Team
Asami Terajima
ReporterAsami Terajima is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent covering Ukrainian military issues, front-line developments, and politics. She is the co-author of the weekly War Notes newsletter. She previously worked as a business reporter for the Kyiv Post focusing on international trade, infrastructure, investment, and energy. Originally from Japan, Terajima moved to Ukraine during childhood and completed her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in the U.S. She is the winner of the Thomson Reuters Foundation's Kurt Schork Award in International Journalism 2023 (Local Reporter category) and the George Weidenfeld Prize, awarded as part of Germany's Axel Springer Prize 2023. She was also featured in the Media Development Foundation’s “25 under 25: Young and Bold” 2023 list of emerging media makers in Ukraine.
Articles
Outrage, disgust, but little surprise — Ukraine reacts to bombshell Witkoff leak
An explosive leak implicating top U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff in shady dealings with Russia has sparked shock and astonishment not only in the U.S. but also in Ukraine.
According to conversations leaked by Bloomberg on Nov. 25, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Witkoff advised a Russian official on how to sway the White House.
Ukrainian lawmakers, soldiers, and experts told the Kyiv Independent that the leak proves Witkoff could be a tool of the Kremlin rather than a neutral mediat
HUR exposes foreign-made backbone of Russia’s Shahed-107 drone striking Ukraine’s front line
Ukraine's military intelligence agency has revealed new details of Russia's Shahed-107 attack drone used to strike front-line areas.
Romania, Moldova detect drone incursions during large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine
Romania, a NATO and EU member state located just below Ukraine, reported that it detected two drone incursions this morning.
G20 leaders say Trump's Ukraine peace deal has 'important elements' but needs 'additional work'
"We welcome the continued US efforts to bring peace to Ukraine," the leaders of the European Union, the U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, and Finland said in a statement after meeting on the sidelines of a G20 summit.
Lukashenko pardons 31 Ukrainian citizens held in Belarus
The decision was made following an agreement reached by Lukashenko with U.S. President Donald Trump, at Ukraine's request.
US-Ukraine 'consultations' on Trump's peace deal to begin in Switzerland 'in coming days,' Umerov says
Nine Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak, Head of the President's Office, and Kyrylo Budanov, the country's military intelligence chief, are set to attend the meeting, according to a presidential decree published on November 22.
'Rewarding Russian butchery' — US lawmakers rail against Trump's Ukraine peace deal
"Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America’s interests," U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell said.
Russia likely captured over 15 villages in Zaporizhzhia Oblast since September, OSINT group says
The Russian advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast comes as Russian troops also intensify their offensives in other hot spots of the war.
At least 1 killed, 13 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
Russian troops launched one ballistic missile and 104 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported on Nov. 22.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,164,340 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,170 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
'Capitulation and betrayal' — Ukraine rages at controversial US peace plan, piles pressure on Zelensky
Amid mounting pressure from the White House, Kyiv is now grappling with a U.S. 28-point peace plan that many in the country view as a "capitulation."
Ukrainian activists, lawmakers, soldiers and veterans warn that the proposal could strengthen Russia's position, leading to further conflict rather than resolution — and not just on the front lines, but on the streets of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Ariev, a lawmaker with the opposition European Solidarity party, said that the leaked plan appears to be "a
Exclusive: Ukraine’s foreign legion to be effectively dismantled, volunteers sound alarm
Ukraine plans to effectively dismantle one of the main structures that has brought foreign volunteers into its ranks, the International Legion under the Ground Forces, according to sources, leaving legionnaires worried they will lose the unit's hard-won identity and be scattered into unfamiliar structures in a way they say could cost lives.
“Our biggest worry is just that we'll be moved around and units will be pulled apart, and we'll basically be funneled into where they feel like they need to
'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.
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.
Russian missile strike on Kharkiv Oblast kills 3, wounds 15, including 3 children
"Unfortunately, calls about possible victims continue to come in," authorities said.
