Kyiv Independent
Kyiv holds farewell for journalist tortured, killed in Russian captivity
- Title
- Kyiv holds farewell for journalist tortured, killed in Russian captivity
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- A farewell ceremony was held in Kyiv on Aug. 8 for Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who died in Russian captivity after torture in the fall of 2024.
Her death has become a stark symbol of Russia's systemic abuse of Ukrainian civilians and the brutal risks faced by journalists in occupied territories.
Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from Russian-occupied territories. Moscow admitted to detaining her the following year.
The journalist's body was returned to Ukraine in late February 2024, falsely labeled as that of an "unidentified man." DNA testing later confirmed her identity.
Ukrainian authorities officially confirmed her death on Oct. 10, 2024, though the cause remains under investigation. Russia claims she died on Sept. 19.
A memorial service was held at St. Michael's Cathedral, followed by a public farewell on Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti). Roshchyna will be buried in a...
- Title
- Trump’s threat won't stop Putin, Russia expert says
- Runtime
- 1:13
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- As U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline for additional sanctions on Russia looms, The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with Robert Person, a professor of international relations specializing in Russian and post-Soviet politics, to discuss why Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to end the war against Ukraine in response to the threat — and what might actually motivate him to stop the aggression.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Inflicting 'serious losses,' Ukraine strikes Russian radar systems, landing craft in Crimea
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- Drones operated by Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) struck multiple high-value Russian military targets in occupied Crimea, including a fast assault landing craft and three radar stations, the agency reported on Aug. 7.
Among the targets hit was a Project 02510 BK-16 vessel, a high-speed landing craft for coastal operations and troop transport. The drone strike reportedly caused fire damage to the ship.
The attack also destroyed or damaged several radar installations essential to Russia's air defense system on the peninsula.
These included the Nebo-SVU, a long-range radar capable of detecting aircraft and ballistic missiles; the Podlet-K1, which identifies low-flying targets; and the 96L6E, a mobile air surveillance radar.
"After serious losses of air defense facilities on the peninsula... Russian occupiers in Crimea have begun hiding their expensive military facilities in dome structures," the agency added.
V...
- Title
- What front-line logistics in Ukraine looks like
- Runtime
- 1:31
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast has been a pillar of Ukraine's defense of the Donbas region. Now, amid Moscow's summer offensive campaign, Russian forces are closing in on the city from three sides. Increasingly, the fighting here is defined by a gray zone that constantly gets deeper and more deadly, as both sides adapt their tactics to the drone-infested battlefield. The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a day with two drone teams of the 20th Brigade of Ukraine's National Guard, known as Liubart, that are holding a sector south of Kostiantynivka.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Trump’s threat won't stop Putin, Russia expert says
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- As U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline for additional sanctions on Russia looms, The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with Robert Person, a professor of international relations specializing in Russian and post-Soviet politics, to discuss why Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to end the war against Ukraine in response to the threat — and what might actually motivate him to stop the aggression.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Trump’s threat won't stop Putin, Russia expert says
- Runtime
- 19:03
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- As U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline for additional sanctions on Russia looms, The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with Robert Person, a professor of international relations specializing in Russian and post-Soviet politics, to discuss why Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to end the war against Ukraine in response to the threat — and what might actually motivate him to stop the aggression.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_person&utm_medium=putin
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- West not ready for modern war, Ukrainian drone commander says
- Runtime
- 1:32
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sits down with Pavlo Laktionov, deputy commander of the 412th Nemesis Separate Regiment — one of the flagship units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces specializing in the use of FPV (first-person view) drones — to discuss the current state of drone warfare in Ukraine, the evolving tactics employed by both Russia and Ukraine, the lack of modern warfare expertise he sees in Western militaries, and what’s next for rapidly advancing drone technologies.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Inside the Battle of Kostiantynivka under drone-infested sky
- Runtime
- 1:24
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast has been a pillar of Ukraine's defense of the Donbas region. Now, amid Moscow's summer offensive campaign, Russian forces are closing in on the city from three sides. Increasingly, the fighting here is defined by a gray zone that constantly gets deeper and more deadly, as both sides adapt their tactics to the drone-infested battlefield. The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a day with two drone teams of the 20th Brigade of Ukraine's National Guard, known as Liubart, that are holding a sector south of Kostiantynivka.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Trump runs out of patience with Russia | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:34
