Kyiv Independent
How war is shaping Ukraine’s next generation of engineers
- Title
- How war is shaping Ukraine’s next generation of engineers
- Runtime
- 12:28
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- In Kharkiv, a city living under constant Russian fire, students are shaping Ukraine’s future from underground classrooms and makeshift labs. The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post visits the Kharkiv Aviation Institute and the National University of Radio Electronics to see how the full-scale invasion has transformed Ukrainian education — and how Ukraine’s next generation of engineers is turning to robotics, drones, aviation, and automation to meet wartime demands.
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- Title
- Visiting the museum during blackout
- Runtime
- 2:25
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent visited an exhibition of Oleksandr Murashko in Kyiv as the museum operated without electricity amid Russia’s ongoing strikes on Ukraine’s energy system.
Visitors switched on their flashlights and continued viewing the artworks in the dark.
Murashko is regarded as one of Ukraine’s greatest painters and a pioneer of Ukrainian impressionism.
- Title
- Search and rescue operations in Ternopil continue
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Search and rescue operations in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil have entered a second day, with 14 people still missing after a Russian attack.
Russia carried out a large-scale overnight attack on multiple Ukrainian regions on Nov. 19. Oblasts in western Ukraine, including Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv, which are located over 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) from the front line and the Russian border, were hit in the attack.
A Russian strike on an apartment building in Ternopil killed at least 26 people, including three children, and injured 93 others, among them 18 children, according to Ukraine’s Emergency Service.
Two nine-story apartment buildings were damaged in the strike. In one of them, the damage extended from the third to the ninth floor, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
Klymenko described the destruction he encountered at the site. “I walked between the burnt walls — it was a terrible feeling,” he said. ...
- Title
- Ukraine’s biggest wartime corruption scandal, explained
- Runtime
- 1:51
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center, to discuss Ukraine’s biggest wartime corruption scandal, which involves people from President Volodymyr Zelensky's circle and several government officials. Kaleniuk explains the stakes of the crisis and outlines the steps she believes Zelensky should take to resolve it.
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- Title
- Ukraine marks World Children’s Day
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Today, Nov. 20, marks World Children’s Day — in Ukraine, it comes amid the ongoing impact of Russia’s full-scale war.
Children across the country continue to face displacement, loss, and daily threats from Russian attacks.
- Title
- Ukraine’s biggest wartime corruption scandal, explained
- Runtime
- 29:43
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center, to discuss Ukraine’s biggest wartime corruption scandal, which involves people from President Volodymyr Zelensky's circle and several government officials. Kaleniuk explains the stakes of the crisis and outlines the steps she believes Zelensky should take to resolve it.
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- Title
- Assessing Pokrovsk strategic role as Russian forces advance
- Runtime
- 2:19
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- In response to questions from viewers about the fighting in Pokrovsk, Kyiv Independent reporter Francis Farrell outlines how to assess the city’s strategic significance.
Pokrovsk, a city that held back some of Russia’s fiercest assaults for over a year, is now on the verge of falling.
As Russian troops advance, a city’s value as a logistics hub and defensive position declines, particularly once it comes within range of sustained drone strikes or faces the risk of encirclement.
Our latest video examines what this means for Pokrovsk on the current front line. Watch at the link in bio.
- Title
- Three drones strike neighborhood during aid delivery in Kramatorsk
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Three Russian drones struck a residential neighborhood while journalists were documenting the distribution of humanitarian aid following a missile attack the night before on Oct. 30.
The sequence of attacks, reported by an Spanish journalist at the scene, involved three separate drone impacts on nearby houses in the same compound.
The strikes killed one civilian and left several injured. The incident highlights Russia's continued targeting of civilian infrastructure and humanitarian efforts in the Donbas region.
Source: Journalist Lara Escudero via X.
- Title
- Russia launches mass attack on multiple Ukrainian regions causing power outages
- Runtime
- 1:15
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Russia carried out a mass overnight attack on multiple Ukrainian regions on Nov. 19, leaving at least 10 civilians dead and 86 injured, and triggering widespread infrastructure damage and power outages.
