Number of Ukrainian children killed and injured amid Russian full-scale invasion jumps threefold in recent months
The latest U.N. figures show a threefold jump in the number of deaths and injuries for children over the three months ending in May.
Andrea Januta
Articles
‘Not many events like this left’ — A Ukrainian literary festival in a city falsely claimed by Russia
When Russia illegally declared ownership in 2022 over all of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast – despite never fully capturing or controlling much of it — it only strengthened the case for holding a literary festival there, says Svyatoslav Pomerantsev, president of the international literary corporation Meridian Czernowitz. Hosting a cultural event in the
Ukraine scrambles to clarify extent of US military aid pause and 'whether everything will continue'
When the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) halted the transfer of critical air defense missiles and other weapons to Ukraine, Kyiv and its partners were caught off-guard and are now left scrambling for clarity on the scope and length of the Trump administration's decision. The White House confirmed the
Ukrainian deputy prime minister hit with travel ban, $2.9 million bail in major corruption case
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Chernyshov was restricted from traveling abroad without permission after a court ruled on June 27 to set bail at Hr 120 million ($2.9 million) while awaiting trial in a high-profile corruption case. “This is a huge challenge for me,” Chernyshov told reporters during
How much does a Russian drone attack on Ukraine cost? The question is more complicated than it sounds
Beginning overnight on Saturday, May 24, Russia rained down nearly a thousand drones and missiles on villages and cities across Ukraine in three nights of large-scale aerial attacks, as civilians spent hours sheltering underground. Russia’s bombardment killed more than a dozen people and injured dozens more, in one of
Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Debunking Putin’s ‘root causes' claims
As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s "root causes" be addressed before agreeing to any truce. For months, the phrase "root causes" has become a go-to talking point
What happens to all the guns in Ukraine post-war?
As peace talks ramp up, experts and officials are already working on a looming post-war threat: the potential large-scale proliferation of guns in Ukraine once they are no longer needed on the battlefield. "When the war ends, Ukraine will not only have to rebuild its infrastructure and resettle displaced people
‘There we go again’ — For war-weary Europe, Trump-Putin call yet another signal to ‘wake up’
After a two-hour call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia reiterated its refusal for a full ceasefire in the war in Ukraine while the U.S. once again failed to respond with any significant pressure. For observers across Europe, watching the way the negotiations
Ukraine’s mental health workers tackle war trauma and Soviet stigma in front-line regions
Editor’s note: In accordance with newsroom policy on reporting on children and the policies of organizations interviewed, the Kyiv Independent is not using the names of children under 18 or the last names of their parents who appear in this story. When the children arrive at a basement shelter
What will the new pope mean for Ukraine?
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include comments from a 2022 interview, given while Robert Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. With the announcement that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new pope and leader of the Catholic Church, Ukrainians are wondering what the surprise
A billion-dollar question mark — the details of the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal
The signing of a long-awaited minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine has come after months of tense negotiations as Kyiv worked on resetting its tumultuous relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. The key deal, inked on April 30, creates an investment fund and grants the U.S.
Trump claims 5,000 Russian, Ukrainian soldiers killed each week. Here’s what the numbers say
After the deadliest attack on Kyiv since last summer killed 13 civilians, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to lose patience with Russia, posting on social media, “Vladimir, Stop! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the peace deal done!” Trump repeated a number he’s cited
Trump's first 100 days marked by deadlier Russian attacks on Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump's promise to negotiate peace in Ukraine within his first 100 days in office collided with reality by April 30 — a slew of Russian missile and drone attacks during this time have spiked civilian death tolls, and a peace deal with Moscow that is still out
What to know about the 5 ‘key territories’ at the heart of Ukraine peace talks
As U.S. officials continue to push for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, five Ukrainian territories have emerged as a central focus — and sticking point — in the negotiations. “This peace deal is about these so-called five territories,” U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said in comments to Fox News
'Territories are first and foremost people:’ Zaporizhzhia, Kherson residents anxiously watch Witkoff debate the land they live on
Zaporizhzhia — During what would usually be evening rush hour in Zaporizhzhia, cars move easily through main streets that were once choked with traffic. As the shadows grow longer, soldiers calmly remove camouflage netting from the air defense weapons they’ll man against Russia’s deadly attacks until the sun rises
Forget Ovechkin and Washington. The Kyiv Capitals are playing for the survival of Ukrainian hockey
It's late in the second period of game four of the Ukrainian national hockey championship on April 2, and the upstart Kyiv Capitals, only in its second season, leads against established Hockey Club (HC) Kremenchuk and its star-studded roster. The Capitals captain, Serhii Chernenko, steals the puck and sends it
Does Trump have red lines with Russia? The question has experts stumped
He's been "pissed off," "not happy," and "very angry," but so far, U.S. President Donald Trump is yet to take any concrete action to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a full ceasefire. Trump has multiple forms of leverage he could use against the Kremlin — increasing military
As Ukraine-Russia ceasefire progress inches forward, here’s where things stand
After three days of separate intensive discussions with the United States, Russia and Ukraine left the latest round of ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia with agreements to declare a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea and to halt strikes against energy facilities. While lauded by the White House as progress
Ukraine denies Russian claims of thwarted attempt to invade Belgorod Oblast — here’s what we know
On March 18, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had stopped a significant Ukrainian ground assault from entering Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, a claim that Ukraine swiftly denied as a propaganda effort.
