Kyiv Independent
King Charles’ historic address to U.S. Congress
- Title
- King Charles’ historic address to U.S. Congress
- Runtime
- 0:45
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- King Charles tells a joint session of the U.S. Congress that "unyielding resolve" is needed for the defense of Ukraine. Addressing lawmakers on April 28, the British monarch alluded to the importance of the NATO alliance as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to redefine Washington's global role.
Video: AP / POOL.
- Title
- Russia is putting Ukraine’s nuclear safety at risk
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have caused a severe power deficit, plunging entire cities into blackouts. As thermal and hydroelectric plants have sustained heavy damage, nuclear power plants have become Ukraine’s most critical and reliable source of electricity. Today, they generate the majority of the country’s electricity. But as Russia targets substations connected to nuclear power plants and occupies facilities like the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the threat extends beyond outages. The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell visits both the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant to see how Ukraine’s nuclear system operates during wartime — and what risks come with that. The report also explains why the risks surrounding Chornobyl remain a global concern.
- Title
- Russia strikes Kyiv with Shahed drones
- Runtime
- 0:10
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Russia struck Kyiv with Shahed drones in the afternoon of April 28, sending smoke rising over the city center.
In Shevchenkivskyi district, the facade of an unfinished building was damaged and part of the roof structure partially collapsed. Rescuers extinguished two minor fires at the site. In Solom’yanskyi district, debris from a downed drone fell on the grounds of a cemetery.
- Title
- North Korea opens museum honoring soldiers killed fighting Russia's war against Ukraine
- Runtime
- 0:27
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- North Korea opened a museum and memorial complex honoring its soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, Russian state-controlled media outlet TASS reported on April 26.
The opening coincided with the arrival of Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in Pyongyang, marking the second visit by a senior Russian official to North Korea in recent days as Moscow and Pyongyang deepen military and diplomatic ties.
During the visit, Belousov awarded medals to North Korean soldiers who carried out missions in Russia's Kursk Oblast, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
He also took part in ceremonial events for the opening of the museum and memorial dedicated to what Moscow described as the "heroic deeds" of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine and Kursk.
The memorial reportedly bears the names of both Russian and North Korean servicemen killed while fighting against Ukrainian troops.
Around 12,000 Nor...
- Title
- Ukrainian soldiers rescue elderly woman with unmanned vehicle
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Pilots of Ukraine’s 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade spotted an elderly woman walking alone under Russian fire near Lyman, Donetsk oblast — moving past shell craters and the bodies of dead civilians, falling as she went.
The woman had lived in her home for 53 years before it was destroyed by Russian forces.
- Title
- Visiting a Ukrainian nuclear plant at war
- Runtime
- 1:55
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell visits the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant to document how Ukraine’s nuclear system operates — and the risks it faces — during wartime. He discovers how the plant actually works and looks from the inside as it continues to provide a critical lifeline for the country.
- Title
- Wartime Ukraine’s gun control dilemma
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines Ukraine’s growing debate over gun control and how the war is reshaping the country’s approach to weapons and safety. After a mass shooting in Kyiv reignited public fears, the episode explores a complex reality: Ukraine already has millions of firearms in circulation, both legal and illegal, and that number has grown significantly since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Featuring perspectives from former military personnel and gun enthusiasts, the episode looks at what Ukraine’s gun debate reveals about security, society, and the long-term consequences of a country at war.
- Title
- Zelensky marks 40 years since Chornobyl amid Russia threat
- Runtime
- 1:44
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- As the world marks the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, Ukrainian and foreign leaders have been commemorating the tragedy, while Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine continues to threaten nuclear safety across the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the anniversary alongside Maia Sandu, Ukrainian officials, and EU energy leaders.
The Chornobyl nuclear accident occurred on April 26, 1986, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.
In the early hours of that morning, the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant exploded, initiating a meltdown of the reactor's core while tearing through the roof and spewing radioactive material across Ukraine, Belarus, and much of Europe.
An huge exclusion zone — once home to 116,000 people —was created on the territory of Ukraine and Belarus in the areas of the worst contamination.
The accident remains the deadliest nuclear disaster in the history of nucle...
- Title
- Wartime Ukraine’s gun control dilemma | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 26:29
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines Ukraine’s growing debate over gun control and how the war is reshaping the country’s approach to weapons and safety. After a mass shooting in Kyiv reignited public fears, the episode explores a complex reality: Ukraine already has millions of firearms in circulation, both legal and illegal, and that number has grown significantly since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Featuring perspectives from former military personnel and gun enthusiasts, the episode looks at what Ukraine’s gun debate reveals about security, society, and the long-term consequences of a country at war.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_217&utm_medium=217
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
00:00 Intro
...
