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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)
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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Tuesday, November 18, 2025
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at the Kyiv Independent
Russia’s war against Ukraine
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) and President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) shake hands after signing an arms agreement on November 17, 2025. (Christophe Ena / POOL / AFP / Getty Images)
Mike Pompeo joins advisory board of scrutinized Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of a Ukrainian defense company known for its Flamingo long-range missiles, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Nov. 17, citing the company’s executives.
Russia’s largest silicon plant ‘forced’ to halt output as demand collapses. Kremniy, located in east-central Irkutsk Oblast, is the country’s largest refined silicon producer with a yearly capacity of 34,000 tons.
Ukraine’s HUR releases new data on foreign equipment used in Russian weapons, focusing on eastern Asian companies. Ukraine has long highlighted Western and foreign components used in Russian weapons to call for tougher sanctions.
Ukraine to purchase 100 Rafale jets, Zelensky says after signing defense declaration with Macron. Zelensky told TF1-LCI news channel that Ukraine aims to buy 100 Dassault-made Rafale fighters, a 4.5-generation multirole aircraft.
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Russia’s flagship oil price drops as buyers retreat ahead of US sanctions. Discounts on Urals relative to Brent reached $23.5 per barrel, the widest gap since June 2023.
‘Our defense is falling apart’ — Prominent Ukrainian activist criticizes military, political leadership. Sternenko’s warning comes as Russian troops pierce through Ukrainian defenses on multiple hot spot sectors of the war.
IMF and Ukraine begin talks for new loan program amid looming financing shortfall. “The discussions will cover the authorities’ economic policy objectives (…) and structural policies to strengthen governance, combat corruption, and enhance growth,” Priscilla Toffano, the IMF’s representative in Ukraine, said in a press release.
Ukraine reportedly strikes thermal power plant in occupied Donetsk Oblast. Videos posted on social media appear to show a large explosion and subsequent fire emanating from the Zuivska Thermal Power Plant in the occupied community of Zuhres in Donetsk Oblast, following a projectile strike on the target.
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Ukraine war latest: Russia bombed itself 8 times in 11 days, HUR intercepted call suggests
A Russian woman living in Belgorod Oblast has said that Russian forces dropped eight bombs in the area over the course of 11 days, according to an intercepted call released by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) on Nov. 17.
Photo: Stringer / AFP
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From Poseidon to Kinzhal: Why Russia’s ‘super weapons’ may matter less than the Kremlin claims
For the first time in years, the Kremlin has officially claimed to have tested one of its so-called “super weapons” — the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile — one of six “next-generation” strategic arms introduced in 2018.
Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense / Telegram
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Several law enforcement agencies come under fire over alleged involvement in Ukraine’s biggest graft scheme
Several law enforcement agencies were lambasted by a parliamentary commission on Nov. 17 for failing to investigate their employees’ alleged involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme at state nuclear power company Energoatom.
Photo: Ihor Kuznietsov / Novyny LIVE/ Global Images Ukraine / Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian missile strike on Kharkiv Oblast kills 3, wounds 15, including 3 children. “Unfortunately, calls about possible victims continue to come in,” authorities said.
International response
‘Act of sabotage’ — Explosion hits Polish railway track used for Ukraine aid shipments, Warsaw says. “We will catch the perpetrators, whoever they are,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, noting that the route was “crucially important for delivering aid to Ukraine.”
Romania evacuates border village after Russian drone struck LPG tanker at Ukrainian port. Between 100 and 150 people are to be evacuated from the Plauru village, which lies just across the Danube River from the Ukrainian port city of Izmail, hit by a Russian drone attack overnight.
Poland reopens 2 border crossings with Belarus after their years-long closure. Poland reopened the Kuznica and Bobrowniki crossings with Belarus after they had been closed for years, citing economic reasons and strengthened security along the eastern frontier.
As reparations loan talks stall, EU proposes 90 billion euro grant to cover Ukraine’s financing needs. Based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, the EU expects that if the Russia-Ukraine war ends in 2026, Kyiv will face a financial gap of 135.7 billion euros ($157 billion) in the 2026-2027 period.
Poland in ‘pre-war’ period amid increased Russian sabotage efforts, top Polish general says. Russia has begun preparing for war with Poland as Moscow continues to scale its cyberattack and acts of sabotage on Polish soil, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Wieslaw Kukula said on Nov. 17.
