In the early morning of June 6, Russia blew up a major dam in the occupied part of southern Ukraine, causing a humanitarian and ecological crisis. The Kakhovka dam, located on the Dnipro River, is a major waterway running through southeastern Ukraine and the last of a series of six Soviet-era dams. The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant played an important role in Ukraine’s power grid and water supply, and its destruction is a major blow to the country’s food, water, and energy system. But it

Before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 27-year-old engineer Maxim Sheremet was engaged in the manufacturing of commercial drones. He worked for the state defense company Ukroboronprom, a strategic manufacturer of weapons and military hardware in Ukraine, and later at Evolve Dynamics, a U.K. engineering company specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft systems and software. “I produced commercial drones from a university age, but…back then, it was

In the final episode of “Did the War End?” the hosts reflect on Russia’s war against Ukraine six months in, discussing recent strikes on military sights in Russian-occupied Crimea and the hope they represent to end the occupation, as well as the biggest lessons they took away from living through war. The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · Finale: Feb. 24, Six Months Later

After a five-month blockade of Ukrainian ports, the first ships carrying Ukrainian grain have finally started sailing to the rest of the world. Russia has historically used food as a weapon — and this time around, it’s no different. In this episode of "Did the War End?" we are joined by two experts to discuss the oncoming food crisis caused by Russia. The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · How Russia is Causing a Global Food Crisis

Russia’s war has made Ukraine one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. In this episode of "Did the War End?" we are joined by an expert to take a closer look at what would it take to demine Ukraine. The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · A Ticking Time Bomb – Demining Ukraine

Often referred to as the first “TikTok war,” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks the first time a war of this scale has played out as millions of people track every move and development in almost real-time. In this episode, we are joined by two experts to discuss disinformation, content moderation, and the role of social media in war. The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · The War, Online - Content Moderation and the Role of Social Media

With Russia currently occupying over 20% of Ukraine, many Ukrainians are risking their lives to escape to Ukraine-controlled territory. In this episode, we are joined by the Kyiv Independent’s Head of Investigations Anna Myroniuk, who shares the story of one family’s escape from Kherson Oblast. The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · Fleeing Occupation in Kherson Oblast – A Story of Separation

Picture this: You’re scrolling through eBay, ten years from now, maybe looking for some artwork to put up in your new apartment. You come across a painting you like…but it looks familiar. Really familiar. You look a little closer and you realize — you’ve seen this painting before. In a museum, in Ukraine. And you think to yourself…wait – What’s it doing on eBay? In this episode of “Did the War End?” we hear from two experts about how Ukrainian art has become an important target for Russian occu

Since Russia illegally annexed and occupied Crimea in 2014, nearly all forms of dissent on the peninsula have been crushed. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has imposed a new layer of censorship as repressions have increased and ways of resisting have diminished. In this episode of “Did the War End?” we talk to two locals, including a Crimean Tatar activist, about how life has changed in Crimea since Feb. 24. The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · Inside Occupied Crimea - Resistance in the Face of

Disinformation has been a part of Russia's geopolitical strategy since the establishment of the Russian Imperial Police in 1881. How has Russia weaponized information, from the 1800s, Soviet times, and all the way to today? In this episode of our podcast “Did the War End?” we discuss the evolution of Russian information warfare alongside Nina Jankowicz, a world-renowned expert on disinformation. Tune in to hear about the role disinformation is playing in the Russian-Ukrainian war and what the W

Throughout Russia's war, Ukrainians all over the country have shown remarkable courage, be it to help a stranger or save their loved ones. In this episode of our podcast “Did the War End?” we hear from one of those Ukrainians — Max — who drove from Kyiv to Mariupol in the middle of March to evacuate his family. Not once — but twice. The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · Escaping Mariupol – Max’s Story

Azovstal, a steel plant in now Russian-occupied Mariupol, has become a symbol of Ukraine’s fierce resistance to the Russian invasion. Thousands of Ukrainian fighters defended the plant with little to no resources, refusing to surrender for nearly three months. In this episode of our podcast “Did the War End?” we hear from John Spencer, a leading expert in urban warfare studies, about what it took for Ukrainian soldiers to defend the plant, despite being drastically outnumbered. We also talk to

The early hours of Feb. 24, 2022 were not something any Ukrainian could have imagined. It was a very regular night. Then, millions of people across the country woke up to the sounds of explosions, as Russia began its full-scale attack on Ukraine, including its capital, Kyiv. In this episode of our podcast "Did the War End?" the hosts Anastasiia Lapatina, Catarina Buchatskiy, and Agatha Gorski discuss how they learned that their country was under attack, how they reacted, and what it feels like

According to Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office, Russian forces fired at evacuation buses with civilians in Borova, a village in Kharkiv Oblast, on April 14. 

The new package aims "to support Ukraine in this crucial phase while Russia’s illegal assault continues," according to Downing Street. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also confirmed an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine. The new aid is in addition to the $130 million package of military equipment announced on April 8.