Kyiv Independent
U.S. President Donald Trump announced launching “major combat operations” against the Iranian regime
- Title
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced launching “major combat operations” against the Iranian regime
- Runtime
- 1:31
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Feb. 28 that the United States has launched “major combat operations” against the Iranian regime, confirming American involvement in a series of coordinated strikes alongside Israel.
The attacks follow a major U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, with Washington deploying warships and aircraft while evacuating some non-essential embassy personnel from the region.
The escalation also came after U.S.–Iran talks in Geneva on Feb. 26 — part of the Trump administration's effort to secure a deal curbing Tehran's nuclear program — ended without a breakthrough.
The U.S. previously conducted air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025.
Video: The White House / YouTube.
- Title
- Why Russia so desperately wants Ukraine's Donbas
- Runtime
- 14:42
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- As peace talks continue and the U.S. pushes for compromise, one proposal keeps returning: Ukraine should withdraw from the remainder of Ukrainian-controlled Donetsk Oblast to end the war. The region was initially invaded by Russia in 2014, has endured the fiercest fighting since 2022, and Russia now controls most of it. But Kyiv still holds a fortified belt of cities that form the backbone of Ukraine’s eastern defense. Supporters of a deal argue that time favors Moscow and that painful concessions now could prevent greater losses later. Ukrainian officials and soldiers see it differently. With layered fortifications, drone-saturated killzones, and hundreds of thousands of civilians still at stake, Donetsk Oblast is not just territory — it is the line preventing further Russian expansion. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell explains why the Battle of Donbas remains at the center of the peace process.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukra...
- Title
- Luke Harding on reporting Russia’s war and why Ukraine’s fate matters globally
- Runtime
- 2:09
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines how global support for Ukraine has shifted four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion. From the near-universal solidarity of 2022 to today’s more fragmented and politicized landscape, the episode explores why Ukraine has fallen out of headlines even as the war intensifies. It also features interviews with journalists and experts, as well as people on the streets of Kyiv, reflecting on what it feels like to see international attention wane while the fighting and air strikes continue.
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- Title
- Russia launches combined missile and drone attack at Kyiv
- Runtime
- 1:53
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Explosions first took place in Ukraine's capital at around 4:00 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground, as Ukrainian air defense systems engaged incoming targets.
Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said Russia was attacking the city with both ballistic missiles and drones, urging residents to remain in shelters until the air raid alert is lifted.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that air defenses were operating in the city and warned residents to stay in safe locations as interceptions continued.
Monitoring channels also reported the possible launch of additional missiles from Russian strategic aircraft, suggesting further strikes could follow.
Authorities later reported damage in several districts of Kyiv. Fires were recorded at a private property in the Holosiivskyi district, while a two-story residential house caught fire in the Pecherskyi district following the attack.
- Title
- Why Eastern Europe views Putin’s ambitions differently
- Runtime
- 2:16
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Kyiv Independent reporter Tim Zadorozhnyy responds to a community question in the regular “Ask the team” segment, examining whether Ukraine truly trusts its European allies — and why some countries perceive Russia’s war differently.
Members of the Kyiv Independent community can submit their questions directly to host Anna Belokur, so we answer them at the end of each show.
By joining our community, you’ll gain access to exclusive events, Q&As, behind-the-scenes updates, and direct communication with our team on Discord.
Join today through the link in bio.
- Title
- Russian vs. Ukrainian losses: Where do the real numbers stand?
- Runtime
- 22:39
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York speaks with Olha Polishchuk, a conflict data analyst who tracks military and civilian deaths in Russia’s war against Ukraine. She explains how both sides report enemy losses but not their own, the limits of tracking government-provided data, and why verifying battlefield deaths remains one of the most difficult aspects of documenting war. She discusses the role of independent investigations by media outlets, and why tracking violence in occupied territories may never fully reveal the true scale of atrocities.
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- Title
- Zelensky appeals to global leaders on war anniversary
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked international partners for supporting Ukraine during his address on Feb. 24, marking the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelensky said he hopes to one day welcome the U.S. president to Ukraine.
