Kyiv Independent
How custom prosthetic eyes are made
- Title
- How custom prosthetic eyes are made
- Runtime
- 1:32
- Date posted
- 18 hours ago
- Description
- Russia’s full-scale invasion has left thousands of Ukrainian soldiers with life-changing injuries. For many survivors, the battle does not end after they leave the battlefield. The Kyiv Independent visited a Ukrainian military hospital where American and Ukrainian surgeons work together as part of the "Face-to-Face" mission to reconstruct faces damaged by explosions from strikes and landmines. From complex facial reconstruction surgeries to custom-made eye prosthetics, this report follows wounded soldiers as they undergo medical procedures.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Inside the occupied town Russia turned into a trap
- Runtime
- 1:06
- Date posted
- 20 hours ago
- Description
- Three years after Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, the humanitarian crisis in occupied Oleshky continues to deepen. Local residents describe a chilling reality where everyday life is a gamble.
Russian forces are now using the devastated frontline town as both a staging ground for aerial strikes and a shield for their troops.
Watch the full episode of Ukraine This Week with Anna Belokur.
- Title
- Russians report fuel shortages after Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- Long lines have formed at gas stations across parts of Russia and occupied Ukraine as residents report fuel shortages following a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
Earlier, Russian proxy authorities introduced fuel vouchers in occupied Crimea and imposed limits on gasoline purchases amid ongoing shortages on the peninsula.
Videos: Crimeanwind /Telegram; Supernova+/Telegram; Exilenova+/Telegram
- Title
- Why Ukraine gave up on winning Trump over
- Runtime
- 18:12
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Phillips O'Brien, a U.S. historian and professor of strategic studies, about U.S. policy on Ukraine under President Donald Trump, the future of transatlantic relations, and the state of Russia’s war against Ukraine. O’Brien argues that Trump’s approach to Ukraine has focused on securing concessions for Russia rather than achieving a lasting peace. The conversation explores why Ukraine stopped trying to win Trump’s support, how Europe is adapting to a less reliable United States, whether Russia is running out of steam, and what could ultimately force Putin to end the war.
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Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
00...
- Title
- Ukraine disables Russian-occupied Mariupol port
- Runtime
- 0:27
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- Mariupol remains one of Russia’s most important logistics hubs in occupied southern Ukraine, serving as a key link between occupied Donetsk Oblast, Crimea, and Russia. The port has been used to transport military cargo and support Russian operations along the southern front.
The strike targeted electrical substations, radar equipment, repair facilities, a control tower, fuel storage tanks, and the sanctioned cargo vessel Lady Augusta, a vessel linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
As a result of the attack, the port was left without power, significantly disrupting Russian military logistics in occupied southern Ukraine, the Azov Corps said.
Video: National Guard’s 1st Azov Corps/Facebook.
- Title
- U.S. surgeon helps rebuild faces of wounded Ukrainian soldiers
- Runtime
- 1:17
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- “I don’t think about the risks,” says John Frodel, a U.S. facial plastic surgeon who has made 13 missions in Ukraine since 2022, performing reconstructive surgery on soldiers disfigured by shrapnel, mines, and drone strikes.
The Kyiv Independent joined the “Face-to-Face” mission – now in its fourth year – at a military hospital in Ukraine, where complex surgeries and custom prosthetics are giving wounded defenders a chance to rebuild their lives.
- Title
- Why is it so hard to liberate occupied territory?
- Runtime
- 1:33
- Date posted
- 3 days ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with Mykola Bielieskov, senior analyst at Come Back Alive and research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, about the latest developments on Ukraine’s battlefield.
The conversation explores the future of Ukraine’s air defense and long-range strikes, the possibility of a frozen conflict, and whether either side can sustain the war for years to come.
- Title
- Ukrainian POW meets his son for the first time after returning home
- Runtime
- 0:21
- Date posted
- 4 days ago
- Description
- 185 defenders came home in the latest POW exchange on June 5. For 26-year-old Volodymyr, it was also the first time he met his son.
Video: @inna_brigantina / Instagram
- Title
- Russia rejects Ukrainian, European peace initiatives, says battlefield will decide war
- Runtime
- 0:58
- Date posted
- 4 days ago
- Description
- Senior Russian officials on June 8 effectively rejected recent Ukrainian and European proposals aimed at restarting negotiations to end Russia's full-scale war, signaling that Moscow remains focused on battlefield gains rather than diplomacy.
