Kyiv Independent
Witnesses describe deadly Russian attack near Kyiv
- Title
- Witnesses describe deadly Russian attack near Kyiv
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- At least 37 people were killed and 42 injured, including four children, in a Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast that triggered detonations and a large fire at a storage facility on Aug. 28, local authorities said.
At around 8:10 p.m. local time on Aug. 28, a Russian drone hit a facility in the village of Myla, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of Kyiv along the Kyiv-Chop highway. The attack sparked a large fire, followed by ammunition detonations, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.
The first strike in the Russian attack hit a Ukrainian military ammunition depot, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an Aug. 29 statement, adding that it triggered a chain of explosions involving shells, mines, other ammunition, and drones.
Taras Didych, head of the Dmytrivka community, which includes the village of Myla, was killed in the attack, Kyiv Oblast Governor Tymur Tkachenko said, adding that he was among the first responders to reach the scene.
- Title
- Deadly chain of explosions rocks village near Kyiv
- Runtime
- 0:32
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- At least 27 people were killed and 42 injured, including four children, in a Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast that triggered detonations and a large fire at a storage facility on Aug. 28, local authorities said.
At around 8:10 p.m. local time on Aug. 28, a Russian drone hit a facility in the village of Myla, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of Kyiv along the Kyiv-Chop highway.
Taras Didych, head of the Dmytrivka community, which includes the village of Myla, was killed in the attack, Kyiv Oblast Governor Tymur Tkachenko said, adding that he was among the first responders to reach the scene.
As of the morning of Aug. 29, emergency services continued to extinguish fires, clear debris and conduct search-and-rescue operations. More than 300 Ukrainian emergency service workers were involved in the response to the aftermath of the Russian strike, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
At least 50 residential buildings were damaged in the attack ...
- Title
- How a Ukrainian survived FSB filtration and escaped Russian occupation
- Runtime
- 2:34
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- What does life for a Ukrainian under Russian occupation look like? Dmytro Kruk grew up under Russian occupation in Donetsk Oblast and escaped twice. In this interview, he describes forced Russian mobilization, passportization, propaganda, and the FSB filtration he endured while leaving the occupied territories.
Kruk was nine when Russian forces occupied his hometown of Khrestivka in 2014. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion, his university helped enforce mobilization, his peers were drafted into the Russian military, and everyday life became nearly impossible without a Russian passport. He eventually escaped through Russia and Latvia and is now rebuilding his life in Kyiv.
The Kyiv Independent’s Yuliia Taradiuk speaks with Kruk about growing up under Russian rule, maintaining his Ukrainian identity, and escaping occupation.
- Title
- Can Ukraine defend itself without more Patriot missiles?
- Runtime
- 14:52
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia’s ballistic missile attacks are hitting Ukraine’s cities harder than ever, with July 2026 seeing the highest number of civilians killed or injured in Ukraine in a single month since March 2022. As Russia ramps up its use of ballistic missiles, Ukraine is struggling to defend its cities from attacks far beyond the front line.
The U.S.-made Patriot remains Ukraine’s most effective defense against ballistic missiles, but there are not enough interceptors to protect the country from Russia’s growing arsenal. Ukraine is seeking more Patriot missiles while also developing its own anti-ballistic air defense system.
Watch to the end, and share your thoughts in the comments — should Ukraine prioritize Patriot deliveries, or accelerate homegrown systems?
00:00 Russia's growing ballistic threat
00:46 Support independent journalism from Ukraine
1:00 How ballistic missile defense works
1:55 What makes Patriot special
4...
- Title
- 53 Ukrainians reported missing after flash floods in Nepal
- Runtime
- 0:33
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Fifty-three Ukrainians have been reported missing after flash floods struck Nepal.
They include members of two organized tour groups and one Ukrainian woman traveling with an international group, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.
Video: NepalRedCross; Associated Press
- Title
- Kyiv spends 12 hours under air raid alerts amid Russian attacks
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- By 7 p.m. on Aug. 27, Kyiv has spent 12 hours under air raid alerts – almost 63% of the day since midnight.