“I am certain that only by visiting Ukraine — by seeing with your own eyes how we live and how we fight, by meeting our people and feeling the depth of this pain — can one fully understand what this war is about,” Zelensky said.
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky
- Title
- 4 years after Russia’s invasion, Zelensky reflects on Ukraine’s resistance
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered his remarks on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, reflecting on Ukraine’s resistance and the early days of the war from his office on Bankova Street.
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky
- Title
- How 4 years of Russia's full-scale war have changed Ukrainians
- Runtime
- 2:19
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- As Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fifth year, the war continues to shape life far beyond the front lines — influencing how Ukrainians live, speak, and view their country and each other.
We spoke to Ukrainians about how the war has changed them and what they have learned to value most since Feb. 24, 2022.
- Title
- A young Ukrainian soldier who survived FPV drone attack but lost limbs
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are learning to live with amputations after suffering severe injuries on the battlefield or far from the front lines in Russian aerial attacks. In December 2023, Hlib Benia, a Ukrainian soldier with the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade, was delivering supplies to his comrades when Russian FPV (first-person view) drones struck. Two of his fellow soldiers were killed. He survived but lost an arm and a leg. The Kyiv Independent's Nick Allard spent a day with him at a rehabilitation center in Kyiv, documenting the difficult process of adapting to life after such devastating injuries. Through frustration, humor, and determination, Benia reflects on survival and what it means to begin a new stage of life.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_soldierhlibrehabilitation&utm_medium=soldierrehabi...
- Title
- Russia's mass attack on Ukraine kills 1, injures 17
- Runtime
- 0:19
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- One man was killed after Russia launched a large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Feb. 22.
Fifty missiles and 297 long-range kamikaze drones targeted the country, most of them at Kyiv and its suburbs. The Ukrainian Air Force reported downing 33 missiles and 274 drones.
Wall-shaking explosions first took place in Ukraine’s capital at around 4:00 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. More blasts were heard at approximately 4:30 a.m. local time and continued intermittently throughout the early morning.
The attack caused a building to collapse in the town of Fastiv, 60 kilometers southwest of Kyiv, killing a 49-year-old man and injuring seven others, according to Kyiv Oblast governor Mykola Kalashnyk. A total of 15 people were injured across the oblast as a result of the attack, including four children, he said.
Kyiv city mayor Vitali Klitschko also reported tha...
- Title
- Russia's war has worsened – so why the silence? | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines how global support for Ukraine has shifted four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion. From the near-universal solidarity of 2022 to today’s more fragmented and politicized landscape, the episode explores why Ukraine has fallen out of headlines even as the war intensifies. It also features interviews with journalists and experts, as well as people on the streets of Kyiv, reflecting on what it feels like to see international attention wane while the fighting and air strikes continue.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- People around the world rally in support of Ukraine
- Runtime
- 0:45
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- People across the world gathered on Feb. 21–22 to rally in support of Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
📹: The Kyiv Independent; Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed /Anadolu Agency; Fatih Aktaş/Anadolu Agency; Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto via Getty Images; mcrstandswithua / Instagram
- Title
- Woman arrested after suspected terrorist attack in Lviv, Ukraine
- Runtime
- 0:26
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- A woman has been arrested in connection with a suspected terrorist attack — believed by Ukrainian officials to have been ordered by Russia — that killed a police officer and injured 25 others in the western city of Lviv in the early hours of Feb. 22.
"The police, in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine, have arrested a suspected saboteur," Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, said on Sunday morning.
According to Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi, the detainee is a woman and a citizen of Ukraine.
Two blasts rocked Lviv’s historic Old Town in the early hours of Feb. 22, shattering windows in the area.
The explosions took place after officers arrived at the scene responding to a reported store intrusion, Ukraine’s National Police said in a statement. A second explosion took place after another police crew arrived at the scene, Lviv Oblast’s Prosecutor’s Office added.
Ukraine’s national p...
