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The Kyiv Independent

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Independent English-language journalism in Ukraine.

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The Kyiv Independent - English-language Journalism in Ukraine (English)

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The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 19:17

⚡️Incoming Trump peace envoy suggests oil crackdown to push Russia to negotiate.

Stricter measures targeting Russia's oil industry could pressure the Kremlin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, incoming peace envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, told FOX News on Jan. 24.

"Russia is earning billions from oil sales," Kellogg said, adding that battlefield victories alone are unlikely to force Russia to end the war.
330
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 18:17

Investigation: How Russia profits from arms exports to Saudi Arabia despite sanctions

Leaked documents offer a look into Russia's efforts to sell weapons abroad during its war against Ukraine to generate cash and grow influence.

Exports help support Russia’s arms industry and fuel its war machine, despite numerous sanctions imposed over its assault on Ukraine.

Read more here.
909
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 18:06

⚡️Ukraine to boost energy resilience with focus on distributed generation, PM says.

Ukraine is ramping up efforts to strengthen its energy resilience through the development of distributed generation and increased domestic gas production, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Jan. 24.

The government plans to commission nearly 900 megawatts (MW) of distributed generation facilities this year, part of a broader effort to strengthen Ukraine's energy sector amid ongoing Russian strikes targeting critical infrastructure.
1,054
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 17:19

⚡️Ukraine reforming recruitment system to attract 18-25-year-olds, senior official says.

Ukraine is finalizing reforms to attract 18- to 25-year-olds, currently exempt from mobilization, into enlisting voluntarily into the armed forces, Deputy Head of the President's Office Pavlo Palisa said to the Associated Press on Jan. 24.

The move comes amid pressure from U.S. lawmakers to lower the draft age, though President Volodymyr Zelensky has opposed lowering it to 18, arguing it would harm Ukraine's future prospects.
1,430
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 15:40

⚡️ Trump accuses Russia of stealing plans for U.S. hypersonic missile.

President Donald Trump previously raised the accusation in 2023, saying Russia had stolen plans for what he described as "super-duper missiles."
2,023
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 15:31

⚡️Putin claims Russia ready for Ukraine peace talks, questions legitimacy under Zelensky's decree.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Jan. 24 that Russia is ready for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on ending the war in Ukraine.
2,015
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 15:09

⚡️'Utter bulls***' — Ukraine rejects Russia's demand to abandon NATO membership promise.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry dismissed Russia's demand to cancel NATO's 2008 promise of eventual membership for Ukraine, calling it "utter bul***it" in a Jan. 24 statement.

The response comes after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko criticized the 2008 declaration, calling it "catastrophic for European security."
2,114
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 14:16

⚡️Media investigation identifies over 90,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

The BBC and the independent outlet Mediazona have identified the names of 90,019 Russian soldiers who died during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the BBC reported on Jan. 24.

Since the media outlets' last update in mid-January, the names of 1,964 Russian soldiers have been added to the list of casualties.
2,322
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 13:29

⚡️Ukraine repatriates 757 bodies of fallen soldiers.

The vast majority of the bodies were recovered from the front in Donetsk Oblast.
2,459
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 12:53

⚡️ Russia says ban on Ukraine’s NATO accession ’key’ condition for resolving war.

For any conflict resolution, Moscow will insist that prohibiting Ukraine’s accession will become the alliance’s "policy," Russian Deputy FM Alexander Grushko said.

The Russian deputy minister lashed out against the NATO Bucharest Summit’s resolution from 2008 that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually become members of the alliance. Grushko called the statement "catastrophic for European security" and said a failure to withdraw it would create an "unacceptable ambiguity" for Russia.
2,599
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 12:39

⚡️ Russian army failing to outflank Pokrovsk, Ukraine's military says.

Russian forces are trying to bypass the city from the north and south, but so far without success, a military spokesperson said.
2,591
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 11:47

⚡️ Trump plans to reach out to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un, who Trump lauded as a "smart guy," has become Russian President Vladimir Putin’s key ally in a war against Ukraine, providing missiles, artillery, and troops.
2,604
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 11:35

⚡️ 'Victory means restoring territorial integrity' — Merz reaffirms support for Ukraine ahead of elections.

"Victory means restoring territorial integrity with a democratically legitimate government exercising full sovereignty," Friedrich Merz said.
2,658
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 11:14

⚡️Putin ready to talk to Trump, Kremlin 'awaits signals' from US.

