Russia's Lavrov rules out territorial concessions as part of Ukraine peace talks
Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014, as well as the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022.
occupied Ukrainian territories
Russia fines woman in occupied Crimea for 'promoting child-free lifestyle'
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning "childfree propaganda" in November last year.
‘Evil must not win’ — how Ukraine’s female partisans resist Russian occupation
Somewhere in the streets of Russian-occupied Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, a woman puts a sticker on the wall. It’s a short message, but if she is seen doing it, she will face arrest, prosecution, and likely, torture. The message is: "Soon, we will be home again." On another
Number of Ukrainians open to territorial concessions rises to 38%, poll shows
Around 38% of Ukrainians are open to conceding some of the territories while preserving independence in order to end the war with Russia as fast as possible, according to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) survey published on Jan. 3.
Our readers' questions about the war, answered. Vol. 7
Editor's note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share the questions they have about the war. Here's what they asked and how we answered. Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Our community funds our journalism. Question: I know it's a big question,
47% of Ukrainians back NATO accession even while territories stay occupied, survey shows
Nearly half of Ukrainians support Ukraine joining NATO even if some territories remain under Russian occupation at the time of accession, according to a new poll.
Russia building road to connect Crimea, Mariupol, with Russia's Rostov Oblast, Putin claims
Moscow has already built a 40-kilometer-long segment between the Russian city of Taganrog and occupied Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine 'strongly condemns' African delegation's visit to Russian-occupied territories
"Their statements during this visit about opposing colonialism, made on Ukrainian land illegally seized by Russia in the course of its neocolonial war of aggression against Ukraine, are completely absurd," the Foreign Ministry said.
Russian occupation court sentences Ukrainian to 11 years for alleged espionage
A Russian-controlled court in occupied Donetsk Oblast sentenced 20-year-old Mikhail Karimov, a resident of Mariupol, to 11 years in a strict regime penal colony, Mariupol City Council reported on Dec. 12.
Explosions heard in occupied Donetsk Oblast city, Russian proxies announce evacuation
Russian occupation authorities in the Donetsk Oblast city of Yenakiieve announced evacuations from parts of the city on Dec. 10 amid reports of explosions.
US enforces visa restrictions on Russian officials linked to Ukrainian child deportations
Since February 2022, at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and sent to other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine or to Russia itself.
Abducted mayor tortured to death in Russian captivity, governor says
Yevhenii Matvieiev, the mayor of the occupied Dniprorudne town, was tortured to death in Russian captivity, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov said on his Telegram channel on Dec. 4.
Putin at helm of 'systemic' program to Russify Ukrainian children, Yale study finds
The study showed that Russian Aerospace Forces and military aircraft transported multiple groups of children in 2022 under Putin's orders.
Ukraine's military lacks strength to retake some occupied territories, diplomacy needed, Zelensky says
"Our army lacks the strength to do that. That is true," President Volodymyr Zelensky told Kyodo News regarding the liberation of territories held by Russia since 2014, including Crimea.
Media: 24-year-old Ukrainian man from Russian-occupied Melitopol accused of 'criminal espionage' by FSB, faces up to 20 years in prison
Leonid Popov, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia since 2017, was charged with espionage by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the Russian independent outlet IStories reported on Nov. 29.
MP walks back his statement on number of IDPs returning to occupied territories
"I spoke incorrectly, so I'm taking back my words," said lawmaker Maksym Tkachenko who serves on a committee focused on human rights and the liberation of occupied territories.
150,000 Ukrainian IDPs have returned to occupied regions, MP says
Inadequate support from the state is part of what prompts people to return to Russian-occupied areas, lawmaker Maksym Tkachenko said.
Ukraine to pursue 'diplomatic' liberation of Crimea, will not acknowledge occupied territories as Russian, Zelensky says
"We cannot spend dozens of thousands of our people so that they perish for the sake of Crimea coming back ... We understand that Crimea can be brought back diplomatically," Zelensky told Fox News.
Alleged Russian plan sees Ukraine 'cut' into 3 parts, intelligence source says
Under the alleged plan, Ukraine's western lands could be claimed by neighboring countries, while its eastern regions would be annexed by Russia and the remaining territory converted into a Russian-controlled puppet state.
SBU arrests Ukrainian officer allegedly working as a Russian mole in special forces
According to the report, the officer, the commander of a unit in Special Operations Forces, had been transmitting critical military intelligence to Russian troops.
Russian court sentences 2 soldiers to life in prison for killing entire Ukrainian family
Anton Sopov, 21, and Stanislav Rau, 28 were convicted of killing a family of nine, including two children, in occupied Donetsk Oblast. The case marks a rare instance of Russian authorities holding its own troops accountable for war crimes perpetrated in Ukraine.
Russian general accused of running torture camps dies in Ukraine
Russian General Pavel Klimenko, 47, led Russia's 5th Donetsk Motorized Rifle Brigade. Members of this brigade were accused of torturing pro-Kremlin U.S. blogger Russell Bentley to death in April 2024.
Russia seizes more territory over past week than at any point in 2024, Bloomberg reports
Russia has captured 1,146 square kilometers (442 square miles) in Ukraine since Aug. 6, about a quarter more than in the first seven months of the year, Bloomberg reported.
Russian bank offers preferential mortgages in occupied parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts
The Russian banking giant offers interest rates as low as 2%, according to Interfax, and plans to expand its offer to Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as soon as "housing constructions" start there.
Explosions reported in occupied Luhansk, Ukrainian official suggests ammunition depots hit
"Since morning, locals have been sharing the sights of ammunition detonation," Governor Artem Lysohor said, sharing footage recorded by civilians and bystanders on his Telegram channel.
Ukraine war latest: US won't impose new limitations on Ukraine's use of American weapons if North Korea enters war, Pentagon says
Key developments on Oct. 28: * Russia strikes downtown Kharkiv with FAB-500 bomb, damages key landmark * US won't impose new restrictions on Ukraine's use of American weapons if North Korea joins war, Pentagon says * 650,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in war against Ukraine, Zelensky says * Trump plans
Opinion: Trading territories means trading people
The following opinion piece accompanies the Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigations Unit's newly released documentary, "Shadows Across the River." Watch the documentary by clicking here. “Let Russia retain control over occupied Ukrainian territories to finally freeze this war!” This refrain, repeated in media and political discourse worldwide, has become a
Ukrainians in occupied territories to lose free medication without Russian passports
Starting in 2025, Ukrainians with diabetes, bronchial asthma, and other illnesses in Russian-occupied territories will lose access to free medications unless they acquire Russian passports, according to the Eastern Human Rights Group.
Kyiv considering ceding territory to end war with Russia, Der Spiegel reports
The government is now holding "serious discussions" about relinquishing its aim of full territorial restoration, an unnamed official told Der Spiegel.
Russian proxies in occupied Kherson Oblast announce forced conscription of Ukrainians
From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, men aged 18 to 30 living in occupied Kherson Oblast will be subject to conscription into the Russian military for a period of 12 months.
Russia's Crimean Bridge defenses are reportedly washing up on shore
According to the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, plastic and metal barrels connected by metal frames were spotted littering the beach in Kerch on the occupied peninsula.
Russia plans to start exporting coal from occupied Donbas in October, proxy leader claims
The Russian company Donskoy Ugol Trading House is planning to start exporting coal from the occupied Donbas region through the port of Mariupol, the Russian state-controlled media outlet RBC reported on Sept. 30.
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