- Title
- Russia's war has worsened – so why the silence? | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 31:45
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines how global support for Ukraine has shifted four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion. From the near-universal solidarity of 2022 to today’s more fragmented and politicized landscape, the episode explores why Ukraine has fallen out of headlines even as the war intensifies. It also features interviews with journalists and experts, as well as people on the streets of Kyiv, reflecting on what it feels like to see international attention wane while the fighting and air strikes continue.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_208&utm_medium=208
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Oil remains biggest loophole in Russia sanctions, Browder says
- Runtime
- 1:50
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Bill Browder, investor and longtime sanctions advocate, about why Western sanctions have so far failed to change Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behavior. Browder argues that while Russia has become the most sanctioned country in the world, a critical loophole remains: oil exports. He also argues that Putin would prioritize war spending over his own population’s welfare, why frozen Russian assets should be confiscated, and how Europe could exert far more leverage than it currently does.
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- Title
- Russia has little to offer US economically, Browder says
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Bill Browder, investor and longtime sanctions advocate, about why Western sanctions have so far failed to change Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behavior. Browder argues that while Russia has become the most sanctioned country in the world, a critical loophole remains: oil exports. He also argues that Putin would prioritize war spending over his own population’s welfare, why frozen Russian assets should be confiscated, and how Europe could exert far more leverage than it currently does.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- After losing limbs in war, young Ukrainian soldier fights for normal life
- Runtime
- 21:09
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are learning to live with amputations after suffering severe injuries on the battlefield or far from the front lines in Russian aerial attacks. In December 2023, Hlib Benia, a Ukrainian soldier with the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade, was delivering supplies to his comrades when Russian FPV (first-person view) drones struck. Two of his fellow soldiers were killed. He survived but lost an arm and a leg. The Kyiv Independent's Nick Allard spent a day with him at a rehabilitation center in Kyiv, documenting the difficult process of adapting to life after such devastating injuries. Through frustration, humor, and determination, Benia reflects on survival and what it means to begin a new stage of life.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_soldierhlibrehabilitation&utm_medium=soldierrehabi...
- Title
- Brazilian recruit’s death in Ukraine points to torture, abuse in foreign fighter unit
- Runtime
- 2:13
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- A 28-year-old Brazilian recruit died after a brutal punishment handed out in a unit that regularly used discipline practices described as "torture" by those who both witnessed and suffered them, a Kyiv Independent investigation can reveal.
The man, Bruno Gabriel Leal da Silva, died overnight Dec. 28-29, 2025, according to former fellow fighters who spoke to the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation.
The unit in question is a Brazilian-led formation called Advanced Company, led by the Brazilian Leanderson Paulino who is accused by several of those serving under him of overseeing — and in some cases taking part in — the abuse of his subordinates.
"It was a battalion that tortured people. Abuse there was normal," one former soldier said.
Witnesses and victims interviewed by the Kyiv Independent described torture including burnings, beatings, waterboarding, and even sexual assault with wooden objec...
- Title
- Two realities behind Russia’s cultural image
- Runtime
- 1:12
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Torture in Russian captivity is systematic. In a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit uncovers the torture of Ukrainian civilians held by Russian forces and traces the roots of these practices through Russian history. The documentary features civilians from different regions and backgrounds who were detained in occupied Ukrainian territories and in Russia itself. Despite being held at different times and in different locations, their testimonies describe strikingly similar patterns of abuse. By combining firsthand accounts with historical research, the investigation shows how torture has persisted across generations and continues to shape Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- Putin would starve Russians before ending war, Browder says
- Runtime
- 1:09
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Bill Browder, investor and longtime sanctions advocate, about why Western sanctions have so far failed to change Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behavior. Browder argues that while Russia has become the most sanctioned country in the world, a critical loophole remains: oil exports. He also argues that Putin would prioritize war spending over his own population’s welfare, why frozen Russian assets should be confiscated, and how Europe could exert far more leverage than it currently does.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_billbrowder2026&utm_medium=billbrowder2026
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Putin would starve Russians before ending war, Browder says
- Runtime
- 15:42
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Bill Browder, investor and longtime sanctions advocate, about why Western sanctions have so far failed to change Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behavior. Browder argues that while Russia has become the most sanctioned country in the world, a critical loophole remains: oil exports. He also argues that Putin would prioritize war spending over his own population’s welfare, why frozen Russian assets should be confiscated, and how Europe could exert far more leverage than it currently does.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_billbrowder2026&utm_medium=billbrowder2026
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Inside Russia’s system of torture
- Runtime
- 2:04
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Torture in Russian captivity is systematic. In a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit uncovers the torture of Ukrainian civilians held by Russian forces and traces the roots of these practices through Russian history. The documentary features civilians from different regions and backgrounds who were detained in occupied Ukrainian territories and in Russia itself. Despite being held at different times and in different locations, their testimonies describe strikingly similar patterns of abuse. By combining firsthand accounts with historical research, the investigation shows how torture has persisted across generations and continues to shape Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_wciu_tortureculture&utm_medium=tortureculture
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- Title
- After Munich Security Conference, Ukraine and Europe face collapse of post-Cold War order
- Runtime
- 1:51
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Reporting from the Munich Security Conference, the Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek looks at how growing transatlantic tensions, pressure on Ukraine to negotiate, and uncertainty over long-term Western support are shaping the future of Europe’s security.