- Date posted
- 10 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the reversal of last week’s controversial law that stripped key anti-corruption agencies of their independence, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly shortened deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or risk severe secondary tariffs.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Trump runs out of patience with Russia | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 17:15
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the reversal of last week’s controversial law that stripped key anti-corruption agencies of their independence, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly shortened deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or risk severe secondary tariffs.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_trumpturn&utm_medium=trump
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Inside the Battle of Kostiantynivka under drone-infested sky
- Runtime
- 1:24
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast has been a pillar of Ukraine's defense of the Donbas region. Now, amid Moscow's summer offensive campaign, Russian forces are closing in on the city from three sides. Increasingly, the fighting here is defined by a gray zone that constantly gets deeper and more deadly, as both sides adapt their tactics to the drone-infested battlefield. The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a day with two drone teams of the 20th Brigade of Ukraine's National Guard, known as Liubart, that are holding a sector south of Kostiantynivka.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Inside the Battle of Kostiantynivka under drone-infested sky
- Runtime
- 23:55
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast has been a pillar of Ukraine's defense of the Donbas region. Now, amid Moscow's summer offensive campaign, Russian forces are closing in on the city from three sides. Increasingly, the fighting here is defined by a gray zone that constantly gets deeper and more deadly, as both sides adapt their tactics to the drone-infested battlefield. The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a day with two drone teams of the 20th Brigade of Ukraine's National Guard, known as Liubart, that are holding a sector south of Kostiantynivka.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_liubart&utm_medium=luibart
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- West not ready for modern war, Ukrainian drone commander says
- Runtime
- 1:36
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sits down with Pavlo Laktionov, deputy commander of the 412th Nemesis Separate Regiment — one of the flagship units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces specializing in the use of FPV (first-person view) drones — to discuss the current state of drone warfare in Ukraine, the evolving tactics employed by both Russia and Ukraine, the lack of modern warfare expertise he sees in Western militaries, and what’s next for rapidly advancing drone technologies.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_nemesis&utm_medium=nemesis
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- West not ready for modern war, Ukrainian drone commander says
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sits down with Pavlo Laktionov, deputy commander of the 412th Nemesis Separate Regiment — one of the flagship units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces specializing in the use of FPV (first-person view) drones — to discuss the current state of drone warfare in Ukraine, the evolving tactics employed by both Russia and Ukraine, the lack of modern warfare expertise he sees in Western militaries, and what’s next for rapidly advancing drone technologies.
- Title
- 13 killed, record number of children injured in Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv
- Runtime
- 1:13
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles against Kyiv overnight on July 31.
According to the latest update from authorities, the death toll from the attack has risen to 13.
At least 27 locations around the city were hit, mainly in the city’s Solomianskyi district, where an educational institution and a residential building had been targeted, said Tkachenko.
Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi district also suffered an attack, with a resulting fire burning vehicles and debris striking the ninth floor of a residential building.
Damages were also reported in the Holosiivskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts.
- Title
- Protesters react after Ukraine’s parliament votes to restore independence of anti-corruption bodies
- Runtime
- 0:40
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Ukrainian parliament approved a bill restoring the independence of two principal anti-corruption bodies in a closely-watched vote on July 31.
In the first livestreamed vote since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, 331 lawmakers approved the bill in two back-to-back readings. The legislation was promptly signed by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, but still requires a presidential signature before entering into force.
The bill aims to reverse legislation passed last week that effectively destroyed the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor (SAPO), two agencies founded as part of the post-EuroMaidan anti-graft reforms.
The initial controversial bill, quickly pushed through by President Volodymyr Zelensky's lawmakers and signed by the president on July 22, sparked mass demonstrations across the country and backlash from Ukraine's international partners.
Protests agai...
- Title
- West not ready for modern war, Ukrainian drone commander says
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sits down with Pavlo Laktionov, deputy commander of the 412th Nemesis Separate Regiment — one of the flagship units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces specializing in the use of FPV (first-person view) drones — to discuss the current state of drone warfare in Ukraine, the evolving tactics employed by both Russia and Ukraine, the lack of modern warfare expertise he sees in Western militaries, and what’s next for rapidly advancing drone technologies.