- Title
- Inside Ukraine's nuclear power plants operating in wartime
- Runtime
- 0:48
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell visits both the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant to see how Ukraine’s nuclear system operates during wartime — and what risks come with that.
- Title
- Inside Chornobyl nuclear power plant 40 years after accident
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Forty years after the Chornobyl disaster, the risk of a new nuclear incident remains a serious concern as the full-scale invasion continues to impact Ukraine's critical infrastructure.
The Kyiv Independent's Dominic Culverwell reports from inside Chornobyl’s Reactor 4, where a Russian drone strike has compromised the New Safe Confinement. With a 15-meter hole now visible in the structure, Ukraine faces a critical four-year deadline to repair the damage before the protective shield becomes entirely defunct.
- Title
- Chornobyl's countdown to disaster
- Runtime
- 43:53
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have caused a severe power deficit, plunging entire cities into blackouts. As thermal and hydroelectric plants have sustained heavy damage, nuclear power plants have become Ukraine’s most critical and reliable source of electricity. Today, they generate the majority of the country’s electricity. But as Russia targets substations connected to nuclear power plants and occupies facilities like the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the threat extends beyond outages. The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell visits both the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant to see how Ukraine’s nuclear system operates during wartime — and what risks come with that. The report also explains why the risks surrounding Chornobyl remain a global concern.
Correction: At 13:10, Balthazar Lindauer's title is Director of the Nuclear Safety Department at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
- Title
- Why Ukraine may need elections before the war ends
- Runtime
- 1:47
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tells the Kyiv Independent why Ukraine may need to hold elections before the war ends. Kuleba outlines the growing debate over the country's democratic processes and what these discussions reveal about the next phase of the war and European security.
- Title
- Trump can't afford to stop supporting Ukraine, Kuleba says
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine's former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks with the Kyiv Independent about the future of U.S. support under Donald Trump. Kuleba outlines why the war may be entering a prolonged deadlock and explains the strategic reasons why Washington cannot afford to abandon Ukraine.
- Title
- 193 Ukrainian heroes return home
- Runtime
- 0:26
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Emotional footage shows 193 Ukrainian defenders returning home after months in Russian captivity. The exchange includes wounded soldiers and personnel from across the Armed Forces, National Guard, and Police.
“It is important that the exchanges continue and that our people are returning home,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said, thanking the units on the front line for replenishing the “exchange fund.”
Video: Dmytro Lubinets; The Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War / Telegram.
- Title
- 20,000 teddy bears on display for Ukrainian children taken by Russia
- Runtime
- 1:06
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Razom for Ukraine installed a 230-foot fence on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., covered with 20,000 teddy bears — each representing a Ukrainian child abducted by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The installation, titled “Bring Kids Back,” was created by more than 120 volunteers over five days. Organizers say the display aims to draw attention to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children and call for their return.
- Title
- Russia uses dead soldiers to distort war losses
- Runtime
- 2:02
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia returned the remains of 1,000 fallen soldiers to Ukraine during the latest repatriation exchange on April 9, while receiving 41 from Ukraine.
In this video, the Kyiv Independent’s Nastia Kasinchuk explains why these exchanges don’t prove higher casualty rates and clarifies the real story behind the numbers.
- Title
- Trump unlikely to shift stance on Ukraine, ex-FM Kuleba says
- Runtime
- 1:03
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In an interview with The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Denisova, Kuleba discusses Hungary's political shift and Middle East escalation, Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine, and warns delaying elections in Ukraine could lead to internal turmoil.
- Title
- Trump, Putin share similar view on Ukraine, Kuleba says
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Denisova sits down with Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's former foreign minister, to discuss U.S.-led peace talks, Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine, Europe’s role in ending the war, and why he believes neither Washington nor Moscow can impose a settlement on Kyiv. Kuleba explains why the war may be entering a prolonged deadlock, what could force Russia to negotiate, why Ukraine may need elections before the war ends, and what these debates reveal about the next phase of the war and European security.
- Title
- Orban vs. Magyar: What changes for Ukraine?
- Runtime
- 0:55
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Denisova sits down with Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s former foreign minister, to discuss U.S.-led peace talks, Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine, Europe’s role in ending the war, and why he believes neither Washington nor Moscow can impose a settlement on Kyiv.