Support reporting from the ground and help us continue our work by joining the Kyiv Independent community. The link is in bio.
- Title
- How Russian propaganda campaigns target Ukraine’s leadership
- Runtime
- 2:20
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Kyiv Independent reporter Tim Zadorozhnyy responds to a community question in the regular “Ask the team” segment, explaining how a Russian-linked bot network known as Matryoshka spreads disinformation targeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The goal, he explains, is cumulative reputational damage — to make audiences question what is true and weaken confidence in Ukraine’s leadership, especially at moments when global attention is focused on sensitive topics that propaganda campaigns can exploit.
Members of the Kyiv Independent community can submit their questions directly to host Anna Belokur, so we answer them at the end of each show.
By joining our community, you’ll gain access to exclusive events, Q&As, behind-the-scenes updates, and direct communication with our team on Discord.
Join today through the link in bio.
- Title
- Ukraine and Russia in the Epstein files | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines how Ukraine appears in recently released Jeffrey Epstein files. The files reference flight arrangements for models linked to Kyiv agencies, a failed real estate deal in Lviv, and brief mentions of Ukraine’s 2019 presidential election. The episode also explores Epstein’s documented efforts to build relationships with Russian elites, including attempts to connect with Vladimir Putin, prompting speculation that he could be a Russian asset.
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Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Ukraine and Russia in the Epstein files | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 22:14
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines how Ukraine appears in recently released Jeffrey Epstein files. The files reference flight arrangements for models linked to Kyiv agencies, a failed real estate deal in Lviv, and brief mentions of Ukraine’s 2019 presidential election. The episode also explores Epstein’s documented efforts to build relationships with Russian elites, including attempts to connect with Vladimir Putin, prompting speculation that he could be a Russian asset.
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Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_207&utm_medium=207
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Why Ukraine refuses to abandon Pokrovsk, explained
- Runtime
- 1:31
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- As global attention has shifted to Ukraine’s energy crisis, the fighting on the eastern front has not slowed. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell speaks with Volodymyr Polevyi, head of public affairs for the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces, about the battle for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast. Polevyi explains that the cities have never been encircled and how “gray zones” complicate Ukrainian logistics. He also details Russia’s heavy losses in the sector, the role of drones and winter conditions, and how new Ukrainian defensive lines behind Pokrovsk could prevent a wider Russian breakthrough toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
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- Title
- Love in wartime Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- For many Ukrainians, love today means distance, waiting, and worrying for those at the front.
And still, people find ways to hold on to each other.
Video: amor27021998 ; _.diankkaaa.__ ; l.vladaa_2 ; natali_zaika0 ; mari_stalo / TikTok; vitsikkkk; Kostiantyn Liberov; Andriy Dubchak; / Getty Images.