"(Vladimir) Putin is ready, we are waiting for signals, everyone is ready," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Jan. 24.
2,626
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 10:13

⚡️ Ukraine’s UAVs reportedly target Russian refinery, plants in massive strike.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOS) struck the Ryazan Oil Refinery and the Ryazan Thermal Power Plant in an overnight drone strike on Jan. 24, an SBU source told the Kyiv Independent.

The news comes as Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 37 in Bryansk Oblast, 20 in Ryazan Oblast, and 17 in the Kursk and Saratov oblasts each.

Video: SBU source
2,795
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 09:32

⚡️ 'Uncontrolled escalation' — Russia opposes NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine.

"The intervention of NATO troops in Ukraine is categorically unacceptable for Russia, it will turn into uncontrolled escalation," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed.
2,631
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 08:20

⚡️ Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 6, injure 9 over past day.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least six people and injured at least nine over the past day, regional authorities reported on Jan. 24.

Russia launched 58 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.

Twenty-five drones were shot down over seven oblasts, while 27 were lost in the airspace without causing damage, according to the statement.
2,802
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 07:47

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Jan. 24, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2,874
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 07:44

⚡️Seoul suspects North Korea plans to send more troops to Russia-Ukraine war.

North Korea is reportedly preparing to send more troops to Russia to fuel the war in Ukraine, even after significant losses, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported.
2,726
The Kyiv Independent

24 Jan, 07:04

⚡️ Zelensky is ’no angel’ — Trump suggests Ukrainian president shares blame for war.

U.S. President Donald Trump also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "shouldn’t have done it (launching the full-scale invasion)... and it has to stop."
2,954
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 12:44

⚡️ Slovenia provides Ukraine with 3 demining vehicles.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service announced Jan. 18 that it received three specialized demining vehicles from Slovenia.

The vehicles, Cossack PM-L specialized off-road trucks, can be used for demining and for transporting equipment and explosive objects.
197
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 12:05

⚡️ Officials believe Baltic Sea cable damage caused by accidents not Russian sabotage, WP reports.

Amid a series of incidents that have damaged critical cables in the Baltic Sea, intelligence services in the U.S. and Europe are increasingly convinced that they were caused by accidents, according to a report by the Washington Post on Jan. 19.
664
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 09:09

⚡️ Ukraine downs 43 Russian drones overnight, Air Force reports.

Ukrainian forces shot down 43 Russian attack drones overnight, the Air Force reported on the morning of Jan. 19.

Russia launched Shahed-type drones and decoy drones from bases in Millerovo, Oryol, and Bryansk, according to the report.
1,617
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 08:40

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Jan. 19, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
1,768
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 05:56

⚡️Merkel highlights NATO's role in supporting Ukraine, urges transatlantic unity, media reports.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that a united NATO, bolstered by strong U.S. leadership, is essential to counter Putin's ambitions and safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
2,299
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 05:13

⚡️Russia condemns 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and UK.

Russia criticized a newly announced 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and the U.K., rejecting any cooperation between the two nations in the Azov Sea.

The partnership, announced on Jan. 16 during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Kyiv, includes commitments to strengthen military cooperation in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Sea of Azov. Starmer pledged to support Ukraine with robust security guarantees if negotiations for a ceasefire with Russia move forward.
2,200
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 03:43

⚡️Trump eyes China visit amid strained ties, WSJ reports.

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in visiting China shortly after assuming office, potentially within his first 100 days, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

A possible meeting with Xi could come during a pivotal moment for U.S.-China relations, as both leaders navigate fraught economic and geopolitical challenges, including the war in Ukraine, trade disputes, and Taiwan’s status.
2,489
The Kyiv Independent

19 Jan, 00:51

⚡️Russia's Jan. 18 attack damages Ukraine's oldest McDonald’s in Kyiv.

A Russian missile strike on Kyiv early on Jan. 18 damaged Ukraine's oldest McDonald’s, located near the Lukianivska metro station in the city's Shevchenkivskyi district. Open since 1997, this is the first McDonald's restaurant in the country.
2,866
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 21:54

⚡️Germany may consider sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, defense minister says.

"We're the largest NATO partner in Europe. We'll obviously have a role to play," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Jan. 18 when asked about the possibility of sending troops to monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine.
3,066
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 21:13

⚡️Students who fail military exam or refuse oath cannot continue higher ed, official says.

