Kyiv Independent
Why NATO can’t survive a return to spheres of influence
- Title
- Why NATO can’t survive a return to spheres of influence
- Runtime
- 1:50
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Kurt Volker, former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations and former U.S. ambassador to NATO, about U.S. foreign policy, NATO’s future, and the war in Ukraine. Volker discusses why any attempt to take Greenland by force would effectively end NATO, and how President Donald Trump’s growing willingness to use military force is reshaping global politics. He also explains why Moscow will not agree to peace without serious pressure — and what that means for Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.
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- Title
- Zelensky declares state of emergency in Ukraine’s energy sector as crisis worsens
- Runtime
- 1:50
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent visited one of Kyiv’s Points of Invincibility, set up by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, after a series of Russian attacks plunged much of the capital into blackout.
Over the past several days, Russia has pounded Kyiv and cities across Ukraine with missiles and drones, leaving around 70% of the capital without electricity. As energy workers work to repair the damage, subzero temperatures are complicating restoration efforts, while stocks of replacement equipment are running low.
On Jan. 14, Volodymyr Zelensky declared a state of emergency in the energy sector, placing particular focus on Kyiv, which continues to reel from sustained Russian strikes.
- Title
- Crimea: The War Before the War
- Runtime
- 1:59
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Russia’s takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, the Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991. The film traces Moscow’s early military and political pressure in Crimea, focusing on the struggle over the Black Sea Fleet and the intimidation of Ukrainian officers who tried to bring naval units under Kyiv’s control — including arrests, sabotage, and moments that nearly escalated into armed confrontation. The second part of the investigation will continue the story.
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- Title
- Why NATO can’t survive a return to spheres of influence
- Runtime
- 14:40
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Kurt Volker, former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations and former U.S. ambassador to NATO, about U.S. foreign policy, NATO’s future, and the war in Ukraine. Volker discusses why any attempt to take Greenland by force would effectively end NATO, and how President Donald Trump’s growing willingness to use military force is reshaping global politics. He also explains why Moscow will not agree to peace without serious pressure — and what that means for Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_kurtvolker2026&utm_medium=kurtvolker2026
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Is AI feeding us state-funded propaganda?
- Runtime
- 2:55
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Recent research by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found that major AI chatbots had cited Russian state-backed propaganda outlets, including sources banned in the EU, alongside trusted media. The more a question echoed pro-Russian talking points, the more likely chatbots were to reference propaganda.
As chatbots summarize information rather than show sources upfront, propaganda and credible reporting can be blended and presented as neutral facts.
- Title
- Khartiia Brigade raises flag over Kupiansk city council building
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Ukraine’s Khartiia Brigade on Jan. 12 said it had recaptured the city council building in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, and flown the country’s flag from its roof.
A video accompanying the announcement on social media shows intense street fighting as the unit makes its way into the building.
“The Kupiansk operation proves that thanks to planning, training of commanders and headquarters, and high-quality training of units – everything that we call the Khartiia method – the enemy can be successfully stopped and destroyed,” comments Colonel Igor Obolensky, commander of the 2nd Corps of Khartiia, said.
The report comes as Russia tries to push across the front by launching heavy offensive operations on multiple axes, including in the Kupiansk sector, to recapture the city it lost to a 2022 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Russian troops are attempting to close in on Kupiansk from the north and east, aiming to solidify their presence on ...
- Title
- Political implications of Budanov’s appointment as head of the President's Office
- Runtime
- 2:47
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Kyiv Independent Deputy Chief Editor Oleksiy Sorokin responds to a community question in the regular “Ask the team” segment, analyzing the political implications of Kyrylo Budanov’s appointment as head of the President's Office.
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
- Russia fires Oreshnik missile near NATO border | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 0:46
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on the United States’ unprecedented operation to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — a move that weakens Russia’s influence in Latin America and raises concerns about shifting global priorities. She also covers Russia’s latest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including the use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile near NATO borders, examines Europe’s stalled security guarantees for Kyiv, and breaks down President Volodymyr Zelensky’s post-scandal government reshuffle as Ukraine navigates mounting pressure at home and abroad.
- Title
- Russia fires Oreshnik missile near NATO border | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 15:02
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on the United States’ unprecedented operation to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — a move that weakens Russia’s influence in Latin America and raises concerns about shifting global priorities. She also covers Russia’s latest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including the use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile near NATO borders, examines Europe’s stalled security guarantees for Kyiv, and breaks down President Volodymyr Zelensky’s post-scandal government reshuffle as Ukraine navigates mounting pressure at home and abroad.
