US snubs joint UN rebuke of Russian strikes against Ukraine — again
Dan Negrea, a U.S. envoy to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, instead called upon "both sides" to cease any strikes that might pose a risk to civilian vessels.
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Martin Fornusek
ReporterMartin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.
Articles
Russia's war against Ukraine endangers whole neighborhood, Poland tells UN
Polish diplomat Michal Miarka underscored recent violations of the Polish, Romanian, and Latvian airspace, saying they cannot be accepted as the "new normal."
As Russian drone incursions escalate, NATO weighs costs of shooting back
For years, NATO countries have watched Russian drones breach their airspace, reluctant to shoot them down for fear of escalation. That restraint is now beginning to erode.
After Russian drones injured civilians in Romania, while Russian electronic jamming continued diverting Ukrainian drones toward critical infrastructure in the Baltic region, NATO fighter jets finally began shooting intruders down.
But using expensive air-to-air missiles to destroy cheap, one-way Geran and Gerbera drones is h
Fedorov broke Ukraine's wartime election taboo. What happens next?
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has broken one of Ukraine's most politically sensitive wartime taboos by publicly calling for elections, bringing into the mainstream a debate that Kyiv had largely rejected when raised by Russia and the United States.
Fedorov said Ukraine needs a "safe and realistic mechanism" to hold elections during wartime that protects the voting rights of soldiers, Ukrainians abroad, and people in front-line regions.
"We must not let Putin decide when Ukrainians c
German court convicts Ukrainian man in alleged Russian sabotage plot
The Stuttgart court sentenced the man to one year and three months in prison, but ruled that his pre-trial detention would count toward the sentence, meaning he will now be released.
Zelensky formally taps Khmara as defense minister, ruling out Fedorov's return
Zelensky also nominated Andrii Sybiha to again take up the post of foreign minister.
March for Fedorov reinstatement held in Kyiv as protests enter second month
The protest march takes place as the Ukrainian parliament is set to return from its summer recess on Aug. 18.
Ukraine's charm offensive reaches Moscow's partners
Ukraine's diplomacy is finding unexpected success beyond its traditional allies.
Within a span of a few months, President Volodymyr Zelensky has paid first wartime visits to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Serbia — countries traditionally counted among Moscow's partners.
Economically and geopolitically weakened by its ongoing war against Ukraine, Russia is running short on political capital it can use to cement its sphere of influence.
This, mixed with recent hurdles in bilateral ties and pragmatic
Ukrainian rapper intended target of alleged Russian assassination plot in Poland, media reports
Albert Vasiliev, also known as Kyivstoner, is a blogger, actor, rapper, and a former member of the Griby band. Russia previously accused him of orchestrating a drone attack in Moscow Oblast in cooperation with Ukrainian security services, an allegation he denied.
Zelensky teases joint plan with allies to force Putin to stop war
"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin does not want to stop this war, but he will stop it. We have a plan," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Moscow to respond in kind to Europe seizing Russian merchant ships, Putin says
The statement comes as the West ramps up efforts to clamp down on Russia's shadow fleet, a group of aging and poorly insured tankers Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions and carry out hybrid operations.
Russia releases ailing ex-US Marine after 4 years in prison
Robert Gilman's health has seriously deteriorated in recent weeks, prompting U.S. officials to appeal to Moscow for his release.
Hungarian parliament elects new president after ousting Orban ally
Andras Baka, a former head of Hungary's Supreme Court, was nominated for the presidential office by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza party.
Europe needs more than soldiers if Russia attacks, defense expert says
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent's Martin Fornusek speaks with Martin Sklenar, former Slovak defense minister, about the likelihood of a Russian attack on NATO, Europe's military readiness, U.S. troop reductions, defense spending, and the growing debate over conscription.
Ukraine keeps changing defense ministers. Is that hurting the war effort?
President Volodymyr Zelensky's unexpected dismissal of Ukraine's defense minister triggered protests across the country and caught some of Ukraine's foreign partners off guard.
Mykhailo Fedorov is the fourth person to leave the post since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, an extraordinary turnover at one of the country's most critical ministries.
His removal comes at an especially precarious moment, as Ukraine races to secure additional Patriot interceptors and launches multi-billion-do
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