Kyiv Independent
No, Ukraine’s Yandex strikes didn’t stop Russian bots
- Title
- No, Ukraine’s Yandex strikes didn’t stop Russian bots
- Runtime
- 2:04
- Date posted
- 3 hours ago
- Description
- Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian data centers sparked viral claims about a sudden drop in Russian influence operations on social media — even as experts see no evidence to support this.
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Kyiv struck data centers run by Yandex — Russia’s “answer to Google” — in three different regions between Oct. 9 and 11, a response to Russian strikes against similar facilities in Ukraine.
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Yandex acknowledged the attacks, noting that its data center in Vladimir Oblast had to be shut down due to damage and reported disruptions to various online services within Russia.
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Soon after, commentators on social media began reporting an alleged decrease in activity by “Russian bots” online, linking this to Ukrainian strikes on Yandex.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky even alluded to this in his address to the Warsaw Security Forum, saying it is “a little easier to breathe on many social media platforms.”
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Yet bey...
- Title
- Why holding elections during wartime could backfire on Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:03
- Date posted
- 11 hours ago
- Description
- Holding wartime elections risks creating deep internal division and eroding public trust, according to Ukrainian journalist, publicist, and serviceman Pavlo Kazarin.
Speaking with the Kyiv Independent, Kazarin warns that holding elections under martial law could produce a new government that society sees as even less legitimate than the current one.
- Title
- Russian drone strikes educational building in Rivne, injures 20
- Runtime
- 0:13
- Date posted
- 12 hours ago
- Description
- A Russian drone struck an educational facility in the northwestern city of Rivne, injuring 20 people, Oleksandr Koval, head of Rivne Oblast Military Administration, said on Oct. 13.
The drone strike damaged the second floor of the building, Koval said. Of the 20 injured, one is in critical condition, while three others are in moderate condition, he said.
According to Koval, the fire in the building had been contained, and emergency services were on site.
“All victims are receiving medical assistance. Rescuers, police, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and municipal services are working at the scene,” Koval said.
Around 10:35 a.m., Ukraine’s air force had reported a jet-powered drone flying over Rivne. The air alert was issued in the city at 10:10 a.m.
Video: Oleksandr Koval / Telegram.
- Title
- Russian drone hits 25-story Kyiv apartment block
- Runtime
- 0:25
- Date posted
- 1 day ago
- Description
- Russian drone attacks hit Kyiv twice on Oct. 12, killing one person and injuring at least 14 others, city authorities said.
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During an evening attack, a Russian drone struck a 25-story residential building in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi District, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration.
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A woman was killed in the strike, while 11 people were injured, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
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Earlier in the day, Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv, injuring three people, including an elderly woman.
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Video: The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- How Trump’s claims about ending Russia’s war have changed
- Runtime
- 0:18
- Date posted
- 1 day ago
- Description
- During his 2024 election campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump promised to end Russia’s war against Ukraine within 24 hours. After returning to the White House, he repeatedly said a peace deal was close.
Over the past year, Trump’s mediation has continued to follow a familiar cycle of declarations of progress, frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and renewed pressure on Ukraine to accept concessions.
In October 2025, Trump's administration sanctioned Russia’s two largest oil companies to pressure Moscow into agreeing to a ceasefire. A year later, Trump struck a diesel supply deal with Putin, easing sanctions on Russian fuel while demanding that Ukraine stop attacking Russian refineries.
On Oct. 10, Trump said Ukraine should get a “new president” and accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of wanting to “make problems for the world,” blaming Ukrainian refinery strikes for diesel shortages.
Zelensky has said ...
- Title
- Russia violated Trump’s energy ceasefire, Zelensky says
- Runtime
- 0:48
- Date posted
- 1 day ago
- Description
- Russia continued striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Warsaw Security Forum on Oct. 12.
Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that both Kyiv and Moscow agreed to an energy truce — an announcement that took Ukrainian officials by surprise.
The Ukrainian president confirmed that Kyiv learned of the supposed truce only from media reports, but reiterated his readiness to adhere to it — provided that Russia follows suit.
Zelensky said Russian jet-powered Shahed drones were already flying over Ukraine when Trump announced the ceasefire on Oct. 11.
A Russian drone struck a Ukrainian gas production facility around midnight, while several drones targeted a civilian gas station, he said.
“Last night, Russian oil refineries were not burning,” Zelensky said. “So, there were Russian violations of the energy ce...
