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President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 9, 2026.
Politics

Is Ukraine's parliament becoming a problem for Zelensky?

by Kateryna Denisova

Strong opposition and constant brawls have made Ukraine's parliament a staple of the country's thriving democracy. Since the start of the all-out war, however, the parliament has seen its independence, powers, and popularity erode. Criminal proceedings against lawmakers became routine. Nearly 70 lawmakers have been charged since the last election, according to Oleksandr Salizhenko, editor-in-chief of the political watchdog Chesno. The latest charges have been handed to political veteran Yulia T

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Embassies say they are staying in Kyiv despite energy crisis, extreme cold, Russian attacks

Foreign embassies based in Kyiv say they are not evacuating staff despite worsening power outages, damage to energy infrastructure, and forecasts of extreme cold, according to responses obtained by the Kyiv Independent. The statements come as Ukraine’s energy situation worsens amid repeated Russian mass strikes, with a state of emergency declared on Jan. 14 and weather forecasts warning that late January temperatures could drop below –20 degrees Celsius (–4 degrees Fahrenheit). Kyiv hosts the

A view of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 24, 2022.

Inside Ukraine's AWOL and military desertion crisis

Panic attacks have haunted Ukrainian serviceman Yaroslav since he returned home in the summer, leaving him gasping at night. Frustration with his commanders drove the 33-year-old to go absent without leave (AWOL), joining a growing number of Ukrainian soldiers who have left their units without permission. For Yaroslav, then a deputy platoon commander, it began with what he described as his leadership's "indifference" to soldiers' lives. Yaroslav said his command kept ordering missions that, in

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