The Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate Head Kyrylo Budanov said on Oct. 18 that Russian war criminal Igor Girkin, also known as Igor Strelkov, is currently in a Russian-occupied part of Ukraine. Girkin also said on his Telegram channel that he was sent to the front line in Ukraine. Girkin is a former Russian FSB agent and a key figure in the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine when he helped seize Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, in 2014. Girkin has also been found guilty of participating in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine, which killed 283 people. He has since been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of mishandling Russia’s war effort. On Oct. 16, Ukraine announced a $100,000 bounty for Girkin.
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Thursday, October 9
Serbia's largest Russian-owned oil company, Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), announced on Oct. 9 that it had not received an extension of its U.S. sanctions waiver, Reuters reported.
While Moscow framed the assistance as "centuries-old brotherhood" and praised "the close ties between our countries and peoples," the move underscores Serbia's ongoing balancing act between its EU aspirations and longstanding ties with Russia.
Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar said three drones were shot down in the Matveyev-Kurgan district by air defense systems.
EU parliament calls for readiness to down of Russian aircraft, drones over member states' territory.
The resolution passed with 469 votes in favor, 97 against, and 38 abstentions, according to an official statement on the parliament's website.
The Kyiv Independent team has introduced a long-requested feature — members can now pay for monthly or annual memberships using PayPal.
The call comes as Kyiv worries that a Babis-led government could undermine Czechia's pro-Ukraine stance, as he has questioned continued military aid and Ukraine's path toward EU membership.
Putin claimed that the missiles exploded a few meters away from the plane, which was then hit by fragments. He linked the incident to the sighting of a Ukrainian drone in the area.
"There is a significant risk that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will actually go to a world war," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
(Updated: )Documentary
The Kyiv Independent is proud to announce the U.S. premiere of its first full-length documentary, “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics,” hosted in collaboration with the Embassies of Sweden and Ukraine.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) denied on Oct. 9 media reporting suggesting it was investigating a possible involvement of chief anti-corruption prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko in a criminal case.
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