- Title
- Drone debris destroys Kyiv home during Russian attack
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 1 day ago
- Description
- Russia attacked Kyiv on the morning of Oct. 12. Debris from a jet-powered drone fell in a residential area of the city’s Solomianskyi district, destroying a house.
The homeowner said her father, who lived in the house, received medical attention following the attack.
Explosions and air defense fire have been heard in Kyiv throughout the morning.
- Title
- Inside Odesa as residents face intensifying Russian attacks
- Runtime
- 1:17
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- Why is the Black Sea so crucial for Ukraine’s economy? In this report, the Kyiv Independent travels to Odesa and the surrounding region to document how intensified Russian attacks are threatening the city, its ports, and Ukraine’s vital Black Sea trade route.
From residents sheltering during drone attacks to Ukrainian crews patrolling the coastline, this report shows how Russia is increasingly targeting commercial vessels and port infrastructure. Fewer ships are now willing to enter Ukrainian ports, putting pressure on the maritime corridor that carries the country’s agricultural exports to global markets.
Ukrainian farmers are struggling to sell and store their harvests as grain exports slow down, while alternative routes by road and rail cannot match the capacity of the Black Sea ports. As Russia targets Ukraine’s ability to trade by sea, the consequences are being felt across Odesa Oblast and could extend to countries that rely on Ukrainian agricul...
- Title
- Can Ukraine fix its mobilization problems?
- Runtime
- 24:01
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- Could Ukraine lose the war without losing the front line? As Russia continues its invasion, Ukraine faces another challenge: sustaining its military while preventing divisions between soldiers, civilians and the state from weakening the country’s ability to resist.
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with Pavlo Kazarin, a Ukrainian journalist, publicist and serviceman, about Ukraine’s mobilization crisis, draft evasion, soldiers going absent without leave (AWOL), and the growing divide between those serving and those remaining in civilian life.
The conversation explores what Ukraine must change to sustain its defense, rebuild trust between the military and society, and prevent internal divisions from undermining its resistance.
00:00 Intro
00:16 How political crises affect military morale
01:32 Should Ukraine hold elections during wartime?
03:17 Reasons behind draft evasion
06:14 Support...
- Title
- Trump slams Zelensky, says Ukraine should get new president
- Runtime
- 0:47
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at President Volodymyr Zelensky on Oct. 10, demanding he halt attacks on Russian refineries and suggesting the Ukrainian people replace him if they want an end to the war.
The comments came in response to questions from reporters about his recent deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions on Moscow by opening up global markets to Russian diesel supplies.
When asked if such a deal would prolong Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Trump told reporters he sees the situation "differently."
"Zelensky could have settled this war many times, many many times, and he chooses not to," Trump claimed.
Trump then lambasted Zelensky for exacerbating the global diesel supply crisis, despite evidence that shows the U.S. war against Iran is the major culprit behind the current shortage.
"We said you could do whatever you want to Russia, don't hit the refineries, because that's ...
- Title
- Can women solve Ukraine’s manpower problem?
- Runtime
- 1:36
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- Should women be subject to mandatory military mobilization? As Ukraine continues to face a shortage of personnel in its armed forces, this particular controversial question has increasingly entered public debate.
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More than 76,000 women currently serve voluntarily in Ukraine’s armed forces, but the idea of making military service mandatory for women remains deeply controversial.
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The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova examines whether drafting women could help solve Ukraine’s manpower shortage, what challenges it would create, and why the proposal faces resistance in Ukrainian society and government. She speaks with political analyst Ihor Reiterovych and Kateryna Pryimak, a combat medic and co-founder of Veteranka, an organization advocating for women in Ukraine’s security and defense forces.
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A large-scale mobilization of women would also bring logistical challenges: Only in July 2026 did the government make its first purchase of ...
- Title
- Trump thanks Putin for Russian diesel deal
- Runtime
- 0:24
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for a deal to supply Russian diesel to the United States.
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“I want to thank President Putin, to be honest with you,” Trump said.
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Trump said on Oct. 9 that Russia had agreed to supply millions of tons of diesel fuel to the U.S. and global markets following a call with Putin.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the decision, saying it would provide Russia with additional revenue to finance its war against Ukraine. He called the move “a weak decision by our strong partners.”
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“This only fuels Putin and enables him to wage more war,” Zelensky said.
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Video: US Network Pool / AP.
