Editor’s note: Ukrainian soldiers featured in this story are identified by first name only since they spoke without authorization from their command. Nearly four months after Kyiv launched a surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, some Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly pessimistic about the costly operation. “Aviation is
Ukraine is grateful to Western partners for their support, but the pledged assistance is arriving too slowly, complicating the situation on the front lines, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg published on July 4.
"Russia began a new wave of offensive actions in this (Kharkiv's) direction. Ukraine met them (Russian forces) there with our troops, brigades, and artillery," Zelensky said.
Ukraine will look to launch a counteroffensive in 2025 with the support of the approved $61 billion aid package from the United States, as well as additional aid funding, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the Financial Times on May 4.
Russia could launch a new counteroffensive at the end of May or the beginning of June, likely targeting Kharkiv, Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, told Politico on April 5.
As Ukraine prepares counteroffensive actions in 2024, continued delays in Western security assistance could postpone the efforts to regain a theater-wide initiative against Russia, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed in their daily report on March 6.
The main goal of the Ukrainian forces is to stabilize the situation on the front line and create an offensive grouping to conduct counteroffensive actions in 2024, Ukraine’s Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Pavliuk said on national television March 6.
"Russian forces have regained the theater-wide initiative and will be able to pursue offensive operations when and where they choose as long as they hold the initiative," the ISW said.
Editor’s note: Full names and the deployment locations of the soldiers interviewed for this story are not disclosed since they weren't authorized to speak to the press. KHERSON OBLAST – Mortars are the first things that greet the Ukrainian soldiers who are lucky enough to make it across the Dnipro
Episode #30 is dedicated to recent front-line updates, including Ukraine's first use of ATACMS and Russia's offensive on Avdiivka.
NESKUCHNE, DONETSK OBLAST – Vitalii Ivanov stepped gingerly across the messy floor through the kitchen to what was once the living room of his family home. Scattered across the floor and countertops were the iconic markers of a space that was once occupied by Russian soldiers. Cardboard military ready meals complete
Editor’s note: The soldiers featured in this article are identified by first name and callsign only for security reasons. ZAPORIZHZHIA OBLAST – Even months before it started, just the idea of Ukraine’s large-scale counteroffensive in 2023 carried on its shoulders a historic weight. Having held back waves of brutal
Episode #26 is dedicated to the question of when Ukraine’s counteroffensive might end, and what comes next for Ukraine when it does.
Ukrainian forces have liberated the village of Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast from Russian control, military units and representatives reported on the evening of Sept. 17. The successful recapture of the village, just five kilometers south of Russian-occupied Bakhmut, was first announced on Facebook by the Liut ("Anger") Brigade, formed by
Editor's note: The Kyiv Independent is not disclosing the soldiers interviewed in the story by their full names due to security concerns amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The article also contains photos that some readers may find disturbing. DONETSK OBLAST – Twenty-nine-year-old assault company commander Bohdan knows what’s at
Editor’s note: Though the commanders quoted in this story are public figures, the other soldiers are identified by first names and callsigns only due to security reasons. DONETSK OBLAST — In a wide field in Donetsk Oblast, the silence of what would otherwise be a sleepy August afternoon is broken
Episode #21 of our weekly video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” is dedicated to Ukraine's counteroffensive, gains and setbacks of the last two months, and what to expect going forward.
Since mid-July, drones and missiles have regularly targeted Russian military depots and infrastructure in occupied Crimea. Russian proxies reported that the Chonhar Bridge, serving as Russia's fastest rail route from occupied Crimea to the southern front line, was allegedly hit multiple times on Aug. 6. The attacks on Russian-occupied Crimea
Fresh videos of Western-made armor rolling across open fields, a new settlement liberated, and a lot of noise on Russian military blogger Telegram channels heralded to the world on July 28 that the Ukrainian summer counteroffensive had upped its gear. Almost eight weeks into the long-awaited operation that began on
Key developments on July 27: * Ukrainian forces advance south of Bakhmut, and reportedly ramp up counteroffensive southeast * In southeast, Staromaiorske village is liberated * Ukraine's parliament extends martial law, mobilization * Russia strikes Kharkiv Oblast, killing 1, injuring 4 Ukrainian forces have liberated Staromaiorske village in Donetsk Oblast, according to the footage
This June was meant to be all about the great Ukrainian counteroffensive. After months of waiting, dozens of public statements from exasperated Ukrainian officials bound to silence, and even more analyses from experts and commentators in the media, the moment finally came when Ukrainian soldiers on their Leopards and Bradleys
Key developments on June 30: * Zaluzhnyi: Advances daily despite lack of necessary Western equipment * Ukraine to strengthen northern borders, Zelensky says * EU wants interest from Russian money to help Ukraine Ukraine's forces advance daily by "at least 500 meters" during the summer counteroffensive despite the lack of military hardware like
Editor’s note: The Kyiv Independent spent a day with soldiers from the 80th Separate Assault Brigade in June, and the story is comprised of interviews with them about their experience near Bakhmut. The soldiers are identified by their names or callsigns, and their deployment locations are not revealed for
Key developments on June 22: * Russia considers 'radiation leak' at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, warns Zelensky * Explosions reported in occupied Crimea * Russian proxies claim Ukraine hit bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Ukraine * EU provides $1.6 billion to Ukraine According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia is considering a terrorist attack at
Key developments on June 21: * Ukrainian forces report further advance in the south * Germany delivers Patriot missile system to Ukraine * Russia fortifies defense lines in Crimea, creates branch of Black Sea Fleet in occupied Mariupol * Russian forces attack 10 regions, kill 4 people on June 20 * US to send more
Key developments on June 20: * Russian forces attack first responders in Kherson Oblast, killing 1, injuring 7 * Ukrainian forces reportedly advance south as fierce fighting is ongoing * Evacuation in flooded Kherson Oblast finished, emergency service says * Biden: Threat of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons is 'real' * Budanov: Russian forces plant
Key developments on June 19: * Defense Ministry confirms liberation of Piatykhatky in southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but reports ‘difficult situation' in the east * UK’s sanctions to last until Russia pays for Ukraine's reconstruction * Russia launches drones, missiles at Ukraine overnight * Russian officials claim new attacks in Russia, occupied Crimea. Ukraine
Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Independent introduces soldiers interviewed for the story by their first names or callsigns due to security reasons. DONETSK OBLAST – Islam’s mind was empty of thoughts and feelings as he crawled carefully towards the Russian trenches near Siversk, with grenades prepared. “You crawl forward and
Episode #12 of our weekly video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” is dedicated to the beginning of Ukraine's much-awaited counteroffensive, its early results, and what to expect in the weeks to come.
Russian troops have increased their attacks and densely mined the fields to stop Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive, but Ukrainian forces are "advancing confidently," Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told Ukrainian TV on June 14.
Ukrainian forces have already liberated at least four villages and seven kilometers of land as the long-awaited counteroffensive is ongoing and will "continue to make progress," anonymous Western officials told Sky News.
The Pentagon said on June 14 that it has currently no confirmation about the alleged loss of 16 U.S-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine's counteroffensive.
