News feed

9:31 PM

'I don't care' – JD Vance on Ukraine, in his own words

The selection of Ohio Senator J. D. Vance as Donald Trump's running mate this week has sent ripples of concern around the globe, felt not least in Ukraine. One of the most vocal opponents of U.S. aid to Ukraine, Vance has an extensive back catalog of statements that might

9:18 PM

Lithuania to provide Ukraine with energy equipment worth nearly $55 million.

The humanitarian aid includes more than 300 pieces of equipment, including equipment from the Vilnius Combined Heat and Power Plant, or the Vilnius Power Plant-3, according to the ministry.

9:12 PM

Shells previously designated as expired brought back into service Defense Ministry says.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry returned to Ukrainian soldiers "a significant amount" of ammunition that had to be disposed before the start of Russia's war against Ukraine in 2014, the ministry announced on July 16.

8:32 PM

Ukraine sets new record for gas production in 6 months.

In the first half of 2024, Ukraine's largest gas producer, Ukrgasvydobuvannya, pumped 8.8% more gas than in the same period last year, the company announced on July 16.

8:14 PM

Stuck in legal limbo, Ukrainian civilians endure torture in Russian prisons

Editor’s note: This story was sponsored by Common Sense Communications, a Ukrainian non-profit organization specializing in pro-democracy strategic communications. One of their ongoing projects is “Voices of Civilian Hostages,” which aims to attract the world’s attention to the issue of Russia’s illegal abduction of Ukrainian civilians. Yaroslav

7:39 PM

Ukraine state-owned enterprises weekly — Issue 140

Editor’s Note: This is issue 140 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from July 7-13, 2024. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. Energy sector Naftogaz Group pays Hr 47 billion ($1.1 billion) in taxes for January-June 2024, the company’s press office reported on July

7:33 PM

Ukraine hits Russian S-300 system in Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi says.

The radar station and launchers of the S-300 system were hit, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said, sharing a video of the attack.

7:31 PM

Repair of Ukraine's largest hydroelectric power plant to take at least 3 years due to Russian attacks.

"For the enemy, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station is more easily reachable, the front line is 50 kilometers away (from it)," Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota said in an interview with Forbes Ukraine.

6:46 PM

Poroshenko pays bail for ex-intelligence officer Сhervinskyi.

Roman Chervinskyi previously served in Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR). He was indicted by the State Security Service (SBU) in April 2023 for abuse of power. According to SBU officials, Chervinskyi, along with others in the HUR, tried to hijack a Russian Air Force aircraft whose pilot was allegedly planning to defect to Ukraine.

The Counteroffensive: A JD Vance vice presidency would be a disaster for Ukraine

6:42 PM

Opinion

The Counteroffensive: A JD Vance vice presidency would be a disaster for Ukraine

Editor’s Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on July 16, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here. J.D. Vance’s selection as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running

5:50 PM

Russian media: Medvedchuk sends letter to Trump seeking to blame Ukraine for assassination attempt.

Viktor Medvedchuk, a former pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker, sent a letter to Donald Trump claiming that “Ukraine's trace may appear” in the case of Republican Party nominee assassination attempt, the Kremlin-controlled TASS news agency claimed on July 16.

5:28 PM

Czechia to open bullet factory, start production of assault rifles in Ukraine.

The governments of Ukraine and Czechia signed two agreements on joint arms production on July 16, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced after the meeting with Czech counterpart Petr Fiala.

4:46 PM

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 64

Editor’s note: This is issue 64 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukrainian Economy in Brief” newsletter, covering events from July 8-14, 2024. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks

4:11 PM

Defense company's production blocked by Bureau of Economic Security's investigation.

The Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) is preventing the work of a body armor manufacturer due to suspicions of tax evasion, Forbes Ukraine reported on July 16.

3:37 PM

Ukrainian intelligence 'hacks Russian websites, replaces homepages with pig head pictures.'

"The cyberattack was aimed at destroying internal information of companies that serve Russian public sector clients involved in the war against Ukraine," HUR said in a post on Telegram.

3:09 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Ukraine's volunteer hacker army is pioneering a new era of cyber warfare

Over two years have passed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the volunteer IT Army of Ukraine is more effective than ever. On June 20, 2024, the hacker group launched what they claimed to be the "largest DDoS attack in history" against Russia's banking system, crippling numerous banks and

2:18 PM

Ukraine's top prosecutors investigated over suspected $170,000 bribe.