Congress to move on legislating Russia sanctions bill following Trump’s ‘blessing,’ US Senator Graham says. The United States Congress will renew its efforts to move forward in an attempt to pass a Russia sanctions bill into law, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announced on Nov. 17.
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Several law enforcement agencies come under fire over alleged involvement in Ukraine's biggest graft scheme
Several law enforcement agencies were lambasted by a parliamentary commission on Nov. 17 for failing to investigate their employees' alleged involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme at state nuclear power company Energoatom.Oleg Sukhov (The Kyiv Independent)
Thursday, October 9, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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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)
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
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Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 11, injure 75 over past day. At least eight Ukrainian regions, as well as the city of Kyiv, came under attack over the past 24 hours. Russian forces launched missiles, drones, and glide bombs across Ukraine.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,088,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 970 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
China backs Russia as Trump’s peace talks stall | Ukraine This Week
International response
Russia’s mass attack shows Kremlin not interested in ending war diplomatically, Trump’s Ukraine envoy says. “The attack was not a signal that Russia wants to diplomatically end this war,” U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg wrote the day after Russia launched its largest attack of the full-scale war.
‘We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia,’ US Treasury Secretary says. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC News on Sept. 7 that the U.S. is prepared to work with European allies on new sanctions targeting countries that buy Russian oil, aiming to weaken Moscow’s economy and step up pressure on Russia to reach a ceasefire.
‘This is Putin’s response to calls for peace’ — European leaders condemn Russia’s Sept. 7 devastating attack on Ukraine. Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine on Sept. 7, killing at least four people and injuring more than 40, prompting swift condemnation from Kyiv’s European partners.
In other news
Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death in North Carolina, suspect charged with murder. A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 22, The Charlotte Observer reported.
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Wednesday, September 3, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Former President Petro Poroshenko (2nd L) hugs a man near the coffin of Andriy Parubii, former Ukrainian parliamentary speaker, during his funeral at St. George’s Cathedral in Lviv on Sept. 2, 2025. A leading figure in the country’s pro-European protest movements of 2004 and 2014, Parubii was shot dead on Aug. 30, 2025 in Lviv. (Oleksandr Magula/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukraine liberates another village near Pokrovsk, military says. Ukrainian forces cleared out Russian troops from the Donetsk Oblast village of Udachne and raised the Ukrainian flag in the settlement, the military said.
As Moscow escalates strikes and rejects talks with Kyiv, Trump says he’s ‘very disappointed‘ in Putin. “I’m very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we’ll be doing something to help people live,” Trump said in an interview on the Scott Jennings Radio Show.
Kremlin denies Trump, Putin ever agreed on face-to-face Zelensky meeting. “Right now, there is talk of a trilateral meeting, of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. But specifically, as far as I know, there was no agreement between Putin and Trump on this,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said.
Putin, Zelensky not ready for face-to-face meeting, Erdogan says. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks on Sept. 1 after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China.
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Suspect admits to killing Ukraine’s ex-parliament speaker. The suspect in the murder of Andrii Parubii said he wants to be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia to go look for his son’s body.
Slovakia increasing Russian gas imports, aims to ‘standardize relations’ with Moscow, Fico tells Putin. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 2 that he will seek to normalize relations with Moscow, as Bratislava moves to gradually increase Russian gas imports through the TurkStream pipeline.
Russia open to ‘cooperation‘ with Ukraine, US at occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Putin claims. The comments, made during Putin’s meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, represent an apparent shift from Moscow’s previous refusal of any changes regarding the Ukrainian plant’s oversight.
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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces clear another village near Pokrovsk, military says
Ukrainian forces cleared Russian troops from the Donetsk Oblast village of Udachne and raised the Ukrainian flag in the settlement, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Sept. 2.
Photo: The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces
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Years of torture, abuse in Russian captivity take shocking toll on Ukrainian POWs
Editor’s Note: This article contains graphic descriptions.
In almost two years of Russian captivity, former Ukrainian marine Vladyslav Zadorin lost 60 kilograms — half his body weight — along with his gallbladder and nearly his toes. He returned home with lasting disabilities and deep trauma.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images
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In occupied Ukraine, the first day of Russian school begins with preparations for war
Across occupied Ukraine on Sept. 1, children spent the first day of the new school year being brainwashed into idolizing Russia and waging war.
