Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that during the daytime attacks, a critical infrastructure facility in Kyiv was "deliberately targeted" for the first time in several months.

Key developments on Aug. 20: * At least 15 dead after hours-long Russian missile, drone attack on Kyiv, children's hospital damaged * Ukraine strikes Russia's Taneco oil refinery, Tamanneftegaz terminal, General Staff confirms * Ukraine hits Russian drone-launch airfields in Primorsko-Akhtarsk, occupied Donetsk, HUR says * Russia still has 50 Kinzhal missiles after pausing production, HUR claims * Defense ministry procurement chief announces early resignation after new minister takes offic

HUR operators struck Russian drone storage and launch sites, as well as two radar systems — the 55Zh6U Nebo-U and 55Zh6UM Niobiy, the statement read.

The tapes feature President Volodymyr Zelensky’s former Deputy Chief of Staff Iryna Mudra, lawmaker Vadym Stolar, and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas, a law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent.

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has broken one of Ukraine's most politically sensitive wartime taboos by publicly calling for elections, bringing into the mainstream a debate that Kyiv had largely rejected when raised by Russia and the United States. Fedorov said Ukraine needs a "safe and realistic mechanism" to hold elections during wartime that protects the voting rights of soldiers, Ukrainians abroad, and people in front-line regions. "We must not let Putin decide when Ukrainians c

As Russia's war against Ukraine grinds on with seemingly no end in sight and the Russian leadership rejecting any talk of ceasefires or meaningful negotiations, there has been a growing chorus arguing that Kyiv must face reality, admit that military victory is impossible, enter negotiations, and agree to territorial concessions. "Land for peace" might be a "difficult choice," or so the argument goes, but it is the only way to avoid a crushing defeat. Even setting aside the question of whether

PAVLOHRAD, DNIPROPETROVSK OBLAST — When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, roughly 75 kilometers (45 miles) from the front line, became a relatively safe haven for those fleeing the war further east. But as the war drags on and the range of Russian weaponry increases, those living there fear their home now faces the same fate as cities in neighboring Donetsk Oblast, many of which Russia has reduced to rubble. Just a month ago, on July 20, t

According to evidence gathered by investigators, the man allegedly acted on behalf of the Russian secret services.

The New Safe Confinement, a protective shelter covering the remains of Chornobyl's destroyed reactor, was damaged by Russian drones in February 2025.

Video posted to social media showed a Romanian F-16 diving towards the suspected Russian drone and strafing it with its cannon.

Oleh Klots, former director general of the state-owned Medical Procurement of Ukraine, will serve as interim head of the agency pending the appointment of a permanent successor by Ukraine's new defense minister, according to Arsen Zhumadilov.

The attack is still ongoing and an air raid alert is still in place in the capital.

Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an oil refinery in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan and an oil terminal in Krasnodar Krai overnight on Aug. 20, as Ukraine continues its campaign targeting Russian oil infrastructure.

"As of July 2026, the Russian Federation has about 50 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles and about 50 North Korean ballistic missiles of the KN-23 series, including the KN-24 and KN-30 variants," HUR said in a statement to Ukrainska Pravda.

The decisions follow searches conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) at Sense Bank on Aug. 19.

The figure includes 1,480 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

The strike comes just over a week after Russia attacked Zhytomyr and the surrounding region with jet-powered drones overnight on Aug. 9.

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov dropped a bombshell of a video on Aug. 18, calling for elections in Ukraine and becoming by far the most high-profile person to advocate for such a move during Russia's full-scale invasion. In an address posted on YouTube, Fedorov said Ukraine needs a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism" for holding elections during a prolonged war while ensuring voting rights for military personnel, Ukrainians abroad, and people living in front-line regions. "We must

Editor's note: This story is being updated. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is searching the premises of Iryna Mudra, a presidential deputy chief of staff, and Vadym Stolar, a member of parliament, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told the Kyiv Independent on Aug. 19. Mudra was charged by the NABU, her lawyer Artem Krykun-Trush told the media outlet Suspilne. The latest investigation comes as the NABU steps up its anti-corruption efforts. It follows last ye

An object believed to be a drone has exploded at a Turkish police station in Trabzon, damaging cars and buildings

Key developments on Aug. 19: * Ukraine brings home 103 POWs in latest exchange with Russia * Russian drone strike on police headquarters in Zhytomyr kills 2, injures at least 20 * Deadly drone strike hits minibus in Kherson as Russian attacks kill 17, injure 54 across Ukraine over past day * Ukrainian drones reportedly target oil refinery in Russia's Ufa, attack Tula, Nizhny Novgorod oblasts * Ukraine hits rocket and space center, aircraft plant in Russia's Samara Oblast, General Staff con

With his latest statement, former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov appears to have reinvigorated a dangerous debate about elections in wartime Ukraine. "We must not let Putin decide when Ukrainians can choose their government," Fedorov said, adding that democracy is "part of what we are fighting for today." The principle is difficult to dispute. Yet a prolonged war of attrition places extraordinary strain on both the state and society, demanding that Ukraine's political leadership exercise th

Pressured by the FSB over his son, Purishev flew to Moscow on Aug.17, posting about it on social media

Hungarian authorities seized two bank vehicles in March traveling from Austria to Ukraine that were transporting a shipment of cash and gold worth about $82 million, claiming they were investigating a money laundering scheme.

The General Staff said the attack on the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara also sparked a fire covering around 5,000 square meters.

In this interview, the Kyiv Independent's Jason Blevins speaks with Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and a scholar who closely observed Russia's transition after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The solid rocket fuel plant in Denmark is expected to start operations by late 2027.

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is considering a trip to the United States, U.S. and Ukrainian officials familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. The potential trip comes as Fedorov has emerged as a more outspoken critic of Ukraine's wartime political system. On Aug. 18, he called for Ukraine to find a way to restore a full democratic process while the war continues, advocating for elections. The trip could take place as soon as next week, one person said. It remains uncle

"Of course, there are no critical consequences from such attacks, there never have been, and there never can be," Russian leader Vladimir Putin said.

Editor's note: Some names in this story have been changed to protect the identities of the mothers, who spoke on condition of anonymity. As Russian forces advanced on a city in eastern Ukraine this spring, not everyone followed the evacuation orders. Mariia, mother of a two-year-old daughter, hesitated, wary of the uncertainty that comes with displacement. Mariia’s family had already fled once before in 2022 at the start of the full-scale invasion, only for a lack of support to drive her famil

The man arrested was a Ukrainian identified by German authorities only as "Vladimir Z.," who the German public prosecutor's office describes as a trained diver who "participated in the necessary dives."

As part of the exchange, Ukraine handed 103 Russian service members back to Russia, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.