- Title
- West not ready for modern war, Ukrainian drone commander says
- Runtime
- 34:36
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sits down with Pavlo Laktionov, deputy commander of the 412th Nemesis Separate Regiment — one of the flagship units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces specializing in the use of FPV (first-person view) drones — to discuss the current state of drone warfare in Ukraine, the evolving tactics employed by both Russia and Ukraine, the lack of modern warfare expertise he sees in Western militaries, and what’s next for rapidly advancing drone technologies.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_nemesis&utm_medium=nemesis
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- What's happening with the Russian war economy?
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine’s Western allies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia since its full-scale war, but its economy has not crashed yet – why? The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell breaks down misconceptions of sanctions and what is happening with the Russian war economy today.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Families of Ukrainian POWs rally in Odesa
- Runtime
- 0:46
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and missing persons held a peaceful rally on July 27 near the central railway station in Odesa, urging people to remember the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians held in Russian captivity.
- Title
- Mass protests after Zelensky's debacle | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:34
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the protests that swept Ukraine in response to the new controversial law — passed by Ukrainian parliament and signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 22 — that effectively strips the independence of the country’s key anti-corruption agencies, carrying grim implications for Ukraine’s democratic future and integration into the European Union. Also, peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations resumed in Istanbul, Turkey – will they result in anything?
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Mass protests after Zelensky's debacle | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 12:43
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the protests that swept Ukraine in response to the new controversial law — passed by Ukrainian parliament and signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 22 — that effectively strips the independence of the country’s key anti-corruption agencies, carrying grim implications for Ukraine’s democratic future and integration into the European Union. Also, peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations resumed in Istanbul, Turkey – will they result in anything?
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_anticorruptionprotest&utm_medium=protest
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- 24 hours inside Pokrovsk as Russia closes in on key Ukrainian city
- Runtime
- 0:57
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- After Russian forces first approached the outskirts of Pokrovsk in fall, this proud coal-mining city in Donetsk Oblast became the rock upon which the Russian army dashed itself against. After months of fighting and making advances from both east and west, Russian forces now threaten to cut off Ukraine's logistics routes from the city of Dobropillia in the north.
With U.S. President Donald Trump setting a deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine by early September, Moscow is aiming to make the most of this time by surging forward on the battlefield over the rest of summer. In the Donetsk Oblast theater, Pokrovsk is the first big prize.
In what could be one of the last visits by journalists to the city, the Kyiv Independent spent 24 hours in Pokrovsk, embedded with a first-person view (FPV) drone team of Ukraine’s 68th Jaeger Brigade.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member o...
- Title
- Russia sanctions work — just not how you think
- Runtime
- 0:54
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine’s Western allies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia since its full-scale war, but its economy has not crashed yet – why? The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell breaks down misconceptions of sanctions and what is happening with the Russian war economy today.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Do sanctions on Russia actually work?
- Runtime
- 9:01
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine’s Western allies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia since its full-scale war, but its economy has not crashed yet – why? The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell breaks down misconceptions of sanctions and what is happening with the Russian war economy today.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_explainer_sanctions&utm_medium=sanctions
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Ukrainian lawmaker's warning amid Zelensky’s anti-corruption crackdown
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine faced a watershed moment on July 22 as parliament passed, and the president signed, a bill that effectively eliminates the independence of the country’s two key anti-corruption institutions — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with a member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People faction, Anastasia Radina, who opposed the bill, to discuss the controversial signing.
- Title
- Protests held across Ukraine against the bill weakening anti-corruption institutions
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent spoke with people on July 23 during the second day of protests in Kyiv against a controversial bill that curtails the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption institutions.
On July 22, the Ukrainian parliament approved amendments that grant the prosecutor general new powers over cases led by the NABU and SAPO.
Zelensky later that day signed the bill into law, effectively destroying the independence of Ukraine's two key anti-corruption institutions, opposition lawmakers and watchdogs say.
With Ukraine fighting for its survival against Russia’s invasion, many fear the move damages the country’s credibility with its Western partners and plays into the Kremlin’s narrative that Ukraine is no different from the corrupt regimes it opposes.
- Title
- Ukrainian lawmaker's warning amid Zelensky’s anti-corruption crackdown
- Runtime
- 1:37
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine faced a watershed moment on July 22 as parliament passed, and the president signed, a bill that effectively eliminates the independence of the country’s two key anti-corruption institutions — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with a member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People faction, Anastasia Radina, who opposed the bill, to discuss the controversial signing.
