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1:33 PM

Georgia denies journalist entry to cover elections amid rising Russian influence.

Czech journalist Ray Baseley was denied entry to Georgia without an explanation after arriving at Tbilisi airport on Oct. 22 to cover the upcoming parliamentary elections.

1:17 PM

Ukraine receives $1.1 billion from IMF.

"The funds will be used to cover important non-military budget spending," PM Denys Shmyhal said.

1:06 PM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Losing Pokrovsk

The following is the Oct. 22, 2024 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. As Russia makes its slow and steady advances in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Oblast, its troops are closing

1:00 PM

SBU says it foiled terror attack in Kyiv, detained suspects.

According to the SBU, the suspects reportedly planned to detonate improvised explosives in a crowded place in Ukraine's capital to cause "the maximum number of civilian deaths" and sow panic.

12:48 PM

UK to allocate $155 million for naval coalition to protect Ukraine's ports.

The U.K. is looking for partners to co-finance the supply of "hundreds" more naval drones as well as surveillance radars to protect Ukraine's grain corridor.

11:37 AM

Zelensky preparing action plan for Ukraine to withstand war, source says.

The document will address Ukraine's military, political, economic, and other areas, including certain decisions regarding law enforcement, a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent.

10:51 AM

Russia helping North Korea with sanctions evasion, nuclear technology in return for soldiers, arms, Budanov says.

Russia's support in nuclear capabilities includes providing technologies for smaller tactical nuclear weapons and submarine missile-launch systems, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed.

10:12 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 5, injure 14 over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 57 of the 81 Shahed-type drones launched overnight, the Air Force reported. Fifteen drones were lost, and nine are still present in the Ukrainian airspace at the time of the publication.

10:00 AM

UN secretary general visits Russia for BRICS summit despite Kyiv's criticism.

"This is a wrong choice that does not advance the cause of peace. It only damages the U.N.'s reputation," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

9:01 AM

US to continue to 'tighten the screws' on Russian LNG exports, senior official says.

"You can be assured that the Biden administration is going to continue to tighten the screws against Russia’s LNG exports," Jeffrey Pyatt, assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, said.

8:17 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 683,040 troops since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,460 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:37 AM

Russia-linked disinformation campaign spreads false claims about Tim Walz, US intelligence officials say.

Russian disinformation groups have been linked to viral attacks targeting Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, a U.S. intelligence official said on Oct. 22.

5:21 AM

Turkey quietly curbs military goods exports to Russia following US warning, FT reports.

Turkey has quietly blocked the export of U.S.-origin military goods to Russia following a warning from Washington, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Oct. 22.

4:15 AM

Poland shuts down Russian Consulate in Poznan amid claims of sabotage.

"Russia is waging a hybrid war," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Oct. 22. "It is attempting sabotage on Polish territory."

2:04 AM

Ukraine's population dropped by 10 million after Russia's 2014 invasion, UN says.

Ukraine's birth rate is the lowest in Europe and the number of refugees has surged to 6.7 million, with the full-scale invasion of 2022 exacerbating an already dire decline, according to the U.N. Population Fund.

12:22 AM

Zelensky urges allies to increase pressure on North Korea.

Two North Korean brigades of up to 6,000 personnel each are currently undergoing training in Russia, Zelensky said in his evening address, citing military intelligence reports. "We expect a firm, concrete response from the world."

11:09 PM

North Korean troops to arrive in Kursk tomorrow, military intelligence says.

"We are waiting for the first units tomorrow in the Kursk direction," military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said, though he did not specify how many would be deployed.

10:53 PM

Putin, Xi discuss war in Ukraine at BRICS summit in Russia.

The leaders discussed Russia's war against Ukraine, the BRICS agenda, and bilateral relations. Russia hopes to increase cooperation with China on "all international platforms," Putin said.

