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Why AI believes Crimea is Russian — and what to do about it
Opinion

Why AI believes Crimea is Russian — and what to do about it

Not so long ago, Anthropic, one of the leaders in the global AI market and the creator of Claude, published its largest study on what people expect from AI. It is based on 80,000 conversations across 159 countries, with a world map as the central element. One detail that caught my eye was that it showed Ukraine without Crimea. Among the respondents to its survey were many Ukrainian voices. For example, a soldier said that in the most difficult moments of his service, it was his "AI friends" wh
Prioritize Ukrainians' dignity as you did in 2022, urges Europe's human rights head
Interview

Prioritize Ukrainians' dignity as you did in 2022, urges Europe's human rights head

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner is pushing back against the continent-wide rollback of protections for over 4 million Ukrainians. Michael O'Flaherty spoke with the Kyiv Independent about just what is at stake, and why it is in Europe's own interests to keep strong support measures in place. "We gave an awesome and fantastic welcome in 2022, but there's been a weakening in the welcome, which is unfortunate, as the protection needs are as great as ever," O'Fl
'We know more is to come' — Pro-Ukrainians in Crimea greet strikes on Russian logistics

'We know more is to come' — Pro-Ukrainians in Crimea greet strikes on Russian logistics

While Ukrainian forces are carrying out daily strikes on logistical and military targets in Crimea to further isolate the occupied peninsula, Ukrainian residents there say the campaign has given them hope of a possible deoccupation for the first time since the 2023 counteroffensive. "I understand that we are far away from this (deoccupation), but we haven't had such hopes since 2023. And there has been no such 'carnival' in Crimea ever before, and we know that more is to come," a Crimean reside
The problem at the top of Ukraine's judiciary
 (Updated:  Judicial Reform

The problem at the top of Ukraine's judiciary

"Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes" is an idiom often attributed to American statesman Benjamin Franklin. In Ukraine, another certainty has emerged over the years: society's persistent demand for judicial reform — and the judiciary's equally persistent resistance to it. Following the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, Ukraine's highest court was expected to become a flagship of the country's Western-backed reform agenda. Instead, the Supreme Court has become mired in controve
Who is Vadym Iermolaiev, the sanctioned tycoon injured in the Monaco attack?
Crime

Who is Vadym Iermolaiev, the sanctioned tycoon injured in the Monaco attack?

Ukrainian businessman Vadym Iermolaiev, who faced an assassination attempt in Monaco on June 29, is little-known nationwide but wielded immense influence in the city of Dnipro. Iermolaiev is controversial. He has renounced his Ukrainian citizenship and has been sanctioned by Ukraine due to alleged collaboration with Russia. He denies the accusations. Meanwhile, Iermolaiev’s son is being investigated in connection with illegal call centers in Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent explains who Iermola
Not only walls — rebuilding a young generation's right to belong
Opinion

Not only walls — rebuilding a young generation's right to belong

When a russian strike hit the building in Sumy where our teenagers met each week, I was sure we had lost them. They were frightened; some could not stop shaking. They had felt the blast. We brought in psychologists without asking for anything in return. Less than two weeks later, the same teenagers found a new venue and finished the program. I have returned to that moment many times since. The courage of those youngsters astonished me. They had found a place where their voice counted, and they
Behind the lies of the latest guest on Tucker Carlson's podcast — a criminal Russian arms dealer

Behind the lies of the latest guest on Tucker Carlson's podcast — a criminal Russian arms dealer

In 2022, American commentator Tucker Carlson condemned the U.S. giving up Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a prisoner swap, calling him "an indisputably serious criminal" who "sold weapons to terror groups that killed Americans." Just four years later, Carlson welcomed Bout on his podcast to promote Russian talking points to his millions of viewers. "I can understand why (former U.S. President) Barack Obama wanted to put you in prison," Carlson laughingly told Bout, praising the arms dealer
New EU steel quotas are a crippling hit to Ukraine's industry
 (Updated:  

New EU steel quotas are a crippling hit to Ukraine's industry

The EU's new steel allocation, set to enter into force on July 1, was introduced in response to global steel overcapacity, which has been hurting EU producers. The measure aims to restrict tariff-free steel imports to 18.3 million metric tons per year, a 47% reduction.