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

Tuesday, October 20

05:16 AM

Moldova denies sending protest note to Ukraine over border guards' Dniester crossing

The two Ukrainian border guards had entered Moldova in a motorboat on Oct. 15 while attempting to detain a Ukrainian man crossing the Dniester River near Holosnita, along the Vinnytsia Oblast border.

Ukraine (L) is seen on the opposite side of the Dniester River.

04:07 AM

Ukraine appoints new commander of Third Army Corps as Biletskyi takes charge of Center forces

Rohoziuk previously commanded the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which participated in the operation that Ukrainian forces say reclaimed 277 square kilometers (107 square miles) and liberated 16 settlements in the Lyman sector.

01:57 AM

Zelensky appeals to US lawmakers for answers as White House turns on Kyiv

"We want to understand what is happening, why it's happening, and where all this is heading," Zelensky told a bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives.

11:25 PM

What Russia's doing to Ukraine is 'fine,' Trump says

"Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much," Trump said, hours after a Russian drone strike in a public park killed six people, including two children.

Monday, October 19

10:50 PM

Pope Leo, Zelensky discuss hopes for ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky

The conversation with Zelensky comes three days after the pope spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to call for a ceasefire to evacuate civilians from the front-line town.

10:26 PM

'We will fight' — We asked Ukrainian soldiers about Trump's latest outburst

U.S. President Donald Trump on Oct. 18 claimed his approach to ending the war in Ukraine is "very simple." In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained that his decision to ease sanctions on Russia while simultaneously piling pressure on Ukraine was to avoid "foolishly (driving) Russia away from the bargaining table." For many of Trump’s critics in Ukraine, his recent decisions are viewed in similarly simple terms — Trump is helping Russia win the war. Trump also doubled down on his criticism o

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

More from Investigations

Investigation: Unmasking the anonymous hosts of 'Russians With Attitude,' a pro-war podcast popular with US far right

'He just wanted to go home' — Brazilian recruit’s death in Ukraine points to torture, abuse in foreign fighter unit

Investigation: How Russian drones exploit European technologies to strike Ukraine, and beyond

Investigation: European companies keep the motors of Russia's war machine running

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

Moldova denies sending protest note to Ukraine over border guards' Dniester crossing

Ukraine appoints new commander of Third Army Corps as Biletskyi takes charge of Center forces

Zelensky appeals to US lawmakers for answers as White House turns on Kyiv

What Russia's doing to Ukraine is 'fine,' Trump says

Pope Leo, Zelensky discuss hopes for ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky

'We will fight' — We asked Ukrainian soldiers about Trump's latest outburst

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Editors' Picks

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

Editorial: Donald Trump is helping Russia win the war

Draft EU summit conclusions reveal what leaders will and will not say on Ukraine

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