"I don't know how we can even talk about negotiations against this backdrop," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference on June 8. "Right now, everything depends not on negotiations, but on the actions of our heroes on the front lines."
Video: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia / YouTube.
- Title
- Ukraine strikes Russia's oil depot, radar station, other military targets
- Runtime
- 0:29
- Date posted
- 4 days ago
- Description
- Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil depot, an oil transmission and control facility, and several other military targets overnight on June 7 and overnight into June 8, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed.
Beyond targets inside Russia, Ukrainian forces reported successful strikes against Russian drone command posts near Novobohdanivka and Novoivanivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Voskresenka in Donetsk Oblast, and Cherkaska Konopelka in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Video: Exilenova+ ; Supernove+ / Telegram.
- Title
- The Ukrainian town Russia turned into a trap
- Runtime
- 1:16
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- Once home to more than 24,000 people, Oleshky has endured occupation, flooding, food shortages, and increasing isolation since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur explores how conditions in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky have deteriorated over time, why evacuations remain so difficult, and what the situation in the town reveals about Russia’s broader goals in Ukraine.
- Title
- Hunger and death in Russian-occupied Oleshky | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 24:41
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, three years after Russia destroyed the Kakhovka Dam, causing major flooding in the area. Once home to more than 24,000 people, Oleshky has endured occupation, flooding, food shortages, and increasing isolation since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The episode explores how conditions in Oleshky have deteriorated over time, why evacuations remain so difficult, and what the situation in the town reveals about Russia’s broader goals in Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_223&utm_medium=223
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
00:00 Intro
01:29 Oleshky under occupation
06:42 S...
- Title
- Three years since Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka dam
- Runtime
- 0:58
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- June 6 marks three years since Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its adjacent dam in Kherson Oblast, triggering one of the most severe humanitarian and environmental disasters in the region's history.
The deliberate destruction of the facility on June 6, 2023, drained the Kakhovka reservoir — which supported the stability of Europe's largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — and sent floodwaters rushing across southern Ukraine, with ecological consequences felt as far as neighboring Black Sea countries.
Video: National Police of Ukraine; UAnimals; State Emergency Service; Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram; Getty Images.
- Title
- Inside the US-Ukraine mission to reconstruct faces of wounded soldiers
- Runtime
- 15:51
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- Russia’s full-scale invasion has left thousands of Ukrainian soldiers with life-changing injuries. For many survivors, the battle does not end after they leave the battlefield. The Kyiv Independent visited a Ukrainian military hospital where American and Ukrainian surgeons work together as part of the "Face-to-Face" mission to reconstruct faces damaged by explosions from strikes and landmines. From complex facial reconstruction surgeries to custom-made eye prosthetics, this report follows wounded soldiers as they undergo medical procedures.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_facetoface&utm_medium=facetoface
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
00:00 Intro
00:45 Support independent journalism in Ukraine
01:26 Inside a military hospit...
- Title
- How Ukraine defends Kupiansk from Russian troops crawling through pipes
- Runtime
- 1:09
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- “You can’t really walk on the ground now in the war of drones, so everything is done underground,” “Tovsty,” chief sergeant of a company in Ukraine’s Khartiia Brigade, says at a command post in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast.
Our reporter Asami Terajima breaks down her latest reporting from a command post in Kharkiv Oblast, where Ukraine’s Khartiia Brigade is locked in a relentless “whack-a-mole” style fight against Russian troops.
To bypass Ukraine’s drone-dominated airspace, Russian forces are utilizing an extensive network of Soviet-era underground pipelines to infiltrate behind Ukrainian lines. However, the longest a Russian soldier can hope to survive for after emerging from the underground pipeline is, according to those hunting them, one single hour.
- Title
- Ukraine returns 185 POWs, 1 civilian from Russian captivity in 75th exchange
- Runtime
- 0:33
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- A total of 185 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) returned from Russian captivity in the latest exchange, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 5.
The 75th prisoner-of-war exchange between Kyiv and Moscow took place with the support of the United States and the United Arab Emirates. As part of the exchange, one civilian who had been held in Russian captivity since 2022 was also returned to Ukraine.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that 185 Russian POWs had returned home, saying that they are currently in Belarus and will be receiving the psychological and medical care there.
Among those who have returned home from Russian captivity are service members from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service who served in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk sectors of the front line, according to Zelensky.
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram.
- Title
- Why thousands support the Kyiv Independent
- Runtime
- 1:37
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- As international coverage of Ukraine declines, we remain committed to bringing independent, on-the-ground reporting to readers around the world.