The sounds of explosions, air defense fire, and jet-powered drones filled the capital as Russia launched an hours-long aerial attack.
The jet-powered drones, based on the Iran-designed Shahed platform, have presented a major challenge for Ukraine's air defense, forcing manufacturers to quickly experiment with jet-powered interceptors, as standard interceptor drones are simply not fast enough.
Ukraine's Air Force announced earlier in the morning that seven Russian Iskander-M or North Korean-built KN-23 ballistic missiles had been shot down. The total number of ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine wasn't disclosed.
Video: State Emergency Service; Andriy Zhyhaylo/Oboz.ua; Ihor Kuznietsov/Global Images Ukraine; Ivan Antypenko; Diego Fedele; Vladyslav Musiienko / AFP; Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images; The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- Russia launches a rare, hours-long attack on Kyiv
- Runtime
- 0:33
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Explosions, air defense fire, and jet-powered drones echoed across Kyiv for hours on Aug. 27, as Russia launched a rare, large-scale aerial attack on the capital beginning around 3 a.m.
Debris fell in the Podilskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Pecherskyi districts, damaging two schools and a sports facility, with a fire also reported near Valerii Lobanovskyi Stadium in the government quarter. Residents sheltered in metro stations through the morning, and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least two people were injured in the capital.
Video: State Emergency Services; Anna Nesevra / The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- The day Ukraine declared independence, reimagined
- Runtime
- 1:24
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Nastia Kasinchuk climbed a life-size replica of Ukraine’s parliament dome, raised a Ukrainian flag over it, and cast a ballot for independence — all part of a visit to “That Day,” a new interactive exhibition in Kyiv marking Aug. 24, 1991, the day Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union.
Beyond that single day, the exhibition traces the people who shaped it: visitors can step into a VR recreation of the president’s office, place their own face inside Ukrainian painter Illia Repin’s famous 19th-century Cossacks painting, and leave with a small stone engraved with a word of their choosing.
The exhibition is open now at Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi Railway Station, with proceeds going to Ukrainian museums.
Video: Nastia Kasinchuk / The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- Russian drone shot down over Kyiv
- Runtime
- 0:13
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russian forces launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Kyiv overnight on August 27. The attack has continued into daylight hours as of 11 a.m. local time.
Ukraine’s Air Force announced that seven Russian Iskander-M or North Korean-built KN-23 ballistic missiles had been shot down. The total number of ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine wasn’t disclosed.
Video: Nick Allard / The Kyiv Independent
- Title
- How a Ukrainian survived FSB filtration and escaped Russian occupation
- Runtime
- 20:50
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- What does life for a Ukrainian under Russian occupation look like? Dmytro Kruk grew up under Russian occupation in Donetsk Oblast and escaped twice. In this interview, he describes forced Russian mobilization, passportization, propaganda, and the FSB filtration he endured while leaving the occupied territories.
Kruk was nine when Russian forces occupied his hometown of Khrestivka in 2014. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion, his university helped enforce mobilization, his peers were drafted into the Russian military, and everyday life became nearly impossible without a Russian passport. He eventually escaped through Russia and Latvia and is now rebuilding his life in Kyiv.
The Kyiv Independent’s Yuliia Taradiuk speaks with Kruk about growing up under Russian rule, maintaining his Ukrainian identity, and escaping occupation.
00:00 Intro
00:48 Russia’s occupation in 2014
01:50 Childhood in a mining city before occupation
- Title
- Why Zelensky’s global standing depends on support at home
- Runtime
- 1:21
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The discussion about potential wartime elections has broken an unspoken taboo in the Ukrainian information space, following a call from former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to restore the democratic process.
This statement has sparked a complex debate regarding the government's legitimacy. Kyiv Independent Chief Editor Olga Rudenko notes that while President Volodymyr Zelensky has successfully rallied global support, his international standing ultimately relies on the continued backing of the Ukrainian people. If domestic discontent grows, his global influence could falter.
- Title
- New corruption scandal involving Zelensky's office rocks Ukraine
- Runtime
- 2:16
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Documents obtained by the Kyiv Independent show that a scheme at the center of Ukraine’s latest corruption scandal was years in the making, built by manipulating a state-owned bank’s oversight board after its nationalization in 2023.
