Russia-Ukraine War

2025 in 25 stories from the Kyiv Independent
War

2025 in 25 stories from the Kyiv Independent

by The Kyiv Independent

From the rollercoaster of U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign policy to continued Russian attacks on the front line and hundreds of miles beyond, 2025 has been a hell of a year for Ukraine. As we enter 2026, here are 25 articles that reflected the year, and that our audience loved reading as much as we felt compelled to write. As Russian losses in Ukraine mount, Putin faces 'devastating' demographic timebomb News operations editor Chris York reported on how Russia's losses in Ukraine has h

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Zelensky picks Military Intelligence Head Budanov as his new chief of staff

President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the military intelligence chief, to take charge of the President's Office. Decrees published on Jan. 2 announce Budanov's dismissal as head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) and his appointment as Zelensky's chief of staff. Earlier in the day, Zelensky announced he met with Budanov to offer him the role. "Now, Ukraine needs more focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as we

Inside the fight for Ukraine's river islands

Along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, the front line has remained largely static, but fighting continues every day. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko embedded with Ukraine’s forces in Kherson Oblast, following FPV drone and night bomber teams tasked with defending river islands.

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