One of the prosecutors had been charged and detained at their workplace following an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

1:52 PM

Two more Russian kamikaze drones enter Belarusian airspace.

On July 13, another Russian Shahed kamikaze drone targeting Ukraine veered off course and flew more than 350 kilometers over Belarusian airspace, following a similar incident two days earlier.

1:41 PM

Shmyhal visits Czechia to discuss ammunition, energy cooperation.

The visit comes only days after Czech President Petr Pavel announced Ukraine would receive 50,000 shells under Prague's ammunition initiative in July, with the deliveries rising to 100,000 rounds monthly since September.

12:41 PM

Orban urged EU to restore diplomatic relations with Russia in letter to Michel, Bild reports.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the EU should restore diplomatic relations with Russia, listing it as one of the conclusions of his supposed "peace mission," Bild reported on July 16, citing Orban's letter it had obtained.

11:50 AM

India summoned Ukrainian ambassador over Zelensky's comments, media reports.

India summoned a Ukrainian envoy over President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, the Economic Times newspaper reported on July 16.

10:56 AM

Death toll of Russia's July 14 attack on Donetsk Oblast town rises to 3.

The death toll of a Russian attack against Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast on July 14 has risen to three as rescue operations concluded, the Interior Ministry said on July 16.

10:30 AM

Drone drops munitions on factory in Russia's Kursk Oblast, authorities say.

Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, also said that a Ukrainian drone dropped explosives on the town of Tyotkino, located some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Korenovo. Smirnov claimed that the explosives landed on a house and injured its resident.

10:13 AM

Lavrov arrives in New York to chair UN Security Council meetings.

Russia, a permanent member of the council, assumed the one-month rotating presidency on July 1 for the first time since April 2023.

10:02 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine injure 16 over past day.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were injured when Russia struck the village of Kindrashivka in the Kupiansk district shortly before midnight on July 15, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

9:23 AM

Trump will demand Ukraine hold peace talks with Russia if elected, Orban claims.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump "has detailed and well-founded plans for (a peace plan)."

9:12 AM

European Commission snubs Hungary's presidency over Orban's rogue diplomacy.

"In light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian Presidency, the President (Ursula von der Leyen) has decided that the European Commission will be represented at senior civil servant level only during informal meetings of the Council," said von der Leyen's spokesperson Eric Mamer.

8:07 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 561,400 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,110 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:39 AM

Russia proposes broader criteria for designating individuals to terrorist, extremist list.

In a effort to continue to crackdown on political dissent on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the proposed legislation would allow the Russian Federal Service for Financial Monitoring (Rosfinmonitoring) to add individuals convicted of spreading "false information" about Russia's military to the list - provided it is motivated by broadly defined hatred.

6:08 AM

Russia sentences US journalist in absentia for comments on Ukraine war.

According to the New York Times, Gessen was convicted by the Basmanny District Court for spreading “false information” about Russia's military, having described the massacre committed by Russian Armed Forces in Bucha and neighboring communities during an interview in 2022 with a Russian journalist.

4:59 AM

Congress urges White House to disclose whether Russia is sharing insight on US weapons with China.

A bipartisan congressional committee urged the White House on July 15 to reveal whether Russia is sharing insights on U.S. weapons used on the front lines in Ukraine with China, Reuters reported.

Ukraine war latest: Russia withdrew its last patrol boat from occupied Crimea, Ukraine's navy says

1:33 AM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia withdrew its last patrol boat from occupied Crimea, Ukraine's navy says

Key developments on July 15: * Last Russian patrol ship left occupied Crimea, Ukraine's navy says * Mobilization is going 'according to plan,' but there are not enough training facilities, Zelensky says * Syrskyi orders inspection of 59th Motorized Brigade after recent losses * 44% of Ukrainians believe it's time to start official

News Feed

6:54 PM

Interview

'If it were a bad deal, I wouldn’t have signed it' — Ukraine’s economy minister on negotiating US minerals deal in exclusive interview

6:00 PM

(Updated: July 7, 2025 6:54 pm)

Russian-Chinese relations

NATO caught with its 'pants down' if China, Russia try two-front war, experts say

6:44 PM

Russia strikes conscription offices in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine says.