Photo: Telegram
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Yanukovych’s stunt in Russian media shows Kremlin doesn’t understand Ukraine, experts say
Ukraine’s former pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych seemingly resurfaced publicly for the first time in years on Sept. 1, claiming that he had always backed Ukraine’s path toward the European Union.
Photo: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images
From Crimea to Donbas, Russia’s “peace” has always meant more war. We’re here in Ukraine to give the world a reality check. Support independent journalism in this critical moment.
Human cost of Russia’s war
Ukrainian soldier whose throat was cut by Russian forces found safe after disappearing from hospital. Vladyslav Nahornyi’s wife reported his disappearance after he left the hospital without warning.
About 2,000 North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia, Seoul says. According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Pyongyang plans to send an additional 6,000 troops to Russia as part of its third wave of deployment.
Russian drones force Kyiv children to hide in metro as school year begins. The air alert, triggered by Russian drones, began at 9:20 a.m. local time and lasted over three hours, catching many children on their way to school before classes could start.
International response
Macron to meet Zelensky ahead of talks with European leaders in Paris, media reports. Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet Emmanuel Macron ahead of a high-level summit of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” scheduled for Sept. 4.
Poland launches its largest military drills as Russia, Belarus set to hold exercises. The exercises, spanning land, sea, air, and cyberspace, involve about 30,000 Polish and allied troops and 600 pieces of equipment, taking place amid mounting security risks for Warsaw.
Russia, China sign ‘most ambitious’ Power of Siberia-2 pipeline deal. The deal, long delayed by Beijing’s hard bargaining over prices and volumes, cements Moscow’s pivot to Asia as it loses access to European energy markets.
NATO launches new command in Finland near Russian border. The alliance’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command (MCLCC) in the city of Mikkeli strengthens NATO’s footprint in its new northern member state.
Opinions and insights
Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust renews funding for Kyiv Independent’s front-line reporting
The Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust has made a generous grant for the second year in a row to support the Kyiv Independent’s front-line reporting.
Photo: Olena Zashko
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No more excuses: It’s time to strike Russia’s war chest
Europe does have the power to cut off the oil and gas revenues fueling Russia’s war.
Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In other news
Large pollution slick approaches Crimea, Russian coast impacted, monitoring group says. The spill originated on Aug. 29 at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium Marine Terminal near Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai.
Top Ukrainian Security Service official suspected of corruption. Illia Vitiuk was dismissed from his post on May 1, 2024, following an investigation by Slidstvo.Info that revealed his family had purchased real estate with a market value of at least $617,000.
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Sunday, August 24, 2025
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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ukrainians celebrate the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine in Kyiv, on Aug. 23, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine marks flag day with symbolic action in Kursk region, regains control of Donetsk Oblast village. To mark Ukraine’s National Flag Day, drone operators from the “Rugby Team” battalion of the 129th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade raised the blue-and-yellow flag over two villages in Russia’s Kursk region.
Zelensky promises developments on security guarantees in ‘coming days.’ Meanwhile, Finnish President Alexander Stubb voiced doubts about Russia’s readiness for peace in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, saying, “They (Russia) want to continue the war at least until the fall to maximize their own territorial gains.”
Russian deserter confesses to killing 5 captured Ukrainian soldiers. A 31-year-old Russian serviceman claimed in an interview to have participated in the May 2024 killing of five captured Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk Oblast, according to Polish-Belarusian media outlet Vot Tak.
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Pentagon has quietly barred Ukrainian long-range strikes in Russia with US missiles, WSJ reports. The U.S. has quietly implemented a review process giving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authority to approve Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia with American missiles, effectively blocking strikes for months, the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 23.
Drone incidents reported in Moscow and St. Petersburg, dozens of flights disrupted. In response to concerns over airspace safety, Russia’s federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, temporarily suspended operations at multiple airports in major cities of the Volga and Central regions of European Russia—including Izhevsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Penza, Tambov, and Ulyanovsk.
