What is happening in Bakhmut and what does it mean for Russian-Ukrainian war?
Kyiv Independent reporter Francis Farrell speaks to John Spencer, U.S. veteran and chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point.
War analysis
What will the war bring in 2023? Illia Ponomarenko interviews Michael Kofman and Rob Lee
The Kyiv Independent's Illia Ponomarenko sits down with military analysts Michael Kofman, director of the Russia Studies Program at CNA, and Rob Lee, senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program.
Can Ukraine maintain and optimally use its modern Western tanks?
Future Ukrainian counterattacks using modern Western combat vehicles are being discussed everywhere, from Washington news conferences to Ukrainian military expert circles. Ukraine hopes to receive up to two brigades of tanks, on top of many infantry vehicles from Western allies. But there are two main obstacles to using the tanks
One year later: How Russia came to fail in Ukraine, battle after battle
Feb. 24, 2022, was supposed to bring the existence of a 40-million European nation to an end. Long before the dawn of light, Ukrainian cities were set alight in blazes of burning airfields and the scattering of artillery impacts. Endless armored convoys broke into highways, and helicopters roared over the
With the loss of Soledar, Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut jeopardized
The dramatic fight for Soledar, part of the Battle of Bakhmut, is over — although Ukraine's leadership is still reluctant to acknowledge the loss. As a result of a localized offensive operation in January, Russian forces managed to gnaw through Ukrainian defenses and, after fierce urban fighting, seize what's left of
As Battle of Bakhmut nears culmination, Ukraine’s artillery gasps for more ammo
BAKHMUT, Donetsk Oblast — It’s the last days of December and the heat of the holiday season. But an artillery battalion with Ukraine’s 24th Mechanized Infantry just couldn’t care less. For them, it’s like Groundhog Day – just another day of war that keeps repeating over and over.
Ukraine's Christmas wish list: What is needed to end the war quickly
This holiday season, as people celebrate with their families and stroll brightly-decorated streets across the world, Russia's war against Ukraine has reached a crucial point. Ukraine's autumn campaign has been a resounding success, with counteroffensives in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson oblasts liberating thousands of square kilometers of territory. More importantly,
Ukraine enters 2023 with frail upper hand over Russia
In December 2021, most forecasts voiced in the media did not give Ukraine much of a chance in case of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ten months after it started on Feb. 24, 2022, experts and media discuss where Ukraine will strike next, and what else Russia can do to save
Russia's chaotic mobilization unlikely to change Ukraine war's course
The first week of Russia's earth-quaking mobilization campaign has topped all expectations — in terms of its harshness, hastiness, and chaos. With the Russian positions in Ukraine rapidly deteriorating, the Kremlin upped the ante and risked announcing a draft. The regime aims to draft between 300,000 and over 1.2
Russia’s sham referendums, mobilization, nuclear threats: What it all means
Humiliated on the battlefield, the Kremlin now wants to quickly annex occupied Ukrainian territories and add them to the Russian Federation. Russian proxies in the occupied parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts have announced that between Sept. 23 and 27, they will rush sham “referendums” on these areas
Retired US General Ben Hodges: ‘We’ve reached irreversible momentum for Ukraine’
Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast has changed how the world thinks about the war, according to U.S. Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges. Hodges, who served as commander of U.S. Army Europe from 2014-2017 and has helped train Ukrainian soldiers, said the operation ended “the mythology of
With successful Kharkiv operation, Ukraine turns the war in its favor
KHARKIV – In warfare, there's no such thing as a miracle. Yet what happened in early September in the east of Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast may ascend in history as the Miracle on the Oskil River. Within a few days, a Ukrainian strike prompted the collapse of the Russian front in the
General Marchenko: ‘Mykolaiv was to be next city to fall, but Russia terribly failed’
MYKOLAIV – After quickly occupying Kherson in the first days of the full-scale invasion, Russia turned its sight towards Mykolaiv, Ukraine’s shipbuilding center. Many expected the regional capital of 480,000 people to fall next. On Feb. 25, one day after Russia began its invasion and southern offensive, Major General
6 months of war: How Russia got derailed in Ukraine
Shock and awe roared over Kyiv Oblast in the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022. Dozens of Russian Ka-52 and Mi-8 helicopters rushed south at low altitude over the Dnipro River, carrying 200-300 elite stormtroopers with the 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade. Some of the helicopters were downed and fell
Why is Russia so vulnerable to HIMARS in Ukraine?
