Wednesday, September 3, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Former President Petro Poroshenko (2nd L) hugs a man near the coffin of Andriy Parubii, former Ukrainian parliamentary speaker, during his funeral at St. George’s Cathedral in Lviv on Sept. 2, 2025. A leading figure in the country’s pro-European protest movements of 2004 and 2014, Parubii was shot dead on Aug. 30, 2025 in Lviv. (Oleksandr Magula/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukraine liberates another village near Pokrovsk, military says. Ukrainian forces cleared out Russian troops from the Donetsk Oblast village of Udachne and raised the Ukrainian flag in the settlement, the military said.
As Moscow escalates strikes and rejects talks with Kyiv, Trump says he’s ‘very disappointed‘ in Putin. “I’m very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we’ll be doing something to help people live,” Trump said in an interview on the Scott Jennings Radio Show.
Kremlin denies Trump, Putin ever agreed on face-to-face Zelensky meeting. “Right now, there is talk of a trilateral meeting, of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. But specifically, as far as I know, there was no agreement between Putin and Trump on this,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said.
Putin, Zelensky not ready for face-to-face meeting, Erdogan says. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks on Sept. 1 after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China.
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Suspect admits to killing Ukraine’s ex-parliament speaker. The suspect in the murder of Andrii Parubii said he wants to be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia to go look for his son’s body.
Slovakia increasing Russian gas imports, aims to ‘standardize relations’ with Moscow, Fico tells Putin. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 2 that he will seek to normalize relations with Moscow, as Bratislava moves to gradually increase Russian gas imports through the TurkStream pipeline.
Russia open to ‘cooperation‘ with Ukraine, US at occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Putin claims. The comments, made during Putin’s meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, represent an apparent shift from Moscow’s previous refusal of any changes regarding the Ukrainian plant’s oversight.
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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces clear another village near Pokrovsk, military says
Ukrainian forces cleared Russian troops from the Donetsk Oblast village of Udachne and raised the Ukrainian flag in the settlement, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Sept. 2.
Photo: The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces
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Years of torture, abuse in Russian captivity take shocking toll on Ukrainian POWs
Editor’s Note: This article contains graphic descriptions.
In almost two years of Russian captivity, former Ukrainian marine Vladyslav Zadorin lost 60 kilograms — half his body weight — along with his gallbladder and nearly his toes. He returned home with lasting disabilities and deep trauma.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images
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In occupied Ukraine, the first day of Russian school begins with preparations for war
Across occupied Ukraine on Sept. 1, children spent the first day of the new school year being brainwashed into idolizing Russia and waging war.
Photo: Telegram
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Yanukovych’s stunt in Russian media shows Kremlin doesn’t understand Ukraine, experts say
Ukraine’s former pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych seemingly resurfaced publicly for the first time in years on Sept. 1, claiming that he had always backed Ukraine’s path toward the European Union.
Photo: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images
From Crimea to Donbas, Russia’s “peace” has always meant more war. We’re here in Ukraine to give the world a reality check. Support independent journalism in this critical moment.
Human cost of Russia’s war
Ukrainian soldier whose throat was cut by Russian forces found safe after disappearing from hospital. Vladyslav Nahornyi’s wife reported his disappearance after he left the hospital without warning.
About 2,000 North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia, Seoul says. According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Pyongyang plans to send an additional 6,000 troops to Russia as part of its third wave of deployment.
Russian drones force Kyiv children to hide in metro as school year begins. The air alert, triggered by Russian drones, began at 9:20 a.m. local time and lasted over three hours, catching many children on their way to school before classes could start.
International response
Macron to meet Zelensky ahead of talks with European leaders in Paris, media reports. Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet Emmanuel Macron ahead of a high-level summit of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” scheduled for Sept. 4.
Poland launches its largest military drills as Russia, Belarus set to hold exercises. The exercises, spanning land, sea, air, and cyberspace, involve about 30,000 Polish and allied troops and 600 pieces of equipment, taking place amid mounting security risks for Warsaw.
Russia, China sign ‘most ambitious’ Power of Siberia-2 pipeline deal. The deal, long delayed by Beijing’s hard bargaining over prices and volumes, cements Moscow’s pivot to Asia as it loses access to European energy markets.
NATO launches new command in Finland near Russian border. The alliance’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command (MCLCC) in the city of Mikkeli strengthens NATO’s footprint in its new northern member state.
Opinions and insights
Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust renews funding for Kyiv Independent’s front-line reporting
The Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust has made a generous grant for the second year in a row to support the Kyiv Independent’s front-line reporting.
Photo: Olena Zashko
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No more excuses: It’s time to strike Russia’s war chest
Europe does have the power to cut off the oil and gas revenues fueling Russia’s war.
Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In other news
Large pollution slick approaches Crimea, Russian coast impacted, monitoring group says. The spill originated on Aug. 29 at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium Marine Terminal near Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai.
Top Ukrainian Security Service official suspected of corruption. Illia Vitiuk was dismissed from his post on May 1, 2024, following an investigation by Slidstvo.Info that revealed his family had purchased real estate with a market value of at least $617,000.
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