Zelensky signs decrees imposing sanctions on Putin’s relatives, Kremlin allies. “These sanctions represent 100% synchronization with this year’s Canadian sanctions against 139 individuals and entities working for Russia’s war,” Zelensky said. “Everyone who helps Russia continue killing and building the war machine for further aggression must feel the real pressure of the world.”
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Everything you didn’t know about Ukraine’s flag
In the wake of Russia’s brutal invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian flags have been raised the world over from government buildings to people’s homes–even seen waving over small towns in the United States where there is no Ukrainian diaspora. These flags serve as reminders that Ukraine’s blue-and-yellow flag is not just a national marker, but a rallying symbol of resistance, particularly one against Russian aggression, a centuries-long fight for Ukrainians.
Photo: The Kyiv Independent
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After scandal, Ukraine’s president’s office chief seeks to restore trust by tapping veterans
President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak has a new idea — bring in soldiers and veterans into the office recently rocked by scandal. “It is fair. Because these people are the benchmark of honor, morality, and loyalty to Ukraine,” Yermak said on social media on Aug. 22. President Volodymyr Zelensky backed the idea. Yermak’s new push comes a month after a major scandal, in which the president’s team attempted to take away the independence of major anti-corruption institutions.
Photo: Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images
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Once a top backer, Poland fades from Ukraine peace talks amid domestic turmoil
As U.S.-led efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine were gaining momentum, Poland, once among Kyiv’s most vocal backers, was noticeably absent from high-level talks. The country, which provided an estimated 4.5 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in military aid since 2022 and hosts the critical Rzeszow-Jasionka hub for Western weapons deliveries, has struggled to maintain its early prominence. Analysts say dwindling military stockpiles and shifting domestic politics have reduced its role.
Photo: Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto via Getty Images
From Crimea to Donbas, Russia’s “peace” has always meant more war. We’re here in Ukraine to give the world a reality check. Support independent journalism in this critical moment.
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian strikes in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kill 1, injure 9 others. One person was killed and another nine were injured as a result of Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Aug. 23.
Ukrainian pilot dies in MiG-29 crash. A Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot was killed after completing a combat mission early on Aug. 23, according to a statement by Ukraine’s Air Force.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,075,160 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 840 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
International response
China ready to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, German media reports. German media outlet Welt reported, citing anonymous EU sources, that China has signalled it is prepared to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. However, China is prepared to do so only “if the peacekeeping forces were deployed on the basis of a mandate from the United Nations (UN),” the sources told Welt.
In other news
France summons Italian ambassador over official’s remarks on Macron’s Ukraine proposal, Reuters reports. Responding to Macron’s appeal earlier this week, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini used a Milanese dialect expression loosely meaning “get lost.”
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France summons Italian ambassador over official's remarks on Macron’s Ukraine proposal, Reuters reports
Responding to Macron’s appeal earlier this week, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini used a Milanese dialect expression loosely meaning "get lost."Olena Goncharova (The Kyiv Independent)
Friday, August 22, 2025
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Olga (L) and Zabit (R), Ukrainian citizens of Azerbaijani origin who fled Soviet crackdowns during Azerbaijan’s independence uprising in 1990, harvest potatoes in their garden plot on Aug. 21, in Sloviansk, Ukraine. Sloviansk is the city where the war began in 2014, marked by its occupation by Russian militias led by Igor Strelkov, also known as Girkin. The town is located in Donetsk Oblast, a Ukrainian region cited in peace-talk discussions involving U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over a potential front-line freeze and territorial exchanges. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Going around in circles — Trump sets new deadline for peace in Ukraine, Graham again threatens with tough legislation. We will know in within two weeks whether there will be peace in Ukraine. After that we will have to maybe take a different tact,” U.S. President Donald Trump told conservative commentator Todd Starnes.
Russia would take 4 years to fully occupy Donbas, Zelensky says. “I explained to (U.S. President Donald Trump) that the talks about them (Russia) occupying our Donbas by the end of (2025) are all just chatter,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine regains control of most of Tovste in Donetsk Oblast, military says. Tovste is a front-line village southwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk and near the key town of Vuhledar.
Russian attack hits US electronics plant in western Ukraine. “This was an ordinary civilian facility with American investment. They produced everyday household items, such as coffee machines,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
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Video shows aftermath of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Ukrainian drones struck the Unecha oil pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast on Aug. 21, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, announced in a video published to social media.