On Aug. 19, Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities accused associates of President Volodymyr Zelensky of using Sense Bank, formerly Russian-owned Alfa Bank, to launder Hr 150 million ($3.4 million). The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) says the funds were used to secure bail for Energy and Justice Minister Herman Haluschenko, a key figure in a $100 million kickback scheme at the country's state-owned nuclear company Energoatom.
This is the third major corruption case tied to the president's inner circle in the past year — all connected to the same network. The scandal was first uncovered in November, when fugitive businessman Timur Mindich, Zelensky's former business partner, was accused of running a kickback scheme at ...
- Title
- Why Ukraine's wartime election debate is growing
- Runtime
- 1:46
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Mykhailo Fedorov broke an unspoken taboo in Ukrainian politics — though not entirely for the reasons his supporters wanted, says Kyiv Independent Editor-in-Chief Olga Rudenko.
After weeks of protests demanding his reinstatement as defense minister went unanswered, Fedorov called for wartime elections.
Deputy Chief Editor Oleksiy Sorokin notes that many who rallied for Fedorov's return have rejected his call for a vote, saying their protest was never about elections. For the first time since the war began, Ukrainians are discussing elections this openly — a question that, until now, had one undisputed answer: only after a ceasefire.
Watch the full video on our channel.
- Title
- Ukraine hits Russian Ozon logistics centers
- Runtime
- 0:38
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- On August 22, Ukraine's military launched attacks across Russia and the occupied territories, setting fire to an Ozon logistics center.
This was the first time Ukraine attacked Ozon's warehouses, although Kyiv has repeatedly struck logistics centers operated by Wildberries, Russia's largest online marketplace.
On August 24, three Ozon warehouses in Dagestan, Stavropol Krai and Adygea were hit by a Ukrainian strike. Ozon shares fell 12% following the Ukrainian strikes, according to the reports.
Videos: Exilenova+/Telegram
- Title
- 35 defining moments of independent Ukraine
- Runtime
- 2:57
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Over 35 years of independence, Ukraine has endured revolutions, Russian aggression, and profound social and cultural change.
Here are 35 defining moments that shaped independent Ukraine — and the country it is today.
- Title
- Ukraine's 35-year fight for independence
- Runtime
- 2:09
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Why has Russia never accepted Ukraine’s independence? In this episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines 35 years of Ukrainian independence and the centuries of Russian attempts to control, suppress, and ultimately deny Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Featuring historian Serhii Plokhy and Oleksandr Donii, a participant of Ukraine’s 1991 independence movement, Anna examines why Russia continues to reject Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign state — and why Ukrainians continue to fight for it.
Watch the full video on our channel.
- Title
- 35 years of independence, 1,643 days of war
- Runtime
- 2:53
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine marks 35 years of independence on Aug. 24, and 1,643 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
In his address, President Volodymyr Zelensky says the war has forced Ukrainians to answer a question posed by history: whether they are cowards or warriors, a buffer state or a sovereign nation.
“Ukrainians have always done everything they could so that one day we could say, ‘My God! We are free!’” Zelensky added.
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram
- Title
- Bringing Ukraine’s flag to the heart of New York
- Runtime
- 0:24
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day, around 30 Ukrainian performers gathered in Times Square to create THE COLOR WE CARRY, a large-scale living installation organized by Rebirth.Ukraine. Dressed head to toe in blue or yellow, with matching face and body paint, the performers formed a collective human depiction of the Ukrainian flag in one of New York's most recognizable public spaces.
For those marking the day far from home, it's not just about a flag — it's about staying tied to Ukraine while Russia's war continues, and finding a way to share that with the people around them who might otherwise never think about it.
Video: Sergii Lushchyk
- Title
- Why Russia never accepted Ukraine's independence | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 24:21
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Why has Russia never accepted Ukraine’s independence? In this episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines 35 years of Ukrainian independence and the centuries of Russian attempts to control, suppress, and ultimately deny Ukraine’s sovereignty.
