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The hidden cost of Putin’s war: A more dependent Russia
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The hidden cost of Putin’s war: A more dependent Russia

by Toby Woodall

Russian President Vladimir Putin has increasingly characterized his all-out war against Ukraine as a struggle for "sovereignty," yet what limited territorial gains Russia has achieved since 2022 pale in significance to the staggering dependence on China that has emerged. While the Kremlin had already been pursuing a "pivot to the East" for some time, this was never presented as the rapid wholesale embrace of Beijing necessitated by the protracted conflict. In fact, Western sanctions have left M

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Ukraine war latest: Drones strike oil, chemical plants in Russia as fresh peace talks begin in Geneva

Key developments on Feb. 17 * Ukraine, Russia hold US-mediated Geneva talks focused on 'practical issues,' negotiations to resume Feb. 18 * SBU strikes chemical factory used for explosives production deep inside Russia * Kremlin threatens to deploy navy if Europe seizes more Russian shadow fleet vessels * Oil refinery, port terminal struck in Krasnodar Krai amid joint deep strike on southern Russia, Ukraine says * Russian drone strike on civilian car kills 3 energy workers in Donetsk Oblas

Winter has grounded Ukraine's interceptor drones, gutting Kyiv's air defense

From his base near the hotly contested town of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, Vladyslav has, by his own estimates, downed upwards of 60 Russian drones using Ukrainian interceptor drones over the past year. Winter has exposed many foundational frailties in Ukraine's air defenses. Relentless Russian attacks utilising Shahed-type attack drones have left millions of Ukrainians in the dark and cold. The role of interceptor pilots like Vladyslav is more important than ever. Interceptor drones are f

Employees repair sections of heat and power plant damaged by Russian air strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 4, 2026.

Court sets $4.6 million bail for Ukrainian ex-minister in biggest graft case of Zelensky era

The High Anti-Corruption Court on Feb. 17 placed former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko in custody for two months in a major corruption case and set bail at Hr 200 million ($4.6 million). The official has been investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) as part of a case involving the state nuclear power company Energoatom. Eight other suspects have been charged, and Timur Mindich, a close associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky, is the alleged ringleader. Halushchenko den

'If you stop, you die' — Inside Ukraine's last fight for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad

DONETSK OBLAST — Walking through the mine-infested field under intense Russian drone surveillance was the scariest part of the mission for 22-year-old infantryman Mykola. "If you stop, you die," said Mykola, a small-framed soldier with dark circles under his eyes and a tired stare. "When we were walking to get to the positions, it wasn't hard to walk — it was hard to realize that you may not walk out alive because there were a lot of our dead around." The walk to his positions near the easter

Valentyn, a 26-year-old platoon commander in the 25th Air Assault Brigade, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Jan. 23, 2026.

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The Kyiv Independent’s coverage of news on Russia. Spanning eleven time zones across Eastern Europe and Asia, Russia has an estimated population of 146 million people. Russia’s capital city is Moscow, which is home to almost one in 10 Russians. Russia’s official currency is the Russian Ruble.

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