Ukraine war latest: US to provide Ukraine with $800 million to boost domestic long-range capabilities

10:21 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: US to provide Ukraine with another $800 million to boost domestic long-range capabilities

Key developments on Oct. 22: * US to provide Ukraine with another $800 million to boost domestic long-range capabilities, Zelensky says * Ukrainian drones target Russian alcohol plants overnight, local authorities claim * North Korea has sent pilots to Russia to join its war in Ukraine, Newsweek reports * South Korea considering sending military

10:11 PM

Zelensky denies potential dismissal of defense minister, head of military intelligence.

"I wasn't going to do that. I was not going to replace Budanov. This information was circulating, yes. There was no such question about Umerov either," Zelensky said during a meeting with journalists.

'Not waiting until the war is over' – Foreign investment keeps growing in Ukraine

9:18 PM

Business

'Not waiting until the war is over' – Foreign investment keeps growing in Ukraine

Ukraine is still far from an investor's paradise, but increasingly valuable business deals are being signed in the war-torn country this year. In the first nine months of 2024, there were 36 Ukrainian mergers and acquisitions (M&As) with a total estimated value of $643 million, according to a new

8:54 PM

Zelensky signs decree to liquidate medical examination commissions amid corruption scandal.

According to the decree, working groups will be set up to verify certificates of disability issued by medical examination commissions within three months. If any violations are found, the certificates must be annulled.

7:46 PM

North Korea has sent pilots to Russia to join its war in Ukraine, Newsweek reports.

A government official in South Korea claimed that North Korea had sent fighter pilots to Vladivostok, a city in the Russian Far East.

6:01 PM

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 78

Editor’s note: This is issue 78 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukrainian Economy in Brief” newsletter, covering events from Oct. 14- Oct. 20, 2024. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with

5:34 PM

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Kostin resigns.

"I am grateful to the president of Ukraine and Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada for their trust. But in this situation, I believe it is right for me to resign from the post of prosecutor general," he said.

5:28 PM

Russia

Torn apart by infighting, without a plan, what comes next for Russia’s opposition?

When Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024, the country’s liberal dissidents vowed to carry on their mission: to end the rule of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Eight months on, however, and Russia’s opposition is bitterly divided, with little to no

5:09 PM

G7 plans to keep Russian assets frozen after war in Ukraine ends, Nikkei reports.

G7 leaders will issue a joint statement in October saying that "Russia's sovereign assets will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," according to the draft prepared by this year's chair, Italy.

4:26 PM

Germany 'skeptical' about Ukraine's NATO membership, Zelensky says.

Talking to journalists, Zelensky did not rule out that "some partners" may think about Ukraine's membership in NATO in exchange for the occupied territories. "We are not discussing this," he said.

4:16 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Shifting the paradigm in Ukraine

Last month, a Russian missile blew apart an apartment building in the center of Lviv. I sent a message to a friend who lives there: Was everyone okay? “Yes, we were lucky,” he replied. “Our friends who live just next to us, a young woman and her three daughters, are

3:50 PM

North Korea helping Russia in Ukraine 'for money,' Zelensky says.

Speaking at a meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent, Zelensky was asked about Pyongyang's increasing support for Moscow, which in recent days is reported to have developed from just weapons to boots on the ground.

3:09 PM

US to provide Ukraine with another $800 million to boost domestic long-range capabilities, Zelensky says.

Washington is also planning to provide $800 million as the first tranche for the production of Ukrainian drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

2:28 PM

Putin hosts BRICS summit in Russia but Brazilian and Cuban leaders cancel attendance.

BRICS, composed of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and other nations, is a group of emerging economies often portrayed as a counterweight to the Western-led world.

News Feed

8:59 PM

Trump quietly pressuring Senate to weaken Russia sanctions, WSJ reports.

The White House reportedly asked Sen. Graham to insert waivers into the bill allowing Trump to choose which entities get sanctioned and changing the word "shall" to "may."

8:42 PM

Video

Egyptian POW didn't need money, but went to fight for Russia.

Egyptian-born Russian fighter, callsign "Cobra," signed a contract with the Russian army in 2024, abandoning his young wife, university studies and comfortable lifestyle. Now in Ukrainian prison, he's rethinking his choices. Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.

8:15 PM

Russia's National Guard kills man attempting drone attack on military site, agency claims.