- Title
- Italy summons Russian envoy over Meloni insult on TV
- Runtime
- 0:48
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Italy has summoned Russia’s ambassador to protest remarks by a pro-Kremlin television host who insulted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said April 21.
According to Italian media reports, Solovyov — a pro-Kremlin TV presenter and propagandist who is under Western sanctions for his overt support of Russia’s war in Ukraine — delivered a series of insults about Meloni during a broadcast.
Video: Getty Images; AFPTV / Getty Images; Solovievlive / VK.
- Title
- Dmytro Kuleba on why Ukraine may be headed for a long war
- Runtime
- 33:49
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Denisova sits down with Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's former foreign minister, to discuss U.S.-led peace talks, Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine, Europe’s role in ending the war, and why he believes neither Washington nor Moscow can impose a settlement on Kyiv. Kuleba explains why the war may be entering a prolonged deadlock, what could force Russia to negotiate, why Ukraine may need elections before the war ends, and what these debates reveal about the next phase of the war and European security.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_dmytrokuleba2026&utm_medium=dmytrokuleba2026
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
00:00 Intro
00:18 Why Orbán’s defeat matters
05:50 Trump’s stance on Ukraine
...
- Title
- Kyiv botanical garden survives harsh winter
- Runtime
- 2:28
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- After one of the most difficult winters in decades, Kyiv’s botanical garden is recovering.
As temperatures dropped below freezing, employees worked overnight in greenhouses, burning fires to protect rare plants.
Most survived, though some were lost. New growth is now visible across the garden.
- Title
- Russian forces strike Kostiantynivka with aerial bombs
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- This is what Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast looks like today. The Ukrainian military shared footage showing Russian forces striking the city with aerial bombs.
Video: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine / Telegram.
- Title
- Hungary’s Magyar urges Ukraine to reopen Druzhba oil pipeline
- Runtime
- 0:43
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Peter Magyar, an incoming Hungarian prime minister, on April 20 said Ukraine should reopen the Druzhba pipeline for Russian oil transit, warning that Hungary — and “European leaders” — would not accept what he called pressure tactics.
The Druzhba pipeline, a key network that delivered Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukrainian territory, went offline after Kyiv reported that it was damaged in a Russian strike in western Ukraine. Bratislava and Budapest accused Ukraine of intentionally withholding transit and vowed to block the loan in retaliation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 9 that Kyiv was willing to restore oil flows via the pipeline if it was a condition of the loan and that repairs would by completed in spring.
"We will complete the repairs because that is the agreement. I told (the EU) we would finish this spring," Zelensky said.
Video: Magyar Péter Hivatalos / YouTube
- Title
- Inside the vote that reclaimed Hungary’s future
- Runtime
- 1:41
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Hungary held one of the most consequential elections in its modern history on April 12, with implications far beyond its borders. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell traveled to Budapest to cover the vote at a moment of political uncertainty. After 16 years in power, Prime Minister Viktor Orban faced his strongest challenge yet from opposition leader Peter Magyar, as the campaign increasingly revolved around Ukraine, Russia, and Hungary’s place in Europe. From campaign messaging and media influence to the atmosphere on the ground, this report examines what the outcome reveals about Hungary’s direction and what it could mean for Ukraine.
- Title
- Why Ukrainian refugees return home
- Runtime
- 1:51
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines why Ukrainian refugees are becoming increasingly vulnerable to violence and other risks abroad. Since millions fled Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian refugees have faced attacks in countries across Europe and the United States. With expert analysis and the perspective of a Ukrainian who chose to return home during the war, the episode explores what this pattern reveals about the long-term consequences of Russia’s war beyond Ukraine’s borders.
- Title
- Hungary election through personal lens
- Runtime
- 1:40
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Hungary held one of the most consequential elections in its modern history on April 12, with implications far beyond its borders. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell traveled to Budapest to cover the vote at a moment of political uncertainty. After 16 years in power, Prime Minister Viktor Orban faced his strongest challenge yet from opposition leader Peter Magyar, as the campaign increasingly revolved around Ukraine, Russia, and Hungary’s place in Europe. From campaign messaging and media influence to the atmosphere on the ground, this report examines what the outcome reveals about Hungary’s direction and what it could mean for Ukraine.