- Title
- Ukraine’s ground drone army, explained
- Runtime
- 21:20
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- Can unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) change the way wars are fought — and can robots reduce Ukraine’s losses on the battlefield? The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell joins the Alter Ego Battalion of Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade to see how Ukrainian soldiers are developing and deploying unmanned ground vehicles in the war against Russia.
Built and modified in front-line workshops, these robots transport supplies, evacuate wounded soldiers, conduct reconnaissance, and carry out combat missions. As Russian drones make movement near the front line increasingly dangerous, ground robots are becoming essential to keeping Ukrainian troops supplied and rescuing the wounded.
The report follows Alter Ego’s engineers and operators as they confront the risks of robotic evacuations and prepare an all-robot counterattack against Russian troops in Donetsk Oblast.
00:00 Intro
01:05 What are ground drones?
01:48 Building robots near the...
- Title
- Why is Russia hitting Odesa’s ports?
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent traveled to Odesa and the surrounding region to document how intensified Russian attacks are threatening the city, its ports, and Ukraine’s vital Black Sea trade route.
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From residents sheltering during drone attacks to Ukrainian crews patrolling the coastline, the report shows how Russia is increasingly targeting commercial vessels and port infrastructure. Fewer ships are now willing to enter Ukrainian ports, putting pressure on the maritime corridor that carries the country’s agricultural exports to global markets.
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“To cut us off from the Black Sea, to cut us off from normal life. They’re tormenting us,” said Liudmyla Mykhailych, an Odesa resident, when asked what she believes Russia is trying to achieve.
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Ukrainian farmers are struggling to sell and store their harvests as grain exports slow down, while alternative routes by road and rail cannot match the capacity of the Black Sea ports. As Russia targets U...
- Title
- Ukrainian soldier downs Russian drone in speeding car
- Runtime
- 0:14
- Date posted
- 4 days ago
- Description
- A Ukrainian serviceman shot down an incoming Russian FPV drone with a single shot while delivering supplies to front-line positions.
The soldier, callsign "Tin" (Shadow), said their vehicle was following an armored transport when the drone gave chase. Unable to catch the armored vehicle, the Russian drone redirected its attack toward "Tin's" car.
After the driver swerved to avoid a direct impact, a fellow serviceman named Serhii fired a single targeted shot, destroying the drone in mid-air and saving the crew.
Video: @vlutkovv / Threads.
- Title
- How Ukrainian volunteers rescue animals near the front line
- Runtime
- 2:07
- Date posted
- 4 days ago
- Description
- Found wounded in an open field after surviving two days under artillery fire in Donetsk Oblast, a dog named Horobchyk is now recovering in a foster home thanks to a Ukrainian rescue organization 12 Vartovykh.
To support the rescue of more animals like Horobchyk, we have launched the Companion Collection :feet: — featuring matching T-shirts for you and your four-legged friends, keyrings and pet tags, and a cozy blanket with artwork inspired by front-line rescue missions.
Until Oct. 22, 100% of all profits from the collection will go directly to 12 Vartovykh to fund evacuations, medical treatment, and rehabilitation for animals stranded in front-line communities.
Explore the collection and support front-line animal rescue here: https://store.kyivindependent.com/collections/companion-collection?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=communitypost-oct1
- Title
- Russian attack plunges Kyiv into darkness
- Runtime
- 0:23
- Date posted
- 4 days ago
- Description
- Kyiv’s streets and apartment blocks were plunged into darkness on the evening of Oct. 8 after a Russian attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The outages hit most neighborhoods of the capital, home to over 3 million people, leaving residents to find their way home by flashlight.
Throughout the day, the city experienced power outages in most neighborhoods, with the city metro shut down due to lack of electricity. Without power, many residents also reported a lack of running water.
Videos: Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent
Photos: Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP via Getty Images; Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
- Title
- Voltage drop halts Kyiv metro trains amid power outages
- Runtime
- 0:13
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- A voltage drop temporarily halted trains and escalators in Kyiv's metro on Oct. 8 amid power outages across the capital.
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Earlier that morning, at 10 a.m., DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, announced emergency power shutdowns in the Brovary, Buchanskyi, Vyshhorod, and Boryspil districts of Kyiv Oblast.
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Water supply on Kyiv's right bank may also be disrupted, as the drop in the power grid reduced pressure in the water network — particularly in the Holosiivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Solomyanskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts, the Kyiv City State Administration said.
