Moscow claims it repelled Kyiv’s ‘attempts’ to strike occupied Crimea, bordering Russian regions
Moscow claims that it had shot down nine U.S.-provided long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles, and a drone over Crimea.
Asami Terajima
Articles
Taiwan's FM: 'If Russia can do that to Ukraine, China might do the same to Taiwan'
TAIPEI – The start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine was a wake-up call for Taiwan, with the island nation believed to be the next conflict zone in case of Kyiv’s defeat. Two years in, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu still believes that the island’s future is dependent
Explainer: Iran's cheap, effective Shahed drones and how Russia uses them in Ukraine
Editor's note: This story initially said that Shahed-136 drones are said to weigh 10-15 kilograms. It was corrected since that is the weight of the warhead, and the drones weigh about 200 kilograms. Iran's massive aerial assault on Israel over the weekend felt close to home for Ukraine. In a
Russia prepares for a major offensive in Ukraine, eyes Chasiv Yar
Since March, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said more than once that Ukraine is expecting a major Russian offensive that could start in May or June. Ukrainian experts and military officials now say it might begin even sooner. All eyes are currently on the Bakhmut axis as Russian troops gradually inch
Intense fighting, lack of resources leave wounded soldiers on their own
Editor’s note: The Kyiv Independent is not disclosing the full names of the soldiers introduced in the story, as they didn’t have a formal authorization to speak to the press. DONETSK OBLAST – Mykhailo arrived at a dugout less than an hour after it was hit by Russian drones.
Russia launches major attack across Ukraine targeting critical infrastructure
Russian forces fired 29 cruise missiles and 28 Shahed drones in a large-scale attack targeting eight regions in the west, center, north, and south of Ukraine, the Air Force said.
Asami Terajima: A toast to my fallen friends in Donbas
Editor's Note: The Kyiv Independent is not disclosing the full names of soldiers due to security concerns amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. DONETSK OBLAST – Watching my friend Vitalii prepare grilled pork skewers during my latest trip to Donetsk Oblast in February, we were thinking about one thing: the summer
Ukrainian soldiers near Kupiansk prepare for potential Russian offensive
Editor's note: The Kyiv Independent is not disclosing the full names of soldiers due to what they cited as security concerns and their unit's protocol amid the war in Ukraine. KHARKIV OBLAST — As Russia rolls past now-occupied Avdiivka further west, other parts of the front have seen quieter days. But
Ukrainian soldiers recall retreat from Avdiivka – on foot, leaving their wounded behind
Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Independent does not disclose the soldiers’ full names since they were not authorized to speak with the press. DONETSK OBLAST – As Russian forces closed in on a Ukrainian pocket southeast of Avdiivka, infantryman Oleh heard the order clearly: “There will be no evacuation. Leave 300
Fate of Avdiivka uncertain as Ukrainian forces defending it struggle with fortifications, resources
Editor's note: The full names of the soldiers introduced in the story are not disclosed due to security concerns amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. DONETSK OBLAST – As artillery began pounding the cold-hardened ground ahead of them, two Ukrainian soldiers listened warily to shell impacts creep closer. They were squeezed
Revised mobilization bill seeks to reinforce conscription in Ukraine in 2024
Ukraine’s leadership is seeking to kickstart a mobilization campaign to replenish the ranks in 2024. For that, it needs an updated legal framework. The government submitted a new draft of the mobilization law to Ukraine’s parliament on Jan. 30, more than two weeks after withdrawing its initial, contentious
Ex-NATO chief: Not inviting Ukraine to join alliance gives Putin incentive to continue the war
NATO should extend an invitation to Ukraine at the Washington Summit in July, as it could serve as “an instrument” to ending Russia’s war, the alliance’s former Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said on Jan. 30 in Kyiv. “I know that (NATO's invitation to Ukraine) would be a
Sky News: Ukrainian Navy сommander signals Kyiv would win faster if there's permission to fire Western weapons deep inside Russia
Ukrainian Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa told Sky News that the state of the war would have been very different if allies had not given restrictions to Kyiv on the use of Western weapons.
State Border Guard: About 1,300 trucks in line to enter Ukraine from Poland, no delays in checks
Roughly 1,300 trucks are currently waiting in line at the Polish border with Ukraine, but the pace of passing the border has been quicker after the blockade was completely lifted, State Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on Jan. 28.