From the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukraine’s 1991 independence referendum to the Orange Revolution, EuroMaidan Revolution, and Russia’s full-scale invasion, the episode explores how Ukrainian resistance has rejected Moscow’s vision of a shared Russian-Ukrainian identity.
Featuring historian Serhii Plokhy and Oleksandr Donii, a participant of Ukraine’s 1991 independence movement, Anna examines why Russia continues to reject Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign state — and why Ukrainians continue to fight for it.
00:00 Intro
00:56 Ukraine declares independence
04:03 A witness to 1991
07:35 Russia challenges Ukraine's sovereignty
09:34 Support independe...
- Title
- Kyiv residents trade their beds for metro floors
- Runtime
- 2:57
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- For many Kyiv residents, sleeping in a metro station has become part of preparing for a possible Russian attack.
As Russia increasingly uses ballistic missiles that can reach the capital within minutes, some residents no longer wait for an air-raid siren before heading underground. They arrive at metro stations with sleeping mats, blankets, water, and documents, preparing to spend the night away from their homes.
- Title
- Can Russia ever become a democracy?
- Runtime
- 2:15
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Ahead of Russia’s upcoming unfree elections, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins the Kyiv Independent’s Jason Blevins to analyze the country’s democratic collapse.
McFaul reflects on the high-stakes 1996 election, how Putin consolidated power over 25 years, and whether a democratic transition is still possible for Russia.
- Title
- Could Ukraine hold elections during wartime?
- Runtime
- 2:54
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has broken one of Ukraine's most politically sensitive wartime taboos by publicly calling for elections, bringing into the mainstream a debate that Kyiv had largely rejected when raised by Russia and the United States.
Fedorov said Ukraine needs a "safe and realistic mechanism" to hold elections during wartime that protects the voting rights of soldiers, Ukrainians abroad, and people in front-line regions.
"We must not let Putin decide when Ukrainians can choose their government," Fedorov said in a video address, adding that democracy is "part of what we are fighting for today."
The timing matters. His appeal came after weeks of political turmoil that had shaken public confidence in President Volodymyr Zelensky's governance, including corruption scandals, a chaotic government reshuffle, and nationwide protests over Fedorov's dismissal as defense minister.
For years, Ukraine's answer to the prop...
- Title
- Why Ukraine's wartime election debate is growing
- Runtime
- 29:07
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Can Ukraine hold elections while Russia's full-scale war is still ongoing? After Ukraine's ousted Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell address, the question has returned to the center of Ukraine's political debate.
The Kyiv Independent's Deputy Chief Editor Oleksiy Sorokin and Chief Editor Olga Rudenko debate whether Ukraine could hold an election during the war, what would need to change to make it possible, and whether delaying elections indefinitely could become a threat to Ukrainian democracy.
The conversation explores Fedorov's political ambitions, President Volodymyr Zelensky's growing domestic challenges, the role of Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions and media, and whether the country could hold elections within the next few years.
00:00 Intro
00:27 Why Fedorov called for elections
04:42 Two bad options for Ukraine
06:16 Do Ukrainians want elections?
09:27 Can Ukrainians ...
- Title
- How Russia’s path to Putin might have been avoided
- Runtime
- 2:07
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia will hold so-called elections in September - by no means free or fair. Yet Russia once held competitive elections in which the outcome was genuinely uncertain.
Thirty years later, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled the country for more than a quarter of a century, dismantled democratic institutions, and turned Russia into an increasingly authoritarian state. How did this happen?
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent’s Jason Blevins speaks with Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and a scholar who closely observed Russia’s transition after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
- Title
- On the ground after Russian strikes hit Kyiv neighborhood
- Runtime
- 0:40
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia targeted Kyiv with a large ballistic missile and drone strike shortly after midnight on Aug. 20, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more, official sources reported.
“It was a massive attack,” Zelensky said in a post on social media. “The Russians had been preparing for a long time, combining different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, aiming to cause as much damage as possible to civilian infrastructure.”
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 44 cruise missiles, two Banderol missiles, and 168 Shahed-type drones during the attack. It said it had intercepted 39 cruise missiles, both Banderols, and 145 drones. It did not specify how many ballistic or hypersonic missiles were launched or intercepted in line with new and controversial reporting policy.
