any personal information you share with us in line with our Privacy Policy.Keep content appropriateDo not post content that is discriminatory, explicit, graphic, violent, or otherwise inappropriate in the community space. This includes material that promotes hatred, glorifies violence, or is intended to create a hostile atmosphere within the community.Do not spread disinformationDo not share false, misleading, or unverified information. Accuracy is at the heart of our journalism and we hold our community to the same standard.Respect boundariesBe mindful of personal boundaries when reaching out to our team or other members. We appreciate hearing from our community and enjoy staying in touch, but we may not always be able to respond quickly or engage in ongoing conversations. If communication becomes excessive or crosses personal boundaries, it may lead to restrictions on further contact.We aim to respond to our member inquiries within one working day. If your matter is urgent, please mark it as such and we'll prioritize your request.Moderation and restrictionHow we respond to violationsDepending on the platform, content may be moderated before or after it appears publicly. Some community spaces may also have their own moderation processes — see the dedicated pages for details: Commenting GuidelinesDiscord Community GuidelinesWe aim to act on violations within three working days. If you notice something that needs immediate attention, contact us directly at community@kyivindependent.com.How to report a violationIf you spot content or behavior that goes against these guidelines, whether on our website, Discord, or email communication, please report it at community@kyivindependent.com.Appealing a decisionIf you believe your content or account was restricted by mistake, you can reach out to us at community@kyivindependent.com. Our community team will review your appeal within one working day and either provide more details about the suspension or inform you if it has been lifted.Membership revocationWe reserve the right to cancel a membership at any time if a member's actions put our community, our journalists, or the work and integrity of The Kyiv Independent at risk. Our decision is final and may be made without prior notice. Any member whose account is cancelled will receive a refund of their financial contribution.Policy updatesIf there are any changes to our Community Policy, we’ll update you via email or on the relevant platform (e.g. Discord).Get in touchIf you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us at community@kyivindependent.com.