‘Talk about an invasion is everywhere’ — How Lithuania is preparing for war with Russia
Throughout Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, repeated and escalating warnings of the potential for a wider war have only raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be next in the crosshairs of the Kremlin. Talk about a potential Russian invasion is "very common at parties, gatherings, lunch breaks,
With Putin demanding new concessions for a ceasefire, all eyes are on Trump’s next move
As a U.S. delegation in Moscow worked to hammer out a ceasefire agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader responded by demanding extensive concessions in exchange for a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. So far, Trump has made harsh demands on Ukraine while avoiding putting similar pressure on
Temporary ceasefire or redrawing borders? What ‘territorial concessions’ mean to Ukraine, Russia, and the US
After Ukrainian and U.S. officials met in Saudi Arabia for peace deal talks to end the war with Russia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on March 12 that potential "territorial concessions" from Ukraine were part of the discussion. Since U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated
‘Transformations after victory would be too late’ — An interview with Ukraine’s social policy minister
Since Russia began its full-scale invasion more than three years ago, the demands on social services have multiplied. Millions are internally displaced, the number of people with disabilities has risen by 10%, and more than 13,000 children have been orphaned. Populations who were already vulnerable are often hit harder
Russia, China 'salivating' as Trump's Ukraine peace plan unfolds, experts say
U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating pressure on Ukraine over the past week has shocked the global community as he pushes for a quick end to Russia’s full-scale invasion. The news on March 3 that the U.S. would suspend all military aid to Ukraine sparked fears in
'I'll need more ammo' — Ukraine's soldiers react to Trump-Zelensky Oval Office showdown
An astounding political encounter played out in front of the world on Feb. 28, as a highly-anticipated meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump descended into a verbal brawl, the cancelling of a mineral deal and — reportedly — Zelensky's unceremonious eviction from the White House. Zelensky left
In talks with Russia, Trump repeats his Afghanistan playbook
Donald Trump is elected U.S. president after criticizing a war abroad and calling for its end. He negotiates a deal with an adversary of the United States under heavy sanctions, cutting an ally out of their own country’s peace talks. The disastrous deal is viewed as a surrender
A ceasefire in Ukraine could end martial law — what would lifting restrictions mean?
For nearly three years, all of Ukraine has been living under martial law. The introduction of martial law temporarily suspended some civilian rights and freedoms and gave the government additional emergency powers in order to fight off Russia’s invasion. Mandatory curfews keep people off the streets at night. Elections
‘Totally screwed’ — How Trump, Hegseth are damaging Ukraine in talks with Russia
After promising to quickly resolve the war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump and his top officials’ actions on Feb. 12 appeared to undermine Ukraine’s leverage in peace talks, renewing fears that his plans for a quick resolution could amount to a victory for Russia. Trump announced he
In bomb shelters and without power, Ukrainian Jews translate the Torah into their national language for first time
When Oleg Rostovtsev hovered between life and death after a serious operation last April, he asked friends and family to do something that, until recently, had been impossible — to pray for him by reading the Tehillim, the Hebrew Book of Psalms, in Ukrainian. Hebrew or Ukrainian, he requested, just not
Explainer: Ukraine’s EuroMaidan was not a coup, despite Russian disinfo pushed by Musk
More than a decade after Ukraine’s pro-democracy EuroMaidan Revolution, the false — but persistent — claim that the movement was a Western-backed "coup" refuses to die. Elon Musk on Feb. 2 boosted to his more than 215 million followers a post on X which parroted Russian disinformation, claiming without evidence that
What leverage does Trump have over Russia in Ukraine peace negotiations? Quite a lot, experts say
Only days after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House, he dialed up the heat on Russia with a threat of sanctions, tariffs, and negotiating "the hard way" if Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to come to the table for a peace deal with Ukraine. Trump has
Lack of medical treatment, problems with unit transfers are most common causes of appeals, new military ombudsman says
Twenty days into her new post as Ukraine's military rights commissioner, Olha Reshetylova said that she had already received 3,876 appeals.
Editors' Picks
Arrests, raids, beaten and bloodied suspects — how Russia-Azerbaijan relations have unravelled
'Major casualties among civilians' — US freeze on air defense missiles is terrible news for Ukraine
Investigation: How Russia prepares its strategic missile plant for ‘eternal war’