"If students cannot pass the exam ... if they refuse to take the military oath, they will not be able to study in higher education institutions in the future," Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Melnyk said.
3,435
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 20:21

⚡️Ukrainian troops withdraw from, launch attack on Chasiv Yar refractory plant.

Ukrainian forces launched an aerial attack against a Russian-occupied refractory plant in the embattled city of Chasiv Yar, confirming earlier reports that Ukraine had withdrawn from the site.
3,280
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 19:14

⚡️Dnipropetrovsk firm helped Russia build nuclear weapons labs, SBU says.

The company allegedly shipped a large-scale batch of stainless steel profiles to Russia after the full-scale invasion. These products were used to outfit the Russian Institute for Nuclear Research, the SBU said.
3,691
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 18:18

⚡️SBU detains metro engineer who allegedly directed Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv.

The engineer led a network of agents who tracked the movement and positions of Ukrainian troops in order to coordinate Russian aerial attacks, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said.

Photo: Security Service of Ukraine
3,555
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 17:24

⚡️Russia used chemical weapons 434 times in December, Ukraine's General Staff says.

These included K-51 and RG-VO munitions, anti-riot weapons that are prohibited for use in warfare, and ammunition loaded with chemicals of "unspecified type."
3,345
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 16:19

⚡️'Direct threat' — Ukraine's 48th Separate Assault Battalion denounces commander replacement.

"Changing the commander at a critical moment is a direct threat to the unit's combat capability and undermines the trust of the fighters," the statement read.
3,412
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 14:58

⚡️ Lukashenko frees 23 more Belarusian political prisoners.

Nearly 1,300 prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, Viasna Human Rights Center reported.
3,516
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 13:49

⚡️Ex-MP, leader of Russia-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church charged with treason.

Ukrainian law enforcement officers charged former lawmaker and businessman Vadym Novynskyi with high treason and incitement to religious hatred in absentia, the State Bureau of Investigation said.

Photo: Sergii Kharchenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images
3,609
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 12:36

⚡️Former pro-Russian lawmaker charged with treason resurfaces in China.

Former Ukrainian pro-Russian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev published a two-hour propaganda interview on Jan. 17, marking his first public appearance after almost three years of Russia's full-scale war.
3,732
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 11:25

⚡️Update: Ukraine hits 2 oil depots in Russia overnight

Ukrainian forces attacked oil depots in Russia's Tula and Kaluga oblasts overnight on Jan. 18, according to the General Staff and the Kyiv Independent's source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR).
3,588
The Kyiv Independent

18 Jan, 10:40

⚡️24-year-old Belarusian volunteer soldier killed in action near Bakhmut.

Maria Zaitseva joined the Ukrainian army after the start of Russia's full-scale war and fought with the 2nd International Legion Battalion.

Photo: Maria Zaitseva/Facebook
3,616
The Kyiv Independent

10 Jan, 01:06

⚡️Russia's deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine signals Putin's desperation, Austin says.

Russia has endured over 700,000 casualties since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022—more than in all of Moscow’s conflicts since World War II combined, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Jan. 9.
55
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 23:32

⚡️Canada to allocate $305 million in military assistance to Ukraine.

Canada has pledged $305 million (CAD $440 million) in additional military assistance to Ukraine, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Jan. 9.

The announcement includes $138 million (CAD $200 million) allocated to Czechia’s initiative for procuring and delivering large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine.
683
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 21:44

⚡️Trump revises Ukraine peace timeline, FT reports.

"The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so they’re recalibrating the Ukraine approach," one European official told the Financial Times.
1,603
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 21:27

⚡️Syria reportedly blocks evacuation of Russian military equipment from naval base.

The new Syrian authorities have refused to grant entry to a ship that was supposed to evacuate Russian military equipment from Russia's Tartus naval base in Syria, The Moscow Times reported on Jan. 9.

The refusal follows the December overthrow of Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces, marking a significant shift in Syria’s political landscape.
1,771
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 20:09

⚡️EU ready to lead in Ukraine support if US steps back, chief diplomat says.

The European Union is prepared to take a leading role in supporting Ukraine if U.S. backing wanes, EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Jan. 9 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, German media outlet Tagesschau reported. "If the United States is not ready for it, the European Union is ready to take the lead," Kallas said.
2,212
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 19:59

‘He’s mine’ – How Ukraine's ace drone unit hunts Russian soldiers near Kupiansk

Filled out with young, talented recruits and armed to the teeth with cheap precision weapons, Ukraine's top drone units are taking the lead in defending against Russian assaults, and ushering in a terrifying new type of war while they're at it.

