Vadym Karpyak

Vadym Dmytrovych KarpyakEfn|An alternative spelling of his last name is "Karpiak." Formerly the host of The Freedom of Speech on ICTV, Karpyak now presents a distinctive interview programme on Suspilne, where he has assembled an impressive roster of guests. His show has featured ministers, senior law enforcement officials, leaders of the Verkhovna Rada and the Servant of the People party, and even Andriy Yermak himself.

Early life and education Vadym Dmytrovych Karpyak was born on 27 January 1977, in the city of Kolomyia and is the elder of two children. He first attended , but after Ukraine gained independence, the local gymnasium was renovated, and he completed his studies there in 1994. That same year, he enrolled in the Faculty of Humanities at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. In 1998, he earned a bachelor's degree in cultural theory, and in 2001, he completed a master's degree in political science at the same university.

Career Karpyak began working in the media while still a university student. In 1997, he started doing live broadcasts on Radio Stolitsa's music channel. Two years later, in 1999, he became the executive editor of Snidanok z 1+1, a position he held until 2001. During this time, he was also developing his own business, FDR Media, which has been distributing Ukrainian music to television and radio stations since 1999. Alongside his work as a chief editor for television, he took part in various cultural and media initiatives across both central and regional outlets, serving as a host, editor, or co-organiser while acting as program director.

Since 2020, Karpyak he has served as a jury member for the BBC Book of the Year Award, as well as a member of the supervisory board of the Come Back Alive charity organisation In 2021, he joined PEN Ukraine. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has also been hosting ICTV's United News telethon.

Karpiak experienced the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, firsthand. Living near Hostomel Airport, he heard explosions early in the morning. Together with his wife, he quickly gathered their belongings and woke their children. While his wife and children evacuated, Karpiak returned to work, where he began residing, inside the television station, due to the war. and joined the committee for the Shevchenko National Prize. Despite some improvements in 2024, many of Karpyak's interviews still resembled government briefings rather than dynamic conversations. Minister of Health Viktor Liashko spoke about reforms, former Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin listed cases, and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk addressed issues in a detached manner. When asked about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's failure to sign certain bills, Stefanchuk merely replied, "Well, let's think about it," after which Karpyak quickly moved on.

Russian disinformation in Western media Karpyak attacked Western media, especially when Ukraine banned Russian media, for being utilised by Russia to disseminate propaganda. He pointed out that Russia now spreads misleading stories, including claims of mishandled military aid and the Nord Stream pipelines sabotage, through publications like the Financial Times and The New York Times.

Karpyak underlined that although Western media is reliable, it can be swayed by funding or ideological alignment, noting that reporters with connections to Russia may provide biased reporting. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he feels is frequently swayed by Russian interests, has also called for an editorial inquiry into disinformation in magazines such as the Financial Times.

Personal life Karpyak is married to Tetiana Pushnova, who also works in the media. Together, they have a daughter and two sons. He lives in Bucha, near Kyiv.

Honours