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The Kyiv Independent
The Kyiv Independent is an award-winning English-language media outlet that offers on-the-ground reporting from Ukraine. The publication has received international recognition for its coverage of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Articles

Editorial: Democracy won the day in Ukraine — but it will be tested again
Today, Ukrainians have once again shown the world how to stand for democracy.
The Ukrainian parliament voted on July 31 to restore the independence of anti-corruption investigative agencies — repairing the damage that same parliament had done one week ago.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the bill into law immediately after.
This comes after a combined pushback from two directions: the streets of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, and high offices in Brussels.
Last week’s attack on anti-cor

Our readers' questions about Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies, answered
Editor's note: We offered members of the Kyiv Independent community to share their questions about a controversial bill that undermined Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions and the street protests that followed it this week. Our staff's answers to their questions are below. Join our community and get the chance to ask your questions directly to our team.
What is NABU? And besides NABU, there is NAZK, SAPO, and VAKS — what are they and why were they created?
Confused by all the acronyms in t

Editorial: Zelensky just betrayed Ukraine's democracy — and everyone fighting for it
Editor’s note: This editorial has been updated to reflect the fact Zelensky signed the bill into law on the evening of July 22, as shown on the Parliament's website.
Last week, we warned of a coming anti-democratic backslide. Now, we see it happening.
A parliamentary vote, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s lawmakers, today took away the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Z

Editorial: Right now, Ukraine’s democracy risks a Russian-style backslide
While fighting a war of survival against Russia, Ukraine must not turn into its authoritarian neighbor.

5 ways the New York Times fails its readers in its most recent piece about Russia’s war
Editor's Note: This article was updated to include The New York Times' response to the criticism, sent to The Kyiv Independent via email.
The New York Times' recent feature detailing Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast presents a vivid, harrowing account of civilian suffering.
It also twists the narrative, stays mute on the factors that led to Ukraine's incursion into Russia two and a half years after the start of Russia's all-out war, doesn't mention the civilian toll of the ongoin

The Kyiv Independent launches 'How to help Ukraine' newsletter
The first edition sent on June 12 raised $16,500 in just four days for the Leleka Foundation, a U.S.-Ukrainian charity that procures medical supplies for those on the front lines.

The Kyiv Independent reaches 20,000 paying members — thanks to our global community
The Kyiv Independent has officially reached 20,000 paying members, becoming the first Ukrainian media outlet in history to cross this milestone.

The Kyiv Independent launches 603,628 km² T-shirt in response to Russia’s territorial demands
All profits from the sales of the 603,628 km² T-shirt for the next month will be donated to the Ukrainian charitable foundation East SOS.

Ukraine's intelligence identifies captain of Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker
Ukrainian intelligence has identified the captain of the oil embargo-breaking tanker FACCA, a part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.

Our readers' questions about the war, answered. Vol. 8
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: Is Ukraine formulating a plan to receive and house refugees from occupied territories? I would expect in that ceding territory many Ukrainians would want to leave Russian control.
Answer: Handling internally displaced people (IDPs) has been a pressing issue for Ukraine eve
Together, we raised $24,500 to support Ukrainian veterans
With the incredible support of our readers and community, we raised $24,500 for Veteran Hub through the sale of over 1,000 of our “I Stand With Ukraine” T-shirts.

Kyiv Independent launches consultancy program, funding for independent regional media hit by US aid freeze
The Kyiv Independent, in partnership with UNESCO and with the support of Japan, is launching a hands-on consultancy program for three regional independent media organizations in Ukraine that were severely affected by the U.S. aid freeze.
This U.S. aid freeze affected organizations in Ukraine, including those providing humanitarian services, as well as independent media outlets covering Russia's war against Ukraine, leaving them without crucial funding.
Smaller, local media outlets — often the

Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesn’t get about Ukraine (and Russia)
In any negotiation, one of the most powerful weapons is knowledge. In that regard, Steve Witkoff is willfully disarmed.
And it’s playing just right for Russia.
The interview that Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, gave to Tucker Carlson a few days ago revealed a truth that was perceived especially bitterly here in Ukraine:
In the negotiation where everything is at stake, Ukraine’s most powerful ally is represented by a man who either knows next to nothing about Ukraine or woefully misunderstands

'The war continues because of Russia' – Zelensky's full speech at European Council
"Ukraine is not only ready to take the necessary steps for peace, but we are also proposing what those steps are," President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his speech at the Special European Council on March 6.

Editorial: A president just disrespected America in the Oval Office. It wasn’t Zelensky
It’s time to say it plainly. America’s leadership has switched sides in the war. The American people have not, and they should speak up.
In the past several weeks, the U.S. leadership has demonstrated explicit hostility towards Ukraine and aligned its rhetoric and policy with Russia.
The animosity culminated today when U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting in the Oval Office.
After a hostile meeting, Zelensky left t
Editors' Picks

'We spot them, we destroy them' — Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides

With all eyes on Kyiv, its surrounding villages are unspoken victims of Russian attacks