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- Title
- How Putin began taking Crimea long before 2014
- Runtime
- 2:08
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Russia’s takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, the Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991. The film traces Moscow’s early military and political pressure in Crimea, focusing on the struggle over the Black Sea Fleet and the intimidation of Ukrainian officers who tried to bring naval units under Kyiv’s control — including arrests, sabotage, and moments that nearly escalated into armed confrontation. The second part of the investigation will continue the story.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
- Title
- Crimea: The War Before the War | PART 1
- Runtime
- 55:09
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Russia’s takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, the Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991. The film traces Moscow’s early military and political pressure in Crimea, focusing on the struggle over the Black Sea Fleet and the intimidation of Ukrainian officers who tried to bring naval units under Kyiv’s control — including arrests, sabotage, and moments that nearly escalated into armed confrontation.
The second part of the investigation is available here: https://youtu.be/c0nx6JkWR1g
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Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news abou...
- Title
- Why Russia's backing didn't save Venezuela from US attack
- Runtime
- 0:38
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette speaks with foreign policy analyst Ivan Fechko about Venezuela’s political crisis following the U.S. attack and kidnapping of dictator Nicolás Maduro — and why it marks a major strategic setback for Russia in Latin America and globally. Fechko breaks down Moscow’s long-standing support for Maduro, why Russia was unable to defend its ally, and what a potential democratic transition in Venezuela could mean for Ukraine, international law, and the global balance of power.
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- Title
- 4 killed, 19 injured as fires engulf Kyiv following Russian mass attack on Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Four people were killed and 19 others injured in Kyiv after Russia launched a mass missile and drone attack across Ukraine overnight on Jan. 8-9.
A paramedic was among those killed as a result of a double-tap strike, and 14 of the 19 wounded were hospitalized, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. Four other medical workers were injured, he said.
“Last night, a drone hit us. It was a direct strike on our floor… A person died near my building — someone who came to help me. It happened when a drone hit emergency workers,” Ivan Fedorovskyi, 35, a Kyiv resident, told the Kyiv Independent.
Fedorovskyi said he lost his sister in a Russian attack on Kharkiv in 2023.
"Europe has all the resources — money and weapons — to help us end the war. But Europe lacks the political will," he said.
Running water and electricity have been disrupted in parts of Ukraine's capital as a result of Russian strikes on critical infrastru...
- Title
- Russia bombs two entire Ukrainian oblasts into darkness
- Runtime
- 0:32
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Russian overnight attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have created a “national emergency,” Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov said on Jan. 8 during a press briefing.
“From a technical standpoint, the situation in Dnipro is one of the most difficult. This is truly a national emergency,” Filatov said.
Russian forces struck Ukrainian energy infrastructure, leaving Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts nearly without power in the evening of Jan. 7.
The attacks come as Ukraine braces for freezing temperatures, with daytime highs expected to fall below -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) next week.
Residents reported hearing an explosion around 10 p.m. local time on Jan. 7 in the city of Dnipro, the administrative center of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. A glow was visible near a local thermal power plant, although authorities have not mentioned that the facility was affected.
Both regions are operating under extended ...
- Title
- Kellogg's daughter on why Trump hasn't ended Russia's war
- Runtime
- 1:12
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent's Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Meaghan Mobbs, head of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation and the daughter of President Donald Trump's outgoing special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Mobbs argues that the United States should never be neutral in Russia's war against Ukraine, discusses the dangers of treating the war as a transactional deal, the risk of U.S. disengagement, and why sustained pressure is essential to stopping Russian aggression.
