TORTURE CULTURE: Investigating Russia’s use of torture throughout history

Watch documentary now

NEWS FEED

Why Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid aren’t ‘revenge’ for Kyiv’s deep strike campaign
 (Updated:  

No, Russia's attacks on energy infrastructure are not 'retaliation' for Ukraine's strikes on oil refineries

After its largest winter mass attack on Feb. 3, Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure were carried out "in response to terrorist attacks by Kyiv on civilian objects" in Russia. Some state media described the attack as "another act of retribution." It's an old story — the first mass Russian strike on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure in October 2022 was framed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as retaliation for Kyiv's first successful strike against the
'It means more than any medal' — Ukraine's skeleton racer sacrifices Olympic dream to honor war victims
 (Updated:  Olympics

'It means more than any medal' — Ukraine's skeleton racer sacrifices Olympic dream to honor war victims

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect details on the Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling on Feb. 13, which upheld the disqualification. Wearing a helmet commemorating Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia is not allowed, the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled on Feb. 12. Vladyslav Heraskevych, Ukraine's skeleton racer, was scheduled to compete in his third Olympic Games on Feb. 12. He was barred from taking part in the competition after refusing to change his helmet
Ukraine War Latest: UK to spend $545M on hypersonic weapons after Ukraine battlefield lessons

Ukraine War Latest: UK to spend $545M on hypersonic weapons after Ukraine battlefield lessons

Key developments on Feb. 13 * Ukraine's battlefield lessons drive UK to spend over $545 million on hypersonic, long-range weapons in 2026 * Using Starlink ruse, Ukrainian cyber forces trick Russian soldiers into revealing positions, donating to armed forces * 'Modern Ukrainian technology, battle-tested' — Zelensky unveils 1st drone produced by German-Ukrainian joint venture * Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces release footage of strikes on Russian airfield in Crimea, other targets in occupie
Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week
 (Updated:  KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week

Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from February 16-22. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week. Audio version of The Week Ahead is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. The next round of trilateral negotiations will take place on 17–18 February in Geneva. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the Rus
Ukraine struck $100 million Russian Nebo-U radar system in occupied Crimea, General Staff claims

Ukraine struck $100 million Russian Nebo-U radar system in occupied Crimea, General Staff claims

Ukraine struck a Russian 55Zh6U "Nebo-U" long-range radar station, estimated to cost around $100 million, near Yevpatoriia in occupied Crimea, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Feb. 13. The Nebo-U is a strategic early-warning radar designed to detect aerodynamic and ballistic targets at long distances and forms part of Russia’s layered air defense architecture. Similar systems have previously been targeted by Ukrainian forces in an effort to weaken Russia’s surveillance an
Russia confirms $12 trillion pitch to Trump tied to Ukraine deal — White House stays silent on proposals
Russia

Russia confirms $12 trillion pitch to Trump tied to Ukraine deal — White House stays silent on proposals

Russia appeared to confirm on Feb. 13 the existence of a sweeping U.S.-Russia economic proposal known in Kyiv as the "Dmitriev package," days after President Volodymyr Zelensky first disclosed it publicly. The Ukrainian president said on Feb. 6 that intelligence had briefed him on what he described as a roughly $12 trillion framework for large-scale economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington. "Intelligence showed me the so-called 'Dmitriev package' that he presented in the U.S. — it am
Regarding the torture of Ukrainians
Opinion

Regarding the torture of Ukrainians

Torturing prisoners is not merely a war crime that Russians perpetrate, it's part of Russian culture. Susan Sontag's 20-year-old essays may help us understand it. In the Kyiv Independent's latest investigative documentary "Torture Culture," we examine the sufferings that Russians systematically inflict on their Ukrainian prisoners — all the beatings, electrocutions, mutilations, sexual abuse, psychological violence — not only as a war crime but also a cultural phenomenon, something that Russian
Russia just laid out its Ukraine war endgame — here's what Moscow actually wants
Russia

Russia just laid out its Ukraine war endgame — here's what Moscow actually wants

As the United States renews its diplomatic push to end Russia's war against Ukraine, Moscow is making something clear: its position has not changed. While U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials met for trilateral talks in January and again in early February — with another round expected next week — the Kremlin has used the same period to restate its position. As Washington speaks of momentum and narrowing gaps, Russia's most senior officials have publicly dismissed key elements of the proposed