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Friday, January 30, 2026
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Firefighters extinguish a fire after a Russian strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih on Jan. 29, 2026. The attack killed one person and injured three others. (Ukraine’s State Emergency Service / Telegram)
Trump claims Putin agreed not to strike Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities ‘for a week.’ “I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week,” Trump said. “And he agreed to do that.”
Ukraine repatriates bodies of 1,000 fallen soldiers. Russia confirmed that it had handed over 1,000 bodies to Ukraine under the Istanbul agreement in exchange for 38 bodies of fallen Russian soldiers, Kremlin-controlled news agency TASS reported on Jan. 29.
‘Without power, without heat’ — EU allocates over $170 million for Ukraine amid Russian attacks on energy. The funds will support protection assistance, shelter, food, cash aid, psychosocial services, and access to water and healthcare for Ukrainians affected by the attacks.
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Ukraine’s central bank cuts interest rate in first change in 10 months. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) voted on Jan. 29 to cut its benchmark interest rate to 15%, the first change since March last year, as inflation cools and a new aid package from Europe eased pressure on the country’s finances.
Defense Ministry working with SpaceX to solve Russian use of Starlink on drones. Ukraine says it is working with SpaceX to stop Russian drones from using Starlink, after reports that satellite-connected UAVs are extending their range to strike deeper into Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine distributes boilers from Italy to support heating for up to 90,000 homes. Ukraine has distributed industrial boiler equipment delivered by Italy among communities in 10 regions as part of a broader support program aimed at strengthening the country’s heating infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said on Jan. 29.
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Russia’s war against Ukraine didn’t end with the new year, and neither did the need for reliable reporting. As a reader-funded newsroom, we rely on members to sustain our journalism. Your support helps keep the world informed about what’s really happening in Ukraine. Become a member today.
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‘They don’t consider their work heroic’ — 4 energy workers die amid Kyiv repairs following Russian attacks
As Kyiv’s repair crews scramble to keep the lights and heat on after repeated Russian strikes, the work has become punishing — and, in recent weeks, deadly.
Photo: Oleksandr Magula / AFP via Getty Images
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Ukraine war latest: ‘The enemy is likely preparing an offensive’ — Ukrainian forces report more aerial strikes in Pokrovsk sector
Russian troops have stepped up aerial bomb attacks in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast, which could signal preparations for an offensive, Yuliia Stepaniuk, head of communications for the 117th Separate Mechanized Brigade, told Suspilne on Jan. 29.
Photo: Marharyta Fal/Frontliner/Getty Images
International response
Germany’s Merz says Ukraine joining EU in 2027 ‘not possible.’ The comments come after President Volodymyr Zelensky set 2027 as the target date for Ukraine’s entry into the bloc.
Estonia warns Russian veterans could flood Europe after Ukraine war, urges EU entry ban. “We have close to 1 million combatants in Russia. They’re mainly criminals; they are very dangerous people,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. “We have information that most of them will come to Europe after the war.”
EU plans to impose 20th sanctions package against Russia on Feb. 24, Kallas says. The European Union aims to impose a 20th sanctions package against Russia on Feb. 24, the day marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters on Jan. 29.
China denies helping Russia produce Oreshnik missiles. The news comes after the Telegraph reported that China has sent Russia tools used to build Oreshnik warheads.
‘Repression cannot go unanswered’ — EU sanctions Iran over protest crackdown, Russia support. European foreign ministers also agreed to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat.
Lukoil agrees to sell most of its foreign assets to US investment group. The Carlyle deal does not include Lukoil’s assets in Kazakhstan and is still subject to approval by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Russian energy giant said.
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Lukoil agrees to sell most of its foreign assets to US investment group
The Carlyle deal does not include Lukoil's assets in Kazakhstan and is still subject to approval by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Russian energy giant said.Martin Fornusek (The Kyiv Independent)
Thursday, January 29, 2026
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
A fire-stricken book lies on the ruins at the Holy Dormition Monastery after s Russian drone attack in Odesa, Ukraine, on Jan. 28, 2026. (Nina Liashonok/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Russia says it’s ready for Zelensky-Putin meeting — but only if Ukraine’s president travels to Moscow. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow is prepared to ensure President Volodymyr Zelensky’s security.
SBU releases greatest hits video of 2025 drone strikes on Russian aircraft. The accompanying video features first-person-view (FPV) drone footage showing $1 billion worth of Russian aircraft being targeted.
Casualties, damage to infrastructure reported as Russia launches missiles, drones at various regions of Ukraine. Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks on several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv and surrounding areas, overnight on Jan. 28, local authorities reported.
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Russian losses in Ukraine ‘more than any major power’ in any war since World War II, report says. The CSIS report, published Jan. 27, estimates that Russian forces have sustained nearly 1.2 million casualties — including troops killed, wounded or missing — since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in Feb. 2022. As many as 325,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, the report found.
Ukraine targets oil depot in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast, strikes several military facilities in occupied territories, General Staff says. Ukrainian forces struck the Khokholskaya oil depot, causing a fire at the facility that ignited stored petroleum products.
Pro-Ukrainian partisans sabotage substation in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, group claims. The Atesh partisan group sabotaged an electrical substation in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, disrupting power supply to the nearby “BUMMASH” military‑industrial plant, the group claimed in a Telegram post on Jan. 28.
No matter what comes next, Ukraine Daily is there for you every morning.
Russia’s war against Ukraine didn’t end with the new year, and neither did the need for reliable reporting. As a reader-funded newsroom, we rely on members to sustain our journalism. Your support helps keep the world informed about what’s really happening in Ukraine. Become a member today.
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Exclusive: Trump envoy negotiating Ukraine’s fate displays ‘shocking’ lack of knowledge about war, politics
A senior U.S. envoy involved in efforts to end Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has displayed a lack of basic understanding of Ukraine’s political system and the war itself, the Kyiv Independent has learned.
Photo: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images
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As temperatures outside plunge, a Ukrainian pet shelter struggles to keep animals warm amid Russian attacks
Just over 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Kyiv, the Gostomel animal shelter in Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast is trying to keep more than 700 cats and dogs alive and warm.
Photo: Anna Donets / The Kyiv Independent
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‘Impossible to ban grief’ — how Russia tries and fails to hide its casualties in Ukraine
Russia has tightened control over information about its battlefield losses in Ukraine, cutting off data and closing one public loophole after another. The effort has not stopped the evidence of the dead from surfacing.
Photo: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
Human costs of war
At least 15 killed, 37 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day. Russia launched one missile and 146 drones of various types at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 103 drones, but one missile and 36 drones struck 2 locations across the country.
Why Colombian volunteers are joining war in Ukraine
International response
Spain escorts shadow fleet vessel sanctioned for carrying Russian oil, Reuters reports. The Chariot Tide, formerly known as Marabella Sun, was flying a Mozambique flag when its engine broke down on Jan. 22 in international waters within Spain’s search-and-rescue zone.
Kyiv hoping to convince IMF to delay key condition for $8.1 billion loan. Kyiv is pushing to delay a new tax on self-employed entrepreneurs until after the war has ended, as well as raise the threshold at which entrepreneurs would start paying the levy, a person in the Ukrainian government familiar with the talks told the Kyiv Independent.
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Kyiv hoping to convince IMF to delay key condition for $8.1 billion loan
Kyiv is pushing to delay a new tax on self-employed entrepreneurs until after the war has ended, as well as raise the threshold at which entrepreneurs would start paying the levy, a person in the Ukrainian government familiar with the talks told the …Luca Léry Moffat (The Kyiv Independent)
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Yevheniia Yeremina, an 89-year-old pensioner, stands in her kitchen using a gas stove to warm her apartment, which has no electricity and heating, in Kyiv on Jan. 26, 2026, following Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images)
Russia continues attempts at breakthrough near Pokrovsk, brings up reserves, Syrskyi says. Despite the brutal conditions, Russia has still continued to push out north of the city of Pokrovsk, making occasional incremental gains according to open-source mapping projects.
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UK shipping company helped Russia raise $3.2 billion in LNG trade revenue in 2025, campaigners say. Seapeak’s share of Yamal LNG’s trade in 2025 amounted to 37.3%, more than any other company, according to Urgewald’s analysis based on Kpler data.
No matter what comes next, Ukraine Daily is there for you every morning.
Russia’s war against Ukraine didn’t end with the new year, and neither did the need for reliable reporting. As a reader-funded newsroom, we rely on members to sustain our journalism. Your support helps keep the world informed about what’s really happening in Ukraine. Become a member today.
You can cancel at any time
Opinions and insights
Ukraine war latest: Iranian missiles fail to take off on Ukrainian front
Iran gave hundreds of its missiles to Russia as a gift. So far, they’ve been plagued by failure. Ukrainian intelligence told the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 26 that of the over 350 Fath-360 missiles that Iran has given Russia, none have come down on Ukraine.
Photo: Iranian Leader Press Office / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
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Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution
U.S. officials leading the talks are convinced that Russian negotiators have taken a more pragmatic tone behind closed doors than Moscow’s public hardline rhetoric suggests, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Photo: Alexander Kazakov / Pool / AFP via Getty Images
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Russia tightens passport rules for children in occupied Ukraine, complicating escape, activists say
A new Russian law requires Ukrainian children in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to obtain Russian international passports to travel abroad; experts say the move complicates efforts to flee the occupation. A law that took effect Jan. 20 bars children under 14 from traveling abroad without a Russian international passport, Russian state media outlet TASS reported.
Photo: Zuzana Gogova/Getty Images
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Fact-check: Russia’s ‘most successful disinformation campaign’ targets free speech in Europe
Moscow’s propaganda machine has been hard at work depicting Europe as a “digital gulag,” hellbent on suppressing free speech online.
