Back in December, Ukraine agreed to a comprehensive package of rule-of-law reforms, as one of the steps needed to move forward with EU accession talks and secure necessary funding. Soon after the agreement was signed, the government deprioritized the promised reforms. "None of the crucial reforms related to the justice system, law enforcement, or anti-corruption have been implemented," Vitaly Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center's executive board, told the Kyiv Independent. The

"Each new attack on Ukraine is another reason for Europe to tighten the screws on Russia," Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said.

Russia launched 147 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine overnight on Aug. 7, with air defenses shooting down 114 of them, the Air Force said.

The first photos and videos emerged on Russian social media around 5 a.m. local time, showing smoke rising from the Wildberries facility.

The figure includes 1,210 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

U.S. intelligence reports raised new alarms that Russian President Vladimir Putin could provoke a NATO nation with a limited attack as early as this fall, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Aug. 6.

Nearly 70% of Ukrainians support joining the EU, and over 60% of Ukrainians support joining NATO amid growing frustration with the government, according to a new survey by the Socis Center for Social Research released on Aug. 6.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Aug. 6 that the United States "needs missiles too" when asked about President Volodymyr Zelensky's latest appeal for long-range missiles and Patriot air defense systems.

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he still hopes to return to the post after being dismissed during the government's recent reshuffle, speaking on Serhii Sternenko's Aug. 6 YouTube show.

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's former ambassador to the U.S. and deputy prime minister for European integration, was widely regarded as an effective manager. But her involvement in several corruption investigations cast a shadow over her career and likely contributed to her dismissal as ambassador on Aug. 3. On Aug. 5, authorities charged Stefanishyna with illicit enrichment totaling Hr 13.9 million ($310,000) and filing false asset declarations. She denies the allegations. For critics of Presi

President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to make his first trip to Serbia on Aug. 8, a senior Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent.

Key developments on Aug. 6: * Russia could use Ukrainian drones in false-flag strike against Baltic infrastructure, Lithuania says * Drone targeted Ukrainian cargo plane carrying ammunition at German airport, media reports * Russian drone kills 2 railway workers at station in Kharkiv Oblast * Ukraine hits 2 Russian oil refineries in latest deep strike drone attack, Zelensky says * NATO fighter jet scrambles increase 250% as Russia tests border with military planes, Alliance says Lithuania

In late June, President Volodymyr Zelensky tasked Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) with launching a "40-day influence operation" designed to compel Russia to "end the war." In the weeks following, Ukraine's mid- and long-range drones scored some headline-grabbing successes — the crippling of dozens of Russian tankers supplying occupied Crimea and, perhaps most notably, the destruction of several warehouses across the country belonging to online retailer Wildberries. But 40 days later, Russia's

According to local journalist Vitalii Hlahola, who cited sources in law enforcement, several current and former members of staff were searched in their homes.

Speaking on Aug. 5, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a "hybrid attack scenario."

The Munich General Prosecutor's Office and the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office said that there are "strong grounds" to suspect the man was a "low-level agent" acting on behalf of the intelligence service of a foreign nation.

The statement comes after drone incidents and incursions in all three Baltic states have raised tensions in the region.

High temperatures across Europe led Hungary to temporarily power down the country's only nuclear power plant on July 29 and increase electricity imports from its neighbors, including Ukraine.

A train carriage was struck while at the station, confirmed Ukrainian Railways President Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, who added that the two men killed were both railway workers.

"The U.K. will continue to step up our action against Russia and its shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy, and global stability," said John Healey, the British economy minister.

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Olha Stefanishyna from her post on Aug. 3.

The reported target is the Slavneft-Yanos oil refinery in Yaroslavl, over 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the Ukrainian border. It is one of Russia's five largest refineries, with an annual crude oil capacity of 15 million metric tons.

The Kyiv Independent has launched a campaign to fund a full year of mental health support for its team, so the people who live through and report on the Russian war against Ukraine can keep going. The program covers individual therapy sessions and access to an online psychological support platform for all staff. You can support the fundraiser via the link. Journalism always takes a mental toll. Reporters regularly deal with traumatic events, footage, and testimonies — it comes with the job. In

The figure includes 1,330 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Aircraft scrambles along NATO's eastern border increased by 250% in July 2026 compared to July 2025, due to Russian military planes skirting Alliance airspace without flight plans.

The "landmark decision" marks the first time a foreign court has ordered the handover of a Russian ship tied to stolen Ukrainian grain.

Voice of America will resume its Ukrainian-language broadcasts and return some employees of its Ukrainian Service to work, Ruslan Petrychka, head of the broadcaster's Ukrainian Service, announced on Aug. 5.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting in Kyiv on Aug. 5, marking the British official's first visit to the Ukrainian capital.

A car explosion in Russia's Sverdlovsk Oblast reportedly killed a driver and put Vladimir Tkachuk, head of a company producing "Ghoul" attack drones, in intensive care.

Ukrainians seem to have an endless appetite for discussing the possibility of creating alternative military alliances, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not see Ukraine joining NATO early into his second term in the White House. "I personally worked to ensure that we adopted NATO standards, and every year, I heard stories about how we were just about to join NATO. Unfortunately, we will never join it," former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said recently, adding tha

Key developments on Aug. 5: * Russian ballistic missile attack kills 17, injures dozens in Kyiv and surrounding area as rescue efforts continue * Ukraine's air defense missile deliveries drop by two-thirds, new Russian tactic compounds problems for Kyiv * Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Wildberries warehouse in Russia's Tula Oblast * North Korea deploying ballistic missile unit to Russia to wage attacks on Ukraine, intelligence says * Head of body recovery group Platsdarm killed, his wi

Ukraine is moving to establish a National Pantheon to honor generations of people who defended, built, and shaped the nation. The effort comes after years of Russian attacks that have damaged churches, museums, historic landmarks, and other cultural sites, reinforcing what Ukrainian officials and many cultural experts describe as a broader assault on the country's history and identity. "The names of all the heroes who, across centuries and eras, fought for Ukraine and inspired its people will