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- Title
- Why Russia's backing didn't save Venezuela from US attack
- Runtime
- 20:02
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette speaks with foreign policy analyst Ivan Fechko about Venezuela’s political crisis following the U.S. attack and kidnapping of dictator Nicolás Maduro — and why it marks a major strategic setback for Russia in Latin America and globally. Fechko breaks down Moscow’s long-standing support for Maduro, why Russia was unable to defend its ally, and what a potential democratic transition in Venezuela could mean for Ukraine, international law, and the global balance of power.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- U.S. should not be neutral in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Kellogg's daughter says
- Runtime
- 0:57
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent's Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Meaghan Mobbs, head of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation and the daughter of President Donald Trump's outgoing special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Mobbs argues that the United States should never be neutral in Russia's war against Ukraine, discusses the dangers of treating the war as a transactional deal, the risk of U.S. disengagement, and why sustained pressure is essential to stopping Russian aggression.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- How Russia abducts and indoctrinates Ukrainian children
- Runtime
- 1:44
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Myroslava Chauin speaks with Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights and a children’s rights activist, about evidence that Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories were transferred to a children’s camp in North Korea. Rashevska explains how Russia has abducted and indoctrinated Ukrainian children since 2014, why these transfers amount to serious violations of international law, and how her testimony before the U.S. Senate shocked lawmakers.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- A memorial ceremony for Lana Chornohorska
- Runtime
- 1:25
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- A memorial ceremony was held in Kyiv on Jan. 6 for Lana Chornohorska, a volunteer soldier, activist, and artist known by her callsign “Sati.”
Chornohorska was killed by a Russian drone on Jan. 1 while serving on the front line in southern Ukraine. She joined the Ukrainian Volunteer Army in 2024, where she performed a wide range of roles, including serving as a drone pilot and navigator.
Before the full-scale invasion, Chornohorska was a prominent visual artist and photographer, known for her collages and creative activism.
- Title
- Inside the Battle of the Dnipro River
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, the front line has remained largely static, but fighting continues every day. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko embedded with Ukraine’s forces in Kherson Oblast, following FPV drone and night bomber teams tasked with defending river islands. The two also joined river operations training to see how such missions differ from those on land. From daytime drone flights to nighttime logistics missions, the report shows how the war on the Dnipro River is fought — and how soldiers endure it.
- Title
- Global sport reopens doors to Russia | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 12:15
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- In the first episode of Ukraine This Week in 2026, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur examines how international sports federations are gradually rolling back bans on Russian and Belarusian athletes as the Olympic year begins. She breaks down how “neutral” status is being used across global competitions, why the shift matters politically and ethically, and what it reveals about the world’s resolve nearly four years into Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
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- Title
- Crimea: The war before the war
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Russia seized Crimea in February–March 2014, shortly after the EuroMaidan Revolution, at a time when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych had fled the country, and the new authorities were only beginning their work. Many believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin took advantage of the moment and annexed the peninsula. But when did Russia actually first attempt to seize Crimea?
The Kyiv Independent team investigated how Russia gradually expanded its presence in Crimea and, in violation of international law, sought to take control of the peninsula starting in the 1990s — from violent attacks to political takeover scenarios.
The documentary will be released on the Kyiv Independent’s YouTube channel on Jan. 10. Subscribe, so you don’t miss the premiere.
- Title
- Inside the Battle of the Dnipro River
- Runtime
- 22:27
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, the front line has remained largely static, but fighting continues every day. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko embedded with Ukraine’s forces in Kherson Oblast, following FPV drone and night bomber teams tasked with defending river islands. The two also joined river operations training to see how such missions differ from those on land. From daytime drone flights to nighttime logistics missions, the report shows how the war on the Dnipro River is fought — and how soldiers endure it.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
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- Title
- Inside a Ukrainian power plant Russia keeps hitting
- Runtime
- 0:48
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- As Russia continues its winter campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, power plants across the country are coming under repeated missile and drone attacks. The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell reports from an undisclosed thermal power plant operated by DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, to show how energy workers are keeping critical infrastructure running as temperatures drop and attacks 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
- Kellogg's daughter on why Trump hasn't ended Russia's war
- Runtime
- 1:25
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent's Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Meaghan Mobbs, head of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation and the daughter of President Donald Trump's outgoing special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Mobbs argues that the United States should never be neutral in Russia's war against Ukraine, discusses the dangers of treating the war as a transactional deal, the risk of U.S. disengagement, and why sustained pressure is essential to stopping Russian aggression.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community:
https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_meaghanmobbs&utm_medium=meaghanmobbs
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Kellogg's daughter on why Trump hasn't ended Russia's war
- Runtime
- 18:04
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent's Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Meaghan Mobbs, head of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation and the daughter of President Donald Trump's outgoing special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Mobbs argues that the United States should never be neutral in Russia's war against Ukraine, discusses the dangers of treating the war as a transactional deal, the risk of U.S. disengagement, and why sustained pressure is essential to stopping Russian aggression.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community:
https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_meaghanmobbs&utm_medium=meaghanmobbs
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Malanka in Ukraine
- Runtime
- 0:40
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- While the world knows “Carol of the Bells,” its origins lie in the ancient Ukrainian tradition of “Malanka.”