The latest campaign has targeted efforts by the U.K. and the EU to regulate X (formerly Twitter), even as the platform remains blocked in Russia, alongside Facebook, Instagram, and others.
Photo: Contributor / Getty Images
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Exclusive: Iran gave Russia over 350 Fath-360 missiles. Ukraine has yet to see one launched
Russia has not carried out a single confirmed launch of an Iranian-made ballistic missile against Ukraine during the full-scale war, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 26.
Photo: Fars Media Corporation/Wikipedia
International response
EU gives final approval to ban on Russian gas by 2027. A full ban on Russian LNG will take effect in early 2027, followed by pipeline gas imports in the autumn of that year.
Hungary, Slovakia to challenge EU Russian gas ban in court. Hungary and Slovakia plan to sue the European Union over its REPowerEU plan to phase out imports of Russian oil and gas, officials wrote on Jan. 26.
How Ukrainian soldiers cope with subzero temperatures | Ukraine This Week
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Monday, January 5, 2026
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
First responders work at the site of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv in the early hours of Jan. 5. (State Emergency Service / Telegram)
Russia targets capital and Kyiv Oblast, killing at least 2, damaging medical center. A privately owned medical center in Kyiv’s Obolonskyi district was damaged in the attack, and at least two people were injured, according to Tymur Tkachenko, who heads the Kyiv City Military Administration.
‘We don’t believe that happened’ — Trump dismisses Putin’s claim of Ukrainian attack on his residence. Russia had publicly accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones toward a residence used by Putin — a claim Putin personally conveyed to Trump during the phone call.
Russian missile parts factory in flames after Ukrainian drone attack, media report. The Energia factory in Lipetsk Oblast produces components for Russian missiles and drones, including batteries for the Iskander ballistic missile system and cruise missiles.
Ukrainian drones target Moscow, trigger airport closures, Russia says. Russian air defense systems shot down 132 Ukrainian drones overnight on Jan. 3-4, including 11 intercepted over Moscow Oblast, the Russian Defense Ministry has claimed.
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Ukraine prepared to continue fighting if diplomacy with Russia fails, Zelensky says. Kyiv is ready for “both options,” Zelensky said: the diplomatic track, or ongoing active defense against Russia. “Ukraine will never surrender,” he added.
Ukraine denies Russia’s claim of capturing town near Pokrovsk, maintains ‘control over key positions.’ “Control over key positions is maintained. The enemy is suffering significant losses in manpower and equipment,” Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces said.
Ukraine slaps sanctions on companies supplying Russia’s military industry. The new measures target 95 individuals and 70 entities, including manufacturers of communications, electronic warfare, and microelectronics for Russia’s military-industrial complex and security agencies.
Soldier injured in car explosion, classified as terror attack in Kyiv. The blast occurred as the soldier was opening the trunk of his car, the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office said.
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**Ukraine war latest: Ukraine denies Russia’s claim of capturing town near Pokrovsk, maintains ‘control over key positions’
**
Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces refuted on Jan. 4 Russia’s reports about the capture of the town of Rodynske in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian soldiers continue to hold the defense inside Rodynske and its outskirts, the military said.
Photo: Genya Savilov / AFP via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian missile attack on Kharkiv kills 6 people, including 3-year-old-child, injures at least 31. The death toll has risen as rescue workers uncover the remains of more victims buried beneath the rubble of a destroyed apartment building.
Russian attacks kill 4, injure 5 in Ukraine over past day. Ukrainian forces downed 39 out of the 52 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Thirteen drones struck nine different locations, according to the statement.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,211,530 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
The number includes 900 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day, the General Staff said.
Global sport reopens doors to Russia | Ukraine This Week
In other news
After US attack on Venezuela, Trump’s Greenland ambitions spark renewed alarm. “We do need Greenland, absolutely,” Trump told the Atlantic in an interview on Jan. 4, saying the island is “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.”
Serbia’s Russian-owned oil refinery to resume operations in mid-January, Vucic says. NIS, one of the few remaining Russian energy assets operating in Europe, was sanctioned by Washington last January as part of broader efforts to restrict Russian energy exports.
Zelensky dismisses Deineko as head of State Border Guard, names First Deputy Vavryniuk interim chief. Deineko has been appointed as an adviser to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. A permanent replacement to lead the State Border Guard Service will be named shortly, Zelensky said.
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Saturday, December 20, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Polish President Karol Nawrocki and President Volodymyr Zelensky inspect the Polish Army Representative Regiment during the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on December 19, 2025. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Russia attacks Odesa Oblast with ballistic missiles, at least 7 killed, 15 injured. Russian ballistic missiles “massively attacked” a port facility in the region, Governor Oleh Kiper said. Seven are dead and 15 injured victims have been hospitalized.
Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean Sea for the first time, source says. In “a new unprecedented special operation” in neutral waters more than 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine, Russia’s QENDIL tanker sustained “critical damage” and can no longer be used for its intended purpose, the source claimed.
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Ukraine says 1,003 bodies of fallen soldiers return home. Ukraine will conduct necessary examinations to identify the bodies, which Russia says belong to Ukrainian soldiers, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported.
Ukraine’s delegation meets American officials in US for new round of talks. “We agreed with our American partners on further steps and the continuation of our joint work in the near future,” delegation leader Rustem Umerov said after the meeting.
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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s oil platform in the Caspian Sea and shadow fleet tanker in the Mediterranean
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) struck a Russian oil platform in the Caspian Sea with drones for a fourth time in recent weeks, a source in the agency said on Dec. 19. The SBU’s Alpha Special Operations Center’s drones hit an oil rig run by Russian oil giant Lukoil, the source said.
“The SBU continues to systematically reduce oil dollar revenues to the Russian war budget,” the Security Service source told the Kyiv Independent. “All facilities that provide funding for the aggression against Ukraine are absolutely legitimate targets.”
Image: Ukraine’s Security Service
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Investigation: Sick Ukrainian children exploited in fraudulent charity campaigns linked to US, Israel
When scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, one may come across ads showing a crying child in a hospital bed, accompanied by a heartbreaking plea for donations to treat the child’s cancer. The message is always urgent, stating that a child suffers from a severe form of cancer and needs treatment in the U.S.
The Kyiv Independent identified several children and their parents featured in these campaigns and found that they live in Ukraine with no plans to receive treatment in the U.S. Each family has received less than $2,000 out of the $600,000 to $700,000 intended to be raised.
Photo: Karolina Gulshani / The Kyiv Independent
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International response
‘Without independent Ukraine, Russia will come for Poland,’ Zelensky says as he meets Nawrocki. “There are sometimes difficult moments in our societies, but as presidents, we must define policies that keep us united. Without our independence, Moscow will inevitably push further into Europe and will come for Poland,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Warsaw.
Opinions and insights
Fact-check: Debunking Russian propaganda about ‘persecution of Christians’ in Ukraine
The supposed “persecution of Christians” in Ukraine ranks among the most popular tropes of Russian disinformation. Kremlin propaganda has sought to cast the state’s push to limit the influence of the Kremlin-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) — whose clergymen have aided Russia during the war — as an assault on Christians.
Image: Roman Pilipey / AFP / Getty Images
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Putin says Russia never attacked Ukraine, outlines conditions for war with Europe
Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual end-of-year press conference on Dec. 19 to reaffirm the Kremlin’s maximalist demands for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, rejecting territorial compromise while repeating false claims about the invasion. Opening the tightly choreographed event, Putin said Moscow remains willing to engage in peace talks only on the terms he first outlined last year.
Photo: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu via Getty Images
In other news
US launches large-scale strike in Syria targeting ISIS. “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.
US ‘not concerned’ about Russia as it ramps up aggression against Venezuela, Rubio says. “We’re not concerned about an escalation with Russia, with regards to Venezuela … I think they have their hands full in Ukraine,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Dec. 19.
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US 'not concerned' about Russia as it ramps up aggression against Venezuela, Rubio says
"We're not concerned about an escalation with Russia, with regards to Venezuela ... I think they have their hands full in Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Dec. 19.Abbey Fenbert (The Kyiv Independent)
Saturday, December 13, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky films an address near the entrance to the front line city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on Dec.12, 2025, amid reports of successful Ukrainian counterattack in the region. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)
‘Reality speaks for itself’ — From war-torn Kupiansk, Zelensky praises troops after reports of successful Ukrainian counterattack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised troops in the Kupiansk direction and said battlefield gains strengthen Ukraine’s diplomatic position, as the National Guard’s 2nd Khartiia Corps reported a counterattack north of the city.
Witkoff to meet Zelensky, European leaders over the weekend to discuss US peace plan, WSJ reports. The reported meeting involving Zelensky follows news that Kyiv and its European partners handed Washington their revisions to the U.S.-proposed peace framework, with territorial concessions dominating tensions between the parties.
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Ukraine confirms drone strike on major Russian oil refinery in Yaroslavl. Russia’s Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Yaroslavl, one of the country’s five largest, is reportedly on fire after being struck in an overnight drone attack on Dec. 12, officials and local Telegram channels said.
Explosions reported at Russian oil refinery amid drone attack. Explosions were reported in Russia’s Saratov Oblast overnight on Dec. 13 as officials warned of a possible drone attack, with unverified local reports indicating the Saratov oil refinery had been targeted.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil facilities in Caspian Sea again, SBU source says. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out a second drone strike this week on Russia’s Vladimir Filanovsky oil production platform in the Caspian Sea, also hitting the nearby Korchagin platform, an SBU source said Dec. 12.
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Ukraine war latest: ‘No military purpose’ — Russia strikes cargo ship in Odesa Oblast
Russian forces launched a missile strike on the civilian port of Chornomorsk in Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast, damaging a cargo ship, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 12.
Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine / DSNS
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Peace plan drama — Ukraine and Europe hand US revisions as Trump grows ‘sick of meetings’
Ukraine and its European partners have handed Washington their revisions to the U.S.-proposed peace framework aimed at ending Russia’s war, the Kyiv Independent has learned.