- Title
- Displaced Kyiv resident calls for air defense after new Russian strike surviving Aug. 20 strike
- Runtime
- 1:53
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia launched a large ballistic missile and drone attack on Kyiv shortly after midnight on Aug. 20, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more, officials reported.
Numerous consecutive explosions were reported in several parts of the city beginning just after midnight local time. Another round of explosions occurred at 6:17 a.m. amid the hours-long attack.
Olena Postoyuk, a resident of one of the damaged apartment buildings, told the Kyiv Independent she lived in the Darnytskyi district until May 24 when a Russian missile destroyed her home, forcing her to stay with relatives.
“Give us something to shoot down these missiles, because nothing gets shot down,” Postoyuk said. “When there were (interceptor) missiles, it was calmer. The sky was closed, peaceful people didn’t suffer.
- Title
- At least 12 dead after hours-long Russian missile, drone attack on Kyiv
- Runtime
- 0:47
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia launched a large ballistic missile and drone attack on Kyiv shortly after midnight on Aug. 20, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 32 others, officials reported.
Numerous consecutive explosions were reported in several parts of the city beginning just after midnight local time. Another round of explosions occurred at 6:17 a.m. amid the hours-long attack.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 12 people had been killed and emergency services were still working at the scene of the attacks. Aug. 21 has been declared a day of mourning in the city, he added in a post on social media.
The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that at least 12 attack sites were reported in the Darnytskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Solomianskyi districts of the city. Damage was reported at residential buildings, an unspecified "educational institution," as well as several warehouses.
Video: Yehor Konovalov / Associated Press; Ukraine's S...
- Title
- Former Defense Minister Fedorov calls for wartime elections — here is what Ukrainians think
- Runtime
- 2:39
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for Ukraine to find a way to restore the democratic process during the war, arguing that Russia should not dictate when Ukrainians choose their leadership.
"Democracy is not a peacetime luxury. Democracy is part of what we are fighting for today," Fedorov said on Aug. 18.
On the morning of Aug. 19, as parliament gathered for its first session after recess, the Kyiv Independent’s Yevheniia Doluda spoke with Ukrainians protesting outside the Verkhovna Rada to hear their thoughts on holding elections during the full-scale war.
- Title
- The 'tragic' irony of Russia's only free election
- Runtime
- 27:05
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia will hold so-called elections in September — by no means free or fair. Yet Russia once held competitive elections in which the outcome was genuinely uncertain. Thirty years later, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled the country for more than a quarter of a century, dismantled democratic institutions, and turned Russia into an increasingly authoritarian state. How did this happen?
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent's Jason Blevins speaks with Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and a scholar who closely observed Russia's transition after the collapse of the Soviet Union. McFaul revisits the 1996 presidential election, explains how Boris Yeltsin defeated the communists, and reflects on the moment he realized Russia's democratic transition was in danger.
00:00 Intro
00:18 Russia's last competitive election
02:17 Why Russians turned against reforms
05:30 Support independent journalism in Ukraine
05:50 How Y...
- Title
- Inside Kyiv’s bomb shelter system as ballistic attacks ramp up
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia's missile and drone attacks on Kyiv have become larger and more frequent than at any point during the full-scale invasion. As air defenses come under increasing pressure, more residents are rushing to bomb shelters in search of safety. But after a direct strike killed civilians sheltering underground, many are asking whether Kyiv's shelter system provides the protection it promises.
The Kyiv Independent's Polina Moroziuk travels through Darnytsia, one of Kyiv's most heavily targeted districts, to investigate the local bomb shelters. From modern underground shelters that cannot withstand a direct missile strike to flooded basements, locked entrances, and residents forced to run for cover with only minutes to spare, this report examines the reality civilians face during Russia's escalating aerial campaign.
- Title
- How Russia weaponizes civilian casualties
- Runtime
- 1:35
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Is Ukraine deliberately targeting civilians inside Russia? In this episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines what we actually know about civilian deaths linked to Ukrainian strikes, how international humanitarian law distinguishes military targets from civilian targets, and why many of the most high-profile incidents remain difficult to verify.