- Title
- Why Ukrainian refugees are attacked abroad | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:24
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines why Ukrainian refugees are becoming increasingly vulnerable to violence and other risks abroad. Since millions fled Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian refugees have faced attacks in countries across Europe and the United States. With expert analysis and the perspective of a Ukrainian who chose to return home during the war, the episode explores what this pattern reveals about the long-term consequences of Russia’s war beyond Ukraine’s borders.
- Title
- Why Ukrainian refugees are attacked abroad | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 32:35
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines why Ukrainian refugees are becoming increasingly vulnerable to violence and other risks abroad. Since millions fled Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian refugees have faced attacks in countries across Europe and the United States. With expert analysis and the perspective of a Ukrainian who chose to return home during the war, the episode explores what this pattern reveals about the long-term consequences of Russia’s war beyond Ukraine’s borders.
0:00 Intro
1:30 A pattern of violence
5:30 Why refugees are vulnerable
10:50 Support independent journalism in Ukraine
11:10 Why risks are growing
14:26 Europe’s refugee backlash
22:14 Why some came back
30:18 What must change
32:10 Outro
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm...
- Title
- Russian occupation of Ukraine: how it started in 2014
- Runtime
- 1:35
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Yuliia Taradiuk speaks with Artem Kariakin, a Ukrainian from Luhansk Oblast who spent eight years living under Russian occupation and covertly resisting it before escaping and joining the Ukrainian military. He explains how Russia established control in occupied territories, from early violence and propaganda to economic struggles and forced mobilization. The conversation also explores how occupation systems evolve over time, why resistance has become far more dangerous after 2022, and what this reveals about Russia’s broader strategy in Ukraine.
- Title
- Inside the vote that reclaimed Hungary’s future
- Runtime
- 33:23
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Hungary held one of the most consequential elections in its modern history on April 12, with implications far beyond its borders. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell traveled to Budapest to cover the vote at a moment of political uncertainty. After 16 years in power, Prime Minister Viktor Orban faced his strongest challenge yet from opposition leader Peter Magyar, as the campaign increasingly revolved around Ukraine, Russia, and Hungary’s place in Europe. From campaign messaging and media influence to the atmosphere on the ground, this report examines what the outcome reveals about Hungary’s direction and what it could mean for Ukraine.
00:00 Intro
00:43 Ukraine in the campaign
03:24 Personal ties to Hungary
03:48 Symbol of the 1956 revolution
05:00 Media and propaganda
07:41 Opposition rally in the countryside
13:15 Budapest before election day
15:57 Inside Orban's support base
22:44 Election day unfolds
23:24...
- Title
- Ukrainian partisan on Russia's crackdown in occupied territories
- Runtime
- 1:19
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Yuliia Taradiuk speaks with Artem Kariakin, a Ukrainian from Luhansk Oblast who spent eight years living under Russian occupation and covertly resisting it before escaping and joining the Ukrainian military. He explains how Russia established control in occupied territories, from early violence and propaganda to economic struggles and forced mobilization. The conversation also explores how occupation systems evolve over time, why resistance has become far more dangerous after 2022, and what this reveals about Russia’s broader strategy in Ukraine.
- Title
- Zelensky reacts to deadly Russian attack
- Runtime
- 0:42
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on Russia’s overnight attack on Ukraine.
Russian missiles and drones struck major cities on April 16, destroying homes, setting buildings on fire, and killing civilians. At least 17 people were killed and more than 100 injured in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa.
- Title
- Survivor of Russian strike recalls the attack
- Runtime
- 1:13
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- “It was a miracle that saved them,” says 19-year-old Yeva, whose family home in Kyiv’s Podilskyi district was destroyed during a massive Russian aerial assault on April 16. While Yeva’s 16-year-old sister was hospitalized with injuries, her mother and two-year-old brother survived the roof’s collapse.
The overnight attack, one of the deadliest of 2026, killed at least 17 people and injured over 100 across Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa. According to the Air Force, Russia launched over 700 missiles and drones in the strike, targeting residential areas far from any military objectives.
- Title
- Russia attacks Kyiv, killing 4, including child
- Runtime
- 0:55
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia's attack on Kyiv on April 16 killed at least four people, including a 12-year-old child, and caused damage to multiple neighborhoods. Over 60 people were injured.
In the Podilskyi district, a non-residential building sustained a direct hit, while other places were struck by debris. These included a residential building, where a fire broke out, a three-story hotel, and the sixth floor of an apartment building.
Missile debris also partially destroyed a local home, where a mother and child were rescued from the rubble by first responders.
