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Kido Koenig (l) and Vita Kovalenko (r) with her book “Truth Under Fire”
Vita Kovalenko came to the Netherlands in 2007, but it was not until 2014 that her social engagement with Ukraine really took shape. The spark struck during the Maidan protests in Kyiv, which she followed via livestreams from her workplace in the Netherlands. “It started itching,” she says. That involvement grew into action: through Facebook, she sought contact with other Ukrainians in the Netherlands and organised meetings. At the time, the Ukrainian diaspora in the Netherlands numbered about 10,000 people. So Kovalenko became co-founder of Brand New Ukraine, an organisation dedicated to the Ukrainian cause.
One of the first major actions was to support the victims of flight MH17 in 2014. The disaster deeply affected the Ukrainian community, and the diaspora mobilised to support the bereaved families. But involvement in Ukraine also brought Kovalenko into contact with the harsh reality of disinformation and negative perceptions. During the Ukraine referendum in 2016, she experienced how difficult it was to get the truth out. “There were so many lies circulating,” she recalls. “The perception of Ukraine was often negative and incorrect.”
A book as a weapon in the battle for truth
The experience of disinformation and the difficulty of getting the Ukrainian side of the story heard prompted Kovalenko's new book, Truth under Fire. The idea originated in 2023, when she noticed that she was always given only a few minutes on TV to talk about Ukraine. “That was not enough,” she says. “Someone then said to me: ‘Shouldn't you write a book?’” In late 2023, she set to work.
At Truth under Fire Kovalenko examines how truth is hidden, both in Ukraine and the Netherlands. She points to the growing manipulation of information, including in Dutch media. A striking example is the aftermath of the MH17 disaster: a special platform investigated Russian disinformation and found as many as 481 different versions spread by Dutch, media and social platforms.
Another example is the Azov Battalion, about which many incorrect stories circulated in the Netherlands This too became a campaign of disinformation, resulting in negative perceptions of Ukraine. “When you see something like that, how do you filter it? Are you going to believe it, or are you going to dwell on the source?” asks Kovalenko rhetorically.
It is increasingly important for citizens and journalists to take a critical look at where information comes from. Kovalenko stresses that not every story and opinion deserves a podium - and here also lies a great responsibility for the media: “Who do you give the floor to? Russians can tell their stories here in the Netherlands, but people in the occupied territories in Ukraine are not allowed to say anything. That is completely unfair if you want to highlight the truth from different sides.”
From international activism to local politics
In 2026, Kovalenko made a striking move: she was elected as a city councillor in Dordrecht. For many, this was surprising, as her passion had always been with international issues. But Kovalenko sees it differently: “You first have to prove that you can solve something and are good at politics.” In Dordrecht, she saw many problems that deserved a solution at the local level. “Really in the neighbourhood itself, where politics should be involved.”
Her campaign for city council was anything but easy. There was almost no budget, just enough to print flyers. Yet she managed to win a seat on the council with a positive campaign and a new team. “It is actually a miracle that we are in the council,” she laughs. Security was a key issue in her campaign. Although international issues still play a role in her work, she now also has migration and integration in her portfolio - topics she has experience of herself.
A bridge between local and international
Kovalenko's story is one of community spirit and perseverance. From following the Maidan protests from behind her desk to writing a book on disinformation to her entry into local politics, she remains committed to truth and justice. “We need to devote much more time and attention to the issues that matter,” she stresses. With Truth under Fire and her work on the city council, she hopes to inspire others to take action too - whether locally or internationally.
