Moscow repels dozens of Ukrainian drones in daytime attack, mayor says
The drones were intercepted over the space of two hours between 12:10 p.m. and 2:12 p.m. local time, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported.
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Francis Farrell
ReporterFrancis Farrell is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. He is the co-author of War Notes, the Kyiv Independent's weekly newsletter about the war. For the second year in a row, the Kyiv Independent received a grant from the Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust to support his front-line reporting for the year 2025-2026. Francis won the Prix Bayeux Calvados-Normandy for war correspondents in the young reporter category in 2023, and was nominated for the European Press Prize in 2024. Francis speaks Ukrainian and Hungarian and is an alumnus of Leiden University in The Hague and University College London. He has previously worked as a managing editor at the online media project Lossi 36, as a freelance journalist and documentary photographer, and at the OSCE and Council of Europe field missions in Albania and Ukraine.
Articles
Australia announces $70 million in arms funding for Ukraine through PURL initiative
Two contributions of 50 million AUD ($35 million) each will be made, after Ukraine became one of the first non-NATO member states to fund the program in December 2025, according to a press release.
Meet the Ukrainian drone team that demolished NATO forces in war game in Sweden
Editor's note: In accordance with the security rules of their unit, the soldiers featured in this story are identified by their callsigns only.
In a light pine forest on Sweden's fortress island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, a state-of-the-art Leopard 2 tank was in trouble.
The tank had barely begun moving out on an offensive mission before it had been spotted and tracked down by a drone belonging to the opposing forces.
Its pilot: 37-year-old Ukrainian reconnaissance drone pilot Kvita, who h
Russian frigate fires warning shots at yacht in English Channel, media reports
A Russian frigate reportedly fired warning shots at a British-flagged yacht in the English Channel. The U.K. Defense Ministry is investigating the incident.
Soldiers who decline new contracts will keep serving until demobilization, Defense Ministry says
The comments came at a special briefing by Deputy Defense Ministry Mstyslav Banik on June 15 to journalists by the ministry in Kyiv.
Kyiv's historic Pechersk Lavra burns as large-scale Russian strikes kill 5, injure 35 in capital
"We ask for prayers for the salvation of the shrine from destruction. Another Russian crime against humanity, against history, against Christianity," Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, said amid Russia's attack.
On the last road to front-line Kostiantynivka as Russian troops enter the city
We followed Ukraine’s 24th Mechanized Brigade on the "road of life" between the front-line cities of Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka.
Pay raises, fixed terms, and more foreigners: Ukraine announces landmark military service reforms
According to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's new monthly rate is the highest salary rate for infantry in the world.
'High probability' of Russian missile launch from Oreshnik site over next day, Ukraine's Air Force warns
The launch is expected to come from the Kapustin Yar launch site in southern Russia, the Air Force said on Telegram.
Sumy hit by morning artillery bombardment as Russian strikes across Ukraine kill at least 6, injure 52 over past day
Eight locations were struck in broad daylight in the regional capital, injuring six residents, regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said.
Road to the kill zone: With Ukrainian troops on the lifeline from Kramatorsk to Kostiantynivka
Editor’s note: Ukrainian photojournalist Serhii Korovaynyi made two trips on foot toward the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast in spring 2026. Francis Farrell, who has also traveled to the area recently, helped put the article together from Kyiv. In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first name or call sign only.
This April in Donbas, daffodils and tulips are blooming near courtyards destroyed by glide bombs
Zelensky meets top officials, announces preparation for 'important negotiations' ahead
Top of the agenda was Ukraine's diplomatic efforts, particularly the urgent need to acquire more air defense interceptor missiles, and follow through with existing agreements on the joint production of drones. with the United States and European partners.
New territory reported liberated as Ukraine makes fresh offensive push on southern front
According to the May 29 update of Deep State's map, the village of Novoselivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has been liberated from Russian occupation.
These Ukrainian drone pilots took out NATO forces during drills
At NATO's Aurora 2026 military exercises in Sweden, a group of Ukrainian drone pilots was tasked with playing the role of attackers. The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell spoke with drone pilots from Ukraine's 20th National Guard "Lubart" Brigade, part of the 1st Azov Corps, shortly after they returned from Sweden.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil facility in Bryansk Oblast overnight, General Staff says
The facility, located around 60 kilometers from Ukraine's northern border, was an important link in the supply of fuel to the Russian military, the General Staff said on social media.