Russian forces struck Ukraine with more than 470 drones and 48 missiles of various types, including ballistic and cruise missiles, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Around midnight local time, Russian drones attacked the city of Kharkiv, injuring at least 46 people, including two girls aged 9 and 13, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
The Slobidskyi and Osnovianskyi districts were targeted, with Russian forces launching 19 Geran-2 drones. The strikes damaged a high-rise residential building, a hospital, and a school.
Oblasts in western Ukraine, including Ternopil and Lviv, located over 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) from the front line and the Russian border, were also affected.
The Russian attack on Ternopi...
- Title
- Explaining the battle of Pokrovsk
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Pokrovsk, a city that held back some of Russia’s fiercest assaults for over a year, is now on the verge of falling. Despite Kremlin claims of encirclement, Russian forces have advanced through infiltration tactics, overwhelming infantry pressure, and relentless drone attacks — leaving Ukrainian defenders in an increasingly untenable position. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell explains how the battle reached this point and what Pokrovsk’s fall could mean for the wider defense of Donetsk Oblast.
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- Title
- Battle of Pokrovsk: How Russia broke into the city and what's next
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Pokrovsk, a city that held back some of Russia’s fiercest assaults for over a year, is now on the verge of falling. Despite Kremlin claims of encirclement, Russian forces have advanced through infiltration tactics, overwhelming infantry pressure, and relentless drone attacks — leaving Ukrainian defenders in an increasingly untenable position. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell explains how the battle reached this point and what Pokrovsk’s fall could mean for the wider defense of Donetsk Oblast.
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- Title
- Major corruption scandal and Russian deepfakes | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:01
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on a major corruption scandal shaking up Ukraine’s government and involving people from President Volodymyr Zelenky's circle. She also covers the worsening situation on the front line as Russia intensifies attacks near in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv oblasts and investigates a wave of viral AI deepfakes portraying fake Ukrainian soldiers to discredit Kyiv’s mobilization efforts.
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Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Major corruption scandal and Russian deepfakes | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 17:28
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on a major corruption scandal shaking up Ukraine’s government and involving people from President Volodymyr Zelenky's circle. She also covers the worsening situation on the front line as Russia intensifies attacks near in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv oblasts and investigates a wave of viral AI deepfakes portraying fake Ukrainian soldiers to discredit Kyiv’s mobilization efforts.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine. Independent, under fire — and unstoppable with you on board. With your support, we can keep going. Help us reach 25,000 members by the end of 2025: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_194&utm_medium=194
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Brazilian fighter on South American crime links to foreign volunteers in Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette sat down with Brazilian volunteer fighter Everson Neves about his experience of fighting for Ukraine and the growing concerns over South American soldiers and their possible links to organized crime.
- Title
- Battle of Pokrovsk: How Russia broke into the city and what's next
- Runtime
- 14:07
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Pokrovsk, a city that held back some of Russia’s fiercest assaults for over a year, is now on the verge of falling. Despite Kremlin claims of encirclement, Russian forces have advanced through infiltration tactics, overwhelming infantry pressure, and relentless drone attacks — leaving Ukrainian defenders in an increasingly untenable position. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell explains how the battle reached this point and what Pokrovsk’s fall could mean for the wider defense of Donetsk Oblast.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- Kyiv Under Attack: New York Activists Demand Global Attention
- Runtime
- 0:35
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- During Russia’s overnight attack on Kyiv on Nov. 14, activists in New York took to the streets with signs reading “Google Kyiv today” to draw international attention to the news.
“A wicked attack,” President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted. “About 430 drones and 18 missiles were used in the strike, including ballistic and aeroballistic missiles.”
“Sadly, four people have been killed,” he added. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko later revised the death toll up to six having earlier said casualty reports were delayed as suspected fatalities were trapped under rubble.
Several explosions were reported in Kyiv beginning around 12:45 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Additional waves of explosions were reported in the following hours.