Photo: Roberto Schmidt / Henry Nicholls – WPA Pool / Getty Images / Collage by the Kyiv Independent
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Explainer: Why Russia’s nuclear industry has escaped major sanctions
Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly threatened the use of atomic weapons, yet its much-prized nuclear industry has faced little in the way of meaningful sanctions.
Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images
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EU indefinitely freezes Russian assets, moving closer to financial lifeline for Ukraine
The European Union has agreed to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank reserves, moving the bloc a step closer to securing a financial lifeline to Kyiv as the war heads into its fourth year.
Photo: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
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Opinions and insights
Ukraine world’s deadliest conflict in 2025 despite US-brokered peace talks, analysis finds
Russia’s war in Ukraine was the world’s deadliest conflict in 2025, according to a new report that tracks conflicts globally, despite U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the nearly four-year invasion.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
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15 Ukrainians are suing US tech factories over chips in Russia’s deadly weapons
Despite years of sanctions and export controls, U.S.-made electronic components — which have unique markings and cannot be copied — continue to appear in Russian cruise missiles and drones. Investigations have repeatedly found these chips inside weapons used in some of the war’s most devastating attacks.
Photo: Anya Korzun
Russia’s air defenses have a Flamingo-sized weak spot, report suggests
Ukraine’s domestically produced cruise missiles could help deal a devastating blow to Russia’s air defense production, enabling increasingly effective long-range drone strikes against other targets inside Russia, a new report published on Dec. 12 says.
Photo: militarnyi.com
International response
Europe must prepare for war with Russia, NATO chief warns. “We must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned.
Moscow files lawsuit against Euroclear as Russian assets debate continues. The Russian Central Bank said in a press release that it had sued Euroclear, the Belgian financial institution holding the vast majority of Europe’s frozen assets, in a Moscow court on Dec. 12.
In other news
SBU says it detained 3 suspected Russian agents over deadly Kyiv bombing that killed National Guard serviceman. Ukraine’s Security Service said Friday that it detained three men suspected of planting two homemade bombs that killed a National Guard serviceman and wounded four other people in Kyiv a day earlier.
‘I will come after each of you’ — Ukraine’s prosecutor general threatens critics after resignation rumors. “You don’t need to hide; I will come after each of you personally,” said Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, responding to a wave of anonymous posts alleging he had submitted a letter of resignation.
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'I will come after each of you' — Ukraine's prosecutor general threatens critics after resignation rumors
"You don't need to hide; I will come after each of you personally," said Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, responding to a wave of anonymous posts alleging he had submitted a letter of resignation.Tim Zadorozhnyy (The Kyiv Independent)
Friday, November 28, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A screenshot of footage that purports to show a drone attack on Saratov, Russia overnight on Nov. 28, 2025. (ExileNova+/Telegram)
Explosions reported in several Russian cities amid Ukrainian drone attack.
Explosions were reported in several Russian cities, including Taganrog, Novorossiysk, and Saratov, overnight on Nov. 28 amid a widespread drone attack.
Amid chaotic Ukrainian withdrawal, Russian forces reportedly execute 5 POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. At least five Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were executed by Russian soldiers amid a chaotic withdrawal near Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, it was reported on Nov. 27.
Putin demands Ukrainian troops withdraw before ceasefire, as Witkoff set to visit Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 27 reiterated his demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from their current positions as a condition for a ceasefire, even as the U.S. attempts to reinvigorate peace talks.
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US to discuss Ukraine security guarantees after peace deal signed, Rubio tells allies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured allies during a Nov. 25 call that the U.S. plans to address security guarantees once an agreement is reached, Politico reported.
Explosion, possible drone strike reported in Grozny, Chechnya.
An explosion occurred at a military base in Grozny, Chechnya, several Telegram channels reported on Nov. 27.
Occupation authorities to send 400 Ukrainian children to Russia for mandatory ‘exchange’ program. Approximately 400 Ukrainian children will be sent to Russia from occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast for a mandatory “exchange” program by year’s end, the Center for National Resistance (CNR) reported on Nov. 27.
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Ukraine war latest live: Russia presses Huliaipole front, DeepState says situation stabilizing
A Ukrainian unit withdrew from its position near Huliaipol in an ‘uncoordinated manner,’ allowing Russian troops to penetrate the flanks of Ukrainian forces, Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces, said on Nov. 27.
Photo: Oles Kromplias/Global Images Ukraine
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In bomb-shelter classrooms, Ukrainian university students turn to weapons engineering
The needs of the war effort and, particularly, Ukraine’s new defense industry are changing the job market for new graduates in Ukraine. Students of a techie bent are increasingly turning away from software development and toward hard engineering to deliver future weapons.
Photo: Serhii Korovayny / The Kyiv Independent
Russia’s coy game: Why Kremlin won’t commit to Trump’s peace push
Even though the original peace plan unveiled by the U.S. last week was skewed in Russia’s favor, it is not clear if Moscow would have accepted it since it still falls short of its sweeping demands.
Observers note that Moscow has never clearly signaled readiness to accept the proposals.
Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
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Opinions and insights
The light Ukraine cannot lose: Justice
“Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure have brought rolling blackouts back to Kyiv,” writes Assistant Researcher with Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia Division, Kseniya Kvitka.
“Our food, our movement, and, more often than not, our mental health are dictated by the schedule of power outages that change depending on the scale of Russia’s latest strikes.”
Photo: Serhii Korovayny / The Kyiv Independent
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The wrong way to peace in Ukraine
“(U.S. President Donald) Trump’s yearning to win a Nobel Peace Prize – one of the most well-known vulnerabilities in the history of international relations – has led to an ill-conceived attempt at a peace settlement that, if implemented, all but ensures future conflict,” writes
American author and historian Timothy Snyder.
“Besides the basic injustice of allowing an aggressor to decide the outcome of the war it started, there are six fundamental problems with this ‘peace’ plan.”
Photo: Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg / Getty Images
International response
‘Historical precedent’ — Ukraine, UK sign license agreement for Octopus interceptor drones. Ukraine and the U.K. have signed a license agreement to produce Octopus interceptor drones, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Nov. 27.
In other news
Ukrainian oligarchs fail to pay $3 billion fine in landmark Privatbank case.
Given two weeks to voluntarily pay the sum in a landmark ruling on Nov. 10, notorious Ukrainian oligarchs Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholyubov failed to make any payments before a Nov. 24 deadline, PrivatBank said in a statement.
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan damaged after Russia’s ‘Soyuz’ launch to the International Space Station. Russia’s Roscosmos space agency reported that the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan sustained significant damage during the Soyuz MS-28 launch to the International Space Station, according to multiple Russian media reports published on Nov. 27.
Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream case extradited to Germany.
A Ukrainian national was extradited to Germany on Nov. 27 over suspected involvement in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Reuters reported, citing Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office.
Ukraine ex-energy chief saga drags on as political pressure stalls case, critics say. A Kyiv court delayed the appeal of the former head of Ukraine’s state-owned national power company until mid-December, a step that seems aimed at dragging out what is widely considered a politically motivated case.
Company news
The Kyiv Independent introduces a new e-store collection inspired by the history of the Ukrainian Trident. The Kyiv Independent has launched a new collection, “The Ukrainian Trident — Through History and Modernity,” designed to visualize the symbol of Ukrainian sovereignty in its diversity.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in a high-rise apartment building hit by a Russian attack in Kyiv on Nov. 25, 2025. (Ukraine’s State Emergency Service / Telegram)
Ukrainian homes burn as Russian missiles hit Kyiv — at least 2 killed, 7 injured in mass attack. Several multistory residential buildings caught fire and at least two people have been killed in what the Energy Ministry called “a massive combined attack…on infrastructure facilities.”
Russian forces attempt to push Ukrainian army from eastern bank of Oskil River in Kharkiv Oblast, military says. While the situation in the settlements of Kupiansk and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi remains unchanged, Russian troops are trying to advance east of them.
Ukraine’s drones strike Russian chemical factory in Crimea, number of energy facilities ‘blacked out.’ The Brom plant is a major manufacturer of bromine and related salts, the only one of its kind in Eastern Europe.
Ukrainian drones target Russian military aircraft manufacturer in reported strikes. In Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, a fire reportedly broke out at the Beriev Aircraft Company, which produces Russian amphibious seaplanes and the rare A-50 spy plane.
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Kremlin rejects European counter-proposal to US peace plan for Ukraine. Kyiv’s European partners reportedly pitched the plan as a counter-proposal to a 28-point document backed by the Trump administration, which was criticized for heavily favoring Russia.
Ukraine reiterates its ‘red lines’ amid speculations about military size, territory. Ukraine remains ready for peace talks with Russia but will never legally recognize the Russian occupation or accept restrictions on its army size or alliances, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
US 28-point peace plan cut down after talks, new draft includes ‘right elements,’ Zelensky says. The revised version is more aligned with Ukraine’s position, but negotiating a final agreement is “very difficult,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 25.
Ukraine says no plans for Trump-Zelensky meeting yet, despite media reports. There are no plans for the president’s next visit to the U.S. so far, but no options are off the table, the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington told the Kyiv Independent on Nov. 24.
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Russian strikes spared Ukraine’s nuclear plants. Corruption didn’t
While Russian attacks pounded Ukraine’s power system, one energy company was mostly unscathed — becoming the cash cow behind the largest corruption scheme of Zelensky’s term.
Photo: Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images
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How Russia’s propaganda machine weaponizes mobilization in Ukraine
As Ukraine faces the grueling demands of prolonged war, its mobilization system has become an especially sensitive topic — precisely the space where Russian disinformation thrives.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images
Human cost of war
At least 6 killed, 36 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 125 drones. Thirty-seven drones made it through, striking 15 locations, while debris from downed drones fell on one additional site.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,166,450 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. Russia has lost around 1,166,450 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Nov. 24.