- Title
- Protests held across Ukraine after parliament passes bill weakening anti-corruption institutions
- Runtime
- 0:59
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Protesters gathered in Ukrainian cities on July 22 in response to a bill passed by Ukraine's parliament that strips anti-corruption bodies of their independence.
The new legislation gives the prosecutor general powerful authority over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
NABU is responsible for investigating and building major corruption cases, which are then prosecuted by SAPO. Both bodies were set up in the wake of the EuroMaidan movement with the cooperation of international partners, and are designed to operate beyond the influence of political interference.
Video: The Kyiv Independent; Valeriia Krykhta; Dnipro.Media
- Title
- Ukrainian lawmaker's warning amid Zelensky’s anti-corruption crackdown
- Runtime
- 28:20
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine faced a watershed moment on July 22 as parliament passed, and the president signed, a bill that effectively eliminates the independence of the country’s two key anti-corruption institutions — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin sits down with a member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People faction, Anastasia Radina, who opposed the bill, to discuss the controversial signing.
Watch our exclusive interview with anti-corruption activist Vitaliy Shabunin here: https://youtu.be/0HG0wxTpcTE
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_radina&utm_medium=nabu
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- 24 hours inside Pokrovsk
- Runtime
- 1:11
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- After Russian forces first approached the outskirts of Pokrovsk in fall, this proud coal-mining city in Donetsk Oblast became the rock upon which the Russian army dashed itself against. After months of fighting and making advances from both east and west, Russian forces now threaten to cut off Ukraine's logistics routes from the city of Dobropillia in the north.
With U.S. President Donald Trump setting a deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine by early September, Moscow is aiming to make the most of this time by surging forward on the battlefield over the rest of summer. In the Donetsk Oblast theater, Pokrovsk is the first big prize.
In what could be one of the last visits by journalists to the city, the Kyiv Independent spent 24 hours in Pokrovsk, embedded with a first-person view (FPV) drone team of Ukraine’s 68th Jaeger Brigade.
- Title
- Protests held across Ukraine after parliament passes bill weakening anti-corruption institutions
- Runtime
- 0:48
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Protesters gathered in Ukrainian cities on July 22 in response to a bill passed by Ukraine's parliament that strips anti-corruption bodies of their independence.
The new legislation gives the prosecutor general powerful authority over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
NABU is responsible for investigating and building major corruption cases, which are then prosecuted by SAPO. Both bodies were set up in the wake of the EuroMaidan movement with the cooperation of international partners, and are designed to operate beyond the influence of political interference.
Video: The Kyiv Independent; Valeriia Krykhta; Dnipro.Media
- Title
- Zelensky doesn't see corruption as a problem, prosecuted activist says
- Runtime
- 1:31
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In an exclusive interview, Ukrainian anti-corruption activist Vitaliy Shabunin speaks out on what he says is a politically motivated criminal case against him. Shabunin, one of Ukraine’s most influential anti-corruption crusaders, is accused of fraud and military service evasion. The Kyiv Independent’s editor-in-chief Olga Rudenko sits down with Shabunin to discuss his current legal proceedings, as well as corruption and the democratic backsliding in Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- The Rasmus brings its music back to Kyiv
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine's largest music event, the Atlas Festival, took place in Kyiv over the weekend. This is the second time the festival has been held during Russia's full-scale invasion.
Once one of the biggest music festivals in Eastern and Central Europe, featuring many international acts, it was downscaled following the start of the all-out war. Most foreign artists avoided the festival amid Russia's ongoing bombardment of Ukraine.
The Finnish rock band The Rasmus wasn't one of them.
The group performed on the main stage on July 19, drawing a massive crowd. It marked the first time a prominent international band performed in Kyiv over the last three and a half years.
"It's a big honor for us to be here," said bass guitarist Eero Heinonen. "This isn't an opportunity that comes to everyone, but we love Ukraine very much. When we received the invitation, we immediately felt that we had to do this — because we want to support the people, suppor...
- Title
- Zelensky doesn't see corruption as a problem, prosecuted activist says
- Runtime
- 1:41
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In an exclusive interview, Ukrainian anti-corruption activist Vitaliy Shabunin speaks out on what he says is a politically motivated criminal case against him. Shabunin, one of Ukraine’s most influential anti-corruption crusaders, is accused of fraud and military service evasion. The Kyiv Independent’s editor-in-chief Olga Rudenko sits down with Shabunin to discuss his current legal proceedings, as well as corruption and the democratic backsliding in Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Ukraine hit by yet another Russia's mass drone, missile attack
- Runtime
- 0:22
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 21 condemned yet another overnight mass Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine that killed at least one person and injured eight others as "an assault on humanity."