Read the full article here.

Photo: Aria Shahrokhshahi/The Kyiv Independent
2,173
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 19:28

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 8

This is issue 8 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Jan. 1–5, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs.

Read the full digest here.

Photo: Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
2,100
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 19:18

Russia’s gas sector is running out of options after end of transit deal

Ukraine’s decision to end the gas transit deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom has been hailed by President Volodymyr Zelensky as one of Moscow’s biggest defeats.

It will further undermine gas revenue to Russia’s economy as Moscow will struggle to find alternatives to replace this lost gas market in the near future.

Read the full article here.

Photo: Mikhail Metzel / Pool / AFP via Getty Images
2,193
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 19:04

⚡️Zelensky, NATO chief discuss air defense, arms production at Ramstein meeting.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Jan. 9 to discuss strengthening Ukraine's air defense and obtaining Western funding for the country's arms production.

Zelensky emphasized involving NATO members in purchasing Ukrainian weapons under a model pioneered by Denmark. The Danish government became the first country to offer to donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry.
2,107
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 17:23

⚡️Slovak PM threatens Ukraine with aid cuts over halted Russian gas transit.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico escalated threats against Ukraine on Jan. 9, warning of severe consequences in response to Kyiv’s suspension of Russian gas transit, Slovak media outlet Teraz.sk
 reported.
2,439
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 16:24

⚡️4,000 North Korean troops killed or wounded fighting against Ukraine, Zelensky claims.

North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine have suffered 4,000 casualties, including both wounded and killed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Jan. 9 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Interfax Ukraine reported.

"Putin is not just maintaining his investment in aggression. He's doubling down. He's even started hiring soldiers from North Korea to keep this war going," Zelensky said.
2,671
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 15:25

⚡️Ukraine offers defense industry jobs, draft exemptions for citizens abroad, minister says.

Ukraine is prepared to provide jobs at defense enterprises for citizens abroad and exempt them from the mobilization of conscripts, National Unity Minister Oleksii Chernyshov said on Jan. 8, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

"We have a shortage of professionals, and Ukraine is ready to exempt most of them from military service," Chernyshov said.
2,741
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 14:05

⚡️ Kyiv, Washington in talks on licensing air defense production in Ukraine, Zelensky says.

Zelensky made this statement at the opening of the 25th Ramstein summit, which was dedicated to strengthening Ukraine's defenses, particularly its air defense.
2,936
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 13:56

⚡️ Denmark, Norway to buy $183 million in arms for Kyiv from Ukrainian manufacturers in 2025.

Denmark has reserved 135 million euros ($139 million) for further purchases under the "Danish model," buying arms for Ukraine directly from Ukrainian arms manufacturers. Norway is expected to contribute another 43 million euros ($44 million) to this initiative.
2,953
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 13:50

⚡️ Russia paid Taliban $200,000 per killed US, coalition soldier, media investigation says.

Russia's military intelligence (GRU) offered a $200,000 bounty to Afghan militants for every U.S. or coalition soldier killed before Washington announced its withdrawal from the country, The Insider and Der Spiegel reported on Jan. 8.

The joint media investigation sheds fresh details on reports of Russia-sponsored killings of U.S. soldiers that first surfaced in 2020, including names of Russian intelligence officers and their local collaborators involved.
2,935
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 12:51

⚡️Ukraine's 47th Brigade releases video of 'massive' Russian attack repelled in Kursk Oblast.

Russia deployed "a huge number of soldiers," with Ukrainian forces killing 45 troops and injuring 53, Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade claimed.

Video: Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade
2,816
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 12:41

⚡️Zelensky to meet with Italian PM, president in Italy after Ramstein summit, media reports.

President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Italy on Jan. 9 following the Ramstein summit in Germany.
2,856
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 12:02

⚡️ Russian forces 2 km from Kupiansk's outskirts, official says.

The situation in the town is "very difficult," Andrii Besedin, head of the Kupiansk town military administration, said.
2,817
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 11:43

⚡️ Biden administration unveils its final $500 million aid package for Ukraine.

Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Jan. 9 a $500 million aid package for Ukraine, including air defense missiles, ammunition, and equipment for F-16 fighter jets.

