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6:08 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Trading territories means trading people

The following opinion piece accompanies the Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigations Unit's newly released documentary, "Shadows Across the River." Watch the documentary by clicking here. “Let Russia retain control over occupied Ukrainian territories to finally freeze this war!” This refrain, repeated in media and political discourse worldwide, has become a

5:19 PM

Ukraine signs bilateral security agreement with Greece.

"Greece is ready to continue meeting Ukraine's most urgent defense needs," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X.

4:40 PM

Zelensky says he told Trump that either Ukraine will join NATO or pursue nuclear weapons.

"Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons, which will serve as protection, or it must be part of some kind of alliance. Apart from NATO, we do not know of such an effective alliance," President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had told Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

4:12 PM

Zelensky signs bill on customs reform into law.

The legislation, approved by the parliament last month, was pushed through after prolonged pressure from Western partners and Ukrainian business associations. The reform is also a necessary step toward Kyiv's accession to the EU.

Russia’s war economy could be boosted by Middle East conflict, experts say

12:40 PM

(Updated: October 17, 2024 4:00 pm)

Business

Russia’s war economy could be boosted by Middle East conflict, experts say

Saudi Arabia’s planned oil production hike may not break Russia’s petro-export-fueled economy, but escalations between Israel and Iran could be a gold rush for Moscow. Since late 2022, the OPEC oil cartel, of which Russia is a member, has withheld oil production and exports to prevent a surplus

3:50 PM

'First step to World War' — North Korea preparing 10,000 soldiers to join Russia's war, Zelensky confirms.

According to military intelligence, North Korean officers are already in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

2:54 PM

NATO armies built on Korean War-era military principles, Zaluzhnyi says.

"There will be no war of the 1953 model. I am talking about Korean War. It ended in summer 2023 in Ukraine, when two professional armies of more than a million personnel each faced each other in the battlefield," said Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the U.K.

2:43 PM

Ukraine's draft system burdened with Soviet heritage, fixing it will take time, Zaluzhnyi says.

Ukraine had to change its approach to mobilization as it carries Soviet influences, but much more time is needed for a proper reform, Ukrainian ambassador to the U.K. Valerii Zaluzhyni said at an event on Oct. 17 in response to a Kyiv Independent reporter.

1:14 PM

Getting out of 'protracted' war with Russia 'almost impossible,' Zaluzhnyi says.

"We end in a state of protracted war. In my personal opinion, a way out of which protracted war seems... almost impossible," said Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and recently appointed ambassador to the U.K.

12:43 PM

Victory plan includes Western-supplied missile package to force Russia toward talks, Zelensky says in Brussels.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 17 that the victory plan includes placing conventional missile capabilities in Ukraine that would either force Russia to accept negotiations or destroy its military targets.

11:58 AM

Russian ships ineffective for missile strikes, used to distract Ukraine's defenses, Navy says.

Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, said that if Russia deploys several cruise missile carriers to the sea, it does not mean they will be used for an attack.

11:43 AM

Zelensky arrives in Brussels to pitch Ukraine's victory plan to European Council.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on Oct. 17 to present his five-point victory plan to the European Council and meet its president, Charles Michel.

11:14 AM

Ukraine’s southern forces release footage of strike on Russian training facility.

Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces uncovered and struck a military training facility of Russian troops, the unit said on social media on Oct. 15, publishing footage of the attack.

10:37 AM

US, South Korea, Japan launch multinational group to monitor North Korea sanctions.

The move came after Russia and China have blocked monitoring activities at the United Nations. In March, Moscow vetoed the annual renewal of the panel of experts monitoring U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

10:27 AM

German fighter jets scrambled due to Russian spy plane over Baltic Sea.

Germany's Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were scrambled due to a flight of a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane in over the international waters of the Baltic Sea, the German Air Force said on Oct. 16.

9:45 AM

Russian attacks injure 9 in Donetsk, Kherson oblasts over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses downed 22 of the 65 attack drones launched overnight, the Air Force reported. Two drones flew in the direction of Belarus, and 27 were lost to electronic warfare means.

9:23 AM

Loss of coal mine near Pokrovsk could halve Ukraine's steel production.

Pokrovske coal mine, the largest coking coal producer in Ukraine and one of the largest in Eastern Europe, is located 10 km (6 miles) west of Pokrovsk.

8:14 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 674,270 troops since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,420 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:32 AM

High-ranking GRU officer shot dead in Moscow Oblast, Russian media reports.

Nikita Klenkov, a deputy commander of a unit for Russia's military intelligence agency (GRU), was shot dead in Moscow Oblast by an unknown assailant, Russian state-controlled media reported on Oct. 16.

