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

News Feed

Thursday, October 22

11:42 AM

Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear through gas pipelines near Kupiansk, Khartiia says

The corps said more than 30 Russian soldiers were captured during the operation and Russian forces suffered more than 100 casualties.

10:28 AM

Anti-corruption agency searches Ukraine's central bank chief

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) on Oct. 21 searched the premises of Andriy Pyshnyi, head of the National Bank of Ukraine, a law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent.

10:38 AM

Russian attacks kill at least 9, injure 57 across Ukraine as Kyiv hit by mass missile, drone attack

Russian forces launched a mass combined attack overnight with Iskander-M, S-400, Zircon, and Onyx missiles, as well as 210 drones of various types, including 110 jet-powered drones, the Air Force reported.

08:57 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,572,790 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

The number includes 2,250 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

08:22 AM

Inside Ukraine's secret counteroffensive in heavily fortified Donbas

Editor's note: Most of the Ukrainian soldiers and commanders interviewed are identified by their callsigns, in accordance with military protocols. KHARKIV OBLAST — Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr had already narrowly survived crossing a mine-strewn field and a river in the crosshairs of Russian artillery when the swarm of first-person-view (FPV) drones began hunting him. "If I'm honest, I was convinced they were going to kill us," the 37-year-old told the Kyiv Independent while chain-smoking cigar

01:22 AM

Deadly Russian missile strike on Kyiv reportedly used cluster warheads, hours after Putin-Witkoff meeting

Among the injured people are four children, one of whom has been hospitalized, the State Emergency Service reported.

Editors' Picks

Emergency services deal with the aftermath of a massive Russian missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 8, 2026.

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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NewsLetters

News Feed

Ukrainian troops infiltrate Russian rear through gas pipelines near Kupiansk, Khartiia says

Anti-corruption agency searches Ukraine's central bank chief

Russian attacks kill at least 9, injure 57 across Ukraine as Kyiv hit by mass missile, drone attack

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,572,790 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Inside Ukraine's secret counteroffensive in heavily fortified Donbas

Deadly Russian missile strike on Kyiv reportedly used cluster warheads, hours after Putin-Witkoff meeting

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