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Chris York

News Operations Editor

Chris York is news operations editor at the Kyiv Independent. Before joining the team, he was head of news at the Kyiv Post. Previously, back in Britain, he spent nearly a decade working for HuffPost UK. He holds an MA in Conflict, Development, and Security from the University of Leeds.

Articles

Ukraine war latest: Oil tanker en route to Russia hit by drone in Black Sea

by Chris York
Hello, this is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,415 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story: An oil tanker en-route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk was struck by a drone on Jan.8, Reuters reported citing a notice by Lloyd's List Intelligence The Palau-flagged Elbus "experienced an unmanned marine-vehicle and drone attack" in the Black Sea after departing from Singapore. None of the 25 crew were reported injured and the vessel made its way to the Turkish port o
President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Macron, and British Prime Minister Starmer in Paris, France, on Jan. 6, 2026

3 glaring issues with the UK-France peacekeeper troops plan for Ukraine

In a grandly-staged, and much publicized meeting on Jan. 6, Ukraine and its Western allies celebrated a deal that would pave the way for French and British peacekeeping troops to deploy in Ukraine — once the war is over, of course. French President Emmanuel Macron said "considerable progress" had been made. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said work on agreeing security protocols was "largely finished." And President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a "huge step forward." But there were several
A fire burns at Fuerte Tiuna, after a series of explosions in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026.

'Embarrassing' — We asked 3 experts why Venezuela's Russian-supplied air defenses were AWOL

by Jared Goyette, Chris York
Of all the images that emerged from the U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3, one of the most surreal was the sight of a fleet of American helicopters flying unchallenged over the skies of Caracas. Video from Caracas, Venezuela shows U.S. military helicopters, including CH-47 Chinook and V-22 Osprey aircraft, operating over Caracas alongside multiple explosions. The cause and context of the blasts remain unconfirmed. pic.twitter.com/owOx9X7DPP — George

Ukraine war latest: Russia is arming Shahed-type drones with MANPADS heat-seeking missiles

by Chris York
Hello, this is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,413 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story: A Russian Shahed-type drone reportedly downed in Chernihiv Oblast was armed with a MANPADS heat-seeking missile, media reported on Jan. 5. MANPADS — man-portable air defense systems — are typically used as short-range weapons to engage low-flying aircraft such as fighter jets and helicopters. Ukraine routinely deploys helicopters armed with heavy machine guns to track and
A generator is installed on a street in Odesa, Ukraine, on Dec. 15, 2025, after Russian shelling

A dark Christmas looms in Odesa Oblast as Russia hammers energy facilities, bridges, ports

Russian attacks have plunged Odesa Oblast into darkness and cold just days before Christmas, cutting power to more than 120,000 residents after strikes on three energy facilities on Dec. 22. Russia has stepped up attacks in Odesa Oblast this December, targeting ports, roads, energy infrastructure, and homes. Frequent strikes have caused widespread power outages and delayed repairs, leaving some residents without electricity and entire areas cut off due to disrupted transportation networks. "I

Ukraine war latest: 'Extremely difficult' situation as Russian forces attempt to cross Siverskyi Donets River

by Chris York
Hello, this is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,398 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: The situation near Siversk, Donetsk Oblast, is "extremely difficult" as Russian forces continue to attempt crossings  the Siverskyi Donets River, Ukraine's 7th Air Assault Corps said on Dec. 22. Russia’s renewed offensive on the front-line city of Siversk in Donetsk Oblast has sparked weeks of heavy fighting, even as Moscow has claimed that the city has already fall

Russia’s air defenses have a Flamingo missile-sized weak spot, report suggests

by Chris York
Ukraine's domestically produced cruise missiles could help deal a devastating blow to Russia's air defense production, enabling increasingly effective long-range drone strikes against other targets inside Russia, a new report published on Dec. 12 says. The report from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and titled "Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky," identifies "significant vulnerabilities" in the production process of several of Moscow's most important air de

Ukraine war latest: UK Armed Forces member dies during weapons test in Ukraine

by Chris York
Hello, this is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,385 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: A member of the British Armed Forces died in Ukraine during the testing of a "new defensive capability" on Dec. 9, the U.K. Defense Ministry has said. "It is with deep regret that we must announce that a member of the U.K. Armed Forces died in Ukraine this morning," the ministry said in a statement on social media. "He was injured in a tragic accident whilst observ

Ukraine war latest: HUR drones hit Russian air defenses in occupied Donbas

by Chris York
Hello, this is Chris York, reporting from Kyiv on day 1,378 of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the international focus remains on Trump's peace deal negotiations in Moscow, our focus in this blog is on updates from the front: Our top story so far: Drones launched by Ukraine's military intelligence struck Russian air defense systems in occupied Donbas, the agency claimed on Dec. 2, knocking out a launcher from a S-300 SAM system, and two 1L125 Niobium-SV radar stations. "Such s