- Title
- Inside Russia’s system of torture | Documentary
- Runtime
- 52:36
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Torture in Russian captivity is systematic. In a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit uncovers the torture of Ukrainian civilians held by Russian forces and traces the roots of these practices through Russian history. The documentary features civilians from different regions and backgrounds who were detained in occupied Ukrainian territories and in Russia itself. Despite being held at different times and in different locations, their testimonies describe strikingly similar patterns of abuse. By combining firsthand accounts with historical research, the investigation shows how torture has persisted across generations and continues to shape Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_wciu_tortureculture&utm_medium=tortureculture
Your support allows us to bring indepe...
- Title
- As Russians and Belarusians compete at Olympics, Ukraine pushed to the margins
- Runtime
- 3:00
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the 2026 Olympic Games on Feb. 12 for using a custom helmet honoring Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia’s full-scale war.
The decision came days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) barred Heraskevych from competing in a helmet depicting fallen Ukrainian athletes. Despite the ban, he continued training in the helmet.
The IOC has also prohibited two other Ukrainian athletes from using custom helmets at the Games.
Ukrainian freestyle skier Kateryna Kotsar said her helmet was disqualified due to the inscription “Be brave like Ukrainians,” while short track speed skater Oleh Handei was barred from wearing a helmet featuring a line of Ukrainian poetry.
Hundreds of Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed since the start of Russia’s all-out war, while Russian missile and drone attacks have also destroyed hundreds of sports facilities across t...
- Title
- Ukrainian skeleton racer disqualified at Olympics for helmet honoring athletes by Russia
- Runtime
- 0:54
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- "There are things that are much more important than any medals, and today I am standing up for what I believe in," said Ukrainian Vladyslav Heraskevych on Feb. 12, after the skeleton racer was disqualified from the 2026 Olympics for using a custom helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia's full-scale war.
The disqualification came days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) barred the Ukrainian skeleton racer from using a custom helmet at the Games that depicts Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia's full-scale war. Despite this, Heraskevych continued training in the helmet.
Speaking to Suspilne Sport, he said that he never intended for this dispute to happen and had hoped to compete at the 2026 Olympics, but he stands by his position without regret.
Video: Suspilne Sport
- Title
- Russia targets Kyiv, Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles
- Runtime
- 2:03
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Russia launched a nighttime attack on Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities on Feb. 12, leaving at least two people injured and causing damage to civilian infrastructure.
Explosions were reported in multiple regions as air defense systems responded to incoming threats, while residents sought shelter during the hours-long alert.
In Kyiv, the strike damaged residential buildings and other civilian sites, underscoring the continued risk to non-military areas.
- Title
- 'If Canada went to war, I still don’t know where I’d fight,' says Canadian volunteer
- Runtime
- 0:56
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette speaks with a Canadian volunteer, Brittney Shki-Giizis, who left the Canadian military to fight in Ukraine. A former tank instructor, she explains why she chose to come to the front, how she learned Ukrainian to serve in a Ukrainian unit, and how the war’s shift toward drones led her to become an FPV (first-person view) drone pilot. She also reflects on being a woman in the Ukrainian military, the realities behind drone warfare, the cost of losing comrades, and why she believes any ceasefire without security guarantees would only delay Russia’s next attack.
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- Title
- Why Ukraine refuses to abandon Pokrovsk, explained
- Runtime
- 18:32
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- As global attention has shifted to Ukraine’s energy crisis, the fighting on the eastern front has not slowed. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell speaks with Volodymyr Polevyi, head of public affairs for the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces, about the battle for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast. Polevyi explains that the cities have never been encircled and how “gray zones” complicate Ukrainian logistics. He also details Russia’s heavy losses in the sector, the role of drones and winter conditions, and how new Ukrainian defensive lines behind Pokrovsk could prevent a wider Russian breakthrough toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_volodymyrpolevyi7assaultcorps&utm_medium=7assaultcorps
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced ...
- Title
- Keith Kellogg on why Russia's setbacks in Ukraine don't stop Putin
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Keith Kellogg, former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, about why he believes Russia has failed to achieve its goals in Ukraine, how Russian President Vladimir Putin views his military campaign, and what is preventing the war from ending. Kellogg also shares his perspective on U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, reflects on his former role inside the administration, and revisits key events and decisions shaping those negotiations.
