Iran's top security chief Ali Larijani killed in airstrike, state media says
The Islamic Republic's top security chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, Iranian state media confirmed March 17.
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Lucy Pakhnyuk
News EditorLucy Pakhnyuk is a North America-based news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in international development, specializing in democracy, human rights, and governance across Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Her experience includes roles at international NGOs such as Internews, the National Democratic Institute, and Eurasia Foundation. She holds an M.A. in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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ICC opens investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by Belarus
The International Criminal Court has launched an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by Belarus after Lithuania referred the case, saying some elements of the alleged crimes occurred on its territory.
Hungary returns Ukrainian bank vehicles but keeps $82 million in gold, cash
Hungary returned two seized armored vehicles to Ukraine's Oschadbank on March 12 but is withholding cash and gold worth about $82 million amid an ongoing dispute between Budapest and Kyiv.
Ukraine hits military targets in Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, video shows
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) released video footage on March 10 showing strikes on military facilities in Russian-occupied Donetsk oblast.
Russia denies sharing intelligence with Iran on U.S. military assets, Witkoff says
Russia has denied allegations that it has shared intelligence with Iran on U.S. military assets in the Middle East, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said March 10.
US considering lifting Russian oil sanctions to reduce global energy prices
"Ukrainians will pay for that choice in blood," Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at the NGO Urgewald, told the Kyiv Independent.
Putin, Trump discuss Iran war, Ukraine in phone call
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on March 9, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. During the call, Putin reportedly presented proposals aimed at resolving the war in Iran.
Russian hackers target Signal, WhatsApp in global cyber campaign
"Russian state hackers are engaged in a large-scale global cyber campaign to gain access to Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to dignitaries, military personnel and civil servants," Dutch intelligence agencies said March 9.
Zelensky points to Russia-Iran coordination in Middle East drone strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 7 that Russian components have been identified in Iranian-made drones used in attacks against the United States and countries in the Middle East, pointing to broader cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
Russia-linked disinformation campaign targets Ukraine amid tensions with Hungary
A Russia-linked disinformation campaign has circulated artificial intelligence-generated images depicting the detention of Ukrainian bank employees by Hungarian authorities, fact-checking outlet Vastagbor reported March 7.
Reversing its position, US allows India to buy Russian oil
"To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on March 5.
Merz urges Trump to increase pressure on Russia
"Russia is playing for time here, and in doing so is also acting against the will of the American president. In today's talks, I called for increasing the pressure on Moscow," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on March 3 after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, Budanov says
"At past negotiations, the Russian side directly said that they would accept the security guarantees offered to Ukraine by the U.S.," the head of the President's Office, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Feb. 28.
Drone attack sparks fire at oil refinery in southern Russia, officials say
Flames engulfed one of the tanks at the Albashneft oil refinery in Novominskaya and burned an adjacent area of about 150 square meters, the Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters said.
US lifts sanctions on Malian officials linked to Russian Wagner Group
The United States has lifted sanctions on three senior Malian officials who were previously designated for their ties to Russia's Wagner Group, the Treasury Department announced Feb. 27.
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