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Video: Kyiv Info / Telegram
- Title
- Russian glide bomb hits Kramatorsk bus station killing 33 people
- Runtime
- 0:21
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- The death toll from a Russian glide bomb strike on two minibuses in Kramatorsk has risen to 33, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported on Oct. 8.
At least 18 others were injured in the attack, which set both vehicles ablaze, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin and emergency responders.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the death toll may increase further as doctors fight to save critical victims, adding that two of the deceased have not yet been identified due to the severity of their injuries.
“This strike will not go without our response. Russia is trying to destroy all life in Donbas, and the world needs to react to this,” Zelensky said.
Video: State Emergency Service / Telegram.
- Title
- What Russian strike survivors wish Putin on his birthday
- Runtime
- 1:16
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- On Oct. 7, a Russian cruise missile hit a five-story apartment building in Pryluky, Chernihiv Oblast, killing at least 19 people, including five children, and wounding at least 55.
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Among the dead were three one-year-old boys — Oleksandr, Kyrylo, and Serhiy — and an eight-year-old, Maksym, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. First responders searched the rubble for survivors.
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The strike was part of a mass overnight missile and drone attack that killed at least 23 people across Ukraine, also hitting Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kremenchuk. It coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday.
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"Today, as a 'birthday gift' to Putin, the Russian army destroyed a residential building in Pryluky," Zelensky said.
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Video: The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- Why Russia’s new jet-powered drones are harder for Ukraine to shoot down
- Runtime
- 2:13
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jimmy Rushton explains how Russia’s new, jet-powered Geran-5 drones are changing the skies over Ukraine.
Flying faster and higher than older models, these low-cost cruise missiles have reduced Ukraine’s interception rate to 57% and forced air raid alerts in Kyiv to last for hours.
While Ukraine’s propeller-powered interceptors, perfected against earlier drones, can no longer keep up, a new generation of high-speed, jet-powered interceptors is already under development to counter the threat.
- Title
- Can women solve Ukraine's manpower problem?
- Runtime
- 18:13
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- As Russia prepares to mobilize hundreds of thousands more troops, Ukraine is struggling to maintain its troop numbers. Could a mobilization of Ukraine’s women be a practical fix for its manpower shortage, or a step too far?
More than 76,000 women currently serve voluntarily in Ukraine’s armed forces, but the idea of making military service mandatory for women remains deeply controversial.
The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova examines whether drafting women could actually help solve Ukraine’s manpower shortage, what challenges it would create, and why the proposal faces resistance in Ukrainian society and government. She speaks with political analyst Ihor Reiterovych and Kateryna Pryimak, a combat medic and co-founder of Veteranka, an organization advocating for women serving in Ukraine’s security and defense forces, about the practical, social, and political implications of mandatory mobilization for women.
00:00 Intro
00:26 U...
- Title
- Can the Kremlin’s millions help Putin live longer?
- Runtime
- 1:43
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- Russian President Vladimir Putin turns 74 on Oct. 7 — and the Kremlin is spending heavily on research that could help him live longer.
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Russia has earmarked at least $200 million over the next three years for a state longevity project, "New Health Preservation Technologies," which includes gene therapy, bioprinting human organs, and attempts to grow transplantable organs inside genetically modified mini pigs.
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Officially, the goal is to extend the lives of ordinary Russians. But according to the Wall Street Journal, the project is tied to Putin's own interest in prolonging his life — and, unlike many other medical programs, it is shielded from budget cuts.
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Funding for the initiative is set to rise in 2027, while several other healthcare programs, including cancer care and medical infrastructure, face cuts. The spending plans come as Moscow continues to devote substantial resources to its war against Ukraine.
- Title
- Russian strike on residential building in Pryluky kills at least 9, injures 38
- Runtime
- 0:28
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- A rescuer carries a child pulled from the rubble of a residential building in Pryluky, Chernihiv Oblast, destroyed during a mass Russian overnight attack on Oct. 7.
The strike killed at least nine people, including three children, and injured 38 others. The barrage targeted multiple Ukrainian cities, killing at least 15 people nationwide, according to officials.
Video: State Emergency Service / Telegram.
- Title
- Inside Ukraine's fight against jet-powered drones
- Runtime
- 1:24
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- Faster and higher-flying, jet-powered drones are giving Russia a new advantage as Ukraine races to build jet-powered interceptors to match them.