Three people were reported injured in Kharkiv, while one soldier was wounded in Zaporizhzhia.

5:49 PM

5 suspects charged over deadly explosion in Ukraine's Zhytomyr Oblast.

According to prosecutors, one of the company directors had established illegal production of explosive materials and involved unqualified personnel without the necessary training or certification.

12:17 PM

(Updated: July 7, 2025 5:42 pm)

Ukraine confirms drone strike on Russian chemical plant near Moscow.

The Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant is one of the city's biggest employers and an important part of Russia's defense-industrial complex.

5:23 PM

Russian airlines face $254 million losses from just 2 days of Ukrainian drone strikes, Kremlin media reports.

Since the start of mass disruptions on July 5, a total of 485 flights were canceled, 88 were diverted to alternate airports, and another 1,900 were delayed across major hubs, according to Russia's aviation agency Rosaviatsiya.

5:12 PM

EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine economy minister breaks down US minerals deal.

The Kyiv Independent's business editor Liliane Bivings sits down with Ukraine's Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to discuss the U.S.-Ukraine "minerals deal" and address the myths surrounding it.

4:10 PM

(Updated: July 7, 2025 4:45 pm)

Russian transport minister fired by Putin reportedly shoots himself dead.

According to Russian media, ex-Transport Minister Roman Starovoit's body was found near Moscow. Preliminary findings suggest that the suicide may be linked to a possible criminal case.

3:01 PM

Ukrainian drone strike hits major oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, HUR source claims.

Located roughly 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory, the refinery is among the largest in southern Russia, producing over 6 million tons of fuel annually.

2:38 PM

HUR publishes Russian military order, claims proof of Moscow increasing military footprint in Armenia.

HUR first made the claim on July 5, saying Russia was increasing its forces at the Gyumri base to exert greater influence in the South Caucasus and "destabilize the global security situation."

2:19 PM

(Updated: July 7, 2025 1:43 pm)

KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week

1:12 PM

(Updated: July 7, 2025 1:38 pm)

Zelensky, Trump discussed replacement of Ukraine's US ambassador, source says.

Oksana Markarova has held the post since April 2021, and played a central role in coordinating U.S. military and financial support during the early phases of Russia's full-scale invasion.

11:24 AM

12 killed, 69 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 101 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, as well as four S-300/400 guided missiles.

10:45 AM

After airport chaos, tanker blast, Putin fires Russian transport minister.

The dismissal comes amid a series of high-profile disruptions to Russia's aviation and shipping sectors.

10:36 AM

As Ukraine awaits stalled US weapons, Trump says he's 'helping a lot' in war with Russia.

"I am helping Ukraine. I'm helping it a lot," U.S. President Donald Trump said when asked in Washington why the U.S. does not support Ukraine as strongly as it supports Israel.

9:12 AM

Trump threatens 10% tariff on countries backing BRICS 'anti-American policy'.

"There will be no exceptions to this policy," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

8:13 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,027,540 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,100 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:52 AM

Trump slams Musk’s third party plan as ‘ridiculous,’ calls Musk ‘train wreck’.

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on tech billionaire Elon Musk’s plan to create a new political party, calling it “ridiculous” and warning that third-party movements have historically failed in the United States.

5:47 AM

BRICS summit statement condemns attacks on Russian railways, avoids urging Russia to cease war efforts in Ukraine.

BRICS summit participants condemned recent attacks on Russia’s railway infrastructure, according to a joint declaration on July 6 from Rio de Janeiro.

2:51 AM

Lavrov meets Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi at BRICS summit, reiterates Russia's offer to mediate disputes over nuclear program.

Russia reiterated its offer to mediate the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program during a meeting between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Reuters reported on July 6.

10:49 PM

Moldova's pro-Russian political bloc to participate in upcoming elections.

Ilan Shor, an exiled pro-Kremlin oligarch, established the Victory bloc in August 2024. "Our main goal in these elections is to overthrow the fascist regime and hold early democratic elections within the next six months," Shor said on July 6.

10:06 PM

Zelensky's top adviser behind bid to replace prime minister, spy chief, sources tell Economist.

According to anonymous officials, Andriy Yermak was also a driving force behind the recent corruption probe into Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov.

5:34 AM

(Updated: July 6, 2025 8:49 pm)

News feed

News Feed

Most popular

Editors' Picks

Subscribe