Opinion

Russia's methodical use of starvation in Oleshky

by Elise Lauriot PrevostOctober 1, 2026

The town of Oleshky and the surrounding district in southern Kherson Oblast in Ukraine are under a total blockade imposed by Russian occupation forces. Since May 26, 2026, no humanitarian aid has reached Oleshky. Residents are hanging signs on their fences reading "no food, we're starving too," emaciated animals have disappeared from the streets, and a three-liter jar of preserved bread crusts has become, in the words of one resident, worth its "weight in gold." Reports of civilians eating we

Putin walks walks through the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 20, 2026.

After Nestle and Auchan seizures, Russia is coming for others

by Bennett FreemanSeptember 29, 2026

Ukrainian soldier holds a "Marsianin" attack drone in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on April 7, 2026.

Ukraine's defense industry gets a second chance

by Daria YaniievaSeptember 28, 2026

Rescue workers put out a fire at a building damaged in a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 25, 2026.

Russia's faster Shaheds could rival ballistic missiles this winter

by Oleksiy MoskalenkoSeptember 25, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Sept. 1, 2026.

Washington attempts dealmaking, Moscow sticks with warmaking

by Andrew ChakhoyanSeptember 24, 2026

A man in a bear costume greets residents at a polling station in Istra, Russia, on September 19, 2026.

There are no elections in Russia, only theater

by Daniil UkhorskiySeptember 23, 2026

Fertilizers: End the free pass for the merchants of death

by Alan RileySeptember 22, 2026

Russian flag is prepared for raising during a Paralympic medal ceremony in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on March 9, 2026.

Campaign for Putin, be a star in Washington?

by Vladyslav HeraskevychSeptember 21, 2026

NewsLetters

News Feed

Thursday, October 1

09:16 PM

Ukraine's interceptor tech outpaced by Russia’s jet-powered Geran-5 drones

The jet-black Russian munition slammed into the Presidium building of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences, an iconic Tsarist-era structure right in the center of Kyiv, setting the building on fire. Survivors climbed out of the windows and clambered onto the building's ledges, fleeing the flames and choking black smoke. Two people were killed in the attack. Around an hour later, an identical munition struck a private medical clinic a few blocks away. The Geran-5 jet-powered drone is Russia's

Rescuers work at a school damaged by a drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 1, 2026.

09:07 PM

Ukraine war latest: Russian losses soar by 46% during 2026

Key developments on Oct. 1: * Russian losses soar by 46% during 2026 * Russian drones strike Kyiv school, key bridge linking eastern, western banks of city * Russian drone strikes Kyiv nuclear institute housing research reactor * Ukrainian pilot dies after MiG-29 fighter shot down by Russian missile * 'Returning Russia's sick war to where it came from' — Ukraine marks Defenders Day Russian forces suffered an estimated 46,230 personnel losses in September, the highest monthly figure re

08:40 PM

Kyiv Independent launches the Companion Collection 🐾 to support front-line animal rescue

The Kyiv Independent’s new Companion Collection 🐾 brings together matching items for people and their pets while supporting animals rescued from Ukraine’s front-line communities.

Items from the Kyiv Independent charitable merchandize Companion Collection 🐾

08:26 PM

Kyiv's bomb shelters are in a dire state. Mayor Klitschko is passing on the blame

On the night of Aug. 1, Olena Rozhniativska and her 18-year-old daughter Kateryna rushed to a bomb shelter as ballistic missiles tore into Kyiv during one of Russia's mass attacks. They were killed before they could hide in an underground shelter, along with five other people in Darnytskyi district that night. "I didn't even have time to get out of the bedroom before there was already this terrible explosion," recalls Raisa, a 70-year-old Darnytskyi resident who does not want to be identified.