On Dec. 28, the vibrant spirit of Bukovyna arrived in Lviv. Performers from the village of Vashkivtsi gathered at Shevchenkivskyi Hai to celebrate Malanka — a centuries-old festival of disguises, traditional costumes, and folk theater.
Rooted in pre-Christian customs, Malanka was historically a celebration of the New Year. Today, these festivities remain a vital part of Ukraine’s cultural identity, preserving the unique folklore of the Bukovyna region even in the face of modern upheaval.
Video: Mykola Tys/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
- Title
- Vyshhorod has been without electricity and reliable heating for four days
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The city of Vyshhorod has been without electricity and reliable heating for four days following a Russian mass attack on Kyiv Oblast overnight on Dec. 27. In response, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service has deployed high-capacity generators to restore heat to 22 residential high-rises.
More than a dozen “Points of Invincibility” have been set up by rescuers and the Red Cross, where residents can warm up, receive hot tea, and charge their phones.
Video: State Emergency Service; Real Kyiv / Telegram; @ruban.dar / Instagram.
- Title
- Ukraine This Year: a year of stalled peace and escalating war
- Runtime
- 0:34
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- In this year-end wrap-up of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur looks back at the moments that defined 2025, the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — from stalled peace efforts and escalating Russian attacks to mass anti-corruption protests and political upheaval at home. The episode examines how Ukraine navigated another year of pressure on the battlefield, in government, and on the streets as it heads into 2026.
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- Title
- Why Russia sent Ukrainian children to North Korea, explained
- Runtime
- 1:23
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Myroslava Chauin speaks with Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights and a children’s rights activist, about evidence that Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories were transferred to a children’s camp in North Korea. Rashevska explains how Russia has abducted and indoctrinated Ukrainian children since 2014, why these transfers amount to serious violations of international law, and how her testimony before the U.S. Senate shocked lawmakers.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_katerynarashevska&utm_medium=katerynarashevska
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Ukraine This Year: a year without peace
- Runtime
- 13:42
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- In this year-end wrap-up of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur looks back at the moments that defined 2025, the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — from stalled peace efforts and escalating Russian attacks to mass anti-corruption protests and political upheaval at home. The episode examines how Ukraine navigated another year of pressure on the battlefield, in government, and on the streets as it heads into 2026.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_2025recap&utm_medium=2025recap
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Kyiv recovering from mass Russian attack that left 2 killed, 32 injured, ahead of peace talks
- Runtime
- 1:01
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Kyiv came under a mass combined missile and drone attack overnight on Dec. 27.
The attack started with Russia launching several Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, and a group of Kalibr cruise missiles at the capital shortly before 2 a.m. Kyiv time, monitoring channels reported.
Drones kept attacking the capital throughout the night. The air raid alert lasted for nearly 10 hours, and was only turned off after 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.
Another wave came at noon, with drones targeting Kyiv for an hour, until it was all clear again at 1:30 p.m.
"When it seemed that the terrible night was over, we woke up to a terrifying explosion at eight in the morning," Tetiana Donets, a Kyiv resident, told the Kyiv Independent.
"We didn't understand what had happened and only later saw in the news that a missile had hit the fourth floor of the neighboring building. The whole street is covered with debris and glass. It's be...
- Title
- Russia's mass missile attack targets Kyiv, injures 22 ahead of upcoming Trump-Zelensky meeting
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Kyiv came under a mass combined missile and drone attack overnight on Dec. 27.
The attack started with Russia launching several Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, and a group of Kalibr cruise missiles at the capital shortly before 2 a.m. Kyiv time, monitoring channels reported.
Drones kept attacking the capital throughout the night. The air raid alert lasted for nearly 10 hours, and was only turned off after 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.
Drones and falling debris slammed into apartment blocks across the city, igniting fires that spread floor by floor. In one 18-story building in the city’s Dniprovskyi district, a person is believed to be trapped under the rubble on the fifth floor, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
At least 22 people were injured in Kyiv during the attack, including two children, Klitschko reported on the morning of Dec. 27. Of the wounded, 12 have been sent to the hospital.
The attack cut off heat to ...
- Title
- Inside a Ukrainian power plant Russia keeps hitting
- Runtime
- 14:51
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- As Russia continues its winter campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, power plants across the country are coming under repeated missile and drone attacks. The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell reports from an undisclosed thermal power plant operated by DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, to show how energy workers are keeping critical infrastructure running as temperatures drop and attacks 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
- Christmas celebration in Kyiv
- Runtime
- 1:06
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- A Christmas procession took place in central Kyiv on Dec. 25, celebrating Ukrainian traditions.
