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Poland's main conservative party splits as debate over Ukraine intensifies

Poland's main conservative party splits as debate over Ukraine intensifies

For days, Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party has been consumed by a crisis of its own making. The party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, has now split into two ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. After months of internal tensions, the more moderate faction led by former Prime Minister  was forced out by Przemysław Czarnek, the party's newly nominated prime ministerial candidate and leader of its more radical wing. The split weakens an opposition that had hoped to challenge
Russia's war of conquest and its war on civilians
Opinion

Russia's war of conquest and its war on civilians

The hotel where we like to stay in Lviv, one of Europe's most picturesque cities, sits on a small square, a block from City Hall. Cafes and cobblestones, church towers and small shops enchant visitors, though the city bustles with locals going about their daily lives. Kitty-corner to our hotel is the Saints Peter and Paul Garrison Church, a 17th-century stone building that has long served the military and their families. Each morning during our visit, we woke to the sounds of funerals for soldi
Exclusive: Board members of problematic state-owned shipping giant say they are being set up to fail

Exclusive: Board members of problematic state-owned shipping giant say they are being set up to fail

Three board members of one of Ukraine's largest state-owned shipping companies say that they feel pressured to take actions that are not in the best interest of the company, neglected as they try to fix severe financial, management, and governance issues — but then accused of not having the company's best interests at heart. The board members came forward after the Kyiv Independent revealed in July that Ukraine's parliament would look into the situation at the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company
Thousands of Ukrainians gather for a march in downtown Kyiv, as protests enter 3rd week

Thousands of Ukrainians gather for a march in downtown Kyiv, as protests enter 3rd week

Ukrainians gathered in Kyiv on July 31 for what organizers described as a "march for dialogue and reforms in defense," renewing demands that President Volodymyr Zelensky reinstate former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The rally marked the 16th day of protests over Fedorov's dismissal, with organizers vowing to continue demonstrating despite no indication that Zelensky intends to reverse his decision. While several previous protests have drawn hundreds rather than thousands of participants,
How Ukrainian farmers grow watermelons near the front line
Video

How Ukrainian farmers grow watermelons near the front line.

In this report, the Kyiv Independent's Dominic Culverwell and Nick Allard travel to Ukraine's agricultural heartland, documenting how two brothers survived Russian occupation, rebuilt their farm from scratch, and continue to harvest under the increasing threat of Russian FPV drones.
Russia's defense giant quietly launches new cryptocurrency despite EU sanctions
Russia

Russia's defense giant quietly launches new cryptocurrency despite EU sanctions

A cryptocurrency associated with Russia's sprawling state defense corporation has quietly launched just as the European Union targets Russian crypto markets with further sanctions. Blockchain data reviewed by Kyiv Independent suggests that ruble token RubX, announced by Rostec last year, soft-launched on July 17. RubX later started offering swaps to the widely accepted dollar stablecoin Tether via Telegram on July 24. Cryptocurrencies have emerged as a key conduit for Russian importers to make
Ukraine war latest: Heartbreak in Ukrainian village as Russian missile kills at least 6 family members

Ukraine war latest: Heartbreak in Ukrainian village as Russian missile kills at least 6 family members

Key developments on July 30: * 'Almost nothing remained': Russian missile kills at least 6 family members in Ukrainian village * Ukraine hits one of Russia's largest Lukoil-owned oil refineries, General Staff confirms * 'The package won't arrive:' Blazes at Wildberries warehouses in Russia's Penza, Udmurtia amid more Ukrainian drone strikes * Assault regiment commander ordered troops to fire on retreating comrades, media investigation alleges A Russian ballistic missile killed at least six
Putin likes his worst option in Ukraine
Opinion

Putin likes his worst option in Ukraine

If Russian President Vladimir Putin were to make a clear-headed assessment of the state of his war with Ukraine, he would seek a ceasefire. But his head apparently is not clear, because all signs point to him pursuing some kind of escalation. If he does indeed embark on such a course, he will make the situation worse for everyone, but primarily for himself. Since his August 2025 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Putin has been seeking to persuade the United States to force
Analysis: New Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi faces a manpower mess of Syrskyi's making

Analysis: New Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi faces a manpower mess of Syrskyi's making

"The transformation of the defense forces cannot end with a change of minister, team, or department head. It must continue until fair and understandable rules become the norm for everyone who serves the state." The words of Mykhailo Drapatyi, posted on Facebook just days before he was named Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, foreshadowed the challenges he would soon face. Two and a half years after he took over the job from popular general Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Oleksandr Syrskyi's ten