Today, we’re aiming to welcome 4,000 new members and show that independent journalism from Ukraine can thrive when readers choose to support it.
Join us and help keep our reporting going: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=chris_shorts&utm_medium=chris_shorts
- Title
- A dozen pro-Ukrainian demonstrators rallied outside the U.S. Capitol
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- The U.S. House of Representatives voted on June 4 to approve legislation that would provide billions of dollars in military assistance to Ukraine.
As lawmakers voted on the bill, about a dozen pro-Ukrainian demonstrators rallied outside the U.S. Capitol. Representatives greeted them after the vote passed.
The bill is the first major Ukraine aid measure to gain significant momentum in Congress since Trump's return to the White House in January 2025.
- Title
- Ukraine's top military analyst breaks down Russia war in 2026
- Runtime
- 1:39
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with Mykola Bielieskov, senior analyst at Come Back Alive and research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, about the latest developments on Ukraine’s battlefield.
Bielieskov explains Ukraine’s recent territorial gains, Russia’s evolving infiltration tactics, the growing role of drones and robotic systems, and why large-scale offensives have become increasingly difficult for both sides.
- Title
- Putin says Russia will strengthen air defenses after Ukrainian drone attacks
- Runtime
- 1:31
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 4 that Russia would strengthen its air defenses in response to recent Ukrainian drone attacks that have reached deep inside the country.
Speaking during a meeting with heads of international news agencies, Putin acknowledged that some Ukrainian drones had penetrated Russia's air defense network.
"To our regret, some of them break through," Putin said, answering the question about the recent drone attack on his hometown of St. Petersburg. "Russia has an air defense system. We need to improve it, strengthen it, and we will do that."
Video: Associated Press
- Title
- Putin says Russia tested Oreshnik missile before possible use in populated areas
- Runtime
- 0:58
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- ussian President Vladimir Putin claimed on June 4 that Russia has not yet used its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in combat against Ukraine.
Speaking about Russia's recent aerial attacks, Putin said the military had launched the missile at targets where its performance and precision could be assessed before potential future use against targets closer, including those in residential areas.
"We hit the area where it was convenient to see the results," Putin said.
Video: Associated Press
- Title
- Ukraine war update and viewer Q&A with Francis Farrell
- Runtime
- 1:08:59
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- On June 4, our front-line reporter Francis Farrell will go live on our YouTube channel to answer your questions about the current state of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Francis has been covering front-line developments for the Kyiv Independent since 2022, reporting from some of the hottest spots on the battlefield, embedding with a wide range of Ukrainian military units, and interviewing leading military experts in Ukraine and beyond.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_live_q&a_francis2026&utm_medium=q&a_francis2026
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Estonia's intelligence chief on Russia's plan beyond Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:15
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- Ukraine is currently absorbing most of Russia’s military capacity — but that won’t last forever.
The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Kaupo Rosin, director general of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, about Moscow’s long-term military ambitions and what they mean for NATO’s eastern flank — even if the war in Ukraine ends.
- Title
- Where NATO’s drone training falls short, according to Ukrainian drone pilots
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- Ukrainian drone pilots from the 20th National Guard “Lubart” Brigade, part of the 1st Azov Corps, repeatedly disrupted NATO maneuvers at the Aurora 2026 military exercises in Sweden — forcing parts of the exercise to restart on purpose.
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell spoke with the pilots after they returned, as they laid out what Western teams must improve: antenna range, relay systems to keep pilots off exposed high ground, and better camouflage of operator positions.
- Title
- Reporting from Ukraine's kill zone
- Runtime
- 1:36
- Date posted
- 8 days ago
- Description
- Kyiv Independent reporter Francis Farrell shows the growing “kill zone” in Donetsk Oblast, where fields and roads are covered with fiber-optic cables from drones increasingly used by both sides in the war.
As drone warfare intensifies, reaching front-line areas has become more dangerous — and fewer international media teams are reporting from positions this close to the fighting.
The Kyiv Independent continues reporting from the front lines to show the reality of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Our current campaign aims to bring in 4,000 new members and prove that independent journalism from Ukraine can thrive when readers choose to support it.
Consider supporting our mission by becoming a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=francis_shorts&utm_medium=francis_shorts
- Title
- Washington can help Ukraine prevail, US lawmakers say in Kyiv
- Runtime
- 1:52
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- As Russia escalates its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, two senior U.S. lawmakers visit Kyiv with a message: Ukraine can still win — but only if it gets the support it needs.
