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Russia-Ukraine War

A mother and her son stand at the scene of a Russian attack in Sloviansk, Ukraine, on June 21, 2026.
War

Ukraine can now forcibly evacuate children from the front line. Critics say it’s not that simple

by Alex McDonald

Editor's note: Some names in this story have been changed to protect the identities of the mothers, who spoke on condition of anonymity. As Russian forces advanced on a city in eastern Ukraine this spring, not everyone followed the evacuation orders. Mariia, mother of a two-year-old daughter, hesitated, wary of the uncertainty that comes with displacement. Mariia’s family had already fled once before in 2022 at the start of the full-scale invasion, only for a lack of support to drive her famil

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'Land for peace' won't stop Russia's war on Ukrainian identity

As Russia's war against Ukraine grinds on with seemingly no end in sight and the Russian leadership rejecting any talk of ceasefires or meaningful negotiations, there has been a growing chorus arguing that Kyiv must face reality, admit that military victory is impossible, enter negotiations, and agree to territorial concessions. "Land for peace" might be a "difficult choice," or so the argument goes, but it is the only way to avoid a crushing defeat. Even setting aside the question of whether

Burnt photos, books remain in an apartment damaged by a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 10, 2025.

Once a hub in the rear, Pavlohrad is now in Russia's guided bomb crosshairs

PAVLOHRAD, DNIPROPETROVSK OBLAST — When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, roughly 75 kilometers (45 miles) from the front line, became a relatively safe haven for those fleeing the war further east. But as the war drags on and the range of Russian weaponry increases, those living there fear their home now faces the same fate as cities in neighboring Donetsk Oblast, many of which Russia has reduced to rubble. Just a month ago, on July 20, t

Children on bicycles watch a fire near their home in Pavlohrad, Ukraine, on August 15, 2026.

About War

The Kyiv Independent's coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, after eight years of aggression against Ukraine that began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and fighting in Donbas. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of military and civilian casualties and displaced millions of Ukrainians. NATO and Western allies have provided military aid to Ukraine while the conflict continues across fronts in Ukraine’s south and east.

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PepsiCo said it would leave Russia. Last year, it paid $237 million to the state

A Pepsi logo is displayed in English and Russian in Moscow, Russia, undated.

In response to Russia's full-scale invasion, PepsiCo announced it would suspend production and sales in Russia in March 2022 — and yet, last year it still paid $237 million in income tax to the Russian state. PepsiCo, one of the largest food and drink producers in the world, remains Russia's fourth-largest foreign business — with 60,000 workers and 19 factories still producing Pepsi Cola for Russian shelves under new names, Lyubimaya Cola and Evervess Cola. That continued presence means more m

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