Ukrainian Radio
Ukraine's publicly funded national radio broadcaster, offering news, current affairs, cultural, musical, educational, youth and international programming.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Ukrainian Radio is Ukraine's publicly funded national radio broadcaster and one of the country's oldest continuously operating broadcasting institutions. Its history begins on 16 November 1924, when radio broadcasting in Ukraine began in Kharkiv, then the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. A nationwide radio network followed in 1928. The anniversary of the first broadcast is commemorated in Ukraine as the Day of Radio, Television and Communications Workers. The service developed under the political and institutional conditions of the Soviet period. Early programming was heavily oriented toward political education, official reports and public meetings, but the schedule gradually expanded to include music, literature, drama, children's programming and youth content. During the Second World War, Ukrainian Radio continued broadcasting despite repeated relocations. It first moved from Kharkiv and subsequently operated from Stalingrad and Saratov, maintaining regular Ukrainian-language broadcasts during the conflict. The broadcaster's principal Kyiv base is the Ukrainian Radio House at 26 Khreschatyk Street. The building was constructed between 1949 and 1951 as part of the first national television and radio center. Although Ukrainian television later moved elsewhere, the site remained the headquarters of Ukrainian Radio. The organization also uses the Recording House of Radio Ukraine, a major concert and studio complex with facilities capable of recording large orchestral and choral groups. These venues support both broadcasting and the preservation and presentation of Ukrainian musical culture. Institutionally, the broadcaster passed through several changes after Ukraine became independent. In the early 1990s, the Soviet-era State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting of the Ukrainian SSR was transformed into the State Broadcasting Company of Ukraine. In 1995, the National Radio Company of Ukraine was separated from that organization and operated as a state-owned company until 2016. In 2017, the National Radio Company of Ukraine merged with the national television company as part of the creation of Ukraine's public broadcaster, Suspilne. Ukrainian Radio is now organized as a directorate within Suspilne and integrates five broadcasting channels, the Ukrainian Radio House, the Recording House and five radio ensembles. The core Ukrainian Radio service is a national news and current-affairs channel. It broadcasts news, interviews, discussions, analysis and live coverage, including sessions of the Verkhovna Rada, while also carrying literary, musical, educational, children's and youth programs. The service is available through AM and FM transmitters, satellite, cable television networks, the internet and DAB+ in Kyiv. Older FM-OIRT and cable-radio distribution systems remain part of its historical infrastructure but are being phased out in favor of modern FM, digital and online delivery. The network has been described as Ukraine's largest FM radio network, reaching 192 settlements across 24 regions. Ukrainian Radio's wider public-service portfolio includes Radio Promin, a music-and-talk service with a youth orientation; Radio Culture, a cultural and educational channel; and Radio Ukraine International, which serves audiences beyond Ukraine in Ukrainian and several other languages. During the Russo-Ukrainian War, the international service has provided digests of significant developments. Ukrainian Radio also maintains the suspilne.radio mobile application for Android and iOS. Its radio ensembles, including the Ukrainian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ukrainian Radio Choir Chapel, Ukrainian Radio Orchestra of Folk and Popular Music, Big Children's Choir of Ukrainian Radio and Ukrainian Radio Trio of Bandurists, extend the institution's role from broadcasting into musical production, archival recording and cultural representation.
History
Radio broadcasting in Ukraine began in Kharkiv on 16 November 1924, when the city was the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. A nationwide network was established in 1928, creating the foundation for Ukrainian Radio. The date of the first broadcast later became the basis for Ukraine's annual professional observance honoring radio, television and communications workers. The earliest broadcasts were constrained by the political system of the Soviet Union. More than 70 percent of early content was devoted to political education and official communication, including radio newspapers, reports, news, conferences and meetings. Over time, the schedule became more varied. Music, literature, drama, children's programs and youth-oriented broadcasts were added, helping radio develop beyond its initial role as a political information channel. The Second World War brought severe disruption but did not end Ukrainian-language broadcasting. Ukrainian Radio relocated first to Kharkiv and later to Stalingrad and Saratov, from where it continued regular programs. This wartime continuity became an important part of the broadcaster's institutional history and public role. The present headquarters on Khreschatyk Street in Kyiv was built from 1949 to 1951 as part of a national television and radio center. The first television broadcast from the complex took place on 6 November 1951. Television later moved to another Kyiv facility, leaving the Khreschatyk complex as the main home of radio operations. The site is known as Ukrainian Radio House and supports several channels. During the Soviet period, the State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting of the Ukrainian SSR administered broadcasting on the Ukrainian Radio channels. Following Ukraine's independence, the committee was transformed in the early 1990s into the State Broadcasting Company of Ukraine. In 1995, the National Radio Company of Ukraine was separated from that institution. It remained a state-owned company through 2016. A major institutional transformation occurred in 2017, when the National Radio Company of Ukraine and the national television company were merged to form Ukraine's national public broadcaster, Suspilne. Ukrainian Radio became a directorate within the new organization. The directorate integrates five channels, the Ukrainian Radio House, the Recording House of Radio Ukraine and five radio ensembles. Dmytro Khorkin has headed the directorate and served as general producer of its channels since the reorganization. The modern Ukrainian Radio network combines public-service journalism with cultural and educational programming. Its principal service is a national news and talk broadcaster carrying news, interviews, analysis, literary programs, music, children's and youth content, as well as live sessions of the Verkhovna Rada. The network reaches listeners through AM and FM, satellite, cable networks, online distribution and DAB+ in Kyiv. Its FM network has been described as reaching 192 settlements in 24 regions. Legacy FM-OIRT and cable-radio systems are gradually being replaced by FM, digital and internet distribution. Ukrainian Radio's institutional scope also includes Radio Promin, a music-and-talk channel aimed particularly at younger audiences; Radio Culture, a cultural and educational service; and Radio Ukraine International, which broadcasts internationally in Ukrainian and several other languages. The organization maintains a mobile application under the suspilne.radio name. Its Recording House provides large-scale studio and concert facilities, including a large concert studio suitable for orchestral and choral recording. The associated ensembles—including the Ukrainian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ukrainian Radio Choir Chapel, Ukrainian Radio Orchestra of Folk and Popular Music, Big Children's Choir of Ukrainian Radio and Ukrainian Radio Trio of Bandurists—support broadcasting, recording and the promotion of Ukrainian cultural life.