Ukraine to mass produce long-range Flamingo missile in winter, Zelensky says. President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Flamingo had undergone successful tests, describing it as “the most successful” missile Ukraine currently has.
Russia opposes European troops in Ukraine under Trump-backed security guarantees, Lavrov says. Sending European troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees would amount to “foreign military intervention,” which Moscow won’t support, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Aug. 21.
Zelensky urges ‘strong response‘ from US if Putin rejects talks with Ukraine.
“We are ready for the bilateral meeting. If the Russians are not, then we would like to see a strong response from the United States,” Zelensky said, adding that he asked Trump to impose additional sanctions on Moscow if it rejects talks with Ukraine.
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Ukraine regains control of most of Tovste in Donetsk Oblast
The 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade pushed Russian troops from the settlement through coordinated operations involving infantry, drone units, and artillery, according to the military.
Photo: Pierre Crom / Getty Images
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Where is Crimea? And other things you (and US presidents) should know
U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Crimea as a piece of land “right in the ocean” that is “the size of Texas” while talking on the Mark Levin Show, a right-wing talk radio program, on Aug. 20.
Photo: Olga Maltseva / AFP 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
Massive Russian drone, missile attack kills 1, injures 26 in Ukrainian cities far from front line despite peace talks. The attack caused fires at a large electronics plant in Mukachevo, with damage also reported in other cities, including Lviv.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,029,660 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
The number includes 830 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
The ground drone revolution in Ukraine
International response
Switzerland, Austria ready to give Putin immunity for peace talks. Switzerland is prepared to grant Russian President Vladimir Putin immunity from arrest if he travels to Geneva for peace negotiations, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said in an interview on Aug. 19.
Lithuania closes airspace near Belarus ahead of joint Russian-Belarusian military drills. The closure comes ahead of the “Zapad-2025” military drills, scheduled to take place in Belarus from Sept. 12 to 16. Minsk said the joint exercises with Russia are intended to test both countries’ ability to ensure security and repel possible aggression.
Ukrainian detained in Italy for alleged Nord Stream sabotage, media report. Italian police have arrested a Ukrainian national under a European arrest warrant in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, German prosecutors announced on Aug. 21.
Kim Jong Un reportedly awards troops who fought for Russia. At a ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un praised the overseas troops and said their participation demonstrated “the power of the heroic (North Korean) army.”
Trump’s intelligence chief ordered halt to intelligence sharing on Russia-Ukraine peace talks among ‘Five Eye’ allies, CBS reports. U.S. intelligence sources told CBS News that Gabbard signed a directive barring the sharing of information with the Five Eye alliance, which includes the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
In other news
Trump administration escalates purge of senior US intelligence officials, Economist reports. The officer, who served as the CIA’s top Russia and Eurasia analyst during the 2016 election and helped produce the report detailing Moscow’s interference on behalf of Donald Trump, was among the most senior career officials targeted.
Ex-defense official charged with abuse of power after awarding himself bonuses, extra payments. A former acting director general of a state-owned defense enterprise has been charged under suspicion that the official abuse his power in awarding himself 700,000 UAH ($17,000) in bonuses and extra payment during his service, the city of Kyiv’s Prosecutor’s Office announced on Aug. 21.
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Ex-defense official charged with abuse of power after awarding himself bonuses, extra payments
A former acting director general of a state-owned defense enterprise has been charged under suspicion that the official abuse his power in awarding himself 700,000 UAH ($17,000) in bonuses and extra payment during his service, the city of Kyiv's Pros…Dmytro Basmat (The Kyiv Independent)
Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away
#Ukraine's military intelligence agency was behind explosions near Desantnaya Bay in Russia’s #Vladivostok
2 blasts occurred early in morning at site where Russia’s 47th Separate Air Assault Battalion was stationed
The Brigade has been actively involved in #invasion of Ukraine, including battles in #Mariupol & #Vuhledar, #DonetskOblast, as well #KurskOblast
kyivindependent.com/ukraine-be…
Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) was behind the explosions near Desantnaya Bay in Russia's Vladivostok on May 30, which reportedly damaged military personnel and equipment, a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent.Kateryna Denisova (The Kyiv Independent)