The Kyiv Independent’s Deputy Chief Editor, Oleksiy Sorokin, sits down with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Jim Himes to discuss Ukraine’s urgent need for air defense, the future of U.S. military aid, sanctions on Russia, and the political realities shaping Washington’s Ukraine policy.
- Title
- Ukraine's top military analyst breaks down Russia war in 2026
- Runtime
- 40:34
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with Mykola Bielieskov, senior analyst at Come Back Alive and research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, about the latest developments on Ukraine’s battlefield. Bielieskov explains Ukraine’s recent territorial gains, Russia’s evolving infiltration tactics, the growing role of drones and robotic systems, and why large-scale offensives have become increasingly difficult for both sides. The conversation also explores the future of Ukraine's air defense and long-range strikes, the possibility of a frozen conflict, and whether either side can sustain the war for years to come.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_mykolabielieskov&utm_medium=mykolabielieskov
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the ...
- Title
- NATO leadership arrives in Kyiv to honor Ukraine's fallen defenders
- Runtime
- 0:41
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President Volodymyr Zelensky honored fallen Ukrainian defenders at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv on June 3.
Joined by NATO Military Committee Chief Giuseppe Cavo Dragone and representatives from all 32 allied nations, the wreath-laying ceremony marked the beginning of the North Atlantic Council’s official visit to Ukraine to reaffirm the alliance’s enduring solidarity.
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram.
- Title
- Hunted by Ukraine's top drone pilots
- Runtime
- 1:58
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- Kyiv Independent reporter Francis Farrell joined two experienced Ukrainian drone pilots for a demonstration showing how quickly a soldier can be detected and tracked from the air — even when using trenches and available cover.
As drones reshape warfare in Ukraine, surviving on the front line increasingly depends on avoiding detection from above.
- Title
- Kyiv’s Independence Monument lights up in Italian colors for Republic Day
- Runtime
- 0:28
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- For the first time in history, Kyiv’s iconic Independence Monument on Maidan Nezalezhnosti was illuminated in the colors of a foreign nation to mark the 80th anniversary of the @ Republic on June 2.
In a statement, Italian Ambassador to Ukraine Carlo Formosa drew parallels between Italy’s post-WWII democratic rebuilding and Ukraine’s ongoing fight for freedom under Russian attacks. Formosa reaffirmed Rome’s unwavering support, stating that Ukraine is actively defending the core principles of sovereignty and dignity upon which the Italian Republic was founded.
Video: The Embassy of Italy in Kyiv.
- Title
- Ukraine strikes Russian oil terminal as Putin's economic forum opens
- Runtime
- 0:25
- Date posted
- 9 days ago
- Description
- Ukrainian forces struck the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal in Russia's Leningrad Oblast in the early hours of June 3, hitting the facility deep inside Russian territory just as Vladimir Putin's flagship economic forum was set to begin.
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky; Sternenko; Exilenova-Plus / Telegram.
- Title
- How Ukraine is shifting its culture of remembrance
- Runtime
- 0:47
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- Lviv hosted the second annual “CHEKA FEST” on May 30, celebrating the life, service, and philosophy of Iryna Tsybukh. A prominent civic activist and combat medic with the Hospitallers medical battalion, Tsybukh was killed in action in 2024.
The event integrated traditional Ukrainian music, educational panels, and memorial spaces dedicated to her legacy. The festival has become a core element of a broader, emerging culture of remembrance across Ukraine.
Video: cheka.fest / Instagram.
- Title
- Kyiv clinic left in rubble after a Russian attack
- Runtime
- 0:52
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- A June 2 attack on Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district caused the partial collapse of a business center and heavily damaged a nearby family medical clinic.
The clinic serves about 20,000 residents and employs ten doctors and ten nurses. No casualties were reported among the staff. Olesia Yevlakhovych, head of the damaged clinic, described the scene as she stood outside the building.
“That’s the window of my office,” Yevlakhovych said. “I want to get in, but I’m not allowed because the building is in a very dangerous condition and at risk of collapse. There are just bricks inside — it’s all rubble in there.”
Video: Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- Kyiv resident shows her apartment after Russian strike
- Runtime
- 1:54
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- Overnight on June 2, Russia launched one of the largest aerial attacks of the full-scale war, striking multiple Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones. In Kyiv, Maryna — a local resident whose parents’ home in Irpin was already destroyed earlier in the war — shows her apartment and recounts what happened.
She is one of many capital residents whose homes were partially or completely ruined in the attack.
