NEWS FEED

Kyiv reports zero deaths from winter outages — but there's a catch
 (Updated:  

Kyiv reports zero deaths from winter outages — but there's a catch

Zero deaths linked to winter power or heating outages have been officially recorded in Kyiv, city authorities have said, despite months of severe cold caused by repeated Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. As Ukraine emerges from winter, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 1 that Russia launched more than 14,600 guided aerial bombs, 738 missiles, and nearly 19,000 attack drones over the three winter months. "But despite everything, Ukrainians made it through this difficu
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,273,290 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,273,290 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Russia has lost around 1,273,290 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on March 7. The number includes 930 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day. According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,742 tanks, 24,157 armored combat vehicles, 82,101 vehicles and fuel tanks, 38,059 artillery systems, 1,673 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,322 air defense systems, 435 aircraft,
Russia back at Paralympics under national flag, its war veterans eye 2028 games
Russia

Russia back at Paralympics under national flag, its war veterans eye 2028 games

For the first time in 12 years, Russia will compete under its national flag at the 2026 Paralympic Games — a return that comes despite its ongoing all-out war against Ukraine and a pattern of doping scandals that led to the initial ban. "There is simply no justification for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to allow Russia and Belarus back while the invasion of Ukraine continues," Global Athlete Director General Rob Koehler told the Kyiv Independent. "The IPC has blood on its hands
What's on at the Venice Biennale? Russian soft power
Culture

What's on at the Venice Biennale? Russian soft power

In the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russian pavilion is set to return to the Venice Art Biennale with a “musical festival come to life” that serves as “a space for dialogue and exchange.” The pavilion was effectively canceled in 2022 after the artists and curator chosen to represent Russia withdrew in protest of the invasion. At the time, the organizers of the Biennale released a statement praising the decision and condemning “all those who use violence to prevent
'I’m only afraid of Belarus becoming part of Russia' — released opposition activist Kalesnikava calls on Europe to re-engage with Lukashenko
Belarus

'I’m only afraid of Belarus becoming part of Russia' — released opposition activist Kalesnikava calls on Europe to re-engage with Lukashenko

A leader of the anti-government 2020 protests in Belarus, Maria Kalesnikava, reemerged from prison with a message that has polarized many: Europe must reengage with Belarus’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenko. Human lives, Europe’s security, and Belarus’ future are at stake, Kalesnikava argues. After suppressing nationwide protests in 2020, and turning to Russia’s Vladimir Putin for support while doing so, Lukashenko became an international pariah — one whose isolation only deepened as Belarus bec
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine brings home 300 POWs, 2 civilians in 2nd stage of major prisoner swap

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine brings home 300 POWs, 2 civilians in 2nd stage of major prisoner swap

Key developments on March 6: * Ukraine secures release of 300 POWs, 2 civilians in second stage of exchange with Russia * 'Russians preparing spring offensive' — Zelensky visits Donetsk Oblast, meets commanders amid risk of new Russian push * Ukrainian drones successfully hit Russian aircraft repair plant in occupied Crimea, SBU says * Ukraine's HUR releases video of strikes on Russian military assets in occupied Crimea Ukraine has secured the release of 300 prisoners of war and two civili
Inside Russia's everyday manhunt of Ukrainians in Kherson
 (Updated:  

Inside Russia's everyday manhunt of Ukrainians in Kherson

At the moment the grey mass of radio static gives way to a clear image on the drone detector screen, the hunter still seems deceptively far away. Looking down on the central neighbourhood of Kherson from a bird’s-eye view, it remains unclear where the Russian drone is coming from or who it is stalking. Catching the analog radio signal of the first-person-view (FPV) drone’s video transmitter, the detector shows exactly what the Russian pilot sees through his goggles as he flies from the occupi
Delays in US missile interceptor deliveries, tensions with Hungary — key events for Ukraine next week
 (Updated:  KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week

Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from March 9-15. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week. Audio version of The Week Ahead is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. The crisis in the Middle East is likely to intensify next week, with serious implications for Ukraine due to critical shortages of missile intercep
Ukrainian exceptionalism
Opinion

Ukrainian exceptionalism

Americans like to believe they are exceptional — a pioneer nation born in revolution, animated by liberty, individual freedom, and committed to the democratic separation of powers. In the spring of 2022, at a refugee camp on the Polish-Ukrainian border, I began to suspect that this belief, while powerful, may no longer describe us as accurately as we assume. I was at the Medyka crossing for only two weeks, but the experience changed me forever. Decades earlier, I had been a Soviet Studies majo