Featuring insights from Kyiv Independent junior investigative reporter Linda Hourani and war correspondent Janine di Giovanni, Anna explores how the Kremlin uses Ukrainian attacks that inflict civilian casualties to shape public opinion, justify escalation, and reinforce its long-standing narrative of Ukrainian “terrorism.”
Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel.
- Title
- Are Kyiv's bomb shelters safe?
- Runtime
- 2:01
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- As air defenses come under increasing pressure, more residents are rushing to bomb shelters in search of safety. But after a direct strike killed civilians sheltering underground, many are asking whether Kyiv’s shelter system provides the protection it promises.
The Kyiv Independent’s Polina Moroziuk travels through Darnytsia, one of Kyiv’s most heavily targeted districts, to investigate the local bomb shelters.
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel.
- Title
- Ukrainian commander risks life in unarmored pickup to rescue wounded soldiers
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Company commander Vladyslav Polskyi drove a civilian pickup truck without body armor into a targeted area to rescue two severely injured assault troops from the 475th “Code 9.2” Battalion, according to Ukraine’s Joint Forces Task Force.
Polskyi loaded both wounded soldiers into the vehicle himself and drove them to safety after they were hit by Russian drones following a successful assault on Russian troops positions.
Video: Joint Forces Task Force / Facebook.
- Title
- Russian drone strike on Kramatorsk postal facility kills 19-year-old, injures 7
- Runtime
- 0:26
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russian drones struck the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 16, killing a 19-year-old employee and injuring seven other people, officials reported.
Russian forces used a Geran-2 drone to strike a postal facility at around 4:00 p.m., according to the National Police. Governor Vadym Filashkin earlier reported that an enterprise in the city center was also damaged in the attack.
Kramatorsk lies less than 20 kilometers from the nearest Russian positions in Donetsk Oblast and has faced frequent Russian drone and glide bomb attacks.
A major transport and logistics hub, the heavily fortified city sits at the junction of key road and rail routes. Its capture would bring Russia closer to its goal of seizing the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk Oblast.
- Title
- Protests in Kyiv continue a month after Fedorov’s unexpected dismissal
- Runtime
- 2:03
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- People gathered in Kyiv on Aug. 16 for a protest march demanding the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, more than a month after his unexpected dismissal.
The participants marched along Khreshchatyk, Kyiv’s main street, to Ivan Franko Square.
The march aims to «remind the president of the importance of dialogue between the authorities and society, as well as of the fact that the president himself must bear responsibility for the consequences of all questionable personnel decisions,» said Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran and one of the protest’s organizers.
Kozyatynskyi read out a petition that he urged participants to support. It called for reforms in the defense sector and the continuation of reforms launched under Fedorov.
- Title
- Ukraine’s last Donbas strongholds brace for Russia’s advance
- Runtime
- 1:35
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- What is life like for Ukrainians in Donbas as invading Russian forces inch closer? In this report, the Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko travel across Donetsk Oblast to document life in the remaining areas of Ukrainian-controlled Donbas.
From Sloviansk and Kramatorsk to Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka, they meet civilians, soldiers, factory workers, and volunteers determined to hold onto their homes, despite constant Russian glide bombs and FPV drone attacks as the front line grows closer.
For more than a decade, Russia's war has revolved around Vladimir Putin’s fixation on Donbas. Now, as Russian forces push deeper into Donetsk Oblast, the remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities are entering what may be the final chapter of their existence.
- Title
- How Russia weaponizes civilian casualties | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 28:52
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Is Ukraine deliberately targeting civilians inside Russia? In this episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines what we actually know about civilian deaths linked to Ukrainian strikes, how international humanitarian law distinguishes military targets from civilian targets, and why many of the most high-profile incidents remain difficult to verify.
Featuring insights from Kyiv Independent junior investigative reporter Linda Hourani and war correspondent Janine di Giovanni, Anna explores how the Kremlin uses Ukrainian attacks that inflict civilian casualties to shape public opinion, justify escalation, and reinforce its long-standing narrative of Ukrainian "terrorism." The episode also examines what verified evidence shows, why civilian casualties remain one of war's most difficult realities, and how Russia's information strategy fits into its broader war against Ukraine.
