Eastern Variant is the largest independent regional media outlet covering the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Operating since 2008 and relaunched online in 2019, the newsroom focuses on solutions journalism, investigative reporting, fact-checking, and civic engagement. Amid the ongoing war, the outlet serves displaced communities and residents in occupied territories through mirror sites and a direct information hotline.
Since 2023, Eastern Variant has been developing a donor community. The merchandise initiative launched in 2025 builds on this foundation, offering a practical and values-driven way for audiences to support independent journalism. The project responds to shrinking donor funding by testing alternative income streams rooted in trust and shared mission.