- Title
- Six killed, dozens injured in Kyiv amid mass Russian attack
- Runtime
- 1:17
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Russia launched a large-scale aerial attack on Kyiv overnight on Nov. 13-14, battering the capital with hundreds of drones and multiple missiles, killing at least six people and injuring at least 29 others.
Nine of the injured victims — including one pregnant woman — have been hospitalized. Two children, ages 7 and 10, are among the injured, local authorities reported.
"A wicked attack," President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted. "About 430 drones and 18 missiles were used in the strike, including ballistic and aeroballistic missiles."
- Title
- Russia is spreading deep fakes claiming Ukrainian soldiers surrendering in the east
- Runtime
- 0:54
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Russia is circulating deepfake videos that falsely depict Ukrainian soldiers surrendering in the east, including an AI-generated clip showing “wounded” Ukrainian troops evacuating from Pokrovsk.
As Russian forces advance toward Pokrovsk, the coordinated disinformation campaign appears aimed at fueling panic among Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 13 that Russia has not taken control of Pokrovsk, but the area remains Russia’s primary offensive focus, with the highest number of daily assaults and a significant concentration of Russian forces.
"There is no talk of Russian control over the city of Pokrovsk or the operational encirclement of the Defense Forces of Ukraine group," Syrskyi said in a post on Telegram.
- Title
- Brazilian fighter on South American cartel links to foreign volunteers in Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:12
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- There’s no official data on how many South Americans are fighting for Ukraine, but thousands are believed to have joined since 2022. The majority are believed to be Colombians, with Brazilians a distant second.
Concerns have circulated that members of South American criminal groups could gain combat experience through volunteers in Ukraine. Those fears resurfaced in November, when Rio de Janeiro police launched an investigation into Philipe Marques Pinto — a member of the Brazilian Red Command criminal organization who reportedly fought in Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette sat down with Brazilian volunteer fighter Everson Neves about his experience of fighting for Ukraine and the growing concerns over South American soldiers and their possible links to organized crime.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Brazilian volunteer on South American gang-linked fighters in Ukraine
- Runtime
- 15:46
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- There’s no official data on how many South Americans are fighting for Ukraine, but thousands are believed to have joined since 2022. The majority are believed to be Colombians, with Brazilians a distant second.
Concerns have circulated that members of South American criminal groups could gain combat experience through volunteers in Ukraine. Those fears resurfaced in November, when Rio de Janeiro police launched an investigation into Philipe Marques Pinto — a member of the Brazilian Red Command criminal organization who reportedly fought in Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette sat down with Brazilian volunteer fighter Everson Neves about his experience of fighting for Ukraine and the growing concerns over South American soldiers and their possible links to organized crime.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- How FPV pilots chase Russian targets at over 250 kilometers per hour
- Runtime
- 1:36
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- As winter approaches and Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system intensify, a small unit from the 3rd Army Corps spends sleepless nights hunting long-range Shahed drones on the front line in Kharkiv Oblast — before they reach Ukrainian cities. The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post and Nick Allard embedded with the team to document how FPV pilots chase targets at over 250 kilometers per hour, and how the crew identifies, pursues, and destroys incoming threats close to the front. Each intercepted Shahed reduces the risk to civilians and critical infrastructure, but a shortage of trained operators leaves Ukraine vulnerable.
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- Title
- Kherson three years after liberation
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Today, on Nov. 11, Ukraine marks three years since the liberation of the city of Kherson.
Kherson was the first major city that fell to invading Russian forces in early March 2022. In August 2022, Ukraine began a southern counteroffensive tasked with retaking Kherson. As Ukrainian troops approached the city and destroyed Russian supply lines, Moscow was forced to retreat.
Since liberation, Kherson has endured near-daily shelling and suffered a catastrophic flood following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in the summer of 2023.
Relentless Russian artillery, glide bombs, and drone attacks have turned a once-celebrating city into a place of daily tragedy. Under the grim label of “human safari,” Kherson has become a shooting range where the targets are civilians.