- Title
- How Russia turned Ukrainians against each other
- Runtime
- 1:24
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Yuliia Taradiuk speaks with Artem Kariakin, a Ukrainian from Luhansk Oblast who spent eight years living under Russian occupation and covertly resisting it before escaping and joining the Ukrainian military. He explains how Russia established control in occupied territories, from early violence and propaganda to economic struggles and forced mobilization. The conversation also explores how occupation systems evolve over time, why resistance has become far more dangerous after 2022, and what this reveals about Russia’s broader strategy in Ukraine.
- Title
- Russia slams Ukrainian cities in mass missile attack
- Runtime
- 0:47
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russian missiles and drones destroyed homes, burned buildings, and killed civilians in Ukraine's major cities in a mass overnight strike on April 16, killing at least 16 and injuring dozens in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa.
The overnight assault marks one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians of 2026.
The Air Force later said Russia launched a total of 19 ballistic missiles, 25 cruise missiles, and 659 drones during the attack.
Twelve missiles and 20 drones hit 26 locations across Ukraine, and debris from interceptions hit 25 locations.
In the first attack on Kyiv in over a month, at least four people — including a 12-year-old child — were killed and 48 others injured overnight in Kyiv, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 26 of the wounded were hospitalized, and that among the victims are emergency medics and children.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, the overnight Russian att...
- Title
- Ukrainian soldier explains fighting without a clear front line
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Fighting in southern Ukraine remains intense as Russian forces continue attempts to advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, particularly around the town of Huliaipole. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Nick Allard spent time with Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Regiment, one of the units tasked with stabilizing this critical section of the front. Ukrainian forces rely on drones, real-time surveillance, and coordinated strikes to detect and eliminate Russian infiltration groups before they can establish positions. From drone operators tracking targets in open fields to infantry facing chaotic close-range combat, this report shows how Ukraine is adapting to a battlefield where control is constantly contested.
- Title
- Ukraine’s Bradley crews operate under FPV drone threat
- Runtime
- 1:49
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the spring of 2026, the U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle harks back to a paradigm of warfare that existed as recently as three years ago, but is now gone forever.
First delivered to Ukraine in advance of the 2023 summer counteroffensive not far from these lands, the Bradleys were praised by Ukrainian soldiers for their superior protection.
The FPV threat has made the front line especially deadly for armor over the past year, but when the need arises to deliver and evacuate infantry, the extra protection of the Bradley still comes in handy.
"We are still working right at the contact zone every time we go out," said Bradley commander Vitalii "Tokha."
"Drones were flying before... mentally, it doesn't make a difference. The most important thing is not to wind yourself up about it, you just have to arrive, carry out the mission, and return. It's war, nobody is safe."
- Title
- A Ukrainian partisan’s revenge after Russia took his town
- Runtime
- 26:38
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Yuliia Taradiuk speaks with Artem Kariakin, a Ukrainian from Luhansk Oblast who spent eight years living under Russian occupation and covertly resisting it before escaping and joining the Ukrainian military. He explains how Russia established control in occupied territories, from early violence and propaganda to economic struggles and forced mobilization. The conversation also explores how occupation systems evolve over time, why resistance has become far more dangerous after 2022, and what this reveals about Russia’s broader strategy in Ukraine.
00:00 Pro-Ukrainian Donbas before 2014
01:40 Early resistance online
05:20 Russian forces enter Kadiivka
07:00 Economic struggle and mobilization
08:18 Russia’s hybrid war strategy
11:14 Support independent journalism in Ukraine
11:33 Life as a partisan before 2022
15:35 Leaving occupied territory
16:54 Resistance after 2022 crackdown
22:24 Entering...
- Title
- Exposing the anonymous hosts of the "Russians with Attitude" podcast
- Runtime
- 2:50
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- It's not uncommon for artillery soldiers to write messages on shells before firing them — for the sake of posting them online. They can be vengeful or mocking.
But one signed shell that Russians fired around August 2024 stood out as unusual. It promoted a podcast.
"Subscribe to 'Russians With Attitude'," read the message, scribbled across the shell.
Launched in 2020, "Russians With Attitude" ("RWA"), a podcast and social media project, has built a following among English-speaking right-wing audiences, predominantly in the United States. The project produces content on all things Russia, with a focus on history and politics, consistently framing events through an ultra-nationalist lens.