Russian strike on Donetsk Oblast town wounds 3, including a child
An overnight Russian strike on Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast wounded three, including a child, the regional Prosecutor's Office said on Jan. 28.
Ukraine’s Kichenok loses Grand Slam Doubles Final to No. 2 seed
Ukrainian tennis player Lyudmyla Kichenok and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko lost their Australian Open doubles final to the second seeds with a 1-6 5-7 score.
Prosecutors: 1 killed, 6 wounded by Russian strike in Donetsk Oblast
Russian forces used what appeared to be an S-300 missile to attack Selydove in Donetsk Oblast overnight, killing one person and wounding six, the regional prosecutor's office reported on Dec. 31.
Death toll from Dec. 29 strikes on Kyiv rises to 23 as more bodies pulled from rubble
At least 23 people were killed by Russia's Dec. 29 mass strike in Kyiv, the State Emergency Service reported on Dec. 31.
Official: 5 civilians wounded by Russian shelling in Kherson
Five civilians were wounded by the Russian shelling of Kherson on Dec. 31, head of the city's military administration Roman Mrochko reported.
Governor: Critical infrastructure facility on fire in Kyiv Oblast after drone attack
Fire erupted in the premises of an unidentified critical infrastructure site in Kyiv Oblast after a Russian drone attack, regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko reported on Dec. 31.
Police: 2 civilians killed by Russian shelling in Kharkiv Oblast
A 55-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man were killed by Russian shelling in the town of Borova in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, head of the regional police Volodymyr Tymoshko reported on Dec. 31.
Update: Death toll of Dec. 29 mass strike in Kyiv rises to 19
The death toll of Russia's Dec. 29 mass strike rose to 19 in Kyiv, as rescuers found two more bodies under the rubble, Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, reported on Dec. 31.
Update: Russian strike on Kharkiv wounds 28, including 2 children, foreign citizen, governor says
Russian forces launched six missiles against Kharkiv in the early evening of Dec. 30, wounding 28 people, including two children and a foreign citizen, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
Ukraine war latest: Russian landing ship hit by Ukrainian missile strike in occupied Crimea
Key developments on Dec. 26: * Russia confirms its landing ship hit by Ukrainian missile strike in occupied Crimea * Russian attack on Kherson railway station kills 1, injures 4 * Zaluzhnyi denies requesting mobilization of 500,000 conscripts * Zaluzhnyi says Ukrainian troops remain in north of Marinka. Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed that
Media: 2 Russian vessels left Feodosia in occupied Crimea after Ukraine's strike
Two Russian vessels had left Feodosia a few hours after Ukrainian forces struck the port in Russian-occupied Crimea, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Crimea.Realities reported on Dec. 26.
Minister: France delivers second ship to help Ukraine with grain export
French Transport Minister Clement Beaune said on Dec. 26. "Our commitment is total, our solidarity will not stop," Beaune said on X, formerly Twitter.
Russian attack on Kherson railway station kills 1, injures 4
Russian forces attacked a railway station full of people in Kherson late on Dec. 26, killing at least one person and wounding four others, Ukrainian officials said.
Activist Sternenko says court closed case against him for death of a 2018 attacker
Well-known Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko said on Dec. 26 that an Odesa court closed a case against him for the death of a man who attacked him in 2018. The decision means his guilt was not proven, according to Sternenko.
Ukrainian soldiers storming eastern bank of Dnipro fear their mission is hopeless
Editor’s note: Full names and the deployment locations of the soldiers interviewed for this story are not disclosed since they weren't authorized to speak to the press. KHERSON OBLAST – Mortars are the first things that greet the Ukrainian soldiers who are lucky enough to make it across the Dnipro
General: Russia conducting fewer assault operations in southeast
Tarnavskyi said on Telegram that Ukrainian forces were holding on to Avdiivka despite Russia's endless attempts to encircle the embattled city.
UK Defense Ministry: Russia's Dec. 7 strike likely start of campaign against energy infrastructure
In its intelligence bulletin on X, the Defense Ministry said that Russian forces had likely used Tu-95 planes to fire Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles on Dec. 7 – the first time they were used since Sept. 21.
US bypasses Congress to help Israel in contrast with Ukraine aid
The emergency measure, used by President Joe Biden's administration to bypass Congress, comes amid more reports that the U.S. could be running out of funds to help Ukraine.
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From drone simulators to civics: Ukraine reforms school curriculum to protect next generation from Russian threat