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 450 drones and missiles during the attack which lasted several hours, with Kyiv, the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kharkiv badly hit.
"Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity — in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the region," Zelensky wrote.
Explosions rocked Ukraine's capital, Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported at 2:16 a.m. local time, with multiple further explosions and the sound of drones lasting until after 5 a.m.
One person was killed as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv, Tkachenko reported, later adding ...
- Title
- Trump’s Russia ultimatum and controversial investigation | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 15:20
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the ultimatum issued by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia must reach a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days or risk severe economic consequences. This week also saw Ukraine’s largest government reshuffle since the start of the full-scale invasion, as well as allegations launched against a prominent anti-corruption activist that many claim are politically motivated.
Watch our exclusive interview with anti-corruption activist Vitaliy Shabunin here: https://youtu.be/0HG0wxTpcTE
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_ultimatium&utm_medium=trump
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Usyk honors Ukrainian defenders
- Runtime
- 0:24
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight title with a dominant fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Usyk controlled much of the fight and landed several heavy shots in the fifth round, knocking down Dubois twice. Dubois, a London native, stayed down after the second knockdown, sealing a decisive victory for the 38-year-old Ukrainian boxer.
Following the fight, Usyk — who hails from Crimea — dedicated his victory "to all the people of the world" and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Ukrainian soldiers defending his homeland on the front lines of Russia's invasion.
"Glory to Ukraine!" he proclaimed.
President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the champion, saying, "Thank you for the strength, inspiration that you give to the whole country with each of your victories. Thank you for having Ukraine in your heart in every fight."
Looking ahead, Usyk said he plans to "rest," but als...
- Title
- 24 hours inside Pokrovsk as Russia closes in on key Ukrainian city
- Runtime
- 0:52
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- After Russian forces first approached the outskirts of Pokrovsk in fall, this proud coal-mining city in Donetsk Oblast became the rock upon which the Russian army dashed itself against. After months of fighting and making advances from both east and west, Russian forces now threaten to cut off Ukraine's logistics routes from the city of Dobropillia in the north.
With U.S. President Donald Trump setting a deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine by early September, Moscow is aiming to make the most of this time by surging forward on the battlefield over the rest of summer. In the Donetsk Oblast theater, Pokrovsk is the first big prize.
In what could be one of the last visits by journalists to the city, the Kyiv Independent spent 24 hours in Pokrovsk, embedded with a first-person view (FPV) drone team of Ukraine’s 68th Jaeger Brigade.
- Title
- 24 hours inside Pokrovsk as Russia closes in on key Ukrainian city
- Runtime
- 30:16
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- After Russian forces first approached the outskirts of Pokrovsk in fall, this proud coal-mining city in Donetsk Oblast became the rock upon which the Russian army dashed itself against. After months of fighting and making advances from both east and west, Russian forces now threaten to cut off Ukraine's logistics routes from the city of Dobropillia in the north.
With U.S. President Donald Trump setting a deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine by early September, Moscow is aiming to make the most of this time by surging forward on the battlefield over the rest of summer. In the Donetsk Oblast theater, Pokrovsk is the first big prize.
In what could be one of the last visits by journalists to the city, the Kyiv Independent spent 24 hours in Pokrovsk, embedded with a first-person view (FPV) drone team of Ukraine’s 68th Jaeger Brigade.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member o...
- Title
- Zelensky doesn't see corruption as a problem, prosecuted activist says
- Runtime
- 35:07
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In an exclusive interview, Ukrainian anti-corruption activist Vitaliy Shabunin speaks out on what he says is a politically motivated criminal case against him. Shabunin, one of Ukraine’s most influential anti-corruption crusaders, is accused of fraud and military service evasion. The Kyiv Independent’s editor-in-chief Olga Rudenko sits down with Shabunin to discuss his current legal proceedings, as well as corruption and the democratic backsliding in Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_shabunin&utm_medium=corruption
This interview was conducted in Ukrainian language and dubbed into English using AI.
For original audio, choose "Ukrainian" in the Audio Track in the Settings menu (gear icon).
