Rada Channel Ends Partnership with Kinokot Production
As of January 1, 2026, Ukraine's parliamentary 'Rada' channel has ceased its participation in the national United News Telethon and terminated its cooperation with the private production company 'Kinokot'. This telethon was a significant wartime media initiative. It has been reported that during the full-scale invasion, the Rada channel transferred 431.81 million hryvnias to Kinokot. However, by early February 2026, the private production company lost its state funding, leading to the end of its collaboration with the channel.
The partnership between the Rada channel and Kinokot began in mid-December 2021. Over this period, Kinokot's revenues saw substantial growth:
- In 2021, net income was 26.1 million hryvnias;
- In 2022, it rose to 150.73 million hryvnias;
- And in 2023, it reached 172.3 million hryvnias.
Despite this, the Rada channel did not hold an artistic tender in 2026, and it received none of the 740 million hryvnias allocated in the state budget for the telethon.
Major Energy Sector Scandal
It is important to note that a major scandal erupted in the energy sector in November of last year, involving businessman Timur Mindich, a co-owner of the 'Kvartal 95' studio, who is currently wanted by Ukraine. In the context of this scandal, lawmaker Yaroslav Yurchyshyn plans to appeal to the Bureau of Economic Security and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, demanding an investigation into the activities of the Rada channel and Kinokot regarding the efficient and targeted use of budget funds allocated for the telethon.
Public trust in the telethon has been declining. In 2023, 48% of Ukrainians trusted the telethon, but this figure fell to 36% in 2024 and was 37% in 2025. The telethon's participants included: 1+1, 'TRK Ukraina' (which was replaced by the newly created channel 'We Are Ukraine'), ICTV/STB, 'Rada', 'Inter', and 'Suspilne'. The 'Suspilne' public broadcaster exited the telethon in May 2024.
Thus, the changes in the Rada channel's operations and its partnership with Kinokot have raised serious questions about financial expenditures and the effectiveness of using state funds. Against the backdrop of declining public trust in the telethon, these events could have significant consequences for future media policy in the country and for the general perception of state initiatives in information security and support. It remains an open question what steps the responsible authorities will take to increase transparency in the spending of budget funds within the media sphere.