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: Rising hate against Ukrainians in Central Europe part of a coordinated campaign

by Danylo MokrykOctober 30, 2026

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

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: How EU machinery keeps feeding Russian missile makers

by Alisa YurchenkoJune 19, 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

NewsLetters

News Feed

Monday, November 2

09:03 PM

Some Oleshky residents remain seeking evacuation, others still on the road to Ukraine, Lubinets says

The exact number of people still remaining in Oleshky cannot currently be verified, Lubinets said, answering a question from the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine also cannot reveal the number of evacuees as stipulated by an agreement with Russia, he added.

09:00 PM

Ukraine war latest: Russian bomb strikes kill 24 at humanitarian aid center in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Key developments on Nov. 2: * Russian bomb strikes kill 24 at humanitarian aid center in Zaporizhzhia Oblast * Air raid alerts disrupt Ukrainian shopping malls for record one-third of operating hours in October * Russia adapts decoy drone for one-way attacks at ranges of up to 1,200 kilometers, HUR says * Su-57 destroyed in engine fire at Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia, HUR confirms * Nearly 800 people evacuated from Oleshky, Melania Trump says, as Kyiv, Moscow withhold figures * Russia ex

08:56 PM

Protesters, National Guard hold tense standoff over detainment of service members, draftees

Videos circulating on social media appear to show a tense standoff, with people demanding access to the building.

08:32 PM

'Exceptionally horrific strike' — Russian bombs hit school used as humanitarian aid center in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, killing 26

Following the initial strike, Russian forces dropped another nine aerial bombs on a shelter where people were taking refuge, Zelensky said.

06:58 PM

Kremlin rules out further humanitarian operations like Oleshky evacuation for now

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Fox News that Ukraine would welcome further humanitarian ceasefires in other parts of the front line.

06:58 PM

Russian Defense Ministry to propose delaying troop salary payments, media reports

The Joint Group of Forces, the command currently fighting in Ukraine, would be exempted from the rule and receive their December pay before the new year, Verstka said.

Editors' Picks

What the US midterms could mean for Ukraine

Investigations

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

Investigation: Rising hate against Ukrainians in Central Europe part of a coordinated campaign

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

Investigation: Inside Russia's FSB prison system in Crimea

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

Investigation: How EU machinery keeps feeding Russian missile makers

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

More from Investigations

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

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

NewsLetters

News Feed

Some Oleshky residents remain seeking evacuation, others still on the road to Ukraine, Lubinets says

Ukraine war latest: Russian bomb strikes kill 24 at humanitarian aid center in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Protesters, National Guard hold tense standoff over detainment of service members, draftees

'Exceptionally horrific strike' — Russian bombs hit school used as humanitarian aid center in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, killing 26

Kremlin rules out further humanitarian operations like Oleshky evacuation for now

Russian Defense Ministry to propose delaying troop salary payments, media reports

Most Popular

'I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable,' Rubio says as uncertainty hangs over Russia-Ukraine talks

Seven Russian tankers shipping diesel to US identified, located

Slovakia reopens criminal case over donation of fighter jets, air defense systems to Ukraine

US approves $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine as Zelensky warns of years-long wait for deliveries

Lavrov denies Kyiv Independent reporting on Russian push for Putin-Zelensky phone call

Editors' Picks

What the US midterms could mean for Ukraine

'It's a miracle' — Oleshky residents reach Ukrainian-controlled territory after escaping Russian occupation

Why did Russia agree to the Oleshky ceasefire?

Reporter's notebook: Visiting a POW camp is the strongest antidote to sympathy for Russian soldiers