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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.
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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‘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)
And I have this feeling that America is falling back into the Dark Ages.
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#germany #solarpanels #apartments
How Germany outfitted half a million balconies with solar panels
Meet balkonkraftwerk, the simple technology putting solar power in the hands of renters and nudging Germany toward its clean energy goals.Akielly Hu (Grist)
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.
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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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Oak Court Mall business owners face uncertainty as closure looms
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Business owners at Oak Court Mall are operating in limbo as the shopping center prepares to close without a confirmed date.BYTESEU (Bytes Europe)
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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It is important to kill the idea of building single family homes. It is better to build more family apartments.
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Influencer Evicted And Homeless After Throwing Dog Poop From Miami High-Rise Apartment
#animals #apartments #Business #dogs #Evicted #Florida #homeless #Influencer #Miami #news #pets
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The End of Cable TV: YouTube TV is Now Larger Than Comcast & Spectrum Combined, According to Nielsen – Cord Cutters News
The End of Cable TV: YouTube TV is Now Larger Than Comcast & Spectrum Combined, According to Nielsen
By Luke Bouma, on December 21, 2025, in All News, News
In a move that sparks the end of cable TV’s control of your TV, YouTube TV has emerged as the dominant force in live TV, eclipsing the combined watch time of two of the largest traditional cable providers, Spectrum and Comcast, according to the latest Nielsen data for November 2025. This milestone underscores the accelerating migration of viewers away from legacy cable bundles toward flexible, app-based streaming services, signaling potential challenges for the old guard of the industry as digital platforms continue to redefine how Americans consume entertainment. Many will still point to cable TV companies having more total subscribers, but the most important data point is watch time as Nielsen looks primarily at that. Increasingly, many people are being forced to pay for cable TV through HOAs and apartments, but do not use it.
The Nielsen report, released earlier this month, highlights a pivotal moment where YouTube TV captured 2.39% of total television viewership across the United States during the measured month. This figure alone positions it as the clear leader among pay-TV providers. In stark contrast, Spectrum and Comcast—longstanding behemoths in the cable sector—together accounted for just 2.14% of viewership. Spectrum trailed with 1.57%, while Comcast lagged further behind at 0.64%. The gap, though narrow at 0.25 percentage points, represents a symbolic and substantive victory for Google’s streaming arm, which has aggressively expanded its offerings to include local channels, sports packages, and unlimited cloud DVR storage at competitive price points.
This development comes amid broader trends in media consumption. Traditional cable subscriptions have been hemorrhaging for years, with cord-cutting accelerating post-pandemic as households prioritize on-demand access and cost savings. YouTube TV, launched in 2017, has capitalized on this by integrating seamlessly with Google’s ecosystem, allowing users to access content across devices with minimal friction. Its growth trajectory has been fueled by exclusive deals for major sports leagues, such as NFL Sunday Ticket, which drew massive audiences during the fall season. November’s data, encompassing a period rich in football playoffs and holiday previews, likely amplified these effects, drawing in both casual viewers and die-hard fans who value the service’s multiview features and 4K streaming capabilities.
Continue/Read Original Article Here: The End of Cable TV: YouTube TV is Now Larger Than Comcast & Spectrum Combined, According to Nielsen | Cord Cutters News
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Cable TV’s Hidden Lifeline: How HOAs and Apartment Deals Keep Comcast & Spectrum Afloat | Cord Cutters News
May 12, 2025 – For years, industry watchers have marveled at the resilience of cable TV providers like Comcast and Spectrum, despite the meteoric rise of streaming services.Luke Bouma (Cord Cutters News)
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Tuesday, November 25, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Olga Rudenko, editor-in-chief
at the Kyiv Independent
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)
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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War Notes
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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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One story from Ukraine
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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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WTF is wrong with Russia?
A weekly newsletter about Russian politics, history, and culture
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Saturday, November 8, 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
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.
Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.
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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War Notes
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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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One story from Ukraine
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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.
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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American woman shows off her $390 a month apartment in China and people are packing their bags
Being alive in the United States has gotten awful pricey. The toll is especially hard on younger people who want to live in or close to big cities, where the majority of the jobs and opportunities are.
Rents have skyrocketed, especially since the pandemic, and that's left a lot of Gen Zers scrambling for workarounds and solutions. Microapartments—affordable housing that just barely has room for a bed and an electric stove—have become popular. But having more space or, God forbid, buying a home have become increasingly out of reach for all but the wealthy.
What's fascinating is that cost of living isn't nearly as strenuous in many other places around the globe. For example, one American woman who recently moved to China showed off her extremely affordable apartment and it had viewers' jaws on the floor.
Alexis Oliana recently took to TikTok to give a tour of her apartment outside of Shanghai, China, just a few days after moving in.
"This apartment is two beds, two baths, and it's only $390 a month," she begins, already piquing everyone's interest. There aren't many places in America where you could find a deal like that, even if it was a little rough around the edges.
Her apartment is anything but.
The tour begins in the kitchen which, she admits, is on the small side, but perfect for her and her daughter. The living room, however, is spacious, clean, and modern with lots of natural light.
"All of the apartments in China and most of Asia come furnished so you don't need to worry about buying anything," she says as she pans the camera over a fuzzy white couch, a sleek coffee table, and a stylish floor lamp.