It’s been nearly a month since U.S.-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, had their long-awaited debut in Ukraine, but their combat record is already extensive. Using all the heavy and long-range weaponry available to it, including HIMARS, Ukraine began a campaign that has destroyed dozens
What would a Ukrainian counter-offensive in Kherson look like?
One way or another, according to Ukraine’s leadership, it's bound to happen. Even though the Battle of Donbas is far from over, Ukraine is expected to open the next chapter of the war sometime in the near future — a highly anticipated, major counter-offensive operation in the south, particularly to
Russia’s offensive in Donbas bogs down
The Battle of Donbas is raging high, but it’s not going the way Russia wanted it to. Almost 20 days in, the much-anticipated and feared grand offensive falls short of expectations. It is still not even close to achieving its ultimate goal — the encircling and crippling of the core
EXPLAINER: What to expect from the Battle of Donbas, Russia’s new offensive
Ukraine and the world have spent weeks in anticipation of the Battle of Donbas, “the second phase” of Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine. Now, it seems, the wait is over. With the drastic intensification of hostilities in Donbas and neighboring areas, President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 18 finally confirmed
Ukraine reaches breaking point in Russia’s war
Russia’s all-out war in Ukraine has subverted a lot of prophecies — doomsday omens and bright hopes alike. It has now been a month of this new reality since Russia’s attacks began early in the morning on Feb. 24, 2022. Yes, the Kremlin really did launch a World War
Ukraine’s old air defense proves unexpectedly effective in combat
No one really expected it — but after three weeks of Russia’s all-out war, Ukraine’s air defense is still exceeding expectations. This branch of service not only managed to largely survive Russia’s massive missile attacks in the invasion’s early hours. It took up the fight and prevented
Russia concentrates military power for Kyiv assault
The operative lull in the battle for Kyiv over the last few days seems to be running to its end. New indications suggest Russia is getting ready to relaunch a massive offensive in the region, the war’s main goal. Despite a very complicated situation with many of its main
Center for Defense Strategies: What Putin’s watershed decision means for Ukraine, world? (analysis)
Editor’s Note: This is an analysis by experts from the Center for Defense Strategies: Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Alina Frolova, Oleksiy Pavliuchyk, and Viktor Kevlyuk. It was originally published in Ukrainian by Ukrainska Pravda on Feb. 22. The Kyiv Independent is republishing it with permission. This analysis focuses on the possible
Questions about Russia’s war against Ukraine with defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko
As Russia continues to build up military personnel along Ukraine’s borders many of us are wondering what’s next. We turn to our defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko for answers. The Kyiv Independent’s patrons who have access to a closed chat with the editorial team were able to send
Will Russia launch large-scale war or limited invasion? Analysis of 3 popular scenarios
As Russia continues to escalate its aggression against Ukraine, military experts disagree on the possible scenarios of a further Russian invasion if it does happen. Russia has amassed around 135,000 troops around Ukraine and in its occupied areas in recent weeks and stepped up its aggressive rhetoric. The Kremlin
Center for Defense Strategies: How likely is large-scale war in Ukraine? (analysis)
Editor's note: This is an analysis by the Center of Defense Strategies' experts Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Alina Frolova, Oleksiy Pavliuchyk. It was originally published in Ukrainian by Ukrainska Pravda. The Kyiv Independent has translated it and is republishing it with permission. Many politicians and observers report that a significant escalation of
Media in Progress Ep. 5: Will Russia invade again?
Russia’s invasion threat seen through the eyes of a reporter who knows the consequences of war all too well. Episode #5 of our origin story podcast “Media in Progress” is out: Media in Progress · Will Russia invade again?
Explainer: Why Russia wants autonomy for occupied Donbas (and why Ukraine doesn't)
Recent developments in the crisis surrounding Russia’s troop buildup on Ukraine's border have shed a light on what the Kremlin may hope to achieve by creating a global war scare and launching an intimidation campaign. After a Dec. 7 video conference with U.S. President Joe Biden, Russian President
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