The package was unveiled at the Ramstein summit in Germany. It is expected to be the final U.S. defense tranche provided by the Biden administration before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
2,890
The Kyiv Independent

09 Jan, 11:25

⚡️ 'It would be crazy to drop the ball now' — Zelensky urges continued unity, support for Ukraine at Ramstein.

Addressing the Ramstein group meeting in Germany, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the allies to continue working together and help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.

"We've come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalitions we've created," the president noted.
2,897
The Kyiv Independent

07 Jan, 04:39

⚡️French official confirms 'dozens' of Ukrainian soldiers deserted while training in France, AFP reports.

A French army official confirmed to AFP on Jan. 6 that several dozen Ukrainian soldiers serving in the 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Mechanized Brigade deserted while undergoing military training in France.

"There have been a certain number of desertions, but they remain very marginal given the volume of people who have undergone training," the unnamed official told AFP.
229
The Kyiv Independent

07 Jan, 03:26

⚡️Incoming Ukraine peace envoy postpones visit to Kyiv until after Trump's inauguration, Reuters reports.

The Trump administration's Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, has postponed a visit to Kyiv until after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, Reuters reported on Jan. 6, citing four sources with knowledge of the trip.
633
The Kyiv Independent

07 Jan, 02:09

⚡️Head of Ukraine's Customs Service suspected of failing to declare over $100,000 in assets.

Law enforcement agents are investigating Serhiy Zvyagintsev, the interim head of Ukraine's State Customs Service, over suspicions that Zvyagintsev failed to declare a home near Kyiv, that has been evaluated to be worth over $100,000, the country's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said on Jan. 6.
899
The Kyiv Independent

07 Jan, 00:09

⚡️Kyiv, Moscow reach preliminary agreement to prioritize wounded POWs in future exchanges.

"We will see if the Russian side keeps its word. If they do, Ukrainian society will notice the systematic nature in terms of quantity, timing, and categories [of prisoners returning home]," Ukraine's ombudsman said.
1,470
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 21:59

⚡️Zelensky says nearly 15,000 Russians have been killed in Kursk region.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 6 that Russian forces had sustained significant losses over five months of fighting in Russia's Kursk region.

He also noted during his evening address that Ukraine "continues to maintain a buffer zone on Russian territory, actively destroying Russian military potential there."
2,236
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 21:35

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes 3 Russian air defense systems in single day; 3,800 North Korean troops killed, injured in Kursk Oblast

Two Russian anti-missile Pantsir-S1 systems and one OSA anti-aircraft vehicle were damaged or destroyed by Ukraine's Navy in one day, the military branch claimed on Jan. 6.

A total of 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman published on Jan. 5.

Read the full report here.

Photo: Ukraine's Navy/Telegram
2,331
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 20:19

Zelensky takes on Putin apologists, US skeptics on 3-hour Lex Fridman podcast

In a newly released three-hour interview, Moscow-born U.S. podcaster Lex Fridman tried to persuade President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “a serious person who loves his country."

“He loves his inner circle. It’s only a small part of the people. He doesn't love (the Russian people),” Zelensky countered.

Read more here.

Photo: Simon Wohlfahrt/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2,632
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 20:04

As Russians inch closer to Pokrovsk, civilians in the area are left with a choice — stay under fire or leave life behind

The city of Pokrovsk, which once counted some 60,000 residents, now counts a mere 11,000 thousand, with Russian troops aiming to surround and occupy it while gradually turning the city into rubble.

Read the full field report here.

Photo: Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images
2,567
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 19:54

Europe cannot fill void left by US in Ukraine’s defense

Since the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, the question on everyone's mind is whether Europe, including the U.K., can replace the military assistance the U.S. is giving Ukraine. The short answer is no. The reasons for this are a mix of politics and capabilities, writes Samantha de Bendern, an associate fellow at Chatham House, in her recent op-ed.

Read the full op-ed here.

Photo: Jonathan Ernst/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
2,363
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 19:43

Economy Minister: They said no one would invest in country at war. They were wrong

Today, Ukraine's primary investors are domestic companies and investors committed to the country's future. Despite the war, they continue launching new products and expanding their reach to new markets in sectors such as agriculture, construction, logistics, energy, machine industry, and pharmaceuticals, writes Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's Economy Minister in her recent op-ed.

Read the full op-ed here.