Despite their growing influence, the men behind the microphones have remained anonymous, known only by their podcast names — “Kirill” and “Nikolay.” They don’t appear on camera and avoid sharing personal details that could reveal their ide...
- Title
- Ukrainian infantrymen on battlefield realities
- Runtime
- 1:10
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Fighting in southern Ukraine remains intense as Russian forces continue attempts to advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, particularly around the town of Huliaipole. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Nick Allard spent time with Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Regiment, one of the units tasked with stabilizing this critical section of the front. Ukrainian forces rely on drones, real-time surveillance, and coordinated strikes to detect and eliminate Russian infiltration groups before they can establish positions. From drone operators tracking targets in open fields to infantry facing chaotic close-range combat, this report shows how Ukraine is adapting to a battlefield where control is constantly contested.
- Title
- Ukraine’s funding at stake as IMF, World Bank meet in Washington
- Runtime
- 1:33
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- As global policymakers meet in Washington amid rising energy risks and geopolitical tensions, Ukraine’s financial outlook is back in focus.
A shift in Hungary could unlock critical EU funding, while Kyiv weighs adjustments to its IMF program.
- Title
- Iranian in Kyiv on Shahed drones attacking Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:37
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent spoke with an Iranian musician living in Kyiv about his experience during Russia’s full-scale invasion and his views on the recent escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Kyiv has positioned itself as a partner, offering air defense expertise, interceptor drones, and battlefield experience gained over years of fighting Russia. While some countries have welcomed this support, others — notably Washington — have pushed back.
The latest episode of “Ukraine This Week” explores how Ukraine is navigating these competing responses, from building partnerships in the Gulf to managing tensions over exporting defense technology during wartime.
- Title
- Ukrainian soldier captured on day one of invasion returns home
- Runtime
- 0:58
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine has returned 175 soldiers and seven civilians from Russian captivity in an exchange on the eve of Orthodox Easter. Among those reunited with their families is the son of Tamara Yuriivna Aruh, who returned home after being held for five years since the first day of the full-scale invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the release includes defenders of Mariupol, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and various frontline regions.
- Title
- Peter Magyar: Ukraine has 'full right' to defend sovereignty, can't be forced to cede land
- Runtime
- 1:35
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In response to a question from The Kyiv Independent, Hungary’s election winner Peter Magyar stated that Ukraine has the “full right” to defend its sovereignty and cannot be forced to cede territory.
The Tisza party leader’s comments follow a resounding electoral victory on April 12, ending Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule and his history of blocking vital EU aid to Kyiv. Magyar has pledged to pivot away from the previous government’s pro-Russian policies and mend ties with Brussels.
Video: Magyar Péter / X.
- Title
- Orban loses power after 16 years as Hungary backs opposition
- Runtime
- 0:35
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Hungary’s long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been voted out after 16 years in power, as record turnout delivered a decisive two-thirds majority to the opposition.
Hungarians turned out in unprecedented numbers, signaling a clear demand for political change after years of increasingly centralized rule.
The Kyiv Independent has been reporting from Budapest throughout the election period — follow our coverage for more.
- Title
- Why Ukraine is helping in another war | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 0:41
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines why Ukraine is offering its combat-tested expertise to allies in the Middle East — and what it stands to gain. As war broke out between Iran, Israel, and the United States, Kyiv quickly positioned itself as a partner, offering air defense knowledge, interceptor drones, and battlefield experience gained over years of fighting Russia. Some countries have embraced this support, while others, notably Washington, have pushed back. The episode explores how Ukraine is navigating these competing responses, from building bilateral partnerships in the Gulf to managing internal tensions over exporting defense technology during wartime.
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- Title
- Ukraine's strategy in the Middle East | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 32:52
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines why Ukraine is offering its combat-tested expertise to allies in the Middle East — and what it stands to gain. As war broke out between Iran, Israel, and the United States, Kyiv quickly positioned itself as a partner, offering air defense knowledge, interceptor drones, and battlefield experience gained over years of fighting Russia. Some countries have embraced this support, while others, notably Washington, have pushed back. The episode explores how Ukraine is navigating these competing responses, from building bilateral partnerships in the Gulf to managing internal tensions over exporting defense technology during wartime.
00:00 Intro
00:46 Ukraine gets involved
05:17 Ukraine’s Middle East strategy
09:58 Support independent journalism in Ukraine
10:33 Ukraine’s defense expertise
19:49 What Ukraine stands to gain
23:58 Iranian perspective from Kyiv
30:24 What ...