From there, she shows us a huge wrap-around balcony with a built-in clothesline for hang drying clothing. A second door off of the porch leads to an office that Oliana uses as a sewing room and play area for her daughter.
The master bedroom has a beautiful master bath and a little cushiony window seat, making it feel extra homey.
"You literally can't beat this for less than $400 a month. Which is crazy because my apartment complex—it had no amenities, nothing—wanted to up my rent $400 this year. Increase it $400 this year. I'm not even paying $400 to live here," she says.
See the whole tour here:
@alexisoliana
Living abroad really makes you realize how expensive the us is #china #livingabroad #travelingwithkids
And for the kicker, Oliana says when she moved in she talked to someone working for the apartment complex about paying for internet. He said it would be $50.
"How do we pay it again?" she asked, assuming the bill would come due again in a month. The man told her that it would be $50 for the whole year.
For reference, the average American is paying about $78/month for internet.
"I'm never going home," she jokes.
Over a million people watched the tour of Oliana's $390/month apartment. And many couldn't believe their eyes. While the space was no luxury penthouse by any means, it was an extremely stark contrast to what's available on a similar budget in America.
"None of us are broke we just live in America," one commenter said.
"This would be 2500-3500 in the United States," another added.
"That would be 5k to 6k in America not furnished and no balcony," estimated another.
"The propaganda and conditioning went strong in the USA, because why are people paying 1,500 for an old and dilapidated efficiency getting paid the barest of minimums and making it stretch so one could eat, the USA is insane," lamented another user.
It's not just a gut feeling most of us have. Experts agree that the rental market in America is out of control. One study from Harvard University found that 1/3 of Americans who work full-time cannot afford their housing costs. The study also found that 83% of low-income renters are spending over a third of their income on rent, and many are spending more than half. That's not sustainable.
It's not just rent, either. Food is significantly cheaper in China while basic grocery costs balloon in the U.S. Of course, the cost disparities are less noticeable the closer you get the center of big cities like Beijing, where cost of living is significantly more expensive than in suburban or rural areas. Still, living in China on average is far more affordable.
Case in point: In another video of Oliana's, she takes her daughter to see a specialist at the hospital with no insurance and no appointment. In the end, she pays about $6.
@alexisoliana
My poor baby. Only $5.69 for a specialist and medication for a walk in appointment in China?? This appointment would have cost well over $1,000 In America 😭 #livingabroad #chinesehospital #china
Of course, living in a country like China comes with its own challenges.
For one, citizens and media are heavily censored by the government there and many Western websites like Google and Instagram are banned. Some areas can also be incredibly crowded. (You've likely seen the images of people being packed onto trains like sardines.) Air quality is historically bad in many parts of China, though it's gotten better in recent years.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
The lesson is not that China is the perfect place to live, but Oliana's story highlights what could be possible right here in America with a few changes.
It's just not acceptable, sustainable, or conducive to a thriving economy to have citizens spending almost all of their income on rent, food, and healthcare. For too many Americans, there's simply nothing leftover. Oliana's story also shows what might happen if those with the means and flexibility to leave the country (say, remote workers) chose to do so.
Oliana, by all accounts, is having a great time raising her daughter in China, sharing videos of going to amusement parks and taking late-night walks without fear. It's easy to imagine it will be hard for her to ever move her family back to the states and pay 5x more for a similar apartment.
Eating and Drinking Cost in China, China Food Prices
Eating and drinking cost in China. Average prices of breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, drink, snack.Kelly Pang (China Highlights)
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
In other news
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)
Good morning. 👻🧙♂️🦇
22 October 2025
Back in the place I called home during my teenage years, there was an urban legend about a Lady in White. They said she could be seen if you drove out along the canal banks at night. I suspect every community has its own version of a Lady in White—retold, reshaped, and passed along like a ceremonial whisper. The story behind her was never quite clear. No one ever explained why she supposedly roamed the night. I never met anyone who claimed to have seen her firsthand—only people who knew someone who knew someone who said they had. That’s the way of urban legends: always one degree removed, always just out of reach.
Still, my friends and I, restless and looking for something to do, would sometimes head out to the canal banks after dark, hoping for a glimpse. This was in the San Joaquin Valley, where certain times of year the fog rolled in thick and heavy, making it a challenge to navigate the narrow access roads that ran alongside the canals. But we did it anyway. The fog had a way of distorting the landscape, creating illusions that made the improbable feel just barely plausible. Even then, I knew better. Ghosts are the stuff of imagination and superstition. My head’s always been fairly level—even in my worst moments.
There was also an old, abandoned house on the edge of town, wrapped in its own ghost stories. It was purported to be haunted. We all knew it was nonsense, but still—when the fog crept in and the house loomed out of the mist—we got the heebie-jeebies just the same.
I think we wanted to believe. Because sometimes, believing makes things exciting.
“We need ghost stories because we, in fact, are the ghosts.” — Stephen King
“I do not believe in ghosts. I believe in ghost stories.” — John Robert Colombo
#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #morning #UrbanLegends #ghosts #OldHouse #abandoned #fog #apartments #architecture
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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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)
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.
Company news
Kyiv Independent wins Online Journalism Award for Innovation in Revenue Strategy. The Kyiv Independent has been awarded the Online Journalism Award for Innovation in Revenue Strategy for building a sustainable business model during wartime.
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