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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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‘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)
Lithuania Protests Russian Strikes on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure | Ukraine news
As reported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of LithuaniaBYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
Russian Strikes Threaten NATO Arms Supplies via Rail
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s rail network could cut up to half of NATO weapons deliveries, hitting key routes from Poland and Romania, analysts warn, say.BYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
Romania deploys 2 fighter jets after new Russian strikes near border
Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty ImagesBYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
Sunday, November 9, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
From Kyiv to New York — the Kyiv Independent brings stories from democracy’s front line
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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Ukraine races to heat homes as Russia targets gas infrastructure
Since the expiration of the Ukraine-Russia gas transit agreement in early 2025, Russian strikes have intensified, targeting Ukraine's gas production andBYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
Russia Tricked NATO into Building Targets in Ukraine
Scott Ritter claims Russia fooled NATO into building weapons depots and defense sites in western Ukraine by creating an illusion of safety—only to laterBYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
Thursday, October 9, 2025
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Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 1,000 supports us financially
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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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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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 1,000 supports us financially
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.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 1,000 supports us financially. One membership might not seem like much, but to us, it makes a real difference. If you value our reporting, consider becoming a member — your support makes us stronger.
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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Russia launches 619 attack drones, 32 cruise missiles against Ukraine
Ukraine faced a massive overnight assault as Moscow deployed 619 drones and missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. The attack included 579 strike drones,BYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
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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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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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Oleksiy Sorokin, Andrea Januta, Olena Goncharova, and Volodymyr Ivanyshyn.
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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)
Russian strikes Azerbaijani energy sites in Ukraine
#Baku may consider lifting its ban supplying Ukraine with weapons if #Russia continues targeting #Azerbaijani interests in #Ukraine
This follows series of #RussianStrikes on #Ukrainian #energy infrastructure linked to #Azerbaijan
In the latest attack #Russian forces launched 5 #drones at #SOCAR oil #depot in #Odesa Oblast 4 SOCAR employees seriously injured
kyivindependent.com/russian-st…
#RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine
Russian strikes on Azerbaijani energy sites in Ukraine may reportedly push Baku to arm Kyiv
Overnight on Aug. 8, Russian forces targeted a SOCAR oil depot in Odesa Oblast with five Shahed drones, igniting a fire and damaging a diesel pipeline.Olena Goncharova (The Kyiv Independent)
Ukraine LIVE: WW3 fears soar as Putin rushes forces to NATO border | World | News
Shocking clips have shown the harrowing aftermath of Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians, just hours before Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin.BYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