Video: Nick Allard / The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- Massive Russian attack hits Kyiv on June 2, killing 5
- Runtime
- 0:37
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- Russia launched a major aerial attack against Ukraine overnight on June 2, targeting Kyiv with missiles and drones.
In the Solomianskyi district, 15-story and 24-story residential buildings sustained damage. In the Podilskyi district, a nine-story building collapsed following a reported double-tap strike, with reports of people potentially trapped under the debris.
Debris caused fires at gas stations in the Darnytskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts, a construction site in the Obolonskyi district, and a commercial building in the Sviatoshynskyi district. A commercial building in the Shevchenkivskyi district also caught fire.
Videos: State Emergency Services / Telegram; Adam Sybera / The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- How Ukrainian drone pilots disrupted NATO war games
- Runtime
- 2:09
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- Brought in to act as the opposing force at special war games in Sweden, a handful of Ukrainian drone teams repeatedly disrupted NATO maneuvers, forcing parts of the exercise to be restarted. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell caught up with pilots from the 20th National Guard "Lubart" Brigade shortly after they returned from these war games to discuss how they exposed weaknesses in NATO's approach to drone warfare.
- Title
- Washington can help Ukraine prevail, US lawmakers say in Kyiv
- Runtime
- 14:17
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- As Russia escalates its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, two senior U.S. lawmakers visit Kyiv with a message: Ukraine can still win — but only if it gets the support it needs. The Kyiv Independent’s Deputy Chief Editor, Oleksiy Sorokin, sits down with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Jim Himes to discuss Ukraine’s urgent need for air defense, the future of U.S. military aid, sanctions on Russia, and the political realities shaping Washington’s Ukraine policy.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_blumenthal&utm_medium=blumenthal
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
00:00 Intro
00:24 Can Ukraine still win?
01:18 Can Congress increase support for Ukraine?
04:00 The bipartisan case for backing Ukraine
- Title
- Inside a Kyiv apartment destroyed by a Russian strike
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- This ninth-floor apartment in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district was completely destroyed by a Russian attack on May 24. Just a few months ago, the space was filled with life and warm memories.
For many families in the building, this apartment was their only home and their last remaining refuge. Now, they are waiting for an official commission to inspect the site and assess the damage.
Video: @sapogkova1 / Instagram
- Title
- Why we love Kyiv: Residents share their stories on Kyiv Day
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- Ukraine's capital marks its 1,544th anniversary today.
Kyiv has undergone profound changes since the start of the full-scale invasion, yet it remains a vibrant home to millions of people.
The Kyiv Independent’s Nastia Kasinchuk asked residents what Kyiv means to them and why they love the capital.
- Title
- Luxury estates at the center of Ukraine's biggest wartime corruption probe
- Runtime
- 2:32
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- A secretive luxury residential compound allegedly built for Volodymyr Zelensky’s inner circle could become the corruption scandal that defines his presidency.
The prosecution alleges that within four years, nearly $9 million was laundered through the construction of a cottage complex — four expensive houses near Kyiv, each roughly 1,000 square meters in size.
According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), the houses were allegedly meant for former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, businessman Timur Mindich, and ex-President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak.
All three, along with four other people, were charged in the case.
The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Denisova gathered what we know and what we don’t in the case everyone in Ukraine is talking about.
- Title
- Ukraine’s mobilization problem | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 23:44
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur explains how mobilization actually works in Ukraine — and why the reality is far more complicated than viral videos often suggest. As Russia’s full-scale invasion is well into its fifth year, Ukraine faces the challenge of maintaining a military large enough to defend the country while balancing public concerns about fairness, freedom, and accountability. The episode explores how Ukraine’s mobilization system developed, why it became necessary, and how it operates today. It also examines the shortcomings of the system, the reforms under discussion, and the difficult choices facing a country fighting for its survival.
Audio dubbing provided by an AI-generated voice.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_222&utm_medium=222
Your support allows us to...
- Title
- Kyiv marks Kyiv Day amid ongoing war
- Runtime
- 0:40
- Date posted
- 12 days ago
- Description
- On May 31, Ukraine’s capital marks Kyiv Day, celebrating the city’s rich history and its central role as the heart of the country’s resistance.
Despite the immense challenges of the full-scale invasion, the capital continues to move forward, driven by the determination of its people to preserve their vibrant civic and cultural life.
Video: thekyivlover / Instagram; The Kyiv Independent.
- Title
- Ukrainian servicemen surprise children at school
- Runtime
- 0:37
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- Children reunited with their fathers serving in Ukraine's military during the last bell celebrations.
