How Russia fueled and weaponized a 2014 Odesa fire that left over 40 dead
On May 2, 2014, a tragic incident occurred in Odesa that would become one of the most exploited narratives in Russian propaganda.
Explaining Ukraine
There is a lot of misinformation about Ukraine out there. The Kyiv Independent wants to set the record straight, which is why we’re launching our “Explaining Ukraine” section. The articles featured here explain Ukrainian historical and cultural events and figures in order to help the world understand Ukraine better.
Could Ukraine have stopped Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014?
Russia built up its military presence in Crimea for decades, allowing it to swiftly capture the peninsula amid revolution in Ukraine.
What were the Minsk Agreements and why did they fail to bring peace in Ukraine?
Kyiv, under pressure from allies and a difficult battlefield situation, was forced to sign unfavorable deals.
Kyiv, not Kiev — How Ukrainians reclaimed their capital's name
English speakers the world over long referred to Ukraine’s capital as Kiev, not realizing they were using the Russian name for the city.
Carol of the Bells — the classic, and Ukrainian, Christmas song
The timeless classic was first performed during a Christmas concert by the student choir of the University of Kyiv in 1916.
Vertep, a centuries-old Ukrainian Christmas tradition
The origins of Vertep remain a mystery, but the Christmas caroling tradition has endured through centuries of history.
The downing of MH17, and Russia’s responsibility
At best, Russia denied responsibility for the crime — at worst, it spread disinformation blaming Ukraine for the downing.
Ivana Kupala, Ukraine’s midsummer festival
Rooted in pagan tradition, the holiday honors fire, water, and plants through rituals for purification, protection, and harvest.
10 authors shaping contemporary Ukrainian literature
The Kyiv Independent put together a list of 10 celebrated Ukrainian writers, some of whose works are available in English translation.
Pereiaslav, the treaty that started modern Russo-Ukrainian history
Pereiaslav's impact has rippled through centuries, representing a very different legacy for both Ukraine and Russia.
What's inside a Ukrainian Easter basket? The answer isn't chocolate eggs
Central to Ukraine's week-long preparations for the holiday is the Easter basket, known as sviachene, meaning “that which is blessed.”
The recipe behind Ukraine’s beloved food chain Puzata Khata
Puzata Khata emerged from Soviet canteen culture, blending it with homestyle Ukrainian cuisine that resonates across generations.
Who were the Ukrainian Cossacks?
It's widely believed that Ukrainian Cossacks were formed from a diverse mix of East Slavic free peasants, escaped serfs, and even nobles.
Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian poet and national hero
Shevchenko’s enduring presence across Ukraine underscores that at the heart of modern Ukrainian identity lies a poet.
When did the war in Ukraine start? A timeline of Russia's aggression
Russia's war against Ukraine began immediately following the end of the EuroMaidan Revolution in February 2014, when Russia swiftly moved to annex and occupy Crimea
Celebrating the Ukrainian way: The 12 dishes of Christmas
Here's a look at the 12 types of dishes found at Ukrainian tables around the world on Christmas Eve.
Kyiv Cake: The legendary sweet of Ukraine's capital
There’s nothing sweeter than home, unless you’re a Kyivan — because then you have Kyiv Cake.
Who are the Crimean Tatars?
Crimean Tatars are one of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples who have been central to Crimea’s history for many centuries.
Borsch, a Ukrainian staple, explained
Ukrainians have been eating and adapting a dish known as borsch for at least 1,200 years.
The origins of 'Slava Ukraini'
The words are part of a more than century-old slogan deeply tied to Ukrainian identity.
Everything you didn’t know about Ukraine’s flag
Though the flag’s two colors were banned at various points in history, they reemerged during national revivals and after Ukraine gained independence.
Viktor Yanukovych: Ukraine’s scandal-ridden ex-president
The pro-Russian ex-president was stripped of the title of President of Ukraine in 2015.
The origins of the 2014 war in Donbas
While the Kremlin openly boasted of its annexation of Crimea, it tried to conceal its involvement in the war in Donbas for years.
Kyivan Rus, then and now
The origins of Rus and the foundation of Kyivan Rus have sparked a centuries-long debate that continues to this day.
Holodomor: Soviet Union’s man-made famine in Ukraine
The Holodomor — meaning “murder by starvation” in Ukrainian — is widely seen as one of the most devastating tragedies in Ukraine’s history.
Why Ukraine doesn't have nuclear weapons
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself the inheritor of the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal.
Chornobyl nuclear disaster
The accident is the most devastating nuclear disaster to date.
The 2014 annexation of Crimea — How Russia stole Ukraine's peninsula
Russia seized Crimea in February 2014 amid the deadliest days of Ukraine’s EuroMaidan Revolution, and has occupied the peninsula ever since.
Ukraine’s struggle for independence
Ukraine’s long fight for sovereignty — from the 1918 Battle of Kruty to today — reveals a nation’s enduring quest for freedom.
Ukraine's Orange Revolution
The lesser-known Orange Revolution was a major political event in post-Soviet history and pivotal in Ukraine’s transition to democracy.
EuroMaidan Revolution
The EuroMaidan Revolution is often credited with being the single most consequential event in Ukraine's modern history.
Who is Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine?
Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comedian and businessman, rose to global prominence as Ukraine’s wartime president after Feb. 24, 2022.
Editors' Picks
With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?
From buffer zone to new front: Russia pushes deeper into Sumy Oblast
As Russia inches closer to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, new Ukrainian region might soon be at war
