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Francis Farrell photo

Francis Farrell

Reporter

Francis Farrell is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. He has worked as managing editor at the online media project Lossi 36, and as a freelance journalist and documentary photographer. He has previously worked in OSCE and Council of Europe field missions in Albania and Ukraine, and is an alumnus of Leiden University in The Hague and University College London. For the second year in a row, the Kyiv Independent received a grant from the Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust to support Farrell's front-line reporting for the year 2025-2026. Francis is the co-author of War Notes, the Kyiv Independent's weekly newsletter about the war. Francis is the co-author of War Notes, the Kyiv Independent's weekly newsletter about the war.

f.farrell@kyivindependent.com

Articles

War analysis

Russia’s gains speed up in Ukraine ahead of high-stakes autumn

by Francis Farrell
Amid a flurry of activity in the geopolitical arena without much real progress toward peace, the fourth summer of Russia’s full-scale war has come and gone on the battlefield. Not showing any real intent to stop its war in peace negotiations, Moscow has continued to pursue offensive operations at a high intensity across the front line. The partially occupied far eastern Donetsk Oblast — in the spotlight internationally as the subject of Russian demands for it to be handed over as part of a sup
War analysis

Behind Ukraine’s manpower crisis lies a bleak new battlefield reality for infantry

by Francis Farrell
Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. DONETSK OBLAST – Since he first volunteered to take up arms and defend his country in January this year, 54-year-old Ukrainian infantryman Ruslan “Kalyna” has only been on one combat mission. One 146-day combat mission. The trees were still bare and the air bitterly cold when Ruslan, an ex-convict soldier in Ukraine’s 93rd Mechan
Video

Why Russia's war won't end yet

by Francis Farrell, Nick Allard
It has been over seven months since U.S. President Trump took office, vowing to end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell explains why Trump's peace effort has failed so far — and what could happen next.
Video

The ground drone revolution in Ukraine

by Olena Zashko, Francis Farrell
The Kyiv Independent spent a day with the 20th Separate UAV Regiment, also known as K-2, which specializes in ground robots, in northern Donetsk Oblast. We also spoke with the regiment's commander, Kyrylo Veres, about how these machines could shape the next phase of warfare in Ukraine, helping to reduce the risk to soldiers amid a growing manpower shortage.
A soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine walks through a flock of pigeons in Kostyantynivka, Ukraine, on Aug. 11, 2025.
War

Trump may entertain Russia’s ‘land swap’ plan with Putin, but Ukraine won’t

by Francis Farrell
After months of failed peace talks and extensive diplomatic efforts seeing minerals and weapons deals reached, the eyes of the world will be on the remote shores of Alaska on Aug. 15, as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, supposedly to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The announcement of the meeting came after what seemed like significant progress by Kyiv and European leaders in persuading Trump that only direct pressure on Putin could bring a
Volunteers help local residents evacuate in Kherson, Ukraine, on Aug. 4, 2025.
War

Humanitarian crisis in Kherson escalates but Russian river crossing remains unrealistic

by Francis Farrell
After enduring a Russian occupation, a manmade flood, and drone attacks that turned its streets into a human safari, the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson could soon be made completely unlivable. The extended range of Russian drones flown from across the Dnipro River has brought the main roads supplying Kherson — particularly the main highway connecting the city to Mykolaiv — under attack from the skies. Meanwhile, on Aug. 2 and 3, Russian forces struck the road bridge to the Korabel neighbor
War

'We spot them, we destroy them' — Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides

by Francis Farrell
Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. KOSTIANTYNIVKA, Donetsk Oblast — As recently as four months ago, the drab streets of the city of Kostiantynivka were full of life. With all the trademark signs of a buzzing front-line hub — from dozens of soldiers lining up for coffee and pizza after coming back from positions to hardy civilians living, working and playing as usual
Field report

As Russia closes in on Pokrovsk, battle for key city enters its final act

by Francis Farrell
Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. POKROVSK, Donetsk Oblast – Light rain and the dying light of a cool summer evening accompany the Ukrainian drone team’s preparation to begin their shift. The men are silent as the military pick-up truck, full of drones and other supplies, turns off the village track onto the main road south into Pokrovsk. Every trip in and out of
Opinion

Beneath the problematic surface, the New York Times’ Kursk reporting reveals a deeper moral rot

by Francis Farrell
Editor’s Note: Following the publication of this opinion piece and another article on our website criticizing The New York Times, the publication responded to The Kyiv Independent with a statement sent via email. The full response has been included in this article. I really don't want to write what I'm about to write. As someone who regularly tries to get close to the active combat zone of Russia's war against Ukraine, tell the stories of those in the middle of it — soldiers and civilians — and

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