Schools across Ukraine held last bell ceremonies on May 29 to mark the end of the academic year. Among those attending were servicemen who came to congratulate their children, turning the occasion into a rare family reunion.
Video: ekaterina.horpynych / Instagram; tasichkagovorukha / Tiktok
- Title
- Ukraine destroys two Russian Tu-142 naval aircraft, Iskander missile system
- Runtime
- 0:33
- Date posted
- 13 days ago
- Description
- Ukrainian drones have destroyed two Russian Tu-142 naval aircraft and an Iskander ballistic missile system, overnight on May 30, Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi reported.
The Iskander and two Tu-142 aircraft were attacked at a military airfield in Taganrog, a port city on the Sea of Azov in Rostov Oblast, Brovdi said.
The strike was achieved by the 1st Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces, a unit that specializes in deep strikes on Russian military targets and oil and gas infrastructure.
The Tu-142 is a long-range marine reconnaissance anti-submarine aircraft operated by the Russian navy, based on Russia's Tu-95 strategic bomber platform, which is often used for mass cruise missile attacks on Ukraine.
The Iskander operational-tactical missile system is a Russian system capable of launching ballistic missiles up to 500 kilometers.
The weapon, which can only be reliably shot down by the advanced U....
- Title
- Putin rejects accusations over drone crash in Romania
- Runtime
- 1:51
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 29 questioned claims that a drone that struck a residential building in Romania overnight was Russian, saying it was impossible to determine the drone's origin before a formal investigation was completed.
His comments came after a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in the eastern Romanian city of Galati, injuring two people and forcing the evacuation of 70 residents.
Galati, located in eastern Romania, is only 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the tripoint border of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, near southern Odesa Oblast.
Romania's Defense Ministry said a drone entered Romanian airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine and crashed onto the roof of a residential building, sparking a fire. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte condemned the incident, saying that "Russia's reckless behavior is a danger to us all."
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on X that the incident is a "seriou...
- Title
- Aftermath of Russia's attack on emergency service building in Kyiv Oblast
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- Russia struck the State Emergency Service building in Kyiv Oblast on May 24 — the facility that handled emergency calls for civilians across the region.
“This is not a military facility,” said Oleksandr Dryha, Deputy Commander of the local Special Rescue Unit. “People were simply being helped here.”
- Title
- The Ukrainian drone pilots behind NATO's drill failure
- Runtime
- 25:02
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- At NATO's Aurora 2026 military exercises in Sweden, a group of Ukrainian drone pilots was tasked with playing the role of attackers. Ukrainian teams repeatedly disrupted NATO maneuvers, forcing parts of the exercise to be restarted. The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell spoke with drone pilots from Ukraine's 20th National Guard "Lubart" Brigade, part of the 1st Azov Corps, shortly after they returned from Sweden. Drawing on years of battlefield experience fighting Russia's full-scale invasion, the pilots explain how they exposed weaknesses in NATO's approach to drone warfare, what Western militaries are still struggling to adapt to, and how Ukraine can make the alliance stronger.
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- Title
- Ukrainian gymnast covers her ears as Russian anthem plays at European Junior Championships
- Runtime
- 0:28
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- Ukrainian gymnast Sofiia Krainska covered her ears and eyes as the Russian national anthem played during the awards ceremony at the 2026 European Junior Championships.
This comes after the Executive Committee of World Gymnastics has lifted all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes on May 18, allowing them to compete immediately under their national flags and anthems. The move reversed restrictions imposed in March 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Video: Russian Gymnastics Federation / Telegram
- Title
- Russian drone strikes residential building in Romania, injuring 2
- Runtime
- 0:14
- Date posted
- 14 days ago
- Description
- A drone struck a residential building in Galati, Romania, overnight on May 29, Romania’s Defense Ministry confirmed. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on X that the incident is a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by Russia.
“Romania will take the necessary diplomatic response measures regarding this serious violation of international law and of its airspace,” Toiu said.
Video: Exilenova+ / Telegram
- Title
- Is Putin's regime under pressure? Estonian intelligence chief weighs in
- Runtime
- 1:10
- Date posted
- 15 days ago
- Description
- Kaupo Rosin, Director General of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, assesses the stability of Vladimir Putin's regime amid the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Speaking with The Kyiv Independent's Martin Fornusek, Rosin highlights mounting internal pressures in Russia driven by economic strains, lack of significant battlefield success despite high costs, and tightening internet restrictions.
Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.
