Viktoria Vozna, 25, had always enjoyed her quiet life in native Brovary, a city just east of Kyiv, and dreamed of raising her own children there one day. She never wanted to live abroad, but Russia’s brutal war forced her out of the country. After saving up enough money
Key developments on Jan. 31: * Russia claims control over Blahodatne, north of Bakhmut * UK Defense Ministry: Russia likely launching 'more concerted assault' around Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast * Russian shelling in Bakhmut kills 2, including a teenager * Foreign Ministry: 120-140 Western tanks to be delivered Moscow said on Jan. 31 that it
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in our op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Today, the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2022 have been published. Ukraine received 33 points out of 100 possible. Our
Welcome to Investigative Stories from Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent's newsletter that walks you through the most prominent Ukrainian and Ukraine-focused investigations of the past week. If you are fond of in-depth journalism that exposes war crimes, corruption and abuse of power across state organizations in Ukraine and beyond, subscribe to
Key developments on Jan. 30: * Zelensky visits Mykolaiv Oblast with Danish Prime Minister * Ukrainian military: Russian forces unprepared for major combat operation in the south due to equipment shortage * State Border Guard: Around 9,000 Russian troops deployed in Belarus * Russian governor: Additional Russian troops, military equipment to arrive in
The Kyiv Independent spent a day with a family in Kyiv that is currently experiencing the hardships of living amid power outages.
Key developments on Jan. 29: * Wagner Group claims to have captured Blahodatne; Ukraine denies Russian progress near Bakhmut * Ukrainian intelligence: Prigozhin doesn’t command Wagner Group’s military operations * At least 3 killed, 6 wounded in Russian shelling of Kherson Ukraine denied on Jan. 29 that Russian forces made gains
The U.S. has been reluctant to supply ATACMS due to the fear of escalation and the concerns that they may be used to attack Russian territory. Supporters of supplying ATACMS to Ukraine argue that Kyiv's inability to strike targets far from the frontline results in the deaths of numerous Ukrainians and makes it harder for Ukraine to expel Russian troops from its territory.
Key developments on Jan. 27: * Russia claims advance toward Vuhledar; Ukraine denies any breakthrough * Ukraine's military says Russia attacked Vuhledar area 322 times * Zelensky: ‘Ukraine needs 300 or 500 tanks now’ * White House: Abrams tanks delivery to Ukraine to take 'many months.' Kremlin proxies in Donetsk Oblast claimed on
Ten months after barely surviving the Russian bombing of a theater in Mariupol, Viktoria Dubovitska is keeping a close eye on her seven-year-old son. Artem remembers “almost everything” about what he saw in the March tragedy, the mother said. He tries not to talk about it, but unwanted memories keep
The week marks the 160th anniversary of the 1863 uprising against Russian imperial rule. The January uprising led by Kastus Kalinouski was an attempt to re-establish a joint Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian independent state. The most prominent Belarusian military formation fighting for Ukraine bears his name. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko
Key developments on Jan. 26: * Commander: Ukraine downs 47 out of 55 Russian missiles during the morning attack * Emergency service: 11 killed, 11 wounded during Russia's airstrike on Jan. 26 * Energy Minister: Russian forces hit some energy facilities across Ukraine * German Minister: Leopard tanks to arrive in Ukraine by early
“These tanks will allow Ukraine to liberate even more of its territory and defend its people from Russia's brutal invasion,” Anand said.
Russia's war in Ukraine was a watershed moment for Europe. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has killed tens of thousands and forced millions out of the country, Russia sought to punish the European Union for supporting Kyiv. Russia began to choke Europe, violating pre-existing energy contracts and unilaterally
The humanitarian response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been immense — an outpouring of good will from people across Europe and, indeed, the world. But when it comes to the large aid organizations facilitating it, the story becomes more blurred. From Amnesty International to the Red Cross, there have
Editor’s Note: This story is a collaborative project of the Kyiv Independent (Ukraine), Eesti Ekspress (Estonia), Die Welt (Germany), Lighthouse Reports, and The Investigative Desk (the Netherlands). Top findings: * Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine had driven arms prices times up * High demand has allowed some private brokers that secure
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Jan. 25 announced its plan to let Russians and Belarusians participate at Paris Olympics as "neutral athletes" despite President Volodymyr Zelensky's call to bar them.