International response
Czech company accused of overcharging Ukraine for drones, media reports. A Czech company has been accused of selling Chinese-made drones to Ukraine at steep markups — sometimes nearly 20 times the original price — and is under investigation for alleged tax evasion, Czech media reported on Nov. 24.
Poland charges another Ukrainian over suspected Russian-backed railway sabotage. Volodymyr B. was charged with assisting what Warsaw called an “unprecedented act of sabotage,” allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence.
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In other news
Ukrainian agencies deny preparing charges against head of Zelensky’s faction, chief anti-graft prosecutor. The report comes amid speculation that the President’s Office was allegedly preparing to retaliate against Klymenko and Arakhamia over their independent stances on a large-scale corruption scandal at state nuclear power monopoly Energoatom.
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Ukrainian agencies deny preparing charges against head of Zelensky's faction, chief anti-graft prosecutor
The report comes amid speculation that the President's Office was allegedly preparing to retaliate against Klymenko and Arakhamia over their independent stances on a large-scale corruption scandal at state nuclear power monopoly Energoatom.Oleg Sukhov (The Kyiv Independent)
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) and President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) shake hands after signing an arms agreement on November 17, 2025. (Christophe Ena / POOL / AFP / Getty Images)
Mike Pompeo joins advisory board of scrutinized Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of a Ukrainian defense company known for its Flamingo long-range missiles, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Nov. 17, citing the company’s executives.
Russia’s largest silicon plant ‘forced’ to halt output as demand collapses. Kremniy, located in east-central Irkutsk Oblast, is the country’s largest refined silicon producer with a yearly capacity of 34,000 tons.
Ukraine’s HUR releases new data on foreign equipment used in Russian weapons, focusing on eastern Asian companies. Ukraine has long highlighted Western and foreign components used in Russian weapons to call for tougher sanctions.
Ukraine to purchase 100 Rafale jets, Zelensky says after signing defense declaration with Macron. Zelensky told TF1-LCI news channel that Ukraine aims to buy 100 Dassault-made Rafale fighters, a 4.5-generation multirole aircraft.
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Russia’s flagship oil price drops as buyers retreat ahead of US sanctions. Discounts on Urals relative to Brent reached $23.5 per barrel, the widest gap since June 2023.
‘Our defense is falling apart’ — Prominent Ukrainian activist criticizes military, political leadership. Sternenko’s warning comes as Russian troops pierce through Ukrainian defenses on multiple hot spot sectors of the war.
IMF and Ukraine begin talks for new loan program amid looming financing shortfall. “The discussions will cover the authorities’ economic policy objectives (…) and structural policies to strengthen governance, combat corruption, and enhance growth,” Priscilla Toffano, the IMF’s representative in Ukraine, said in a press release.
Ukraine reportedly strikes thermal power plant in occupied Donetsk Oblast. Videos posted on social media appear to show a large explosion and subsequent fire emanating from the Zuivska Thermal Power Plant in the occupied community of Zuhres in Donetsk Oblast, following a projectile strike on the target.
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Ukraine war latest: Russia bombed itself 8 times in 11 days, HUR intercepted call suggests
A Russian woman living in Belgorod Oblast has said that Russian forces dropped eight bombs in the area over the course of 11 days, according to an intercepted call released by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) on Nov. 17.
Photo: Stringer / AFP
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From Poseidon to Kinzhal: Why Russia’s ‘super weapons’ may matter less than the Kremlin claims
For the first time in years, the Kremlin has officially claimed to have tested one of its so-called “super weapons” — the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile — one of six “next-generation” strategic arms introduced in 2018.
Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense / Telegram
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Several law enforcement agencies come under fire over alleged involvement in Ukraine’s biggest graft scheme
Several law enforcement agencies were lambasted by a parliamentary commission on Nov. 17 for failing to investigate their employees’ alleged involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme at state nuclear power company Energoatom.
Photo: Ihor Kuznietsov / Novyny LIVE/ Global Images Ukraine / Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian missile strike on Kharkiv Oblast kills 3, wounds 15, including 3 children. “Unfortunately, calls about possible victims continue to come in,” authorities said.
International response
‘Act of sabotage’ — Explosion hits Polish railway track used for Ukraine aid shipments, Warsaw says. “We will catch the perpetrators, whoever they are,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, noting that the route was “crucially important for delivering aid to Ukraine.”
Romania evacuates border village after Russian drone struck LPG tanker at Ukrainian port. Between 100 and 150 people are to be evacuated from the Plauru village, which lies just across the Danube River from the Ukrainian port city of Izmail, hit by a Russian drone attack overnight.
Poland reopens 2 border crossings with Belarus after their years-long closure. Poland reopened the Kuznica and Bobrowniki crossings with Belarus after they had been closed for years, citing economic reasons and strengthened security along the eastern frontier.
As reparations loan talks stall, EU proposes 90 billion euro grant to cover Ukraine’s financing needs. Based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, the EU expects that if the Russia-Ukraine war ends in 2026, Kyiv will face a financial gap of 135.7 billion euros ($157 billion) in the 2026-2027 period.
Poland in ‘pre-war’ period amid increased Russian sabotage efforts, top Polish general says. Russia has begun preparing for war with Poland as Moscow continues to scale its cyberattack and acts of sabotage on Polish soil, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Wieslaw Kukula said on Nov. 17.
Congress to move on legislating Russia sanctions bill following Trump’s ‘blessing,’ US Senator Graham says. The United States Congress will renew its efforts to move forward in an attempt to pass a Russia sanctions bill into law, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announced on Nov. 17.
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Several law enforcement agencies come under fire over alleged involvement in Ukraine's biggest graft scheme
Several law enforcement agencies were lambasted by a parliamentary commission on Nov. 17 for failing to investigate their employees' alleged involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme at state nuclear power company Energoatom.Oleg Sukhov (The Kyiv Independent)
Thursday, November 13, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A drone attack on Russian Stavrolen petrochemical enterprise, Nov. 12, 2025. (Exilenova+/Telegram)
Ukraine withdraws from positions near another settlement in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid ongoing Russian offensive. Ukrainian forces withdrew from the village of Rivnopillia in northeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast late on Nov. 11, Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces reported.
Russia establishes Unmanned Systems Forces, Ukraine says it’s just ‘copying our successful approaches.’ A separate branch of Ukraine’s Armed Forces dedicated to unmanned systems was formed in 2024.
SBU exposes Russian agent from Crimea planning terrorist attacks on Kyiv metro and malls. A 55-year-old resident of Crimea, the alleged organizer of terrorist attacks, has been charged in absentia.
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UK backchannel contacts failed to develop, Kremlin says. The comments follow reporting by the Financial Times (FT) that British national security advisor Jonathan Powell tried to open a backchannel with Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov earlier this year.
Ukraine’s foreign minister meets Rubio, other G7 partners to push for defense, energy support. After talking to Rubio at the G7 meeting in Canada, Sybiha praised Trump’s “peace efforts and very effective energy sanctions against Russia.”
Ukraine’s Special Forces confirm ‘successful fire attack‘ on Russia’s Stavrolen petrochemical plant. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces confirmed its “successful fire attack” on Stavrolen petrochemical enterprise, a Lukoil-owned petrochemical complex in Budyonnovsk, southern Russia, overnight on Nov. 12.
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Biggest corruption scandal of Zelensky’s presidency is in his own ranks
During his presidential campaign, Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted two key failings of then-President Petro Poroshenko: corruption and nepotism.
Six years into his own presidency, Zelensky has found himself on the receiving end of the exact same criticism.
Photo: Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Analysis: With all eyes on Pokrovsk, Russia drives forward in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
On November 11th, the same day that Russia’s wretched Mad Max–style convoy of troops was filmed entering Pokrovsk through the fog, the Ukrainian military announced its withdrawal from five villages north of the small city of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images
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An investor’s guide to Ukraine
As it became clear that the war would not end any time soon, the hype around reconstruction quickly evaporated. Since then, many foreign investors have preferred to stay on the sidelines, attending conferences while waiting to come after the war ends.
But there are those who have invested and found success, undeterred by the risks and idiosyncrasies of doing business in wartime Ukraine.
Photo: Mykhaylo Palinchak / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
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Ukraine war latest: Recent Russian assault on light equipment in direction of Pokrovsk was ‘partially successful,’ Ukraine’s military says
A large-scale assault by Russian troops in light vehicles on the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast was “partially successful,” the 7th Corps of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces reported on Nov. 12.
Photo: Taras Ibragimov/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Opinions and insights
Today we start a new chapter
Our fourth year was a challenging one. The
exhaustion of the war builds up, making every next year a harder one. But also, the news cycle was…something else.
Who helped us through it? Our community.
Never have we gotten so much support and
appreciation from our readers and members as during this tumultuous year. On behalf of the whole team — thank you all so much.
Photo: Kyiv Independent
Brazilian fighter on South American crime links to foreign volunteers in Ukraine
In other news
Zelensky to impose sanctions against close associate following large-scale corruption probe, source says. The two are implicated in the $100 million corruption scandal centered on the state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom, which has rocked the country since Monday.
Prosecutors describe influence-peddling network in Ukraine’s biggest graft case. Specifically, suspects in the Energoatom corruption case have discussed who should be appointed to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s Cabinet and whether Justice Minister Halushchenko should be appointed as ambassador to the U.S.
Two Ukrainian ministers implicated in major corruption scandal step down. Halushchenko is being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) as part of a large-scale corruption case into Energoatom involving Timur Mindich, a close associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Energoatom corruption scheme suspects funded luxury houses for top officials, journalists say. Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov was financing a construction of high-end houses near Kyiv. The money he spent was obtained through the energy corruption scheme now rocking Ukraine, the Bihus.info investigative journalism project reported on Nov. 12.