00:00 Intro
01:10 Civilian casualties explained
06:12 Support independen...
- Title
- Inside Kyiv’s bomb shelter system as ballistic attacks ramp up
- Runtime
- 17:06
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Russia's missile and drone attacks on Kyiv have become larger and more frequent than at any point during the full-scale invasion. As air defenses come under increasing pressure, more residents are rushing to bomb shelters in search of safety. But after a direct strike killed civilians sheltering underground, many are asking whether Kyiv's shelter system provides the protection it promises.
The Kyiv Independent's Polina Moroziuk travels through Darnytsia, one of Kyiv's most heavily targeted districts, to investigate the local bomb shelters. From modern underground shelters that cannot withstand a direct missile strike to flooded basements, locked entrances, and residents forced to run for cover with only minutes to spare, this report examines the reality civilians face during Russia's escalating aerial campaign.
00:00 Intro
00:26 Deadly strike on a shelter
02:27 Inside a bomb shelter
03:46 Kyiv's shelter problems
05:42 Support independe...
- Title
- How a Ukrainian soldier survived 204 days in the kill zone
- Runtime
- 0:46
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A Russian soldier crept close to a Ukrainian position during bad weather. Troops could hear him, but recon drones couldn’t find him — not for days. Then he resurfaced. He closed in again, right before dusk.
“I made the decision, breathed in, breathed out, gathered my thoughts, went out, and engaged him,” said “Khvoryi,” a soldier in Ukraine’s 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar.”
In an interview with the Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova, he describes what it took to hold that position for 204 days — under constant Russian drone surveillance and artillery fire.
Watch the full video on our channel.
- Title
- Ukrainians rally again for Fedorov reinstatement
- Runtime
- 1:38
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Protesters gathered in central Kyiv on Aug. 14 for another rally demanding that President Volodymyr Zelensky reinstate former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, as the president's silence on the issue fuels frustration among demonstrators.
Several hundreds took to the streets of the capital, a notably lower number than when the protests first started in mid-July after Fedorov was removed from his post during a chaotic government reshuffle.
Although Zelensky later dismissed then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, fulfilling one of the protesters' main demands, he has refused to restore Fedorov as defense minister.
"The president has maximally disappointed me with his silence, especially considering that the lack of communication has effectively become the trigger for these protests," Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran and one of the protest organizers, said on social media.
The new gathering comes as the Ukrainian parliament is set ...
- Title
- Inside the shrinking front line in Donetsk Oblast
- Runtime
- 2:21
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Donetsk Oblast's remaining Ukrainian-held cities were built for generations on the riches beneath them — coal, ore, salt, clay. Now, as Russian forces push deeper into the region, that way of life is emptying out.
Near Sloviansk, ceramics factory owner Yaroslav Skrypkovskyi is evacuating his equipment, staff, and clay to western Ukraine. One of his trucks was recently hit by a Russian drone, badly injuring the driver.
The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko traveled across Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka to meet others holding on as the front line grows closer.
- Title
- Surviving 204 days under drone fire
- Runtime
- 1:38
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- For 204 days, two Ukrainian infantrymen held a front-line position in the kill zone – under constant Russian drone surveillance and artillery fire. They survived by relying on each other and adapting to a battlefield where drones made even the simplest tasks life-threatening.
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with “Khvoryi,” a soldier in Ukraine’s 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar,” about what it takes to survive for more than six months at a combat position.
Watch the full video on our channel.
- Title
- Young man kneels at Kyiv flag memorial to honor fallen defenders
- Runtime
- 0:18
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A young man kneels in tribute at the temporary memorial on Kyiv’s Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), honoring Ukrainian soldiers who have given their lives defending the country against Russian aggression.
Planted in the grass are thousands of small flags. These include the yellow and blue of Ukraine alongside national flags from around the world, placed to honor both Ukrainian troops and foreign volunteers killed while fighting for Ukraine. As Russia’s full-scale invasion continues, the memorial on Maidan keeps growing.