Videos: Getty Images; @andry_boxer; Sergio Bratchuk/Telegram; Kherson City Administration
- Title
- On the front line of Ukraine's drone vs. drone war
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- As winter approaches and Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system intensify, a small unit from the 3rd Army Corps spends sleepless nights hunting long-range Shahed drones on the front line in Kharkiv Oblast — before they reach Ukrainian cities. The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post and Nick Allard embedded with the team to document how FPV pilots chase targets at over 250 kilometers per hour, and how the crew identifies, pursues, and destroys incoming threats close to the front. Each intercepted Shahed reduces the risk to civilians and critical infrastructure, but a shortage of trained operators leaves Ukraine vulnerable.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Negligence scandal in Ukrainian military | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:13
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- This week, The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on a deadly Russian strike that killed Ukrainian soldiers and civilians allegedly during a military ceremony, prompting outrage and an internal investigation into security lapses.
- Title
- Negligence scandal in Ukrainian military | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 19:50
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on a deadly Russian strike that killed Ukrainian soldiers and civilians allegedly during a military ceremony, prompting outrage and an internal investigation into security lapses. She also covers renewed nuclear threats from Moscow as Russia begins mass-producing its Oreshnik ballistic missile — and skepticism about whether it changes the balance of power. Finally, she provides an update on the situation in the embattled city of Pokrovsk and breaks down the European Commission’s latest enlargement report on Ukraine’s path toward EU membership.
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- Title
- With Ukrainian unit intercepting Russian Shahed drones
- Runtime
- 17:33
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- As winter approaches and Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system intensify, a small unit from the 3rd Army Corps spends sleepless nights hunting long-range Shahed drones on the front line in Kharkiv Oblast — before they reach Ukrainian cities. The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post and Nick Allard embedded with the team to document how FPV pilots chase targets at over 250 kilometers per hour, and how the crew identifies, pursues, and destroys incoming threats close to the front. Each intercepted Shahed reduces the risk to civilians and critical infrastructure, but a shortage of trained operators leaves Ukraine vulnerable.
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- Title
- Emergency workers rescued a dog at the site of a Russian drone attack
- Runtime
- 0:15
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Emergency workers rescued a dog at the site of a Russian drone attack on Dnipro on Nov. 8.
The dog’s owner was hospitalized with injuries sustained in the attack, the State Emergency Service reported.
Russia carried out a drone attack on the city of Dnipro overnight on Nov. 8, killing at least three people and injuring 12 others, including two children, officials reported.
Several apartments of a multi-story building were destroyed in the city amid the strike. A fire also broke out on the site of the attack.
Photos and videos posted to social media show significant structural damage to the middle floors of the building, between the fourth and sixth floors.
Video: State Emergency Service
- Title
- Investigating Russia's military camp system for children
- Runtime
- 3:00
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit exposes Russia’s vast system that indoctrinates Ukrainian children, using education and leisure programs in occupied territories to build Russia’s future army. The documentary follows the victims of Russian occupation as they recount the coercion, threats, and lies told by the occupying authorities that endangered their and their children’s lives.
- Title
- Funeral held for Kostiantyn Huzenko, photographer-turned-soldier, killed in Russian strike
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A funeral was held in Kyiv on Nov. 7 for Kostiantyn Huzenko, a photographer-turned-soldier, killed in a Russian strike on Nov. 1.
Just over two years after the full-scale invasion began, Huzenko joined the communications department of the 35th Marine Brigade, where he served as a photographer and press officer until his death.
Before joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Huzenko also worked as a media producer and podcaster. As part of the Ukrainer team, which he joined as a volunteer in 2020, he helped document stories from territories liberated from Russian occupation after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
- Title
- Two dogs trapped in anti-drone nets
- Runtime
- 0:59
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Anti-drone nets have been installed along key logistical routes in eastern Ukraine to protect supply lines from Russian drone attacks. The nets create a barrier that drones often fail to detect due to poor video quality, causing them to become entangled in the mesh.