In this report, the Kyiv Independent’s Asami Terajima and Nick Allard join a Ukrainian volunteer air defense team defending Kyiv as Russia intensifies its drone attacks on the capital. The volunteers describe what it’s like to watch drones they cannot currently intercept fly overhead, and why they keep preparing for the next attack.
Watch the full video on our channel.
- Title
- Ukrainian soldier destroys Russian FPV drone on a road
- Runtime
- 0:17
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- These drones — nicknamed "zhdun," from the Russian word for "to wait" — are FPV drones, often fiber optic, that Russian forces plant in ambush positions along roads and key logistics routes.
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Instead of flying out only when a target is spotted, a "zhdun" lies on the ground and waits. It detects an approaching vehicle on its camera — or, in the dark, via thermal imaging or the glow of its headlights — then strikes it as it drives past. On fiber optic, the drones are immune to electronic warfare and hard to detect.
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They have made front-line roads deadly for military and civilian traffic alike, forcing Ukrainians to fit vehicles with improvised cages and nets and to hunt down the waiting drones before convoys can move.
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Video: kolombit / Instagram
- Title
- Trump says US willing to help Russia handle reported plague outbreak
- Runtime
- 1:06
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- U.S. President Donald Trump on Oct. 5 said that Washington will help Russia manage its plague scare as the country faces reported quarantines.
When asked by reporters about the plague in Russia, Trump confirmed he’s aware of the situation and said that the U.S. will “help them.”
On Oct. 4, Russian officials and media reported that an aluminum factory and multiple hospitals in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast have instituted preventative safety measures, including quarantines and mask mandates, following a laboratory worker’s recent death by the plague.
Darya Shipilova, a lab technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, is alleged to have accidentally broken a test tube containing the pathogen that causes pneumonic plague while collecting samples a week earlier. She died after reportedly contracting the disease on Oct. 2.
Trump’s remarks come as Russia continues deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities and as Ukr...
- Title
- Can Russia sustain its war machine?
- Runtime
- 1:52
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- As battlefield losses in Ukraine begin to outpace new recruitment, Moscow’s costly system of attracting soldiers with high salaries and bonuses is coming under growing pressure.
The Kremlin has so far avoided another mass mobilization, instead turning to reservists, migrants, foreigners and students to fill its ranks. The Kyiv Independent’s Tania Myronshena examines what is driving Russia’s manpower shortage, what a new mobilization could look like, and how hundreds of thousands of additional troops could affect the war.
Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyTGPAz9Bv4
- Title
- Ukrainian police evacuate cat under Russian drone threat
- Runtime
- 0:37
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- Police special forces in Kharkiv Oblast evacuated a cat from a front-line position after carrying him over 11 kilometers on foot while navigating threats from Russian FPV drones, regional police reported.
The cat had stayed with the officers since spring, receiving food and vaccinations from the team. As logistics worsened and winter approached, police decided to evacuate the animal during a unit rotation, walking through fields and thickets while pausing to take cover from Russian forces drones.
Video: Kharkiv Oblast Police / Facebook.
- Title
- European drone companies race to counter Russia's jet-powered Shahed drones
- Runtime
- 1:12
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- As Russia deploys faster and higher-flying jet-powered Shahed drones, European defense manufacturers are developing new interceptor systems to counter the evolving threat, Quantum Systems co-CEO Sven Kruk told the Kyiv Independent.
Kruk said jet-powered Shaheds reach speeds of up to 450 kilometers per hour and altitudes of up to 8,000 meters. Defense companies are currently testing dedicated counter-drone systems—including Quantum Systems' SPICE interceptor—with visible results expected on the battlefield within four to eight weeks, according to Kruk.
- Title
- How Russia’s new jet drones are changing the threat to Kyiv
- Runtime
- 16:28
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- Why are Russia’s new jet-powered drones so difficult for Ukraine to shoot down? Faster and higher-flying, these drones are giving Russia a new advantage as Ukraine races to build jet-powered interceptors to match them.
In this report, the Kyiv Independent’s Asami Terajima and Nick Allard join a Ukrainian volunteer air defense team defending Kyiv as Russia intensifies its drone attacks on the capital. The volunteers describe what it's like to watch drones they cannot currently intercept fly overhead, and why they keep preparing for the next attack.