Congress votes to reopen government after longest shutdown in US history.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Nov. 12 to reopen the federal government and end a 43-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, multiple outlets reported.
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Sunday, November 9, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Dark streets and residential buildings during a major blackout in Kyiv on November 8, 2025, following massive Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. (Maxym Marusenko / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Commander charged with negligence after Russia hits military award ceremony in eastern Ukraine. The Russian strike killed 12 servicemen and seven civilians, while 36 others were injured, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Ukraine’s state-owned energy company says all of its power plants are down after Russia’s ‘largest-ever attack.’ The recent Russian attack destroyed all restored capacity, leaving the plants generating no power, the state-owned energy company Centrenergo said on Nov. 8.
Russian Ka-226 helicopter crashes in Dagestan, killing weapons plant employees. The Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant produces equipment for Russian Sukhoi and MiG aircraft and has been sanctioned for its role in the war against Ukraine.
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Kyiv faces over 12 hours of emergency power cuts following ‘one of the largest’ Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Russia launched yet another wide-ranging attack on Ukrainian cities overnight on Nov. 8, using a combination of drone and missiles to strike targets across the country.
Ukrainian attacks in Russia’s Belgorod, Kursk oblasts leave over 20,000 without power. A local power plant was reportedly damaged, causing widespread blackouts in the city of Belgorod and the surrounding region.
Russia targeted substations powering nuclear plants during large-scale overnight energy attacks, Sybiha says. Russian forces targeted energy substations that power the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants overnight on Nov. 7-8, amid its large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
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‘We had only a few seconds before it hit’ — Russian drones force journalists farther from Ukraine’s front lines
With incessant Russian drones flying all over areas near the front that once were safer, it has become increasingly difficult for journalists covering the war in Ukraine to keep doing their jobs. In October alone, three journalists were killed and five were wounded while working in eastern Donetsk Oblast. The Russian attacks happened relatively far from the front, sometimes more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) away.
Photo: Artem Stepanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
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Human costs of war
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,150,100 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,190 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Russian attacks kill at least 11, injure 44 in Ukraine over past day. Ukrainian forces downed 406 out of the 458 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Russia also launched 45 cruise and ballistic missiles, nine of which were downed, the statement said.
Russia strikes residential building in Dnipro, killing 3, injuring 12. Russia carried out a drone attack on the city of Dnipro overnight on Nov. 8, killing at least three people and injuring 12 others, including two children, officials reported.
One night with interceptor drone squad hunting Russian Shaheds
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Saturday, November 8, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
The aftermath of a Russian drone attack on a residential building in Dnipro overnight on Nov. 8, 2025. The attack killed one person and injured 11 others, including two children. (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko/Telegram)
Russia launches ‘massive’ missile attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, drone attack sparks fires in Kyiv. Russia launched yet another wide-ranging attack on Ukrainian cities overnight on Nov. 8, using a combination of drone and missiles to strike targets across the country.
Drones hit key Russian petrochemical plant in Republic of Bashkortostan, Ukraine’s HUR says. HUR claims that the drone strike on Nov. 6 led to a fire in the workshop producing an additive known as agidol, used for aviation fuel.
Ukraine estimates its long-range weapon production at over $30 billion in 2026. In a closed-door briefing with journalists, Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Oleksandr Kamyshin, an advisor on Strategic Industries to the President’s Office, said that the current production capacity (for this year) of the Ukrainain defense industry is around $35 billion per year.
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Ukraine secures 300 million cubic meters of American LNG amid Russian attacks on gas production. Orlen will deliver three cargoes of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2026.
Kremlin denies Lavrov fell out of favor with Putin after canceled Trump summit. “I will give you a brief answer: there is nothing true in these reports,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
‘Full sanctions exemption‘ granted as Orban meets Trump in Washington to discuss Russian oil, war against Ukraine. The U.S. and Hungary are also planning to sign a “significant nuclear cooperation agreement,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.
Zelensky blames ex-energy chief for grid’s failure to withstand Russian assaults amid talk of scapegoating. “He was the head of a large system, and this system was supposed to ensure the security of our energy sector. He was obliged to do this — and he did not,” the president told journalists on Nov. 7.
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Ukraine war latest: Special Forces drones hit oil depots, trains, logistic facilities in Russian-occupied Crimea
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) said on Nov. 7 that its long-range drones struck an oil depot and logistic facilities in the Russian-occupied peninsula of Crimea.
Photo: Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces/Telegram
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AI soldiers: How deepfakes are manipulating Ukraine’s mobilization narrative
Tears, panic, and young Ukrainian soldiers pleading for help — a new disinformation campaign using artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate videos of Ukraine’s mobilization efforts is flooding social media platforms.
Photo: Screenshot of the account spreading AI-generated videos
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This investment fund is betting on Ukraine’s struggling farm sector
The Kyiv Independent spoke with Dan Yakub, founding partner at Diligent Capital Partners, to discuss why he and his partners launched the fund now, the opportunities they see in Ukraine’s agricultural sector amid the war, and their long-term vision for the country’s agrifood industry.
Photo: Nina Liashonok/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images
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Can the West win a сeasefire with Russia?
Since 2014, every ceasefire Russia has signed has ended the same way: with Russia in a stronger position, and the West scrambling to catch up when Russia decides to escalate again.
Photo: Contributor/Getty Images
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Human costs of war
Kyiv holds farewell for 28-year-old Ukrainian photographer, soldier Huzenko. A farewell ceremony was held in Kyiv on Nov. 7 for for Kostiantyn Huzenko, a photographer-turned-soldier, killed in a Russian strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Nov. 1.
Russia strikes residential building in Dnipro, killing 1, injuring 11. Russia carried out a drone attack on the city of Dnipro overnight on Nov. 8, killing one person and injuring 11 others, including two children, officials reported.
International response
Gunvor withdraws bid for Russia’s Lukoil assets after US calls it ‘Kremlin’s puppet.’ Gunvor, which is registered in Cyprus and headquartered in Switzerland, was founded in 1997 by Gennady Timchenko, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Swedish billionaire Torbjörn Törnqvist.
Sweden has helped fund 400 drones for Ukraine’s strike campaign on Russian oil refineries. Denys Shmyhal’s announcement comes as Ukraine aims to strike deeper into Russian territory in an attempt to disrupt its logistics and grind down its war machine from a distance.
EU tightening visa rules for Russian nationals, citing security risks. The European Commission adopted stricter rules on issuing visas to Russian citizens, who will be largely banned from receiving multi-entry visas, the EU announced on Nov. 7.
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Thursday, October 23, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Russian air strike on a kindergarten in Kharkiv on Oct. 22. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Telegram)
In Trump first, US sanctions Russia’s oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil after White House cancels Putin meeting. “Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine.”
‘Budanov’s sanctions’ — HUR confirms Ukrainian drone strike on Dagestan oil refinery. Russian air defenses intercepted 44 Ukrainian drones overnight and into the morning of Oct. 22, including eight over Dagestan, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. No drones were reportedly shot down over Mordovia.
Explosions reported near military base in southern Russia, blasts allegedly rock ammunition plant 1,700 km from Ukraine. Explosions were reported near a military base just outside the southern Russian city of Stavropol late on Oct. 22, and additional explosions allegedly rocked an ammunition plant in the central city of Kopeysk, local media reported.
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Intercepted radio suggests Russian commander ordered troops to shoot civilians near Pokrovsk, HUR says. Intercepted calls released by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) suggest a Russian commander ordering his soldiers to shoot civilians near the embattled city of Pokrovsk.
SBU reveals next-gen Sea Baby naval drones, confirms use in June Crimea Bridge attack. In a video, the SBU revealed two versions of the new drones.
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As Zelensky set to land in Brussels, EU rushes to offset Trump’s pressure on Ukraine
EU leaders, meeting in Brussels on Oct. 23, are expected to weigh in on a wide range of measures in support of Ukraine — including whether to unlock frozen Russian Central Bank assets for Kyiv.
Photo: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Russian assault on Ukraine’s power grid leaves over 100,000 without power in north, east
A massive Russian attack pummeled Ukraine’s energy and port infrastructure on Oct. 22 as Moscow shows no sign of slowing down its plan to freeze out Ukrainians as winter draws closer.
Photo: Ukraine’s Energy Ministry/Telegram
Analysis: Pokrovsk on the brink as Russian troops, drones infiltrate deeper into Ukraine’s fortress city
After more than a year as the rock upon which Russia’s territorial ambitions in Donbas were broken, cracks are opening in Ukraine’s defense of Pokrovsk, and the end may finally be near.
Photo: Taras Ibragimov / Suspilne Ukraine / JSC “UA:PBC” / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
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Why every call with Putin changes Trump’s Ukraine policy
Human cost of war
6 killed, 29 injured in Kyiv oblast during mass Russian overnight missile and drone attack. Explosions rocked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on Oct. 22 as Russia launched a large-scale aerial attack against Ukraine.
Russia just hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv. Russia attacked Kharkiv with drones on Oct. 22, damaging a kindergarten and killing one person, injuring at least 10, local authorities reported.
‘Any one of us could have died’ — Russian drone attack on Kyiv damages residential buildings, injures 7. A Russian drone attack injured seven in Kyiv, damaged buildings, and set fires throughout the city late on Oct. 22.
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International response
Up to 150 Gripens — Ukraine, Sweden move toward long-term deal on Swedish jets. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Zelensky are meeting in the city of Linkoping, home to the defense company Saab, which produces Gripen fighter jets and other arms.
Opinions and insights
Editorial: Europe, it’s time to finally be brave. Start with Russian assets
“What is needed is a direct European military presence in Ukraine, with or without a ceasefire,” the editorial states. “The road to achieving a robust peace and the road to ensuring Ukraine’s (and Europe’s) security in the future are the same road.”
Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
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Poland hopes Ukraine knocks out Druzhba pipeline — Sikorski taunts Hungary.
“I hope your brave compatriot, Major Magyar, finally succeeds in knocking out the oil pipeline that feeds Putin’s war machine and you get your oil via Croatia,” Sikorski told Szijjarto on X.
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Poland hopes Ukraine knocks out Druzhba pipeline — Sikorski taunts Hungary
"I hope your brave compatriot, Major Magyar, finally succeeds in knocking out the oil pipeline that feeds Putin's war machine and you get your oil via Croatia," Sikorski told Szijjarto on X.Martin Fornusek (The Kyiv Independent)
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A photo purporting to show the still-burning Russian oil depot in Feodosia, occupied Crimea on Oct. 14 after a Ukrainian drone strike the day previously (Telegram/Crimean Wind).
US defense manufacturer reveals new Tomahawk launcher — just what Ukraine would need to hit Russia. The Tomahawk’s range would open up great swathes of Russia to Ukrainian long-range missile strikes, most notably Moscow and St. Petersburg.
‘Surprising’ drop in military aid to Ukraine in recent months, report says.
In July and August, total military aid to Ukraine fell 43% lower than the amount received in the first half of the year, a report by the Kiel Institute finds.
Ukraine urges UN to condemn Russian attack on UN aid convoy in Kherson Oblast. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged U.N. member states to condemn Russia’s Oct. 14 attack on a U.N. aid convoy in Kherson Oblast, which left one truck destroyed and another badly damaged.
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Russia’s largest oil terminal in occupied Crimea still on fire 2 days after Ukrainian drone strike. “Poisonous smoke floats over the city, which can be seen even from Stary Krym (25 kilometers away),” local media reported.
Trump says Turkey’s Erdogan could mediate Russia-Ukraine war.
“He’s respected by Russia. Ukraine, I can’t tell you about, but he is respected by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Trump told journalists.
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Trump’s two wars: why diplomacy worked in Gaza but not in Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump’s success in brokering the Oct. 9 ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has been praised worldwide. What seems to be a diplomatic victory in the Middle East stands in sharp contrast with Trump’s failure to negotiate a ceasefire in Eastern Europe.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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Zelensky strips tainted Odesa Mayor Trukhanov of Ukrainian citizenship, effectively pushes him out of office
President Volodymyr Zelensky stripped Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov of his Ukrainian citizenship after years of allegations that he possessed a Russian passport.
Photo:
Yulii Zozulia / Ukrinform / Future Publishing via Getty Images
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Who buys Russian oil and gas?
While China and India have rushed to buy up the oil and gas spurned by Europe in the wake of Russia’s 2022 intensification of its war against Ukraine, a handful of EU countries continue to import significant amounts even as the West examines wider restrictions on Moscow’s main source of revenue.
Photo: Contributor / Getty Images
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‘Kyiv could be Silicon Valley’ — New 50-million-euro startup fund will develop Ukraine’s tech-ecosystem
If most investors have opted to watch Ukraine from a distance during Russia’s ongoing invasion, Charles Whitehead and Dominique Piotet are undeterred, launching a 50 million euro venture capital fund to boost local talent and help put Ukrainian startups on the global map.
Photo: UNIT.City / Facebook
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Human cost of Russia’s war
Hospital damaged in Russian strike on Kharkiv, 6 people injured. At the time of the attack, more than 100 patients were in the hospital.
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International response
IMF keeps Ukraine’s growth forecast unchanged, despite mounting attacks on energy. The IMF forecasted 2% growth in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026, unaltered from its April 2025 projections.
US expects ‘big’ NATO spending pledges for Ukrainian weapons purchases, envoy says. The comments come ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Oct. 15, chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump says Putin should ‘do something’ to end war in Ukraine, cites ‘a million and a half’ Russian losses. “I mean, I had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin, but he just doesn’t want to end that war,” Trump said during a meeting with Argentina’s President Javier Milei on Oct. 14.
US Treasury Secretary meets Ukraine’s prime minister, pledges stronger pressure on Russia. The meeting comes as a Ukrainian delegation — also including top presidential aide Andriy Yermak and Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov — holds high-level talks with U.S. officials on defense, energy resilience, and sanctions.
Lukashenko ready for ‘big deal’ with US if it serves Belarus’s interests.
“We will wait for their big proposals, for a big deal, as they like to say. They love these big deals,” Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said.
Opinions and insights
Russia has tortured Ukrainian POWs for years. Now they’re even more vulnerable.
On Sept. 29, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law withdrawing from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, symbolically making Russia the first country in history to abandon this anti-torture pact. Russia’s decision to quit Europe’s anti-torture convention is both a symbolic gesture of defiance and a concrete step with grave human rights consequences.
Photo: Chris McGrath / Getty Images
In other news
Belgorod resident says life in Russia is ‘simply hopeless’ amid drone strikes, power outages, intercepted call suggests. “Dozens of (strike drones) were launched somewhere. Can you imagine?! I look and it’s flying. Where will it fly, and what will it do, what is it targeting? It’s simply hopeless,” the woman said.
Russia mulls price caps at gas stations, expert warns of mass ‘out-of-stock’ signs. The proposal, initiated by the Russian National Automobile Union, comes amid a deepening supply crisis exacerbated by Ukraine’s escalating drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
Belarus detains at least 88 over alleged ties to military monitoring group, rights watchdog says. The military monitoring group Belarusian Hajun was an open-source intelligence project that tracked Russian and Belarusian troop movements and other military activity in Belarus.
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Thursday, October 9, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A general view of damaged areas after a Russian airstrike on Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, on Oct. 8, 2025. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Russian-installed authorities check students’ phones in occupied Crimea. Occupation authorities in Crimea are checking students’ phones in schools for content and settings that may indicate a pro-Ukrainian position, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported on Oct. 7.
Kyiv says not interfering in case of Ukrainian detained in Poland over Nord Stream sabotage. “The Ukrainian side is acting in accordance with Polish law,” Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar said.
Russia says Trump-Putin ‘strong’ Ukraine peace momentum ‘exhausted’ as talks stall. “The strong momentum created in Anchorage toward reaching agreements has been largely exhausted due to the efforts of opponents… primarily among Europeans,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
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Ukraine, EBRD discuss funding additional gas imports amid rising Russian strikes on energy sector. “We discussed with the EBRD the possibility of securing additional financing for gas purchases to ensure the stable passage of the 2025–2026 heating season,” Ukraine’s Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said.
Ukraine’s authorities confront electronics retailers over smuggled iPhones in contraband crackdown. Ukraine’s economic crimes bureau’s new leadership brought together businesses on Oct. 8 with a clear message: the era of illicit electronics sales is over.
Ex-military chief Zaluzhnyi again denies running political campaign, supporting elections during war. “I do not support holding elections during wartime. Anyone who receives an offer — allegedly on my behalf — to join any initiative through any organization should report it to law enforcement,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi said.
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War Notes
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Why Tomahawks for Ukraine would be a ‘real headache for Russia’
“If supplied without major targeting caveats, Tomahawks could significantly increase pressure on Russia’s air defense system,” Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told the Kyiv Independent.
Photo: Kallysta M. Castillo / U.S. Navy / Getty Images
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Russia is ramping up Shahed-type drone strikes on Ukraine’s front lines
Russia is increasingly using Shahed-type drones to target Ukrainian front-line positions, likely looking to conserve KAB guided aerial bombs where possible to prepare for a long war ahead, soldiers and experts have told the Kyiv Independent.
Photo: Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP via Getty Images
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In Estonia’s border town, Russian-speaking majority enjoys NATO’s shield, remains mute on Russia’s threat
Following Europe’s inability to handle Russia’s now recurring drone incursions, the mostly-Russian-speaking city of Narva is once again a sticking point in NATO’s eastern flank’s defense.
Photo: Jaap Arriens / NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Ukraine war latest: Kyiv denies involvement in case of Ukrainian detained in Poland over Nord Stream sabotage
Kyiv is not interfering in the case of a Ukrainian citizen detained by Warsaw at Germany’s request in connection with the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland said.
Photo: Danish Defense Handout / Getty Images
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Human cost of Russia’s war
‘Massive’ Russian attack in Sumy Oblast kills 3, injures 2. A series of “massive enemy strikes” targeted rural communities in the northeastern border region, causing casualties and destroying civilian infrastructure, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said.
Russian strikes kill 5, injure 37, hit thermal power plant in Ukraine over past day. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russian forces launched 183 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones overnight.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,118,370 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,010 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
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International response
Bavaria moves to let police shoot down drones amid rising European sightings. The Bavarian cabinet approved the law, which grants local police the authority to destroy drones if deemed necessary to ensure public safety.
Indian refiners asked to pay for Russian oil with Chinese yuan, Reuters reports. Indian Oil Corp, the country’s leading state-owned refiner, has recently purchased two to three cargoes of Russian oil using Chinese yuan, sources told Reuters.
Moldova’s pro-Russian party rejects election results, threatens protests. The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova parliamentary leader, Vlad Batrincea, claimed the elections were marred by “violations and the use of administrative resources,” which, he said, “called into question the fairness of the vote.”
Lithuania scaling down exiled Belarusian opposition leader’s protection, her office pauses work. Lithuanian authorities emphasized that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya remains an official guest of the state and that Vilnius’s stance toward the Belarusian regime led by Alexander Lukashenko remains unchanged.
EU ambassadors approve plan to phase out Russian gas, oil by 2028, Reuters reports. The plan to phase out Russian oil and gas by January 2028 has received broad backing from most member states, though Hungary and Slovakia continue to oppose it, a source told Reuters.
Tajikistan lets Putin enter despite ICC arrest warrant. The Tajik government has not publicly explained why it did not comply with the ICC warrant and arrest Vladimir Putin on its territory.
