Without justice, war will come back, veteran reporter says
Janine di Giovanni, a veteran war reporter and author who has covered decades of conflicts in Rwanda, Syria, Iraq, and Bosnia, reflects on her work in Ukraine and other conflicts.
Martin Fornusek
Articles
Ukraine wouldn't launch Operation Spiderweb if Russia agreed to ceasefire, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that roughly half of the 41 Russian planes targeted in the attack on June 1 will be impossible to repair.
Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast, military says
"Thanks to timely and carefully planned security measures... the worst has been avoided," the Ground Forces press service said, saying that no soldiers have been killed in the attack.
Ukraine expects to exchange 500 POWs in next swap with Russia, Zelensky says
Ukraine will bring home a total of 500 prisoners of war (POW) from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on June 7 and 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with journalists on June 4 attended by the Kyiv Independent.
US hasn't decided yet on new Ukraine aid, focuses on peace, NATO envoy says
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stressed that Washington counts on European leadership in providing Ukraine with the resources needed to achieve a lasting peace, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb ranks with 'raid on Bin Laden,' US Senator Blumenthal says
"Just in the skill and audacity of these attacks, it will rank with the United States raid on Osama bin Laden and the Israeli pager operation as one of the great military achievements in recent years," U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal told Politico.
Kremlin confirms explosion at Russia's Crimean Bridge after Ukraine's sabotage, claims 'no damage'
"There indeed was an explosion. There was no damage, the bridge continues to function," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed.
7 killed, 52 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 36 out of the 95 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said.
For the first time, Pentagon chief to skip Ramstein-format meeting of Ukraine's allies
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not arrive in Brussels until the conference is over and will not participate in the event online either, the AP reported.
Ukraine defaults on GDP-linked sovereign debt payment
The country's Finance Ministry announced last week it would skip a $665 million government debt payment after failing to agree on restructuring terms with creditors.
'Rare moment of honesty' — US Senator Graham says Medvedev's comments show Russia not 'interested in peace'
Russian ex-President Dmitry Medvedev's statement that Russia seeks only a "swift victory" and the "complete destruction" of the Ukrainian government at the Istanbul peace talks is a "rare moment of honesty," U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said on June 3.
Russia’s Crimean Bridge rocked by explosions, Ukraine’s SBU claims responsibility
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck the Crimean Bridge for the third time during the full-scale war, mining and damaging its underwater supports, the SBU announced on June 3.
Ukraine's parliament backs bill on military ombudsman in 1st reading
Ukraine first unveiled plans to establish the office in April 2024 to ensure soldiers had a mechanism to report violations of their rights.
Ukraine invited to NATO summit, Zelensky says
"We were invited to the NATO summit. I think this is important," President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a June 2 online press conference attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Russia lost 12 aircraft, Ukraine's military claims days after drone strike on Russian bombers
The report came two days after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched a mass drone attack against Russian strategic aviation parked at four different air bases on June 1.
Ukrainian delegation arrives in US to discuss defense support, Russia sanctions
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, is traveling to the U.S., a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent on June 3.
Russian double-tap attack injures 12 emergency workers in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Russian drone attacks against a State Emergency Service building in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on June 2 injured 12 employees, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
Russian central bank head under pressure to slash key interest rate, Bloomberg reports
The reason is the growing toll on the federal budget and civilian industries, three officials told Bloomberg, with some calling for the decision to be made at the bank's meeting on June 6.
Trump reportedly wasn't informed in advance about Ukraine's drone strike on Russian bombers
The White House was not notified about the plans, which were being prepared for a year and a half, Axios reported, citing a Ukrainian security official. CBS News' sources in the Trump administration also confirmed that the Trump administration was not informed.
Zelensky arrives in Lithuania for summit with B9, Nordic countries
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Vilnius on June 2 to participate in a summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) member states and the Nordic countries, Zelensky's spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov confirmed for Ukrinform.
Ahead of Istanbul peace talks, Russia kills 9, injures 49 civilians across Ukraine
Russia attacked Ukraine with 80 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, as well as three Iskander-M or KN-23 ballistic missiles and one Iskander-K cruise missile, the Air Force reported.
Ukraine, Russia conclude talks in Istanbul, a 1,200-for-1,200 prisoner exchange is in the works, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the next prisoner exchange would feature at least 1,000 people on each side, and might reach a 1,200-for-1,200 swap that would possibly also include imprisoned journalists and political prisoners held in Russia.
Europe's 'Trump shock' is opportunity to forge 'new West,' Timothy Garton Ash says
A so-called "Trump shock" has plunged Europe into its deepest crisis since 1945, but also presents an opportunity for the continent to forge a "new West," British historian and commentator Timothy Garton Ash has said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent. The first months of Trump's presidency dispelled any
'We only work for Serbia' — Vucic denies Moscow's claims of Serbian companies supplying ammunition to Ukraine
"We have formed a working group, together with Russian partners, to establish the facts... we work only for Serbia," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.
US filmmaker injured by fallen balcony in Kyiv
"While missiles and drones are flying, we are being injured by balconies due to someone's irresponsibility!" Christopher Walters, the injured U.S. filmmaker, said on social media.
Ukrainian abducted in Russian-occupied Crimea; Ukraine's ombudsman appeals to Moscow
A Ukrainian citizen disappeared in Russian-occupied Crimea earlier in May after being detained by people who presented themselves as Federal Security Service (FSB) officers, Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on May 29.
NATO reportedly wants 40,000 more German troops for defense against Russia
The alliance's overall demand for the number of brigades provided by member states could go from 80 to between 120 and 130, an undisclosed senior official told Reuters.
Russian-linked hackers target UK Defense Ministry while posing as journalists
The cyber attack was detected and thwarted, the British government said, unveiling a new cyber command tasked with managing both offensive and defensive cyber efforts.
Rubio, Lavrov discuss next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also "informed Marco Rubio about implementing the May 19 agreements between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the United States Donald Trump," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Taurus missiles for Ukraine 'within the realm of possibility,' Germany's Merz says
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 28 that a potential delivery of Taurus cruise missiles for Ukraine is not being ruled out, but did not provide further details.
Durov announces Telegram's partnership with Musk's xAI, who says no deal signed yet
Telegram and Elon Musk's xAI will enter a one-year partnership, integrating the Grok chatbot into the messaging app, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced. Elon Musk said that "no deal has been signed" yet.
Elon Musk announces exit from US government role
"The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government," Elon Musk wrote on his social platform X.
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