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Azov Brigade teach teenagers the basics of self-defense
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, war has become a daily reality for thousands of Ukrainian children. As it drags on three and a half years later, some Ukrainian teenagers are coming to terms with the possibility that their generation might be the next to join the country’s defense against Russian aggression.
Some Ukrainian military units, such as the Azov Brigade, offer boot camps for teenagers to teach them the basics of self-defense, first aid, dry firing, and other survival skills — helping them prepare for both the realities of today and the uncertainties of the future.
- Title
- John Bolton on Trump’s failure to bring peace to Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York speaks with former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton about U.S. President Donald Trump’s failure to bring peace to Ukraine — and his next steps on Russia's war. They also discuss the growing threat of a China-Russia alliance, the implications for U.S. foreign policy and global security, and the future of American military support for Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Latvian prime minister on Trump's NATO deal and new Russia sanctions
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent's Deputy Chief Editor Oleksiy Sorokin spoke with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa during her visit to Kyiv on July 15, following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of his deal with NATO to arm Ukraine and his threat to impose severe sanctions on Russia if it doesn't reach a peace deal with Ukraine within the next 50 days. They also discussed the EU's new sanctions on Russia, Latvia's ongoing support for Ukraine, and its upcoming parliamentary elections.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_latvianpm&utm_medium=latvianpm
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Latvian prime minister on Trump's NATO deal and new Russia sanctions
- Runtime
- 10:52
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent's Deputy Chief Editor Oleksiy Sorokin spoke with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa during her visit to Kyiv on July 15, following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of his deal with NATO to arm Ukraine and his threat to impose severe sanctions on Russia if it doesn't reach a peace deal with Ukraine within the next 50 days. They also discussed the EU's new sanctions on Russia, Latvia's ongoing support for Ukraine, and its upcoming parliamentary elections.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_latvianpm&utm_medium=latvianpm
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Exclusive interview with Yuliia Svyrydenko
- Runtime
- 0:58
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent's business editor Liliane Bivings sits down with Ukraine's Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko to discuss the U.S.-Ukraine "minerals deal" and address the myths surrounding it. Under the agreement, the two countries are supposed to launch a new joint investment fund, designed to support projects in critical minerals, oil and gas, and related infrastructure, and potentially defense in Ukraine, with returns to be shared over a 10-year period. Svyrydenko also gives her impressions of the infamous Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky back in February, and explains why Ukraine can be "a good business case" for the U.S.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has named Svyrydenko as the next prime minister of Ukraine, he said on July 14, launching a government reshuffle.
"I have proposed that Yuliia Svyrydenko lead the Government of Ukraine and significantly renew its work," Zelensky said in a post on X. "...
- Title
- Ukraine's new Liut ground drone 'destroys' Russian position with machine gun
- Runtime
- 0:42
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) is expanding the use of ground-based robotic systems in active combat, releasing on July 14 footage of the Liut (Fury) robotic platform in action in Sumy Oblast.
In the video, the robot advances on Russian positions and opens fire with a mounted heavy machine gun. The deployment took place in Sumy Oblast, a northeastern region bordering Russia that has recently faced renewed Moscow's attempts to advance.
"Having reached enemy positions, it destroys the Russian occupiers with dense machine gun fire. The armed and technological fight for Ukraine's freedom continues," HUR wrote on Telegram.
- Title
- Trump to exit Ukraine peace effort, Bolton says
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York speaks with former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton about U.S. President Donald Trump’s failure to bring peace to Ukraine — and his next steps on Russia's war. They also discuss the growing threat of a China-Russia alliance, the implications for U.S. foreign policy and global security, and the future of American military support for Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- US aid swings and mysterious deaths in Russia | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:23
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down a recent string of mysterious deaths and arrests among Russia’s elite, as well as and explains the implications Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could have for a future conflict between China and Taiwan. Also in this episode: The U.S. resumes some military aid to Ukraine after an abrupt halt by the Defense Department last week.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- US aid swings and mysterious deaths in Russia | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 15:06
- Date posted
- 11 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down a recent string of mysterious deaths and arrests among Russia’s elite, as well as and explains the implications Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could have for a future conflict between China and Taiwan. Also in this episode: The U.S. resumes some military aid to Ukraine after an abrupt halt by the Defense Department last week.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_usaid&utm_medium=on-offaid
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