Czechia’s populist party tones down criticism of Ukraine ammunition initiative after election win. ANO leader Andrej Babis said the initiative was a “good idea in principle,” but requires “greater transparency and a reassessment,” the Czech media reported. Babis also repeated ANO’s earlier suggestion that NATO could oversee the initiative instead.
Belgium-based arms maker reports mounting cases of suspicious drone sightings. European arms company Thales has raised concerns over the number of unidentified drones spotted recently over its Belgian facility, which produces 70 mm rockets, Politico reported on Oct. 8.
Estonian defense minister on NATO’s response to Russian threats
In other news
Belarus fuel exports to Russia surge as Moscow faces domestic shortages. Belarus’ rail exports of gasoline to Russia surged fourfold in September as Russia has dealt with fuel shortages, Reuters reported on Oct. 7.
Russian court nationalizes regional telecom operator over alleged ‘extremist activities,’ Ukraine support. The Oktyabrsky District Court of Tambov ruled in favor of Russia’s prosecutors’ office and nationalized the assets of regional mobile operator Lanta, the court announced on Oct. 7.
Russian stock market plummets to 3-year low after Kremlin statement on ‘collapsing.’ US-Moscow relations The 4.05% drop brings the MOEX Russia Index, the primary benchmark of the Russian stock market, to its lowest levels since September 2022.
Pro-Trump US lawmaker to meet with Putin’s envoy this month. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna said on Oct. 8 that she will meet with Kirill Dmitriev later this month. Luna opposes all U.S. aid to Ukraine and co-sponsored the “Ukraine Fatigue Resolution” in 2023.
Israel, Hamas sign off on first phase of peace plan, Trump says. “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our peace plan,” U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Oct. 8.
Fire breaks out at Russian gas plant after reported drone strike. A fire allegedly broke out at the Lukoil Korobkovsky gas processing plant in Kotovo, Russia, following a reported drone attack overnight on Oct. 9.
Russia expands gasoline sale restrictions amid fuel shortages, refinery strikes. The move comes as Ukraine’s continued drone strikes on Russian oil refineries strain domestic fuel supplies.
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Russia expands gasoline sale restrictions amid fuel shortages, refinery strikes
The move comes as Ukraine's continued drone strikes on Russian oil refineries strain domestic fuel supplies.Tim Zadorozhnyy (The Kyiv Independent)
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A view of the destruction after the Russian army’s Shahed drone attacks that hit two schools in the city of Sloviansk, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Partisans derail train carrying military cargo in Russia, military intelligence source says. A train carrying military cargo derailed in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast following an explosion early on Oct. 7, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.
Kyiv condemns attacks near occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, cut off from Ukraine’s grid for 2nd week. After Russian state media put the blame for the attacks on Ukraine’s Armed Forces, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 6 that it was “a deliberate provocation by Russia.”
Ukraine hits largest oil terminal in Russian-occupied Crimea, sparks massive blaze, General Staff confirms. The terminal can hold up to 250,000 tons of fuel, which supplies Russian forces.
‘Liberating our land, step by step’ — Ukraine reports successful counterattack in Dnipropterovsk Oblast, shows footage. The Shkval (“squall”) assault unit “eliminated” 50 Russian troops in the battle, while eight others were taken prisoner, the 141st Mechanized Brigade reported.
Russian who joined Ukraine’s military detained over suspected espionage. The man, detained in the western city of Lviv, is suspected of helping Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) coordinate strikes on his unit’s temporary base and nearby positions in Lviv Oblast.
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Thales arms maker delivers new missiles to Ukraine designed to take out Russian drones. The weapon has a maximum range of 3,000 meters and is designed to counter Shahed-type attack drones that Russia has used extensively against Ukraine.
Controversial ex-adviser to Zelensky’s office hit with Russian international arrest warrant. Russian authorities have accused Oleksiy Arestovych of terrorism and spreading “fake news about the Russian army.”
Ukraine allocates $36 million to bolster energy grid of frontline regions amid Russian strikes, Zelensky says. The announcement comes, as Russia stepped up its campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent days.
Indian national surrenders to Ukraine after fighting for Russia for 3 days, military says. Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein, a 22-year-old student from the Indian city of Morbi, allegedly came to Russia to study at a university.
Ukraine to increase gas imports 30% after Russian strikes on energy sector. Ukraine plans to increase natural gas imports by 30% after recent Russian strikes caused major damage to its energy infrastructure, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said Oct. 7.
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Ukraine war latest: ‘Not in Poland’s interest,’ to hand over Ukrainian in Nord Stream probe, Tusk says
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Oct. 7 said those who built Nord Stream 2, not those accused of sabotaging it, “should be ashamed and remain silent,” adding it is “not in Poland’s interest” to hand over the suspect.
Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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The military branch behind Ukraine’s battlefield apps turns to weapons bureaucracy
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry’s digitization fights to streamline a clunky military machine. But can centralized data hold out in the face of constant Russian cyber attacks?
Photo: Maks Muravsky / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
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‘Logistical terrorism’ — Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian railways
Russia has escalated its strikes on the country’s critical railway infrastructure, targeting Ukrainian Railways, also known as Ukrzaliznytsia, in what appears to be a bid to disrupt military logistics amid new arms delivery announcements. The attacks, primarily carried out by drones, targeted oblasts near the Russian border and active front lines, including Donetsk, Sumy, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Kirovohrad, as well as southern areas.
Photo: Pavlo Zarva / Kordon.Media / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
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Investigation: Top Russian defense industry boss tries to lift sanctions, spills own secrets instead
A bid to unfreeze a superyacht exposes a Russian defense executive’s ties — including a Trump Tower investor — and shows how Russian elites use complex networks to lift sanctions, including Western law firms. In March 2025, an American law firm signed a deal to assist Russian national Sergei Chemezov with efforts to have sanctions against him lifted.
Photo: Nataliia Shulga/The Kyiv Independent
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Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attacks kill 1, injure 33 in Ukraine over past day. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 88 out of the 152 Russian drones launched overnight. Russia also attacked Ukraine with two ballistic missiles.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,117,360 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,020 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
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International response
World Bank lowers Ukraine’s 2026 GDP growth forecast. The World Bank has cut Ukraine’s 2026 GDP growth projections by more than 3 points, citing the ongoing impact of Russia’s invasion on the economy.
‘Not in Poland’s interest,’ to hand over Ukrainian in Nord Stream probe, Tusk says. “From our point of view, the only people who should be ashamed and should remain silent on the issue of Nord Stream 2 are those who decided to build it,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
EU to reportedly restrict Russian diplomats’ travel amid espionage surge. The measure follows a surge in hybrid operations targeting Ukraine’s partners in the EU and NATO, including arson, cyberattacks, infrastructure sabotage, and drone incursions.
Poland, Lithuania reject Merkel’s claim they ‘did not support’ EU unity on Russia. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she sought to revive dialogue between the EU and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hungary’s Orban accuses Zelensky of ‘moral blackmail’ over Ukraine’s EU bid. “Hungary has no moral obligation to support Ukraine’s EU accession,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
Slovakia sends first non-lethal defense aid package to Ukraine since Fico took office. The package includes engineering and construction equipment, transportation, demining systems, and medical evacuation vehicles.
Europe believes Russia responsible for drone sightings, Dutch PM says
In other news
Estonian court sentences soldier for spying for Russia. Estonia’s State Prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas said Ivan Dmitriev, an active member of the Estonian Defense Forces who handled drone operations, posed a significant threat to Estonia’s security.
Latvia extends nighttime airspace restrictions near borders with Russia and Belarus. Latvia fully closed its airspace along the Russian and Belarusian borders between Sept. 11 and 18, following a series of regional security incidents. Since Sept. 18, restrictions have applied during nighttime hours.
Aliyev congratulates Putin on birthday in rare call amid strained Russia-Azerbaijan ties. The call is the first publicly reported conversation between the presidents since March. Their relations had seemed to deteriorate since then, as Moscow and Baku clashed over several political and security issues.
US Supreme Court won’t review Russian bank’s appeal over MH17 downing. The move enables the family of Quinn Schansman, an 18-year-old American passenger killed in the crash, to sue Sberbank under the U.S. anti-terrorism law.
Ukraine’s top anti-graft prosecutor decries pressure amid reports of Security Service probe targeting him. “Such reports, as well as a number of clearly illegal actions against NABU employees that have already taken place, are nothing other than a continuation of pressure on anti-corruption agencies,” Oleksandr Klymenko told the Kyiv Independent.
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Saturday, September 13, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike on Sept. 12, 2025 in Sumy, Ukraine. In the morning, Russia attacked the city with two drones. The strike destroyed a car repair shop. Rescuers pulled the body of a 65-year-old security guard from the rubble. (Yehor Kryvoruchko / Kordon.Media / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukraine-Russia peace talks on ‘pause,’ Kremlin says. When asked about the Ukraine-Russia talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov replied that communication channels have been established and exist, but as of now, “it’s more accurate to say there is a pause” in dialogue.
US envoy Kellogg’s presence shields Kyiv ‘no worse than Patriots,’ Zelensky says, urges US aid. “Every time you are here, General, we can sleep a little more. We would like you to travel to all Ukrainian cities,” Zelensky said at the annual Yalta European Strategy meeting.
Prince Harry, Polish and UK foreign ministers arrive in Kyiv. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski’s visit came days after the largest Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace during a mass strike on Ukraine, in what Polish officials describe as a “deliberately targeted” strike and provocation.
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Poland, Ukraine to train downing drones on Polish territory, Warsaw says. The Polish Defense Ministry clarified on Sept. 12 that Ukrainian and Polish specialists will practice the use of drones and anti-drone systems only on Polish territory.
Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast ‘completely thwarted,’ Zelensky says. “As of today, we can state that the Russian offensive operation on Sumy has been completely thwarted by our forces,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 12, citing front-line reports from Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Over 130,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation. The latest reported death toll includes 36,568 volunteers, 18,261 recruited prisoners, 14,797 mobilized troops, and 2,777 mercenaries.
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Ukraine war latest: Key Russian oil hub suspends operations, SBU says
Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) drones struck Primorsk, Russia’s largest oil-loading port on the Baltic Sea, overnight on Sept. 12, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent. Fires broke out at one of the vessels and a pumping station, forcing the suspension of oil shipments.
Photo: Exilenova / Telegram
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KI Insights Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week
The Ukrainian government is expected to soon submit its Government Action Program, presented in August, to Parliament for approval. The program is seen as an effort to boost the popularity of the new government following the July reshuffle.
Photo: Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto 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
Russian attacks kill 6, injure 26 in Ukraine over past day. Ukrainian forces downed 33 out of the 40 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Six drones struck three different locations, according to the statement.
Can Ukraine’s oil strikes shift Russia’s war?
International response
NATO to launch ‘Eastern Sentry‘ in response to Russian drone attack on Poland. The Russian attack on Poland exposed serious holes in NATO’s air defenses.
US vows to defend ‘every inch‘ of NATO territory after Russian drone incursion into Poland. “The United States stands by our NATO allies in the face of these alarming airspace violations,” said acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea, addressing the 15-member Security Council.
‘I’m not gonna defend anybody‘ — Trump says days after Poland shoots down Russian drones. “I’m not gonna defend anybody but they were actually knocked down and they fell. But you should not be close to Poland anyway,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
UK pledges $193 million in Ukraine aid, hits Russia with new sanctions. “Putin’s bombardment of Ukrainian civilians, his stalling and delaying in internationally-backed peace talks, and his blatant disregard for human life must end,” U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
EU renews Russia sanctions despite pushback from Hungary, Slovakia. The sanctions list includes Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, top military officials, lawmakers, oligarchs, propagandists, mercenaries, and individuals responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children from occupied territories.
Poland sees no reason to sever diplomatic ties with Russia after drone attack, foreign minister says. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Poland sees no reason to sever diplomatic ties with Russia, noting that it has already limited the activities of Russian diplomats in several regions.
Lithuania ready to close border with Belarus immediately if provoked, minister says. “If something happens — a drone, a provocation, or suspicious troop movements — we can do it,” Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic said.
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Monday, September 8, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
An injured woman watches as firefighters put out a fire on a residential building following a massive Russian strike on the city, on Sept. 7, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
Ukraine expects ‘strong reaction from America,’ Zelensky says after Russia’s record-breaking attack. Zelensky called for sanctions, tariffs, and trade restrictions on Russia, as well as increased long-range strike capabilities for Ukraine.
Trump claims he’s ready for ‘second phase’ of sanctions against Russia, will speak with Putin ‘very soon.’ Trump said he was “not thrilled” with Russia’s mass attack against Ukraine and plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in “the next couple of days.”
‘Responsibility is inevitable’ — Ukraine’s military intelligence honors anniversary by plastering Moscow with ‘greeting cards.’ “Residents of the capital of so-called Russia can obviously expect special congratulations from Ukrainian military intelligence soon,” a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine hits ‘strategically important’ oil infrastructure in Russia, General Staff confirms. Ukrainian forces struck the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai and the “8-N” oil pipeline control station near the village of Naitopovichi in Bryansk Oblast, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Sept. 7.
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Ukraine retook 5 times more territory than it lost near Pokrovsk in August, Syrskyi says. Ukrainian forces lost 5 square kilometers but regained control of 26 square kilometers in the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast in August, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
Russia has recruited 280,000 contract soldiers in 2025, military intelligence says. Propaganda campaigns and “large payments” to contract soldiers contribute to Russia’s recruitment success, intelligence official Vadym Skibitskyi said.
Russia plans to produce nearly 2,500 high-precision missiles in 2025. In addition to missile production, Russia plans to manufacture a range of modern military hardware by the end of 2025, including 57 combat aircraft.
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Ukraine war latest: Record Russian drone, missile attack kills at least 4, injures 44 across Ukraine, hits government building for first time
Multiple Ukrainian regions, as well as the capital, came under attack. The overnight strikes damaged multiple residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, causing power outages in some regions, and struck the Cabinet of Ministers building in central Kyiv. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 810 Shahed-type drones during the attack, making it the largest such attack of the full-scale invasion. Thirteen cruise and ballistic missiles were also launched.
Photo: Kyodo News 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
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 11, injure 75 over past day. At least eight Ukrainian regions, as well as the city of Kyiv, came under attack over the past 24 hours. Russian forces launched missiles, drones, and glide bombs across Ukraine.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,088,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 970 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
China backs Russia as Trump’s peace talks stall | Ukraine This Week
International response
Russia’s mass attack shows Kremlin not interested in ending war diplomatically, Trump’s Ukraine envoy says. “The attack was not a signal that Russia wants to diplomatically end this war,” U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg wrote the day after Russia launched its largest attack of the full-scale war.
‘We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia,’ US Treasury Secretary says. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC News on Sept. 7 that the U.S. is prepared to work with European allies on new sanctions targeting countries that buy Russian oil, aiming to weaken Moscow’s economy and step up pressure on Russia to reach a ceasefire.
‘This is Putin’s response to calls for peace’ — European leaders condemn Russia’s Sept. 7 devastating attack on Ukraine. Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine on Sept. 7, killing at least four people and injuring more than 40, prompting swift condemnation from Kyiv’s European partners.
In other news
Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death in North Carolina, suspect charged with murder. A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 22, The Charlotte Observer reported.
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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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Sunday, August 24, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ukrainians celebrate the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine in Kyiv, on Aug. 23, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine marks flag day with symbolic action in Kursk region, regains control of Donetsk Oblast village. To mark Ukraine’s National Flag Day, drone operators from the “Rugby Team” battalion of the 129th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade raised the blue-and-yellow flag over two villages in Russia’s Kursk region.
Zelensky promises developments on security guarantees in ‘coming days.’ Meanwhile, Finnish President Alexander Stubb voiced doubts about Russia’s readiness for peace in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, saying, “They (Russia) want to continue the war at least until the fall to maximize their own territorial gains.”
Russian deserter confesses to killing 5 captured Ukrainian soldiers. A 31-year-old Russian serviceman claimed in an interview to have participated in the May 2024 killing of five captured Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk Oblast, according to Polish-Belarusian media outlet Vot Tak.
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Pentagon has quietly barred Ukrainian long-range strikes in Russia with US missiles, WSJ reports. The U.S. has quietly implemented a review process giving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authority to approve Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia with American missiles, effectively blocking strikes for months, the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 23.
Drone incidents reported in Moscow and St. Petersburg, dozens of flights disrupted. In response to concerns over airspace safety, Russia’s federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, temporarily suspended operations at multiple airports in major cities of the Volga and Central regions of European Russia—including Izhevsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Penza, Tambov, and Ulyanovsk.
Zelensky signs decrees imposing sanctions on Putin’s relatives, Kremlin allies. “These sanctions represent 100% synchronization with this year’s Canadian sanctions against 139 individuals and entities working for Russia’s war,” Zelensky said. “Everyone who helps Russia continue killing and building the war machine for further aggression must feel the real pressure of the world.”
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Everything you didn’t know about Ukraine’s flag
In the wake of Russia’s brutal invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian flags have been raised the world over from government buildings to people’s homes–even seen waving over small towns in the United States where there is no Ukrainian diaspora. These flags serve as reminders that Ukraine’s blue-and-yellow flag is not just a national marker, but a rallying symbol of resistance, particularly one against Russian aggression, a centuries-long fight for Ukrainians.
Photo: The Kyiv Independent
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After scandal, Ukraine’s president’s office chief seeks to restore trust by tapping veterans
President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak has a new idea — bring in soldiers and veterans into the office recently rocked by scandal. “It is fair. Because these people are the benchmark of honor, morality, and loyalty to Ukraine,” Yermak said on social media on Aug. 22. President Volodymyr Zelensky backed the idea. Yermak’s new push comes a month after a major scandal, in which the president’s team attempted to take away the independence of major anti-corruption institutions.
Photo: Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images
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Once a top backer, Poland fades from Ukraine peace talks amid domestic turmoil
As U.S.-led efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine were gaining momentum, Poland, once among Kyiv’s most vocal backers, was noticeably absent from high-level talks. The country, which provided an estimated 4.5 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in military aid since 2022 and hosts the critical Rzeszow-Jasionka hub for Western weapons deliveries, has struggled to maintain its early prominence. Analysts say dwindling military stockpiles and shifting domestic politics have reduced its role.
Photo: Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto 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
Russian strikes in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kill 1, injure 9 others. One person was killed and another nine were injured as a result of Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Aug. 23.
Ukrainian pilot dies in MiG-29 crash. A Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot was killed after completing a combat mission early on Aug. 23, according to a statement by Ukraine’s Air Force.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,075,160 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 840 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
International response
China ready to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, German media reports. German media outlet Welt reported, citing anonymous EU sources, that China has signalled it is prepared to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. However, China is prepared to do so only “if the peacekeeping forces were deployed on the basis of a mandate from the United Nations (UN),” the sources told Welt.
In other news
France summons Italian ambassador over official’s remarks on Macron’s Ukraine proposal, Reuters reports. Responding to Macron’s appeal earlier this week, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini used a Milanese dialect expression loosely meaning “get lost.”
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France summons Italian ambassador over official's remarks on Macron’s Ukraine proposal, Reuters reports
Responding to Macron’s appeal earlier this week, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini used a Milanese dialect expression loosely meaning "get lost."Olena Goncharova (The Kyiv Independent)