Participants carried traditional Ukrainian Christmas stars, with hundreds of people joining the event dressed in traditional costumes and accessories. The procession was accompanied by performances of traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols.
- Title
- Zelensky's Christmas Eve address
- Runtime
- 1:48
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- President Volodymyr Zelensky shared his Christmas Eve address to Ukrainians on Dec. 24.
“On the eve of Christmas, the Russians once again showed who they really are. Massive shelling, hundreds of Shahed drones, ballistic missiles, ‘Kinzhal’ strikes — it was all there. This is how the godless strike. This is how those who have absolutely nothing in common with Christianity or anything human act,” Zelensky said.
Earlier, on Dec. 22, Zelensky warned that Ukrainians should brace for large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks over the Christmas period.
“It is their nature to make some kind of massive strike on our Christmas. We are again raising the issue of air defense and the protection of our communities, especially on December 23, 24, and 25,” Zelensky said in comments reported by Suspilne.
Video: President Volodymyr Zelensky
- Title
- Why Russia sent Ukrainian children to North Korea, explained
- Runtime
- 27:14
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Myroslava Chauin speaks with Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights and a children’s rights activist, about evidence that Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories were transferred to a children’s camp in North Korea. Rashevska explains how Russia has abducted and indoctrinated Ukrainian children since 2014, why these transfers amount to serious violations of international law, and how her testimony before the U.S. Senate shocked lawmakers.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_interview_katerynarashevska&utm_medium=katerynarashevska
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- “Human safari” in Kherson
- Runtime
- 1:56
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Liberated in 2022, Kherson is still under daily attack from Russian forces across the Dnipro River. Drones now increasingly target civilians in what residents call a “human safari.” The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko report from a city living under anti-drone nets and constant surveillance, showing how everyday life, from hospitals and schools to aid deliveries and cultural events, continues under threat, and why residents refuse to leave.
The video includes data from Tochnyi, an open-source intelligence network tracking civilian harm from Russian drone attacks.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_khersonhumansafari&utm_medium=humansafari
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Christmas celebrations in Ukraine
- Runtime
- 2:40
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, installing Ukraine’s main Christmas tree in Kyiv has become part of a wartime tradition, more modest in scale than before, sometimes lit by generators during power outages.
In 2025, after another year of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system, it stands again — not as a sign the war is forgotten, but as a reflection of how Ukrainians endure. We asked Kyiv residents how they view holiday celebrations during wartime.
- Title
- 4 days in Kherson, where Russian drones hunt civilians every day
- Runtime
- 0:54
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Liberated in 2022, Kherson is still under daily attack from Russian forces across the Dnipro River. Drones now increasingly target civilians in what residents call a “human safari.” The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko report from a city living under anti-drone nets and constant surveillance, showing how everyday life, from hospitals and schools to aid deliveries and cultural events, continues under threat, and why residents refuse to leave.
The video includes data from Tochnyi, an open-source intelligence network tracking civilian harm from Russian drone attacks.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_khersonhumansafari&utm_medium=humansafari
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- “Ask the team” with Asami Terajima
- Runtime
- 2:44
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Kyiv Independent's reporter Asami Terajima addresses concerns about morale within Ukraine’s armed forces as part of the regular “Ask the team” section.
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
- Discovering our new "Tryzub" collection
- Runtime
- 2:12
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The trident, known in Ukrainian as tryzub, is instantly recognizable as the central element of Ukraine's modern coat of arms. In Ukraine, the symbol's history stretches back millennia.
Our new collection traces the Ukrainian tryzub from its origins on the 10th-century coins of Volodymyr the Great to the new artistic interpretations from Ukraine's modern artists, featuring historic reconstructions alongside modern designs.
Shop now at the link in bio.
- Title
- EU hesitates on Russian assets, Belarus plays US | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 0:52
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on Europe’s failure to agree on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, as Kyiv warns it may run out of funds by spring. She also breaks down Belarus’s prisoner deal with the United States — and its simultaneous deepening military ties with Moscow — and ends with rare good news as two Ukrainian films are shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards.