However, the same defenses have also created risks for stray animals, whose numbers have risen in front-line areas. Animals that get caught in the nets are unable to free themselves without help.
Video by @blazhevskaya_alena
- Title
- Trump’s Russia sanctions explained by leading economist
- Runtime
- 0:54
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell sits down with Elina Ribakova, a leading expert on the Russian economy, to unpack the latest U.S. sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil — the oil giants fuelling Moscow’s war. Ribakova explains how Russia’s war economy is running out of steam, what the sanctions could mean for India and China, and whether this new round could finally cripple Putin’s ability to fund his invasion of Ukraine. She is a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a non-resident fellow at Bruegel, and serves as Director of the International Affairs Program and Vice President for Foreign Policy at the Kyiv School of Economics.
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- Title
- Trump’s Russia sanctions explained by leading economist
- Runtime
- 13:35
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell sits down with Elina Ribakova, a leading expert on the Russian economy, to unpack the latest U.S. sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil — the oil giants fuelling Moscow’s war. Ribakova explains how Russia’s war economy is running out of steam, what the sanctions could mean for India and China, and whether this new round could finally cripple Putin’s ability to fund his invasion of Ukraine. She is a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a non-resident fellow at Bruegel, and serves as Director of the International Affairs Program and Vice President for Foreign Policy at the Kyiv School of Economics.
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- Title
- Russia's attacks on Ukrainian journalists
- Runtime
- 1:49
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, 116 journalists have been killed and 26 remain in captivity, Ukraine’s Culture Ministry said on Nov. 3.
The figure includes journalists who joined the military after the invasion began. Eighteen were killed while carrying out their professional duties.
Throughout October, Russian drone attacks intensified, widening the danger zone and endangering civilians and journalists far from the front line.
- Title
- Russian drone kills white flag-waving civilians
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Prosecutors in Kharkiv have opened a pre-trial war-crimes investigation after a video appeared to show a Russian FPV drone killing two unarmed civilians and their dog near Kruhlyakivka on Nov. 3.
The footage, released by Ukraine’s 77th Airmobile Brigade, was recorded near the village of Kruhlyakivka in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast, an area now under Russian control.
There were no military targets or positions near the site of the strike, the brigade says.
According to a statement by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office on Nov. 4, the victims were walking along the road carrying a white flag, a clear sign of their civilian, non-combatant status. Both were killed instantly as a result of a targeted strike, along with their dog.
- Title
- Evacuation of wounded and fallen soldiers from Pokrovsk
- Runtime
- 1:10
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- This video, shared by combat medic callsign “Vitskik,” shows the evacuation of wounded and fallen soldiers from Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.
Russian soldiers are pushing deeper into the city, threatening not only to capture Pokrovsk but to complete an encirclement of the wider area in Donetsk Oblast.
Pokrovsk serves as a major road and rail hub in eastern Ukraine. Its full capture could enable further Russian advances deeper into Donetsk Oblast — a region Moscow has sought to fully occupy since launching its war against Ukraine in 2014.
- Title
- The Ukrainian soldier who saved reporter by downing Russian drone
- Runtime
- 1:10
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent spoke with Oleh Petrasiuk, a press officer from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, who recently saved a foreign journalist in Kostiantynivka by shooting down an FPV drone in a dramatic moment captured on film.
From the outset of the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have killed and captured journalists, violating international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, 116 journalists have been killed and 26 remain in captivity, Ukraine’s Culture Ministry said on Nov. 3, marking the Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
- Title
- The one thing Kharkiv Oblast governor can't get used to after years of war
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- In an exclusive interview with the Kyiv Independent, Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of Kharkiv Oblast, shares the harsh realities of life under constant attack. Located on the border with Russia, Kharkiv Oblast has been under Russian bombardment since 2022, as Russian troops continue to occupy part of the region and attempt new advances. In a conversation with the Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post, Syniehubov explains how Russia experiments with weapons and upgrades its war on civilians. He also describes how Kharkiv Oblast is adapting to this reality by building schools and hospitals underground, and discusses preparations for power outages ahead of what many say could be the most difficult winter for Ukraine’s energy system yet. Syniehubov also addresses reports of FPV (first-person view) drones reaching the city of Kharkiv.
