Kyiv's Cold War-era bomb shelters in dire state (PHOTOS)
When it comes to bomb shelters, Ukrainians are facing an unpleasant surprise.
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Osnat Lubrani: UN will continue to deliver for all Ukrainians leaving no one behind
I rely on personal connections in my line of work. Since arriving in Ukraine as the United Nations’Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in 2018, I’ve travelled across the country, listening to Ukrainians and hearing about their hopes and aspirations, but also their concerns. This is a troubling time
Is Ukraine ready for cyberwar with Russia? Fears mount as military build-up continues
Amid mounting fears over a possible Russian all-out invasion, Ukraine is facing a threat on two fronts – land and cyberspace. “Cyberattacks look like an ideal way for Russia to achieve its goals (to destabilize the country),” Yegor Aushev, co-founder of the Kyiv-based Cyber Unit Technologies and Cyber School, told the
Eugene Czolij: Still not too late for Germany to honor its commitment to Ukraine
Editor’s Note: This op-ed was published by Atlantic Council. It is republished here with permission. With more than 100,000 Russian troops currently concentrated on the Ukrainian border and the prospect of the largest European conflict since WWII looming over the continent, Western unity has never been more important.
Possible escalation in Ukraine may undermine global food security, provoke sky-high food prices
As Ukraine is facing the threat of a renewed, possibly all-out invasion by Russia, another risk arises. Dozens of countries, including Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, Tunisia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and even China rely on Ukrainian harvests to feed their people. The Middle East and Africa absorbed nearly 40% of Ukraine's exports of
Will Russia launch large-scale war or limited invasion? Analysis of 3 popular scenarios
As Russia continues to escalate its aggression against Ukraine, military experts disagree on the possible scenarios of a further Russian invasion if it does happen. Russia has amassed around 135,000 troops around Ukraine and in its occupied areas in recent weeks and stepped up its aggressive rhetoric. The Kremlin
William J. Broad: Ukraine gave up a giant nuclear arsenal 30 years ago. Today there are regrets
At the end of the Cold War, the third largest nuclear power on earth was not Britain, France or China. It was Ukraine. The Soviet collapse, a slow-motion downfall that culminated in December 1991, resulted in the newly independent Ukraine inheriting roughly 5,000 nuclear arms that Moscow had stationed
Canada’s Ukrainian communities rally in support of Ukraine
Members of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress rallied across Canada on Feb. 6 with the support of its partner organizations to call attention to Ukraine's fight against the potential for a further Russian invasion.
Ukraine holds urban warfare drills in Chornobyl Zone
PRYPYAT, CHORNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE – Cold and tired after so many sleepless days in battle, Ukrainian troops with National Guard special units go on the offensive, smashing the last resisting enemy troops at the roadway strongpoint in hard combat. Minutes later, Ukrainian troops backed by the KORD special police forces continue
Editorial: Western allies should do more for Ukraine to correct their past mistakes
Editor’s note: Editorials are articles that present the opinion of the editorial team of the Kyiv Independent. As a Ukraine-based newsroom, we don’t pretend to be neutral when it comes to covering Russia’s war against Ukraine. For us, the threat hanging over Ukraine isn’t just a
What we know about Polish anti-aircraft weapons sent to Ukraine
Poland, which recently joined the club of nations supporting Ukraine with weaponry against the looming Russian aggression threat, decided to provide Ukraine with better weapons than previously expected. Instead of PZR Grom, the Polish military's workhorse anti-aircraft missile systems promised to Kyiv, Poland is sending a more advanced and modern
What’s going on in Ukraine? Watch these films to understand Russia’s ongoing war
Editor's Note: The selection was provided by Takflix, a Ukrainian streaming platform, and approved by the Kyiv Independent. This isn't sponsored content. Although Russia’s war against Ukraine has been going non-stop since 2014, many around the world have just learned about Moscow’s aggression due to the growing threat
Canadian military veteran wants his country to act on Ukraine
Edmonton, CANADA — When Andriy Tovstiuk joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2016, he knew exactly why he was doing it: to get on Operation UNIFIER in his ancestral home, Ukraine. Three years later, his goal was realized when he was deployed to Ukraine as a linguist working at three Non-Commissioned
Commission fails to nominate anti-graft prosecutor for third time
A selection panel on Feb. 3 failed to nominate a chief anti-corruption prosecutor for the third time. The panel that chooses the anti-corruption prosecutor consists of four international experts and six members delegated by parliament. Three of the pro-government members failed to attend a panel meeting on Feb. 3, and
Erdogan visits Kyiv, signs long-anticipated free trade agreement
Turkey and Ukraine have straightened bilateral relations on Feb. 3 by signing the long-anticipated free trade agreement. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the signing of the agreement a "historic moment." "We have come a long, difficult way to open new horizons of our cooperation," he added. The signing came amid the
Dutch PM urges justice for MH17 victims, pushes to continue dialogue with Russia
Mark Rutte warned of “serious consequences” if Moscow chooses to further invade Ukraine
Putin says West ‘ignored’ Russian security concerns in rare public remarks
Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly addressed tensions surrounding Ukraine for the first time since December as he accused the U.S. of using Kyiv as a “tool” to pull Russia into an armed conflict over its neighboring country. Putin said the U.S. and its allies have “ignored” Moscow’s
Johnson: Sanctions the minute Russian troops further invade Ukraine
The U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Feb. 1 that his country would impose sanctions on the Kremlin “the moment the first Russian toecap crosses further into Ukraine." During his joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Johnson said that there would be “automaticity in how we apply
UK provides Ukraine with $120 million in financial aid
Ukraine is set to receive an additional $120 million in foreign aid from the United Kingdom in support of the country's “stable governance” and “energy independence,” according to a Feb. 1 statement by the British government. The announcement comes amid U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit to Kyiv,
Zelensky announces trilateral partnership between Ukraine, Poland, UK
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the creation of a new “format of political cooperation” involving Ukraine, Poland and the U.K. in his address to Ukraine’s parliament on Feb. 1. The announcement came amid the ongoing visit of U.K Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki,
US, Russia clash at UN Security Council meeting over Ukraine
The United Nations Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security held on Jan. 31 turned into a sharp confrontation with little result, as Russia actively denied responsibility for its war against Ukraine. The council meeting led by Washington's UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield was set to discuss the
Poland to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons
The Polish government has approved providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid and weaponry amid the ongoing all-out war threat from Russia. "A decision was made to transfer munitions of defensive, rather than of offensive, nature to the Ukrainian party," Pawel Soloch, the leader of Poland's National Security Bureau, said on Jan.
Want to help Ukraine's military as a foreigner? Here's what you can do
As Ukraine's allies in the West send military aid to bolster the country's defenses against the possible Russian military escalation, there are ways for individual foreigners to help Ukraine, too. Here's how foreign citizens can participate in defending Ukraine against Russia, should there be an invasion: Donating money Every dollar
Embassy advice guide for foreign nationals in Ukraine
A Sword of Damocles once again hangs over Ukraine. Since November, Russia has been amassing troops along Ukraine's eastern border, demanding sweeping concessions from the NATO alliance and threatening to plunge Ukraine back into Russia's sphere of influence once again. Many Western experts and governments now fear military incursion by
Ukrainian director detained in Italy at Russia's request removed from Interpol wanted list
Renowned Ukrainian theater director Eugene Lavrenchuk, 39, who was detained in Italy in December due to a Russian extradition request, was removed from the Interpol wanted list, Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights Ludmila Denisova wrote on Facebook on Jan. 29. Interpol found that his wanted status was "inconsistent"
Analysts forecast up to 52,000 daily Covid-19 cases in early February
Ukraine could register up to 52,000 daily Covid-19 cases in early February, reaching its peak of incidence, according to the latest report published by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Experts claim that the number of new cases is now doubling every week, and given the experience of
Defense minister downplays Russian threat, says it's similar to that of spring 2021
The current Russian military buildup near Ukrainian borders is not much different from the situation in spring 2021, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Jan. 28. Reznikov explained that Russia currently has about 130,000 troops arrayed around Ukraine, which he says is not significantly different from the
Zelensky, Biden discuss security, diplomacy, aid to Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden late on Jan. 27, their second conversation in January and fourth overall. "President Biden reaffirmed the readiness of the United States along with its allies and partners to respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine," said the
Hryvnia hits 7 year low amid Russian threat
The Ukrainian currency, hryvnia, fell to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar in seven years on Jan. 27, closing at an exchange rate of Hr 28.95 per $1. According to the National Bank of Ukraine, the hryvnia started the day at 28.91 per dollar, its lowest
Ukraine ratifies deal with UK to boost navy
Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has ratified a deal to get a loan worth $2.3 billion (1.7 billion pounds) from the United Kingdom and procure warships and key naval infrastructure. The bill was supported by 236 lawmakers in the final voting on Jan. 27. The deal particularly envisages
US shared response to Russia's security demands with Ukraine before sending
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the U.S. had shared the written response to Kremlin's security demands with Ukraine prior to sending it over to Moscow. "We had seen the written response of the U.S. before it was handed over to Russia. No objections on the Ukrainian side,
What we know about US bunker busters sent to Ukraine
Allies in the West keep sending their emergency assistance to Ukraine, including extraordinary amounts of lethal weaponry, as Russia continues threatening a mass invasion. Over the last few days, the United States alone, as part of its additional $200 million aid package, has sent nearly 700 FGM-148 Javelin missiles and,
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