00:00 Intro
00:46 Russia’s new drone campaign on Kyiv
02:58 Ukraine’s interceptor drones
05:00 Heading to an air defense position
07:11 Support independent journalism in Ukraine
07:26 Tracking incoming drones
08:16 An aging defense system
09:19 Why jet drones get through
10:20 Ukraine’s layered air defense
11:31 Preparing for the next attack
12:50...
- Title
- Ukrainian forces deliver aid to occupied Oleshky, rescue 6 cats by drone
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- Ukrainian servicemen delivered six tons of food supplies via heavy drones to the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported. Soldiers used return flights of the drones across the Dnipro River to evacuate six cats to Ukrainian-controlled territory, where they received veterinary care.
Video: Kherson Oblast Military Administration / Telegram
- Title
- The moment a Russian drone struck Kyiv bridge
- Runtime
- 0:15
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- Russian forces struck the roadway of Kyiv's Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River with a drone on the morning of Oct. 4, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported.
The attack damaged the roadway and a heating main, temporarily cutting hot water to parts of Kyiv's Desnianskyi district. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, though the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear.
The strike marks the fourth consecutive day Russian forces have targeted bridges across the Dnipro River in the capital amid an intensifying aerial campaign.
Video: Kyiv Info; President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram.
- Title
- Putin claims Russia never attacks civilian sites first
- Runtime
- 0:30
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian forces had never been the first to deliberately attack civilian infrastructure. He made the remarks at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow on Oct. 1.
Russia has repeatedly struck civilian infrastructure across Ukraine since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, including homes, hospitals, schools, and energy facilities.
In recent weeks, Kyiv has faced almost daily drone attacks, continuing throughout the day and night. Russian jet-powered drones have struck schools, medical facilities, supermarkets, gas stations, and data centers, disrupting daily life across the capital.
Video: Kremlin; The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- Russia's drone attacks on Kyiv grow more intense by the day
- Runtime
- 0:11
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- A jet-powered drone was filmed flying over an apartment complex in Kyiv on Oct. 1.
Russian strikes on Ukraine are now coming almost nonstop. Using newer jet-powered versions of Shahed-type drones, the onslaught began last month, but has increased in intensity each day over the past week.
Earlier this week, Russia struck the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences in the center of Kyiv, forcing people trapped inside to climb out through upper-floor windows to escape the flames. About two hours later, another Russian strike hit a medical center a mere 15-minute walk away.
Video: @gudmafia / Threads
- Title
- Inside Odesa port attacks: How Russia targets Ukraine's Black Sea trade
- Runtime
- 19:14
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- Why is the Black Sea so crucial for Ukraine’s economy? In this report, the Kyiv Independent travels to Odesa and the surrounding region to document how intensified Russian attacks are threatening the city, its ports, and Ukraine’s vital Black Sea trade route.
From residents sheltering during drone attacks to Ukrainian crews patrolling the coastline, this report shows how Russia is increasingly targeting commercial vessels and port infrastructure. Fewer ships are now willing to enter Ukrainian ports, putting pressure on the maritime corridor that carries the country’s agricultural exports to global markets.
Ukrainian farmers are struggling to sell and store their harvests as grain exports slow down, while alternative routes by road and rail cannot match the capacity of the Black Sea ports. As Russia targets Ukraine’s ability to trade by sea, the consequences are being felt across Odesa Oblast and could extend to countries that rely on Ukrainian agricul...
- Title
- Ukrainians in Berlin rally for humanitarian access to Russian-occupied Oleshky
- Runtime
- 0:32
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- Demonstrators gathered in Berlin on Sept. 28 to hold a rally in support of residents in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast. Participants demanded increased international pressure on Russia to allow humanitarian access to the city and ensure the safe evacuation of trapped Ukrainian civilians.
The protest was organized by the Ukrainian activist group Vitsche Berlin.
Video: Vitsche Berlin.
- Title
- Ukraine uses domestically developed FP-7 ballistic missile in combat for first time
- Runtime
- 0:21
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- Ukraine’s domestically developed FP-7 ballistic missile has been used in combat against Russia for the first time, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 1.
“Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile. FP-7. First combat use. Thank you for the result. Next up: production. Glory to Ukraine!“, Zelensky said, without providing any further details.
Asked what the missile struck, Zelensky’s communications advisor told the Kyiv Independent: “We’re not telling.”
Manufactured by leading Ukrainian defense concern, Fire Point, the FP-7 ballistic missile is designed with a claimed range of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles), a top speed of 1,500 meters per second (3,355 mph), and a 200-kilogram warhead.