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- Title
- How Starlink became critical to Ukraine’s war-time communications
- Runtime
- 1:47
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, one of its first targets was Ukraine’s telecommunications infrastructure, threatening to disrupt military coordination and civilian communication across the country.
Starlink satellite terminals quickly became an alternative, restoring connectivity for the military, emergency services, humanitarian workers, and civilians. Four years later, the system remains a critical part of Ukraine’s communications network.
Amid reports that Russian forces have also begun using Starlink-equipped systems, Ukraine earlier this month approved mandatory registration of Starlink terminals in cooperation with SpaceX, introducing a system to disconnect unverified devices in an effort to prevent the technology’s use by Russian troops.
Ukrainian officials have also accused Russia of coercing families of Ukrainian prisoners of war into registering terminals for battlefield use.
- Title
- ‘Without guarantees, Russia will attack again,’ says Canadian volunteer fighting for Ukraine
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette speaks with a Canadian volunteer, Brittney Shki-Giizis, who left the Canadian military to fight in Ukraine. A former tank instructor, she explains why she chose to come to the front, how she learned Ukrainian to serve in a Ukrainian unit, and how the war’s shift toward drones led her to become an FPV (first-person view) drone pilot. She also reflects on being a woman in the Ukrainian military, the realities behind drone warfare, the cost of losing comrades, and why she believes any ceasefire without security guarantees would only delay Russia’s next attack.
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- Title
- How ground drones are changing Ukraine’s battlefield tactics
- Runtime
- 2:38
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine is increasingly turning to ground-based unmanned vehicles as part of its broader shift toward drone warfare. While aerial drones dominate much of the battlefield, ground drones are taking on tasks that once required soldiers to operate under direct fire.
The video, filmed with the 7th Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces, shows how these unmanned ground vehicles are being used to move through dangerous terrain, deliver supplies, and support frontline operations. Designed for conditions where human movement is extremely risky, the systems help reduce exposure to mines, artillery, and small-arms fire.
The Kyiv Independent continues its front-line coverage in 2026, and we need your support now more than ever. Become part of our community via the link in bio.
- Title
- Canadian female fighter at the forefront of Ukraine's drone war
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette speaks with a Canadian volunteer, Brittney Shki-Giizis, who left the Canadian military to fight in Ukraine. A former tank instructor, she explains why she chose to come to the front, how she learned Ukrainian to serve in a Ukrainian unit, and how the war’s shift toward drones led her to become an FPV (first-person view) drone pilot. She also reflects on being a woman in the Ukrainian military, the realities behind drone warfare, the cost of losing comrades, and why she believes any ceasefire without security guarantees would only delay Russia’s next attack.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_brittneyshkigiizis&utm_medium=brittneyshkigiizis
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Kyiv Independent to release documentary exposing systematic torture in Russian captivity
- Runtime
- 1:10
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit will release its new documentary, Torture Culture, an in-depth investigation into the systematic torture of Ukrainian civilians in Russian captivity.
Through interviews with survivors and an examination of Russian torture practices across different historical periods and regions, including the Soviet Gulag system and Russia’s wars in Chechnya, the film traces a system of violence linking past atrocities to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
The film will premiere offline at Kyiv’s Zhovten Cinema on Feb. 13 and will be released online on the Kyiv Independent’s YouTube channel the same day. Registration for the screening is available via the link in bio.
- Title
- Kyiv residents dance through blackout at outdoor party amid power shortages
- Runtime
- 0:52
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- DJ Dmytro Chubakov performed as residents gathered for an outdoor party in Kyiv’s Obolon district on Feb. 8, dancing to keep warm amid prolonged power and heating shortages that many households continue to experience.
Ukraine’s energy system remains under severe strain, and nuclear plants are still partially disconnected from the power grid as of Feb. 8 following Russia's mass attack on Ukraine's critical infrastructure overnight on Feb. 7.
One of the worst situations is in Kyiv, where residents have received just one-and-a-half to two hours of power per day for several days.
