Editor's note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share the questions they have about the war. Here's what they asked and how we answered. Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Question: Why has the Ukrainian government chosen not to lower the conscription age to 18 despite the country’s manpower shortages and ongoing security threats from Russia? Answer: This is indeed a complicated topic, with both sides having valid arguments for why they believe it sho

From the rollercoaster of U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign policy to continued Russian attacks on the front line and hundreds of miles beyond, 2025 has been a hell of a year for Ukraine. As we enter 2026, here are 25 articles that reflected the year, and that our audience loved reading as much as we felt compelled to write. As Russian losses in Ukraine mount, Putin faces 'devastating' demographic timebomb News operations editor Chris York reported on how Russia's losses in Ukraine has h

As 2025 draws to a close, Ukraine once again finds itself at a critical juncture. In the last few months alone, Ukrainians have faced pressure from seemingly every side: a renewed push from the U.S. for an unfavorable peace with Russia, a major political corruption scandal, and Moscow’s continued advances east, north, and south. As a result, 2026 is poised to be a year that presents significant challenges in terms of diplomacy, internal cohesion, and on the battlefield. With this in mind, we a

The Kyiv Independent on Dec. 9 hosted its first live event in New York City, an evening dedicated to storytelling, investigative journalism, and front-line reporting.

More than 2,400 people have joined the Kyiv Independent community during our anniversary campaign, helping us reach our goal of 25,000 members by the end of 2025.

At the initiative of the Ukrainian Institute, the Kyiv Independent announces the launch of "The Hidden Canon: Ukraine's Literary Iconoclasts," a new series celebrating Ukrainian classic literature with the goal of bringing it to a wider international audience. For many readers outside Ukraine, the country's classic literature remains largely untranslated and therefore unfamiliar, often overlooked due to historical and imperial pressures. Yet Ukrainian literature is defined not by silence, but b

The Kyiv Independent's first live event in New York City will be available to stream live. The Kyiv Independent will also present a curated photo exhibition

The Kyiv Independent has launched a new collection, “The Ukrainian Trident — Through History and Modernity,” designed to visualize the symbol of Ukrainian sovereignty in its diversity.

The Kyiv Independent’s separate analytical unit, KI Insights, is excited to announce the launch of its podcast, Ukraine Insights — a show dedicated to unpacking Ukraine’s politics, security, economy, and international relations through in-depth, expert-driven conversations.

Independent journalism is never easy, especially in wartime. The Kyiv Independent keeps reporting from Ukraine freely, without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise — thanks to our community. Now, we’re aiming for 25,000 members before 2025 ends to strengthen our newsroom and expand coverage where it’s needed most.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing the second-biggest test of his presidency — and it may prove even trickier than leading the country's resistance against Russia. But it is this challenge that will determine whether he goes down in history as simply a brave man or a principled leader truly worthy of this country. As Ukraine is entering its toughest winter ever, Zelensky needs to urgently right several wrongs, or it could cost the country its very existence. A recent corruption

The Kyiv Independent marks its 4-year anniversary and launches its biggest membership drive

A few weeks ago, U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg gently berated Europe for not standing on its own two feet on the global stage and in confrontation with Russia. "I don't think the Europeans know how good they are, you're really good at what you do, and you don't need the United States with you in an alliance, you can handle things on your own," he told the Warsaw Security Conference. "It's like when my kids were ready to ride bicycles, they started with training wheels — you don't need any t

The Kyiv Independent is excited to introduce its 2025 Holiday Gift Guide — a handpicked selection of over 90 meaningful gift ideas from more than 75 Ukrainian brands.

We've been here before. Multiple times. Not even that long ago. President Donald Trump has appeared to be on the verge of taking a decisive step that could genuinely put pressure on Russia to make it end its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and then the phone rings. "Hey Don, it's Vlad — wanna chat?" And puff, just like that all the momentum disappears and Russia is allowed to carry on its war unabated. The latest installment of this particular Groundhog Day unfolded last night when Trump anno