Speaking at a defense conference in Poland on Sept. 10, Fire Point CEO, Iryna Terekh, had said the FP-7 was due to enter service “within weeks.”
The FP-7 is based on the Soviet-era 48N6 interceptor used in the S-300 and ...
- Title
- Russian drones target Kyiv bridge, disrupting metro link
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- Two Russian drones struck near the supports of Kyiv’s Southern Bridge on Oct. 1, disrupting a key metro link between the city’s eastern and western banks, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
This was the first time Russian drones had targeted one of the capital’s bridges.
The attack took place at around 11:30 a.m. local time, as cars and a metro train continued to cross the bridge. Videos began appearing on social media around the same time, showing a fire on the bridge and a column of smoke rising above it.
Following the strikes, traffic across the bridge was halted as emergency services inspected the site and assessed the damage, the mayor said.
As the train was passing through the area, dust entered the carriage through the ventilation system following the blast wave. Neither passengers nor the driver were injured, and the train’s windows and carriage were undamaged. The train was sent to a depot for further inspection, the Kyiv C...
- Title
- New York installation highlights the people defending Ukraine
- Runtime
- 0:36
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- Ukrainian activists in New York presented a live public installation titled “DEFENSE IS PEOPLE” at Astor Place on Oct. 1, marking Ukrainian Defenders Day. Organized by the creative activist group Rebirth.Ukraine, about 20 participants formed a shifting human wall around a central figure using their hands to symbolize a human line of defense.
Participants wore neutral civilian clothing rather than military uniforms, aiming to focus public attention on the individuals protecting Ukraine rather than weapons or soldiers. The performance invited passersby to engage, ask questions, and learn more about ways to support Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Video: @rebirth.ukraine
- Title
- Russian drones hit Kyiv bridge as cars, metro train cross
- Runtime
- 0:30
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- Two Russian drones struck near the supports of Kyiv's Southern Bridge on Oct. 1, disrupting a key metro link between the city's eastern and western banks, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
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The attack took place at around 11:30 a.m. local time, as cars and a metro train continued to cross the bridge. As the train was passing through the area, dust entered the carriage through the ventilation system following the blast wave. Neither passengers nor the driver were injured, and the train's windows and carriage were undamaged.
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Russia has intensified drone attacks on Kyiv since late August, increasingly deploying faster jet-powered drones around the clock, making them more difficult for existing Ukrainian air defenses to intercept.
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Russian attacks also struck other parts of Ukraine overnight on Oct. 1, killing at least 6 people and injuring 38 others across the country.
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Video: Video: kievinfo_kyiv / Telegram.
- Title
- Ukraine marks Defenders’ Day
- Runtime
- 0:31
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- On Oct. 1, Ukraine marks Defenders’ Day.
The day honors the men and women defending the country and commemorates those who have lost their lives in its defense.
Video: Getty Images; moisei.bondarenko; sholtys.ua; leonid_ostalstsev; fasst1k / Social media
- Title
- Russian drone strikes a school in Kyiv
- Runtime
- 0:15
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- A Russian drone struck a school in Kyiv on the morning of Oct. 1. The students and teachers were in the shelter during the attack. The strike caused a fire and damaged the building.
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At least six people were killed, and 38 others were injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said on Oct. 1.
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The Air Force said Russia attacked Ukraine with 107 drones, including Shahed-type drones, Gerbera drones, and decoys. Sixty-three of the drones were jet-powered.
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Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 87 drones as of 8 a.m. local time, the Air Force said. Strikes were recorded at 11 locations, while debris from downed drones fell at four locations.
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Video: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Telegram
- Title
- Why drones can't replace Ukraine's recon soldiers
- Runtime
- 1:17
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- What does it take to be a Ukrainian reconnaissance soldier on today's drone-dominated battlefield?
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In this report, the Kyiv Independent's Nick Allard and Asami Terajima travel to Kharkiv Oblast to meet reconnaissance soldiers from Ukraine's 60th Mechanized Brigade, part of the 3rd Army Corps, and witness the training required to perform one of the army's most dangerous roles.
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"Under the threat of drones, you shouldn't stay in one place. You have to keep moving, try to hide, and of course, try to shoot it down," said Fara, a company sergeant with the 60th Brigade, 3rd Army Corps.