Video: korobkin_andre / Instagram.
- Title
- Train crew killed after saving passengers from Russian strike in Odesa Oblast
- Runtime
- 0:25
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A Russian jet-powered attack drone struck a passenger train locomotive in Odesa Oblast on Aug. 13, killing the driver and his assistant. The crew was maneuvering the train into a station to evacuate passengers after a threat was detected, successfully keeping all passengers safe, though they lacked time to escape themselves.
The strike was part of a wider wave of Russian attacks that killed at least eight people and injured 50 across Ukraine over the past day. Condemning the fatal hit, Ukrainian Railways CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi called the strike “a terrible daily terror and a targeted attack on civilians.”
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram.
- Title
- Ukrainian soldier on surviving 200 days in the kill zone
- Runtime
- 13:35
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- For 204 days, two Ukrainian infantrymen held a front-line position in the kill zone – under constant Russian drone surveillance and artillery fire. They survived by relying on each other and adapting to a battlefield where drones made even the simplest tasks life-threatening.
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova speaks with “Khvoryi,” a soldier in Ukraine’s 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar,” about what it takes to survive for more than six months at a combat position. He describes fighting off FPV drones, repelling Russian soldiers, retrieving supplies under constant surveillance, coping with the psychological strain of isolation, and maintaining the small routines that kept him and his comrade going.
The conversation also explores how drone warfare has transformed the role of Ukraine’s infantry, whether drones can replace infantry soldiers, and how months on the battlefield changed Khvoryi’s perspective ...
- Title
- Youth in wartime: Ukraine marks Youth Day
- Runtime
- 0:33
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- On Aug. 12, Ukraine marks Youth Day. For millions of young Ukrainians, youth today is defined by stark contrasts: celebrating life, falling in love, and protesting for change — while defending their nation on the front lines, clearing rubble, and sheltering from Russian strikes.
Video: the Kyiv Independent; Getty Images; AP; @superhumans.center; @natawkaaaa; @viktoriia_klets; @jst.katya / Instagram. (edited)
- Title
- Kyiv’s historic Pechersk Lavra faces $600K in damage following Russian attack
- Runtime
- 0:48
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an almost 1,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site, was founded long before Moscow existed.
On June 15, 2026, a Russian strike set the Assumption Cathedral’s roof on fire, damaging interior icons and causing nearly $600,000 in structural damage. It is one of more than 740 religious sites damaged by Russia since 2022.
From WWII Soviet explosives to modern Russian drones, read about the Lavra’s centuries-long history of survival at the link in bio.
- Title
- Russian strikes leave Kyiv supermarket shelves empty
- Runtime
- 1:44
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- An empty shelf in a Kyiv supermarket is a sight the capital hasn’t seen since the early days of the full-scale invasion.
While Ukrainian supermarkets have remained well-stocked throughout the war, Russian strikes on Aug. 5 targeted the logistics centers of several major supermarket chains. The attacks killed eight people and injured 21, marking a significant escalation as Russia attempts to disrupt food distribution networks across the country.
- Title
- What life is like on the shrinking Donbas front-line
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- What is life like for Ukrainians in Donbas as invading Russian forces inch closer? In this report, the Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko travel across Donetsk Oblast to document life in the remaining areas of Ukrainian-controlled Donbas.
From Sloviansk and Kramatorsk to Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka, they meet civilians, soldiers, factory workers, and volunteers determined to hold onto their homes, despite constant Russian glide bombs and FPV drone attacks as the front line grows closer.
- Title
- Did Ukraine's deep-strike campaign work?
- Runtime
- 2:02
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In this episode of Ukraine This Week, host Anna Belokur examines Ukraine’s 40-day campaign of long-range drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. Approved in late June, the high-intensity operation sought to pressure the Russian state toward ending the invasion by targeting critical infrastructure — from military airfields and oil refineries to major commercial logistics hubs like Wildberries.
The strikes disrupted up to 35% of Russian gas production at their peak, canceled the tourist season in occupied Crimea, and brought the economic consequences of the war directly to Russian civilians.
Watch the full video on our channel.