Photo: Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
2,382
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 18:23

⚡️Russian drone attack against bus in Kherson, kills 1, injures 6.

A Russian drone strike targeted a bus in a Kherson neighborhood on Jan. 6, killing one person and injuring six others, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

The man killed, Volodymyr Shum, 50, was a specialist in the municipal services and landscaping division of the Kherson City Council's municipal economy department.
2,643
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 17:19

⚡️Trudeau to resign as Prime Minister, party leader, to stay in office until replacement selected.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Jan. 1 that he will step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party but remain in office until the party selects a new leader.

Under Trudeau’s leadership, Canada has been a strong ally of Ukraine, providing 19.5 billion Canadian dollars ($13.5 billion) in assistance, including 4.5 billion Canadian dollars ($3.1 billion) in military aid.
2,817
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 16:44

⚡️Russia fueling Transnistria energy crisis for propaganda, destabilization, Moldova says.

The energy crisis in Transnistria, triggered by Russia's Jan. 1 cutoff of gas supplies, is part of a broader Russian plan to manipulate and spread propaganda, Moldovan government spokesperson Daniel Voda said on Jan. 6.

"Russian propaganda tries to create a story in which Moldova becomes a ‘problematic actor,’ although the government has proposed clear solutions to avoid the crisis," he said.
2,878
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 16:23

⚡️End of Ukraine gas transit has no effect on EU energy market stability, European Commission says.

The EU energy market remains stable following the end of the Russian gas transit through Ukraine, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said at a briefing in Brussels on Jan. 6.

When asked about whether such a move caused any kind of emergency in Slovakia, she said that the Gas Coordination Group held talks last week and concluded that "there are no security supplies issues or concerns for the European Union following the end of the transit."
2,852
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 15:39

⚡️Engine failures ground two Russian airliners shortly after takeoff, local media reports.

An Airbus A321neo operated by Ural Airlines experienced a left engine failure at an altitude of 4,500 meters (2.7 miles) on Jan. 4 while flying from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to Yekaterinburg. The crew reported the malfunction and returned to the departure airport.

Similarly, a Boeing 737 belonging to NordStar Airlines suffered a left engine failure at 11,300 meters (7 miles) during a flight from Volgograd to Ekaterinburg on Jan. 2, prompting its crew to return to Gumrak airport in Volgograd.
3,043
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 15:25

⚡️'Absurd versions' — Azerbaijan's president accuses Russia, condemns Putin’s denial of involvement in plane crash.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again accused Russia of causing the Dec. 25 crash of Airlines Flight J2-8243, which killed 38 people, and criticized Vladimir Putin for not admitting guilt during a Jan. 6 meeting with victims’ families and surviving crew members.

The flight, en route from Baku to Grozny, Chechnya, changed course and crashed in Kazakhstan. Multiple reports and official Azerbaijani statements attributed the disaster to a missile launched by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system.
2,960
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 14:45

⚡️SBU behind drone attack on one of Russia's largest sea trade ports in Leningrad Oblast, source claims.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a drone attack on one of Russia's largest commercial seaports, Ust-Luga, in Leningrad Oblast on Jan. 4, an intelligence source told The Kyiv Independent on Jan. 6.

The source shared a video purporting to show one of the drones hitting gas condensate tanks. One tank was heavily damaged, and three others suffered damage from explosive debris, they added.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Video: SBU source
2,970
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 14:29

⚡️ Russian troops allegedly kill 3 Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk Oblast.

Russian troops have allegedly killed three Ukrainian prisoners of war in the southwest of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets wrote on his Telegram channel on Jan. 6.
2,850
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 14:07

⚡️ Ukraine strikes 3 Russian air defense systems in single day, Navy claims.

Two Russian anti-missile Pantsir-S1 systems and one OSA anti-aircraft vehicle were damaged or destroyed by Ukraine's Navy in one day, the military branch claimed on Jan. 6.
2,992
The Kyiv Independent

06 Jan, 14:01

⚡️Lukashenko's spox denies apology to Zelensky for Belarus's involvement in Russia's war.

"No apologies have been made by the Belarus president to Zelensky, for the simple reason that we have nothing to apologize for," Lukashenko's spokesperson Natalia Eismont said.
2,990
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 20:32

⚡️Drone kills Russian journalist in occupied Donetsk Oblast, wounds 5 others, Russian media reports.