Key developments on Jan. 25: * Germany to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, green light for other countries to deliver * US announces decision to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine * Zelensky thanks US for ‘important step on the path to victory’; Germany for ‘important and timely’ decision * Ukraine confirms
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization put Odesa under its symbolic protection as Russian strikes have regularly targeted the southern port city since the beginning of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24.
Germany confirmed on Jan. 25 that it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine after months of delay, and allow other countries, such as Poland, to send their own stocks. The long-awaited tanks will be delivered from the stocks of Bundeswehr armed forces, Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Bloomberg in
Key developments on Jan. 24: * Kyiv warns Belarus against directly getting involved in Russia's war * ABC News: 12 countries ready to give about 100 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if Germany approves * CNN: West encourages Ukraine to shift focus from destroyed Bakhmut to counteroffensive in south * Finnish President visits Kyiv,
The Cabinet of Ministers has officially dismissed six government officials and greenlighted the firing of five governors in the most significant reshuffle since the start of the full-scale war. The Jan. 24 reshuffle came after a series of journalist investigations alleged misappropriation of funds among several top officials.
Key developments on Jan. 23: * Ukraine's intelligence: Russia to intensify Donbas offensive in February-March * Poland says it will seek Germany's approval to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, but ready to do so regardless of Berlin's will * Germany says it hasn't received Poland's request to send Leopards yet * Estonia, Latvia tell
BROVARY, Kyiv Oblast – That early morning on Jan. 18, Iryna Laptinova, a kindergarten teacher in the city of Brovary was getting ready for yet another joyful day of working with children. As usual, she came to work early to prepare the classroom and greet her little students. Many of them
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) stated on Jan. 23 that it had begun to investigate possible corruption in the Defense Ministry's food procurement before ZN.ua, a news site, published an investigation on the issue on Jan. 21. The ZN.ua report has triggered a major scandal, with
NOVYI BURLUK, Kharkiv Oblast – The darkness setting over the muddy street of the small hamlet in Kharkiv Oblast did little to hide the destruction Russian soldiers left behind. Novyi Burluk, located 85 kilometers south of the Russian border, was occupied on the first day of the full-scale invasion. The occupation
"For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not stand in the way," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. "We know how important these tanks are and this is why we are discussing this now with our partners. We need to make sure people's lives are saved and Ukraine's territory liberated."
Key developments on Jan. 22: * Russian-controlled militants claim successful advance toward 2 towns in Zaporizhzhia Oblast * Ukraine's General Staff: All Russian advances repelled * Ukraine's military creates new units to equip with Western military hardware * Polish PM: Ukraine, Europe to win the war 'with Germany or without' Chairman of the House
The dramatic fight for Soledar, part of the Battle of Bakhmut, is over — although Ukraine's leadership is still reluctant to acknowledge the loss. As a result of a localized offensive operation in January, Russian forces managed to gnaw through Ukrainian defenses and, after fierce urban fighting, seize what's left of
Key developments on Jan. 20: * Germany: No decision yet on Leopard tanks for Ukraine * Germany announces 1 billion euro spring military aid package for Ukraine * US: Ukraine would have opportunity for counteroffensive in spring * Der Spiegel: German intelligence concerned about Ukraine’s casualties near Bakhmut * Washington to designate Wagner Group
Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Joint Russian-Belarusian flight exercises begin in Belarus. The Institute for the Study of War notes that Moscow will likely deploy additional forces to Belarus. Meanwhile, exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s in absentia trial begins in Minsk. She continues to speak out
Fighting off pressure from allies, Berlin made no decision to provide the long-anticipated Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. "I'm very sure there will be a decision in the short term, but I don't know how the decision will look," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters at the U.S.
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