- 2017
Integration into Suspilne
[1]The National Radio Company of Ukraine merged with the national television company and became part of Ukraine's public broadcaster, Suspilne.
- 2003
Radio Culture begins broadcasting
[1]Radio Culture launched as a cultural and educational public radio channel.
- 1995
National Radio Company separated from the state broadcaster
[1]The National Radio Company of Ukraine became a separate state-owned company after being isolated from the State Broadcasting Company of Ukraine.
- 1965
Radio Promin begins broadcasting
[1]Radio Promin, later the second public Ukrainian Radio channel, began service with a music-and-talk orientation.
- 1951
Khreschatyk broadcasting center completed
[1]The complex was completed, and its studio produced the first television broadcast on 6 November. It subsequently remained the headquarters of Ukrainian Radio.
- 1949
Construction of Ukrainian Radio House begins
[1]Construction began on the Kyiv radio and television center at 26 Khreschatyk Street.
- 1941
Wartime broadcasting relocations
[1]During the Second World War, Ukrainian Radio continued broadcasting while relocating through Kharkiv, Stalingrad and Saratov.
- 1928
Nationwide radio network initiated
[1]A national radio network was launched, extending broadcasting beyond the original Kharkiv operation.
- 1924
First Ukrainian radio broadcast
[1]Radio broadcasting in Ukraine began in Kharkiv on 16 November, establishing the historical origin of Ukrainian Radio.
Products and positioning
A national public-service broadcaster centered on Ukrainian-language news, current affairs, culture, education and civic information, with nationwide terrestrial distribution and additional international and digital services.
National news and talk radio · 1924
Ukrainian Radio
The flagship national public-service radio service. It combines news, current affairs, interviews, discussion, analysis and live parliamentary coverage with literary, musical, educational, children's and youth programming. Distribution includes AM, FM, satellite, cable networks, internet streaming and DAB+ in Kyiv.
Music and youth radio · 1965
Radio Promin
The second public Ukrainian Radio channel, operating since 1965. Its programming combines music and talk content and addresses youth interests, including education, careers, social issues and contemporary Ukrainian music.
Cultural and educational radio · 2003
Radio Culture
A cultural and educational service intended to create a space for high-culture, spiritual, literary and artistic programming within Ukraine's public radio system.
International radio service
Radio Ukraine International
The international service of Ukrainian Radio. It broadcasts in Ukrainian and a range of other languages, including Belarusian, Bulgarian, Gagauz, Romanian and Slovak, and provides international audiences with information about Ukraine, including developments related to the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Mobile and digital audio service
Suspilne.radio
The broadcaster's mobile application for Android and iOS, providing digital access to Ukrainian Radio and associated public radio services.
Recording and concert facility
Recording House of Radio Ukraine
A Kyiv recording and concert complex used by Ukrainian Radio ensembles and productions. Its large concert studio can accommodate large orchestral and choral groups and serves as both a recording facility and a rehearsal and performance venue.
Brand decisions
2017
Merger into Ukraine's public broadcasterM&ABackground
The National Radio Company of Ukraine and the national television company were consolidated as part of the establishment of Ukraine's national public broadcaster.
Action taken
Ukrainian Radio was reorganized as a directorate and structural subdivision of Suspilne, integrating multiple channels, studio complexes and radio ensembles.
Aftermath
The broadcaster continued as a public-service radio operation under Suspilne, with Dmytro Khorkin leading the Ukrainian Radio Directorate and serving as general producer of its channels.
- Shift from legacy radio distribution to digital deliveryStrategy
Background
Ukrainian Radio historically used AM, FM-OIRT and cable radio in addition to newer platforms.
Action taken
The organization has been moving toward FM, internet distribution and digital broadcasting, including DAB+ in Kyiv and a mobile application.
Aftermath
Legacy FM-OIRT and cable-radio use is being phased out while online and digital access expands.
Sources1 sources
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