Investigations

An illustration of a man talking to a woman on an online dating site.

Investigation: The romance scam tricking men into ‘rescuing’ Ukrainian women from Russian occupation

by Linda HouraniOctober 16, 2026

Stefan, a 48-year-old Austrian national whose name has been changed at his request, had been looking for a Ukrainian partner. Having previously dated a Ukrainian woman, he said he was drawn to what he viewed as the importance of family in Ukrainian culture. He met "Alona Panchenko," who claimed to be from the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on the international dating website Christian Cupid. Soon after they matched, she suggested moving their conversation to email.

Investigation: Western machinery at the heart of Russian arms producers like Kalashnikov

by Alisa YurchenkoSeptember 21, 2026

Investigation: Inside Russia's FSB prison system in Crimea

by Olesia BidaSeptember 11, 2026

Investigation: How EU machinery keeps feeding Russian missile makers

by Alisa YurchenkoJune 19, 2026

Poster for Last Seen in Crimea, new the Kyiv Independent documentary

Last Seen in Crimea: Kyiv Independent documentary investigates Russia's secret detention system for Ukrainian civilians

by Kyiv IndependentOctober 13, 2026

Investigation: A secret program, 'suicidal' missions, and death, torture in occupied Ukraine

by Jimmy RushtonApril 24, 2026

Watchdog calls for EU sanctions on raw glycerin exports to Russia after Kyiv Independent investigation

by Lucas TonksApril 23, 2026

Investigation: Western companies miss deadline to exit Russia’s main drone production site

by Alisa YurchenkoApril 13, 2026

NewsLetters

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Sunday, October 18

01:16 AM

Romanian F-16s down two jet-powered drones after airspace incursion

The two drones were jet-powered, belonging to the Geran-family of attack drones frequently used by Russia to attack targets in Ukraine, according to Romania's Defense Ministry. The Ministry did not specify which nation the drones belonged to.

Saturday, October 17

11:26 PM

Zelensky warns Russia may expand missile threats from Belarus against western Ukraine

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko has separately reported that equipment based in Belarus helps relay or amplify signals for Russian Shahed and Geran drones heading toward western Ukraine and Poland's border region.

A screen grab from a video shows installation of the Oreshnik missile system/

09:27 PM

Ukraine hits Russian drone manufacturing plant in Rostov Oblast

Among the drones it produces are the Sarych, which uses video and thermal imaging equipment for surveillance, and the Klin, a loitering munition designed to strike targets, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

Drone debris on the ground after a Ukrainian drone attack in occupied Rostov oblast.

07:31 PM

Russian troops executed Ukrainian POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military says

The Russian soldiers are believed to belong to the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is operating in the area. Kravchuk alleged that orders of this nature within the brigade are issued at the initiative of its commander, Colonel Valery Kazak.

Ukrainian soldiers participate in military training.

12:10 PM

Anger over Kyiv's winter preparations fuels calls for Mayor Klitschko to resign

Local residents gathered on Oct. 17 in front of the city council to demand that Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko step down from the post he has occupied for over 12 years. "Kyiv without Klitschko," hundreds of protesters chanted as they took to the streets in central Kyiv, according to Kyiv Independent reporters on the ground. The rally lasted over two hours. Kyiv's failure to prepare for the coming winter amid Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, coupled with broader mismanagement, were the

04:39 PM

Russia may seek to get back immobilized assets through Ukraine's partners, Zelensky says

"Today, this is fully under Europe's control. That means (Russian assets) are safe for now," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

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Investigations

Investigation: The romance scam tricking men into ‘rescuing’ Ukrainian women from Russian occupation

Investigation: Western machinery at the heart of Russian arms producers like Kalashnikov

Investigation: Inside Russia's FSB prison system in Crimea

Investigation: How EU machinery keeps feeding Russian missile makers

Last Seen in Crimea: Kyiv Independent documentary investigates Russia's secret detention system for Ukrainian civilians

Investigation: A secret program, 'suicidal' missions, and death, torture in occupied Ukraine

Watchdog calls for EU sanctions on raw glycerin exports to Russia after Kyiv Independent investigation

Investigation: Western companies miss deadline to exit Russia’s main drone production site

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Exclusive: American, European microchips found in Russia's latest missile-like drone

Investigation: Sick Ukrainian children exploited in fraudulent charity campaigns linked to US, Israel

Investigation: Secret visits to Moscow by China’s military expose deep defense cooperation, military procurement deals

Russia is preparing Ukrainian children from occupied territories to fight in its war

NewsLetters

News Feed

Romanian F-16s down two jet-powered drones after airspace incursion

Zelensky warns Russia may expand missile threats from Belarus against western Ukraine

Ukraine hits Russian drone manufacturing plant in Rostov Oblast

Russian troops executed Ukrainian POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military says

Anger over Kyiv's winter preparations fuels calls for Mayor Klitschko to resign

Russia may seek to get back immobilized assets through Ukraine's partners, Zelensky says

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Europe shuts US out of Russian assets conversation

Order limiting Starlink access for Ukraine's military came from within White House, Reuters reports

Ukraine destroys 4 Russian Su-34 bomber jets, damages 2 with Neptune missile, Zelensky says

Starlink service in Ukraine 'restored,' Defense Ministry source says

Exclusive: Hungary, Bulgaria, water down ambition on Ukraine's EU membership bid — again

Editors' Picks

Investigation: The romance scam tricking men into ‘rescuing’ Ukrainian women from Russian occupation

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'Blown out of proportion' — Domestic politics at the core of South Korea's rift with Ukraine