The suspect was allegedly preparing to launch a drone packed with grenades at a military facility in Russia's Ryazan Oblast. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claim.

8:03 PM

Field report

‘Find and destroy’ – how Ukraine’s own Peaky Blinders mastered the art of bomber drones

6:51 PM

Russia cuts key interest rate for first time since 2022.

The decision reflects a decrease in inflation and mounting political pressure to ease borrowing costs amid Russia's economic slowdown.

5:51 PM

Trump offers Germany US gas deals, but no promises on Ukraine aid or Russia sanctions.

When asked whether Trump would impose additional sanctions on Russia, the president dodged the question by boasting that he "ended Nord Stream 2" and hinting at future energy deals with Germany in a press conference with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

1:58 AM

(Updated: June 6, 2025 4:41 pm)

UPDATE: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb.

The attack killed three first responders in Kyiv and injured civilians across the country, including cities far from the front lines in western Ukraine.

3:46 PM

Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says.

The drone attack on Bryansk was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities overnight on June 6.

2:48 PM

Moscow ready to grant Musk asylum if necessary amid rift with Trump, Russian official says.

"I think Musk is playing a completely different game," Dmitry Novikov, deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, said.

2:03 PM

'Loud night in Kyiv, Dad' — US envoy's daughter appeals to Kellogg during Russian attack.

"It might be the explosions and gunfire in the dead of night, but I get the strange feeling the Russians don't want peace," Meaghan Mobbs, daughter of U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, wrote on X.

12:56 PM

EU considers adding Russia to money-laundering 'gray list,' Financial Times reports.

Inclusion on the list would damage Russia's global financial standing and compel banks to apply stricter scrutiny to transactions involving Russian individuals or entities — raising compliance costs and increasing operational burdens.

11:53 AM

Ukraine strikes Russian air bases in 'preemptive strike' ahead of drone, missile attack, General Staff says.

Ukrainian strikes reportedly targeted Engels and Dyagilevo airfields — two key hubs for Russia's long-range bomber fleet, as well as logistics sites in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

10:30 AM

(Updated: June 6, 2025 10:47 am)

5 killed, 73 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 407 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones, along with 44 missiles of various types, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said.

9:31 AM

Russia plans to occupy Ukraine east of Dnipro, cut Black Sea access, Ukrainian official says.

"Unfortunately, they are not speaking about peace. They are preparing for war," President Volodymyr Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa said.

8:51 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 993,910 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,160 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

4:48 AM

(Updated: June 6, 2025 8:34 am)

Russia's Engels oil refinery ablaze after reported drone attack in Saratov Oblast.

Governor Roman Busargin claimed that a fire broke out at an unspecified "industrial enterprise" in Engels, as locals shared footage of an oil depot in flames. The Kristal Plant refinery supplies fuel to the Engels-2 military airfield.

7:39 AM

Russian weapons plant hit by drones in Tambov Oblast, media reports attacks across country.

The JSC Progress Plant in the city of Michurinsk, which produces aviation and missile control systems, came under fire on June 6. Attacks were also reported in Russia's Saratov, Moscow, Tula, Belgorod, and Kaluga oblasts.

2:53 AM

European Union

EU tariffs on Ukrainian goods return after 3 years of war, complicating Kyiv's path to European integration

11:40 PM

'Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight,’ Trump says on Russia-Ukraine war.

President Donald Trump likened the war between Russia and Ukraine to a fight between two children in a park, suggesting it might be better to let them clash for a while before stepping in, given the depth of animosity between them.

10:24 PM

Russia bombs central Kherson, partially destroys regional administration building.

Russian forces launched high-explosive bombs at the center of Ukraine's southern city of Kherson on June 5, hitting and partially destroying the Regional State Administration building and damaging several surrounding structures.

9:55 PM

In show of unity, US nominates next chief of NATO's European command.

U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich as the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on June 5, reaffirming a key American role in NATO's military structure.

9:25 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian missile base in Bryansk Oblast, damages Iskander launchers; Trump dismisses timeline to impose Russian sanctions

7:59 PM

(Updated: June 5, 2025 8:54 pm)

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