Interview with Oscar-winning director of "20 Days in Mariupol" Mstyslav Chernov on his new documentary, "2000 Meters to Andriivka": https://youtu.be/nRo9d0QeHHo
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_199&utm_medium=199
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Ukraine runs low on cash as Europe hesitates on Russian assets | Ukraine This Week
- Runtime
- 13:26
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on Europe’s failure to agree on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, as Kyiv warns it may run out of funds by spring. She also breaks down Belarus’s prisoner deal with the United States — and its simultaneous deepening military ties with Moscow — and ends with rare good news as two Ukrainian films are shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards.
Interview with Oscar-winning director of "20 Days in Mariupol" Mstyslav Chernov on his new documentary, "2000 Meters to Andriivka": https://youtu.be/nRo9d0QeHHo
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=weekly_show_199&utm_medium=199
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- 4 days in Kherson, where Russian drones hunt civilians every day
- Runtime
- 45:23
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Liberated in 2022, Kherson is still under daily attack from Russian forces across the Dnipro River. Drones now increasingly target civilians in what residents call a “human safari.” The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko report from a city living under anti-drone nets and constant surveillance, showing how everyday life, from hospitals and schools to aid deliveries and cultural events, continues under threat, and why residents refuse to leave.
The video includes data from Tochnyi, an open-source intelligence network tracking civilian harm from Russian drone attacks.
Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.
Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_khersonhumansafari&utm_medium=humansafari
Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.
- Title
- Swedish, Danish ministers on US peace push and EU's role at the table
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek sits down with Denmark’s European Union Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre and Sweden’s European Union Affairs Minister Jessica Rosencrantz to discuss Ukraine’s progress toward EU accession, Hungary’s continued block on opening negotiation clusters, and the impact of Ukraine’s latest major corruption scandal. They also comment on the U.S. renewed push for a peace deal, outline the EU’s leverage through frozen Russian assets, and argue that a just and lasting peace must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SpVjLuOE6E&t=39s
- Title
- “Carol of the Bells" performed at one of DTEK’s thermal power plants destroyed by Russian strikes
- Runtime
- 1:42
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- In 1908, Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych was forced to flee his job as a singing teacher at a railway school in Hryshyno, Donetsk Oblast, after ongoing pressure from local authorities for his participation in riots during the Russian Revolution of 1905.
After fleeing, he settled in the town of Tulchyn in his native Vinnytsia Oblast, where he took up teaching and composing choral works based on Ukrainian folk songs, including “Shchedryk.”
The song that would become famous for harmonizing multiple voices was first performed during a Christmas concert by the student choir of the University of Kyiv on Dec. 29, 1916.
Today, the place where Ukrainians and English speakers are most likely to hear the melody is in the 1992 comedy “Home Alone.”
Former conductor of the Boston Pops, John Williams, who also scored the film, told the New York Times, “I don’t particularly recall who suggested its inclusion in the film, but it was u...
- Title
- Putin opens year-end presser with maximalist demands for Ukraine
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 19 that Moscow remains ready to engage in peace talks only on the basis of its maximalist demands as he began his annual end-of-year press conference.
“We are ready and willing to end this conflict by peaceful means based on the principles I outlined last June,” Putin said, adding that Russia does not see Ukraine’s “readiness” to discuss territorial issues.
The remarks underscore Moscow’s continued insistence on terms Kyiv has repeatedly rejected, even as pressure grows to explore diplomatic paths to ending Russia’s war.
Putin referred to demands he first publicly outlined in 2024, when he conditioned any ceasefire on the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four regions Russia claims to have annexed, despite not fully controlling any of them except most of Luhansk Oblast.
Moscow now focuses particular pressure on eastern Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv pull its troops out of the Donbas, including ...
- Title
- President Volodymyr Zelensky speech during the European Council meeting on Dec. 18
- Runtime
- 0:48
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- “No reward for the aggressor — that is the key principle of peace. And that is exactly what needs to be proven now,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky during an address to EU leaders during the European Council meeting on Dec. 18.
- Title
- Swedish, Danish ministers on US peace push and EU's role at the table
- Runtime
- 0:59
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek sits down with Denmark’s European Union Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre and Sweden’s European Union Affairs Minister Jessica Rosencrantz to discuss Ukraine’s progress toward EU accession, Hungary’s continued block on opening negotiation clusters, and the impact of Ukraine’s latest major corruption scandal. They also comment on the U.S. renewed push for a peace deal, outline the EU’s leverage through frozen Russian assets, and argue that a just and lasting peace must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SpVjLuOE6E&t=39s
