As Russian missiles and drones plunge much of Ukraine into darkness this winter, the mountain community of Ust-Chorna has largely kept the lights on — thanks to green energy. The district, made up of four villages tucked into a forest valley of western Ukraine, relies on a small network of hydroelectric power stations that have continued operating even as Russian attacks have all but destroyed the country's centralized energy grid. And as emergency blackouts are implemented across the country,

The decision escalates tensions between Kyiv and two of the EU's most Russia-friendly governments.

A 28-year-old Brazilian recruit died after a brutal punishment handed out in a unit that regularly used discipline practices described as "torture" by those who both witnessed and suffered them, a Kyiv Independent investigation can reveal. The man, Bruno Gabriel Leal da Silva, died overnight Dec. 28-29, 2025, according to former fellow fighters who spoke to the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation. The unit in question is a Brazilian-led formation called A

"Thousands, dozens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed on this direction, defending this part of Ukraine," Zelensky said in an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan. "We have to understand that Donbas is a part of our independence."

Ukraine reportedly struck an oil depot in Russia's Pskov Oblast and launched missiles at the Russian city of Belgorod, causing power outages in parts of the city, Telegram news channels and local authorities reported overnight Feb. 18-19.

"We agreed to continue and move forward," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

U.S. senators visiting Odesa on Feb. 18 struck a cautious tone when asked whether Special Envoy Steve Witkoff should remain at the center of negotiations with Russia. The remarks place Congress in a delicate position: aware of mounting controversy around the Trump envoy, yet reluctant to directly challenge the president's authority over diplomacy as U.S.-mediated talks with Moscow and Kyiv continue. "I don't think there's an inclination on the part of Congress now to remove him from the peace

The alleged raid was described by Zaluzhnyi as "an act of intimidation," according to AP.

The effective confirmation by five European countries that Russia did kill opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2024 did not surprise those familiar with the Kremlin's track record. But the Feb. 14 statement, which blames Russia for the murder and specifies the kind of poison used, represents a new milestone in the deterioration in Russian-European relations. Previously European countries were more reluctant to antagonize Russia. But Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and Kremlin-linked

Key developments on Feb. 18: * Russian 'mothership' drones prompt Ukraine to weigh passport requirement for SIM card sales * Explosion at Ukrainian military enlistment office declared terrorist attack * Ukraine hits 6 Russian military targets, including S-300VM missile launcher, General Staff says * Ukraine's SBU denies Zaluzhnyi's claim that office was raided in 2022 while army commander Ukraine is considering requiring passport verification for the purchase of local SIM cards in response

Ukraine carried out a series of successful overnight attacks on Feb. 17–18 against military facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territories.

Anyone hoping for a geopolitically robust and sustainable resolution to Russia's war on Ukraine should quickly re-examine their optimism or at least check their assumptions. Commercial interests, rather than military or political concerns, are driving the United States' talks with Russia. This mercantile approach carries two critical risks. First, Russia's aggression against Ukraine does not stem from an economic rivalry. Talking business with Russia misses the point entirely. Second, the sugg

Customers will be able to send packages up to 30 kilograms to Ukraine via 6,000 UPS Store locations across the U.S., Nova Poshta said in a press release on Feb. 18.

Russian forces are using LTE mobile networks and Ukrainian SIM cards to remotely control FPV drones, Serhii Beskrestnov, adviser to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, said.

As Ukraine experienced its coldest January in over a decade, Russia launched 4,442 drones and 135 missiles at the country — most of which targeted energy infrastructure, depriving millions of heat, electricity, and water. The scale of Russia's energy terrorism is captured in a striking graph, part of a new dashboard launched last week by Ukrainian energy think tank Green Deal Ukraina (GDU). While Ukraine maintained over 40 gigawatts of installed electricity capacity before the full-scale invas

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Bill Browder, investor and longtime sanctions advocate, about why Western sanctions have so far failed to change Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behavior.

Six Russians and four Belarusians will be allowed to compete at the upcoming Games in Milan. It will be the first time the Russian flag has flown at the Paralympics since 2014.

Russia launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 126 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.

Investigators and bomb disposal experts continue to work at the scene, the report read.

"We will significantly step up efforts to counter all forms of his facilitation of the killing of Ukrainians. We will work with our partners so that this has a global effect," Zelensky said.

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

The number includes 740 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

"Discussions focused on practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions," Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov said.

Editor's note: This story is part of a cross-border investigative project that involved eight newsrooms, initiated by De Tijd (Belgium) and coordinated by the Kyiv Independent and OCCRP. Other stories published within the project are linked at the bottom of this investigation. A tiny Austrian sensor designed for precise motion control made an impressive journey across the globe. Some time after being sold to a company in Hong Kong, it turned up in Ukraine inside a long-range military drone laun

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

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

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

The attack on the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Perm Krai was carried out overnight between Feb. 16-17 by deep strike specialists from the SBU's Alpha unit.

Presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev called the European raids on shadow fleet ships "piracy," and expressed concern that the next step would be a full-fledged blockade.

The most difficult period was October, when Russia struck the company 25 times and took out nearly 60% of Ukraine’s gas production.

The Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, which supplies fuel to Russian troops, processes 6.42 million tons of oil annually, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

DTEK has set aside 150 million euros from its own pockets, but needs help from partners to close the rest by the end of the year.