Podcasts, Hot topic, War, War analysis

Questions about Russia’s war against Ukraine with defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko

by Illia Ponomarenko and Elina-Alem Kent February 11, 2022 12:52 PM 1 min read

The Kyiv Independent defense reporter Illia Ponamorenko answers questions concerning Russia's ongoing military build-up along the Ukrainian border. (mil.ru)

This audio is created with AI assistance

As Russia continues to build up military personnel along Ukraine’s borders many of us are wondering what’s next. We turn to our defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko for answers. The Kyiv Independent’s patrons who have access to a closed chat with the editorial team were able to send in questions that were included in this episode.

In order to send in future questions and hear more exclusive opinions and analyses from our journalists and editors become our patron at patreon.com/kyivindependent.

The Kyiv Indie Podcasts · Questions about Russia’s war against Ukraine with defense journalist Illia Ponomarenko

Authors: Illia Ponomarenko, Elina-Alem Kent

News Feed

9:04 PM

Putin throws 'a lot of b*llshit', Trump says as he 'looks strongly' at sanctions bill.

Trump also addressed U.S. legislation on sanctions, saying the Senate's Russia sanctions bill was "totally optional" for him to implement or terminate. "I'm looking at it very strongly," Trump said.

8:38 PM

Ukrainian businesses outraged as government blocks economic crimes bureau chief nominee.

Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers rejected a nominee to lead the economic crimes agency, drawing swift criticism from lawmakers and businesses over alleged interference in the selection process.

7:17 PM

Russia's crude exports fall to lowest level since February.

Seaborne crude flows averaged 3.12 million barrels a day over the four weeks to July 6, a 3% decline from the previous period ending June 29, according to tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. That's the lowest level recorded since the four-week period ending Feb. 23.

7:02 PM

War analysis

Dnipropetrovsk village likely contested despite Russia's claim of its capture

6:19 PM

Three men convicted in London arson plot tied to Russia's Wagner Group.

The ringleader, Dylan Earl, 21, had already pleaded guilty to aggravated arson over the 2024 blaze targeting companies that were supplying Elon Musk's Starlink satellite equipment to Ukraine.

5:15 PM

Trump reportedly pledges to send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, asks Germany to send battery.

During the call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that Germany sell one of its own Patriot batteries to Ukraine.

4:28 PM

Business

Ukraine’s minerals fund focus of private investment ahead of major recovery conference

4:17 PM

Opinion

Seeing war through the lens of narcissism

3:58 PM

Ukraine sanctions 5 Chinese firms for supplying components used in Russian drones.

The decree follows a publication by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), which said it recovered Chinese-made parts from downed Shahed drones during a July 4 air assault on Kyiv.

3:52 PM

Opinion

How to enter Ukraine’s defense market: A short guide for foreign companies

3:27 PM

Interview

'Some are forged into poets during hostilities' — Medic, former POW, and poet on how war is shaping Ukraine's writers

3:16 PM

Putin signs decree allowing foreigners to serve in Russian army during mobilization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilization decree from Sept. 21, 2022, remains in force and has never been formally rescinded.

3:12 PM

'Torture was not just cruel, it was inhuman' — Ukrainian soldier dies weeks after release from Russian captivity.

Soldier Valery Zelensky had spent 39 months in Russian captivity. Just 22 days later, on June 16, his heart stopped.

2:18 PM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 3:08 pm)

Europe's largest port prepares for NATO arms shipments, potential war with Russia.

Rotterdam has previously handled weapons shipments, but this marks the first time that it will designate a special berth for military use.

9:56 AM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 3:03 pm)

Russia's Black Sea Fleet shrinks presence in key Crimean bay, Ukrainian partisans say.

The remaining combat units are periodically rotated and redeployed in an apparent effort to avoid detection by Ukrainian reconnaissance, the Atesh partisan group said.

1:33 PM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 1:34 pm)

Ukraine's ambassador to the US to be dismissed, source says.

Oksana Markarova has held the post since April 2021.

7:45 PM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 1:30 pm)

Minerals

Exclusive: Ukraine pitches US modernizes its largest oil refinery as part of minerals deal

12:27 PM

Overcoming Slovakia, Hungary opposition, EU set to approve new Russia sanctions package this week, Ukrainian official says.

In late June, EU ambassadors did not approve the sanctions package because of objections from Budapest and Bratislava.

11:13 AM

9 killed, 81 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 54 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, and fired four S-300/400 guided missiles.

11:02 AM

On 1-year anniversary, Ukraine names Russian officer linked to deadly strike on Kyiv Okhmatdyt children's hospital.

The strike, which killed two adults and injured at least 34 people, directly hit the country's largest pediatric medical center, where 627 children were receiving treatment at the time.

4:15 AM

(Updated: July 8, 2025 9:23 am)

'They have to be able to defend themselves' — Trump says US will send additional weapons shipments to Ukraine, criticizes Putin.

"They're getting hit very hard. We're gonna have to send more weapons, your defensive weapons primarily," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

9:19 AM

Trump reportedly told Zelensky he's not responsible for US arms halt to Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump told President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call on July 4 that he was not responsible for the suspension of U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

8:17 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,028,610 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,070 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

7:56 AM

EU to impose 'toughest' sanctions on Russia in coordination with US senators, French foreign minister says.

"This (war) cannot continue; it must stop. To achieve this, in coordination with American senators, Europe is preparing to introduce, based on French proposals, the toughest sanctions we have imposed in the last three years," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

6:25 AM

Kellogg, Umerov set to meet, discuss resumption of US military aid to Ukraine, Politico reports.

Following the talks between U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Rome, Politico reported that more meetings are set to take place in Kyiv over the next two weeks.

MORE NEWS