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

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Friday, October 16

06:06 PM

Zelensky calls on EU to keep Moldova's membership bid shackled to Ukraine

"It would be simply wrong to split us apart on our way into the EU — I hope not. Morally wrong," President Volodymyr Zelensky told EU leaders.

10:59 PM

US lawmaker introduces bill blocking Trump's Russian diesel deal

"This deal won't lower costs for the American people, who are already paying forTrump's failed war of choice in Iran. It will hand Putin millions of dollars to continue slaughtering Ukrainian civilians with impunity."

U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks in Copenhagen on Jan. 16, 2026.

09:19 PM

'They were both in on it' — Musk suggested Trump restrict Ukraine's Starlink service, Telegraph reports

Four sources familiar with the discussion said that Elon Musk approached U.S. President Donald Trump with the idea of slowing down Ukraine's Starlink service on the battlefield.

09:53 PM

Russia's war reaches Bulgaria's shores, putting Radev's Moscow-friendly stance to the test

The balancing act of Bulgaria's Moscow-friendly leader stands on shaky ground. Since taking office in May, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has taken a harsh line on Ukraine while adopting steps his critics say are accommodating to Moscow. Radev's course has now come under scrutiny as Bulgaria, a southeastern NATO member state, feels first-hand the spillover of Russia's war against Ukraine. Four merchant vessels were hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast in October. Two of the ves

09:28 PM

Ukraine war latest: Drone attack sparks fire at industrial facility in Russia's Surgut district

Key developments on Oct. 16: * Drone attack sparks fire at industrial facility in Russia's Surgut district, governor says * Pope Leo urges Putin to allow humanitarian aid, evacuations from Russian-occupied Oleshky * Ukrainian military strikes million-dollar Russian radar in Krasnodar Krai, General Staff claim * Zelensky's ask: 300 Patriot missiles, 70 billion euros, and Russian assets * Emergency blackouts in Kyiv, as Klitschko announces start of heating season A fire broke out at an indu

09:16 PM

Pope Leo calls for ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky during call with Putin

The pope called for a local ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and the safe evacuation of civilians from the front-line city, where around 2,000 residents remain trapped amid severe shortages of food and medicine.

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Europe

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

Zelensky calls on EU to keep Moldova's membership bid shackled to Ukraine

US lawmaker introduces bill blocking Trump's Russian diesel deal

'They were both in on it' — Musk suggested Trump restrict Ukraine's Starlink service, Telegraph reports

Russia's war reaches Bulgaria's shores, putting Radev's Moscow-friendly stance to the test

Ukraine war latest: Drone attack sparks fire at industrial facility in Russia's Surgut district

Pope Leo calls for ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky during call with Putin

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Europe shuts US out of Russian assets conversation

'This cannot be a coincidence' — Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser says

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

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

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

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