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The soldiers share what it is like to operate within meters of Russian troops — and how a reconnaissance mission can quickly turn into a close-range firefight. As drones increasingly dominate the battlefield, their work shows why some of the most dangerous military tasks still require soldiers on the ground.
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Watch the full video on our YouTube ch...
- Title
- Emergency blackouts return to Kyiv after major Russian strike on energy grid
- Runtime
- 0:51
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- Emergency blackouts returned to Kyiv on Sept. 30 following a massive overnight Russian missile and drone attack targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The hum of generators has once again returned to the capital as local authorities announced emergency power cuts and suspended electric ground transport across several districts. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi called the strike the first combined, large-scale assault on the energy grid since the end of last winter’s heating season.
- Title
- Russia threatens European arms factories producing weapons for Ukraine
- Runtime
- 0:38
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- European factories manufacturing weapons for Ukraine could become military targets for Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Sept. 30.
The warning came hours after Russia threatened NATO with nuclear weapons if alliance members attempt to isolate Kaliningrad Oblast. It also comes as Western officials raise concerns over what they describe as growing Russian hybrid operations against NATO.
Video: TASS / Russian state media / Telegram.
- Title
- Can Ukraine stop Russia’s jet-powered drones?
- Runtime
- 23:04
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- As Russia deploys increasing numbers of jet-powered Shahed drones against Ukraine, European defense companies are racing to develop new systems that can intercept them at scale. But can Europe keep up with Russia’s rapidly changing drone technology?
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent’s Jimmy Rushton speaks with Sven Kruk, a former German army officer and the CEO of European drone manufacturer Quantum Systems, about Ukraine’s changing air defense needs and what Europe is learning from the battlefield. Kruk discusses jet-powered Shaheds, drone interceptors, scaling production, the role of AI and software, and why Europe needs to balance low-cost mass-produced systems with more advanced weapons.
The conversation also explores whether European militaries are adapting quickly enough to a new era of warfare. Kruk argues that Europe has learned important lessons from Ukraine but still needs to change how it develops, buys and deploys military technology ...
- Title
- Could Russia start another mobilization in 2026?
- Runtime
- 1:42
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- Could another Russian mobilization campaign start in 2026? As Russia's battlefield casualties in Ukraine outpace new recruitment, and Moscow still tries to capture all of Donetsk Oblast, Moscow's costly volunteer soldier model is reaching its breaking point.
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In December last year, for the first time during the war, Russia's estimated monthly losses exceeded the number of new contract soldiers it recruited, according to Ukraine's General Staff.
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The Kyiv Independent's Tania Myronyshena examines why Russia's manpower advantage is under pressure, what a new mobilization campaign could look like, whether Russians could resist it, and how hundreds of thousands of additional troops could affect the war.
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Watch the full video on our YouTube channel.
- Title
- One day in Kyiv under attack
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- For hours on Sept. 28, air raid alerts, explosions, and the sound of air defenses followed residents across the capital as Russian drones struck multiple districts in broad daylight.
The attacks hit the National Academy of Sciences and a medical center in central Kyiv, killing two people and injuring 26 others, including three children. This timeline shows how Russia’s all-day assault unfolded across the city.
Video: Vlada Liberova/Libkos; Yevhen Kotenko; Kirill Chubotin; Danylo Antoniuk; Oleksandr Magula; Sergei Supinsky; Volodymyr Tarasov; BrightBird; Kyrylo Chubotin; Alex Babenko; Aleksandr Gusev via Getty Images; Kyiv Operative; place_kyiv/ Telegram; State Emergency Service
- Title
- Russian troops allegedly use civilians as 'human shields' to flee via Kupiansk pipeline
- Runtime
- 0:40
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- Drone footage allegedly shows Russian troops using civilians, including children and elderly people, as human shields to flee via a gas pipeline in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast amid the Ukrainian push in the Kupiansk sector, Khartiia Corps said on Sept. 29.
«The occupiers use this gas pipeline to secretly smuggle their assault troops into (Kupiansk),» Khartiia Corps, part of the National Guard, said in its statement on Facebook.
«Now they are using that same pipeline to abduct civilians.»
Khartiia Corps said Ukrainian forces did not launch an attack because doing so would have put civilians at risk.
Read more: https://kyivindependent.com/russian-troops-allegedly-using-civilians-as-human-shields-to-flee-via-kupiansk-pipeline-khartiia-corps-says/
Video: Khartiia Corps / Facebook