Russia’s Izvestia newspaper reported on Jan. 4 that a Ukrainian "kamikaze" drone attack killed one of its freelance reporters, Alexander Martemyanov, while he was traveling on a highway in occupied eastern Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent can't immediately verify the information.
707
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 19:54

⚡️Heavy Russian, North Korean losses in Russia's Kursk region, Zelensky says.

"In battles yesterday and today near a single village, Makhnovka, in Kursk region, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroops," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Jan. 4
1,137
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 17:55

⚡️UPDATED: Russia strikes residential building in Sumy Oblast, injuring at least 10, including children.

Russia struck a multi-story residential building in the Svesa village in Sumy Oblast on Jan. 4, injuring at least 10 people, including two 2-year-old children, the regional police reported.

Russian forces carried out the strike using two glide bombs that were dropped directly on the building and destroyed one of its blocks.

Photo: State Emergency Service / Telegram
1,988
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 17:02

As government cuts support, some internally displaced Ukrainians return home — to Russian occupation

After nearly three years of all-out war, some internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine are opting to return to Russian-occupied areas due to the Ukrainian government’s failure to provide them with proper housing and enough financial aid to adequately resettle.

Read the full human story here.

Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
1,912
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 15:54

⚡️Over 20 foreign citizens to be deported from Georgia for participating in protests.

The Migration Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry has initiated expulsion proceedings against 25 foreign nationals.
2,177
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 14:58

⚡️Russia strikes residential building in Sumy Oblast, injuring at least 3, including children.

Russian forces carried out the strike using a glide bomb that was dropped directly on the building and destroyed one of its blocks.
2,372
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 14:53

⚡️Transnistria urges residents to heat stoves with wood amid significant gas shortages.

Some 1,500 high-rise buildings in Transnistria are currently without heating and hot water, and nearly 72,000 homes are without gas.
2,336
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 14:48

⚡️Russian soldiers near Toretsk disguise as civilians to bypass Ukrainian positions, military says.

The commander's statement comes after reports on Russian forces starting to move toward the town of Toretsk.
2,331
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 12:42

⚡️Drones reportedly target one of Russia's largest sea trade ports in Leningrad Oblast.

Most of the drones that attacked Leningrad Oblast were shot down over the terminal of Novotrans, a Russian transportation and logistics company.
2,744
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 11:04

⚡️Russia launches over 300 drones, 20 missiles at Ukraine in first 3 days of new year, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky added that the Russian army also strikes settlements close to the front line with guided aerial bombs every day.
2,939
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 10:55

⚡️Slovak state energy company to continue supplying electricity to Ukraine despite Fico's threats.

Slovakia's state-controlled transmission system operator SEPS said it will continue supplying electricity to Ukraine as part of an emergency assistance contract.
2,921
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 09:17

⚡️Woman injured in Russian Jan. 3 attack on Kyiv Oblast dies in hospital.

Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Kyiv Oblast early in the morning on Jan. 3. The attack killed one person and injured four others, including a 16-year-old teenager.
3,082
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 08:41

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Jan. 4, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
3,157
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 08:15

⚡️Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 21 over past day.

Russian forces launched 81 drones at Ukraine overnight from the Russian cities of Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, and Primosk-Akhtarsk, Ukraine's Air Force said.
3,009
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 04:00

⚡️Lukashenko to visit China ahead of Belarus presidential elections.

The reported visit will be Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko's third trip to China in three years. Lukashenko is likely looking to reduce Belarusian dependence on Russia, Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation said.
3,362
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 02:40

⚡️Finnish court upholds seizure of Russian tanker suspected of cable sabotage.

The Helsinki District Court has ruled to keep the oil tanker — suspected of belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet" — under seizure, despite an appeal from the ship's owner.
3,467
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 01:36

⚡️EU chief von der Leyen ill with 'severe' pneumonia, cancels engagements.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has canceled engagements for the first half of January due to a case of "severe pneumonia," a commission spokesperson said.
3,520
The Kyiv Independent

04 Jan, 00:35

⚡️Moldova faces 'security crisis' after Russian gas shut-off, PM Recean says.

"Russia is revealing the inevitable outcome for all its allies — betrayal and isolation," Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on Jan. 3.
3,496
The Kyiv Independent

03 Jan, 23:26

⚡️China may have stopped Putin from using nuclear weapons, Blinken says.

"We have reason to believe that China engaged Russia and said: 'Don't go there,'" outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Financial Times on Jan. 3.
3,605

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