- Title
- Last stand for Pokrovsk | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- This week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on major developments from Ukraine’s front lines, where Russian forces are pushing to encircle Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast and overwhelm Ukrainian defenders in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, Russia continues violating NATO airspace, including fighter jet incursions over Lithuania, as U.S. plans to scale back its troop presence in Eastern Europe. Finally, how has reporting on the front lines become more dangerous for journalists?
- Title
- Last stand for Pokrovsk | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 16:57
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- This week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on major developments from Ukraine’s front lines, where Russian forces are pushing to encircle Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast and overwhelm Ukrainian defenders in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, Russia continues violating NATO airspace, including fighter jet incursions over Lithuania, as U.S. plans to scale back its troop presence in Eastern Europe. Finally, how has reporting on the front lines become more dangerous for journalists?
00:13 - Front line update
05:47 - Russia violates NATO air space
09:30 - Journalists killed by Russia
11:40 - Interview with Ukrainian press officer who saved journalists
15:23 - Member Q&A
Op-Ed on Pokrovsk by Olena Zashko: https://kyivindependent.com/pokrovsk-is-the-city-of-my-childhood-now-i-watch-it-die/
Kyiv Independent to host its first live event in New York. For more information, visit: https://kyivindependent.com/stories-live-...
- Title
- The real purpose of Russia’s new cruise missile
- Runtime
- 1:41
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- On Oct. 21, Russia announced a successful test of Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile with a claimed “unlimited range.” Moscow said the missile flew 14,000 kilometers (8,699 miles) over 15 hours. The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York spoke with Pavel Podvig, the Geneva-based nuclear arms control expert and the director of the Russian Nuclear Forces research project, to learn whether this "super-weapon’ poses a new threat.
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- Title
- US policy shift boosted Kharkiv’s air defense, governor says
- Runtime
- 19:58
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- In an exclusive interview with the Kyiv Independent, Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of Kharkiv Oblast, shares the harsh realities of life under constant attack. Located on the border with Russia, Kharkiv Oblast has been under Russian bombardment since 2022, as Russian troops continue to occupy part of the region and attempt new advances. In a conversation with the Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post, Syniehubov explains how Russia experiments with weapons and upgrades its war on civilians. He also describes how Kharkiv Oblast is adapting to this reality by building schools and hospitals underground, and discusses preparations for power outages ahead of what many say could be the most difficult winter for Ukraine’s energy system yet. Syniehubov also addresses reports of FPV (first-person view) drones reaching the city of Kharkiv.
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- Title
- How Russia militarizes Ukrainian children in occupied territories
- Runtime
- 1:15
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Anna Boyko moved to Crimea in 2013 with her mother as a schoolgirl. She started at a new school and had only a short time to settle in before Russia annexed the peninsula.
Ukrainian and international human rights organizations recorded how education was used to indoctrinate and russify Ukrainian children on the occupied peninsula.
“Most people just pretended nothing had happened. They either ignored it, since they were already teaching in Russian, or those who had been teaching in Ukrainian switched to Russian, acting like it had always been that way,” says Anna.
Anna’s story is far from an isolated incident, and an investigation by the Kyiv Independent has shone a light on Russia’s deliberate and 11-year-long policy of indoctrinating and militarizing Ukrainian children.
Watch the full investigative documentary, “The War They Play,” featuring Anna’s and others’ stories at the link in bio.
- Title
- Russian drone hits Sumy gas station — 4 injured, including journalist
- Runtime
- 0:38
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- A Russian drone attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy injured at least four, including the manager of a local television station, local authorities said on Oct. 30.
The Russians carried out the strike with an Italmas long-range drone on Oct. 30, hitting a gas station, Mayor Artem Kobzar wrote on Telegram.