6:30 AM

Ramstein meeting rescheduled for November in virtual format, White House says.

The White House has rescheduled a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group for November in a virtual setting after U.S. President Joe Biden cancelled his foreign trips earlier this month to handle the consequences of repeated hurricanes at home.

5:31 AM

NATO does not have plans to invite Ukraine into alliance 'in the short term,' US Ambassador says.

"We are not at the stage where the Alliance is discussing issuing an invitation in the short term," Smith said ahead of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Voice of America reported.

4:32 AM

UK investigating whether Russia planted incendiary device that caused parcel fire at warehouse, Guardian reports.

U.K. counter-terrorism officials are investigating whether Russian intelligence officers planted an incendiary device inside a parcel that caught fire at a warehouse near Birmingham, the Guardian reported on Oct. 16. The parcel, which engulfed in flames at a DHL warehouse on July 22, is believed to have been transported to the location on an airliner.

12:12 AM

NATO Secretary General Rutte announces Ukraine-NATO Council meeting.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the next meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council is scheduled for Oct. 17. The meeting will bring together defense ministers from NATO member states alongside Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Ukraine war latest: US announces $425 million in security aid for Ukraine, Zelensky says package includes long-range weapons

10:15 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: US announces $425 million in security aid for Ukraine, Zelensky says package includes long-range weapons

Key developments on Oct. 16: * US announces $425 million in security aid for Ukraine, Zelensky says package includes long-range weapons * Zelensky unveils Ukraine's victory plan, says it's doable but 'depends on our partners' * Australia to give Ukraine almost 50 US-made Abrams tanks * Ukraine reportedly reclaims territory in north of Kharkiv

Russia has reportedly made gains in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Should Ukraine expect a broader offensive?

9:07 PM

War analysis

Russia has reportedly made gains in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Should Ukraine expect a broader offensive?

Fears of a larger Russian offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast are growing as Russian forces have reportedly made progress along the border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and intensified air strikes on the regional capital. "If they achieve a breakthrough, Russia will be able to fire at logistical routes connecting Zaporizhzhia

8:44 PM

US announces $425 million in security aid for Ukraine, Zelensky says package includes long-range weapons.

The new package will consist of "additional air defense capability, air-to-ground munitions, armored vehicles, and critical munitions to meet Ukraine's urgent needs," the White House said in a statement.

7:43 PM

SBU arrests Ukrenergo security head for allegedly justifying Russia's war, supporting murder of civilians.

The media outlet RBC-Ukraine reported, citing unnamed sources, that the individual in question was Oleh Hrybenko, who is reportedly responsible for maintaining the security of critical infrastructure facilities.

Investigation: Shattering secrecy of Putin’s top spy chief

7:20 PM

Video

Investigation: Shattering secrecy of Putin’s top spy chief.

The Kyiv Independent fills in the gaps in the story of Sergey Korolev, Vladimir Putin’s second-main spy chief, stripping him of a significant portion of his long-lived anonymity.

6:25 PM

Australia to give Ukraine almost 50 US-made Abrams tanks.

The tanks will be delivered as part of a larger package of military aid worth 245 million Australian dollars ($163 million).

5:15 PM

Missile fragments found in Moldova by Ukrainian border.

It was not the first time that missile and drone debris have been found on Moldovan territory.

4:36 PM

Scholz says he is open to talk to Putin about peace in Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that he would speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin "if asked" but stressed that no decisions would be made without the input of Ukraine or other Western allies.

Zelensky's victory plan has 'great agenda' but practical steps unclear, MPs say

3:56 PM

Ukrainian MPs react to Zelensky's victory plan — 'Great agenda' but practical steps unclear

Ukrainian lawmakers voiced their first reactions to President Volodymyr Zelensky's presentation of Ukraine's victory plan to parliament on Oct. 16, praising the overall agenda but calling out the supposed lack of practical steps. Some opposition lawmakers criticized it for being too vague and relying too much on international partners while

News Feed

7:53 AM

Finnish PM criticizes reported attempts by Trump to weaken Russia sanctions bill.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on June 7 criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for reportedly pressuring the Senate to weaken a Russian sanctions bill.

6:50 AM

Russian agents who allegedly targeted Dnipro prosecutor with car bomb detained.

Two Russian agents were arrested by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on June 7 after allegedly planting a car bomb targeting a Dnipro prosecutor on June 6.

5:32 AM

Kyiv Pride drone charity event takes place, faces counterprotest.

A charity event for Kyiv Pride took place on June 7 outside the Foreign Ministry building and was met with a nearby counterprotest.

2:14 AM

(Updated: June 8, 2025 4:03 am)

Chemical plant in Russia's Tula Oblast reportedly hit 2nd time in drone attack.

The Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk caught fire after it was reportedly targeted a second time in a drone attack overnight on June 8, independent news channel Astra reported.

1:17 AM

'I am against Ukraine's entry into the European Union,' Polish president-elect Nawrocki says.

"Ukraine must understand that other countries, including Poland, Hungary, and other European countries, also have their own interests," Polish President-elect Karol Nawrocki said.

7:46 PM

(Updated: June 7, 2025 11:20 pm)

Russia bombs Kharkiv day after deadly overnight attack, killing 2, injuring 18.

One of the bombs hit the Children's Railway, killing a 30-year-old woman who worked for Ukrainian Railways. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia's relentless assaults against the city of Kharkiv.

10:29 PM

Zelensky urges US to act on Ukraine’s request to buy air defenses after deadly Kharkiv bombing.

"These Russian strikes are not 'retaliation' but acts of destruction," the president said as Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv with KAB guided bombs the evening of June 7, killing at least two people.

6:48 PM

Ukrainian drone strikes Russian Tu-22 bomber: SBU releases new footage of Operation Spiderweb.

The video shows the flight path of an FPV drone from the moment it takes off from the roof of a modular building to the moment before it strikes a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber at the Belaya air base in Siberia.

6:39 PM

France to produce drones in Ukraine, minister says.

"We are going to embark on a completely unprecedented partnership where a large French car company – I won't name it because it's up to them to announce it – will join forces with a French defense SME (small to medium-sized enterprise) to equip production lines in Ukraine to be able to produce drones," French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.

6:17 PM

Ukraine refutes Russia’s claims of disrupting POW exchange.

"If the Russian side is now backing away from what was promised in Istanbul, it raises serious questions about the reliability and capability of their negotiating team," Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on June 7.

6:14 PM

Culture

Wondering where to start with Dostoevsky? Try his Ukrainian contemporaries instead

5:31 PM

Canada pledges $25.5 million in military aid for Ukraine, including armored vehicles.

The country pledged to provide Ukraine with almost $22 million worth of Coyote and Bison armored vehicles, as well as new equipment and ammunition supplied by Canadian companies.

4:34 PM

Six people likely trapped under rubble in Kharkiv after Russian attack.

Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs overnight on June 7, killing at least three people and injuring 22, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

3:13 PM

'Putin is a murderer' — Zelensky rejects Trump's claim that Russia, Ukraine are like 'kids'.

"We are not kids with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin at the playground in the park," Zelensky said, as quoted by the TV network. "He is a murderer who came to this park to kill the kids."

1:59 PM

Ukraine used only domestic drones in Operation Spiderweb, Zelensky says.

"I wanted very much to use only what we produce and to have the separation (be) very clear," Zelensky said, as quoted by the TV network.

12:13 PM

Ukraine downs fighter jet in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Air Force says.

Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024. Reinforced by North Korean troops, Russia launched a push to recapture the region in early March, with Ukraine being forced to pull back from much of the initially taken territory.

12:05 PM

Russia hits Ukraine with 206 drones, 9 missiles overnight, Air Force says.

Ukraine also downed 87 Russian combat drones, while 80 drones were neutralized by electronic warfare systems or disappeared from radars, the Air Force said.

10:48 AM

Baltic states issue statement backing Ukraine’s EU, NATO membership.

They argued that Ukraine's NATO accession would “consolidate a just and lasting peace not only in Ukraine but also in all of Europe" and help uphold the rules-based international order globally.

10:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 995,030 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,120 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:52 AM

Ukrainian woman, 6-year-old daughter found murdered in Belgium.

A 46-year-old Ukrainian woman and her 6-year-old daughter were found murdered on June 6 in the city of Leuven, Belgium, authorities reported.

6:08 AM

(Updated: June 7, 2025 7:18 am)

Russian attack on Kharkiv kills 3, injures 19, including 2 children.

Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs overnight on June 7, killing at least three people and injuring 19, officials said.

1:58 AM

(Updated: June 7, 2025 6:36 am)

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.

5:19 AM

Wagner Group announces withdrawal from Mali.

The Wagner mercenary group announced on June 6 that it was withdrawing its presence from Mali, ending its fight with rebel groups.

3:41 AM

Operation Spiderweb 'gave Putin a reason to bomb the hell out of them,' Trump says, following large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities.

U.S. President Donald Trump on June 6 appeared to justify Russia's large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities launched the night before, in response to Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb.

1:47 AM

Ukraine hopes for Trump-Zelensky meeting in Canada during G7.

President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet U.S. President Trump during the G7 summit in Alberta on June 15–17, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said.

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