- Title
- 'Catastrophe' for Russia as Musk cuts off Starlink | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines SpaceX’s move to curb Russia’s illegal use of Starlink satellite internet — a technology that has been vital to Ukraine’s defense since 2022. The episode breaks down how Starlink works on the battlefield, how Russian forces have exploited the system, and why Ukraine pushed for a new verification and “whitelist” mechanism to cut Moscow off. It also explores the risks of relying on a private company led by Elon Musk, whose shifting political positions and past decisions have directly affected military operations in Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_206&utm_medium=206
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- ‘Catastrophe’ for Russia as Musk cuts off Starlink | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 29:53
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines SpaceX’s move to curb Russia’s illegal use of Starlink satellite internet — a technology that has been vital to Ukraine’s defense since 2022. The episode breaks down how Starlink works on the battlefield, how Russian forces have exploited the system, and why Ukraine pushed for a new verification and “whitelist” mechanism to cut Moscow off. It also explores the risks of relying on a private company led by Elon Musk, whose shifting political positions and past decisions have directly affected military operations in Ukraine.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_206&utm_medium=206
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Putin must understand he cannot win the war, Keith Kellogg says
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Keith Kellogg, former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, about why he believes Russia has failed to achieve its goals in Ukraine, how Russian President Vladimir Putin views his military campaign, and what is preventing the war from ending. Kellogg also shares his perspective on U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, reflects on his former role inside the administration, and revisits key events and decisions shaping those negotiations.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Power outages threaten mobile connection across Ukraine
- Runtime
- 2:48
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Staying in touch is something many take for granted — until the signal vanishes.
Russia’s systematic strikes on energy infrastructure continue to cripple the power grid, triggering prolonged blackouts across the country. When the electricity goes out, reliable cell service often follows, leaving entire communities in a digital vacuum.
Mobile operators are working around the clock to keep Kyivstar base stations and connection points running through the darkness. In wartime, a phone signal is more than a convenience; for many, it is the only way to confirm that their loved ones are still safe.
- Title
- Canadian female fighter at the forefront of Ukraine's drone war
- Runtime
- 23:00
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette speaks with a Canadian volunteer, Brittney Shki-Giizis, who left the Canadian military to fight in Ukraine. A former tank instructor, she explains why she chose to come to the front, how she learned Ukrainian to serve in a Ukrainian unit, and how the war’s shift toward drones led her to become an FPV (first-person view) drone pilot. She also reflects on being a woman in the Ukrainian military, the realities behind drone warfare, the cost of losing comrades, and why she believes any ceasefire without security guarantees would only delay Russia’s next attack.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_brittneyshkigiizis&utm_medium=brittneyshkigiizis
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- 157 Ukrainian POWs, civilians come home in first exchange after months-long pause
- Runtime
- 0:51
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine has brought back home 157 Ukrainians from Russian captivity in its latest exchange with Moscow, following an agreement reached during the latest round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Feb. 5.
Moscow released 150 Ukrainian soldiers and seven civilians from captivity, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs).
Russia's Defense Ministry also reported releasing 157 Ukrainians in exchange for 157 Russian soldiers.
This is the first prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia in almost five months, with Moscow halting the process throughout that time, according to Zelensky.
"Today's exchange came after a long pause, and it is critical that we were able to make it happen," Zelensky said.
"Without the determination of our warriors, such exchanges would be impossible. And thus every result achieved by our units is what also sustains the abilit...
- Title
- Daily life in Ukraine amid energy crisis
- Runtime
- 0:55
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Beyond the headlines, this is the daily endurance of millions. As temperatures plummet to –25°C (-13°F), life in Ukraine’s cities has become a silent battle against the cold and dark.
Video: linel_tyva; guanyin_cha; cherrybombfields / Instagram; The Kyiv Independent.
- Title
- EU ambassador on Europe's response if US abandons Ukraine
- Runtime
- 16:30
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin speaks with Katarina Mathernova, the European Union Ambassador to Ukraine, after Russia's large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv during one of the coldest days of the winter, leaving parts of the city without heat and electricity. Mathernova says Moscow is showing no genuine interest in peace, argues that Russia must be pushed through sanctions and security guarantees, and explains why Europe must be involved in shaping Ukraine’s future.
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Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