"Rescue workers were at the scene, surveying the area, dismantling damaged structures, and ensuring fire safety," Sumy Emergence Service said.
Four civilians were injured, including the Head of Sumy Channel, Maksym Tkachov.
According to the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), at the time of the attack, Tkachov had already refueled his car.
"Maxym Tkachov is currently in the hospital with through-and-through wounds to his legs. He also has a concussion," IMI said.
- Title
- How dangerous is Russia's new ‘unlimited range’ missile?
- Runtime
- 1:16
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- On Oct. 21, Russia announced a successful test of Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile with a claimed “unlimited range.” Moscow said the missile flew 14,000 kilometers (8,699 miles) over 15 hours. The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York spoke with Pavel Podvig, the Geneva-based nuclear arms control expert and the director of the Russian Nuclear Forces research project, to learn whether this "super-weapon’ poses a new threat.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Press officer saves foreign reporter from Russian FPV drone
- Runtime
- 0:55
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- A press officer of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade saved a foreign journalist in Kostiantynivka by shooting down a Russian FPV drone near a local church.
The reporter from the Dutch outlet Het Nederlands Dagblad had been documenting the destruction of the church when the drone approached.
- Title
- How dangerous is Russia's new nuclear-powered missile?
- Runtime
- 15:38
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- On Oct. 21, Russia announced a successful test of Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile with a claimed “unlimited range.” Moscow said the missile flew 14,000 kilometers (8,699 miles) over 15 hours. The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York spoke with Pavel Podvig, the Geneva-based nuclear arms control expert and the director of the Russian Nuclear Forces research project, to learn whether this "super-weapon’ poses a new threat.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_pavelpodvig&utm_medium=burevestnik
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Russia revives Soviet war game to train children for the battlefield
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- The Soviet-era military-patriotic game Zarnitsa was reintroduced in occupied Crimea after Russia’s 2014 annexation.
In 2023, Russia relaunched the Zarnitsa game under a new name — Zarnitsa 2.0 — updated to fit the realities of modern warfare. This new version now includes elements of military cyber operations, information security, and new tactical strategies. The game unfolds in several stages, with children competing in teams. Each participant takes on a specific role: drone operator, sapper, spotter, medic, assault trooper, political officer, or war correspondent.
According to Russian sources, 800,000 children participated in the game in 2024. In 2025, three million children registered to take part in Zarnitsa 2.0.
This is part of a broader system through which Russia indoctrinates Ukrainian children in occupied territories — using education and leisure programs to build its future army.
The Kyiv Independent’s War Crim...
- Title
- How Russia trains Ukrainian children for a lifetime of war
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Today, an estimated 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain in territories occupied by Russia. Cut off from Ukraine’s education system, they are exposed daily to Russian propaganda, militarization, and pressure to abandon their national identity.
Parents, children, and human rights activists interviewed by the Kyiv Independent say escaping this system is nearly impossible. In occupied territories, the indoctrination begins at school and extends into nearly every aspect of children’s lives.
Pupils are forced to study according to Russian standards, write letters to Russian soldiers, and join youth organizations designed to glorify the army. Some are taught to handle weapons, dig trenches, or operate drones.
Some are even made to exhume human remains from World War II battlefields.
- Title
- Investigating Russia's military camp system for children
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit exposes Russia’s vast system that indoctrinates Ukrainian children, using education and leisure programs in occupied territories to build Russia’s future army. The documentary follows the victims of Russian occupation as they recount the coercion, threats, and lies told by the occupying authorities that endangered their and their children’s lives.
- Title
- Russia’s war on civilians | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- This week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on new evidence of Russian war crimes in Pokrovsk, an embattled city in Donetsk Oblast, where intercepted communications reveal Russian soldiers were ordered to execute civilians. The episode also covers Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, including missile strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other populated areas targeting kindergartens, homes, and energy infrastructure. While Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire with Ukraine, has U.S. President Donald Trump finally shifted his approach to Russia?
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
