Ukrainian prisoners prepare to fight Russians for a chance at freedom
Several months ago, most of these infantrymen were serving their sentences behind bars. Now, they are part of the 1st Separate Assault Battalion, known as "Da Vinci."
Report
Russian gains near Pokrovsk put civilians in line of fire
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko visited Pokrovsk and joined volunteers evacuating civilians from neighboring Selydove, stranded due to Russia’s rapid advance.
Russian POWs speak about their capture in Kursk Oblast
The Kyiv Independent got exclusive access to the POWs captured during the Kursk operation and interviewed them about their motivations and experience of fighting for Russia.
Face-to-face with Russians in Ukrainian-occupied Kursk Oblast
The Kyiv Independent traveled into Russia’s Kursk Oblast with Ukrainian soldiers during the ongoing Ukrainian cross-border offensive in the area.
With Ukrainian infantry facing Russians near Toretsk
Watch our exclusive report from Ukrainian infantry positions near Toretsk as Russia continues its push in Donetsk Oblast.
How Ukrainian tanks stay alive in a war of drones
The Kyiv Independent visited a tank company of Ukraine's 110th Mechanized Brigade serving in one of the most intense parts of the eastern front line.
When Russia attacks, they come: Ukraine's first responders
Rescuers of the Mobile Rescue Center of the State Emergency Service come to the sites of aerial attacks to sort through the most difficult rubble in search of living and dead people. We followed them to understand what it takes to be a first responder in wartime Ukraine.
They fled from Russian bombs near Kharkiv. What awaits them now?
The Kyiv Independent follows one couple who escaped from embattled Vovchansk after losing their house and former life.
Between life and death in front-line Krasnohorivka
The Kyiv Independent visited Krasnohorivka, just 15 kilometers west of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, in February 2024, just two weeks before Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to break into the city.
Polish border protests threaten Ukraine-Poland relations
The Kyiv Independent visited the Shehyni-Medyka border crossing at the Polish-Ukrainian border on Feb. 14 where hundreds of trucks are unable to enter Ukraine as protestors block the border. With no end to the dispute in sight, Polish-Ukrainian relations are at risk of fraying.
American microchips are killing Ukrainians
Despite the West's effort to suffocate Russia's war machine through sanctions by banning export of crucial components, Western-made parts such as microchips are still found in Russian weapons. How did they end up there? Find out in our video.
Ukrainian Christmas: Traditions and hope in the midst of war
Join us as we explore what Christmas in Kyiv looks like during the war, witnessing the resilient spirit of Ukrainians coming together to infuse Christmas magic into the lives of those affected by the harsh realities of Russia's ongoing aggression.
Honoring Ukrainian soldiers killed by Russia's war
Cemeteries all across Ukraine are filled with the country’s flags, marking the graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers who took up arms to resist the Russian invasion and paid the ultimate price. Join us in honoring their courage and dedication.
Inside a Russian POW camp in Ukraine
Ukraine keeps locations of Russian prisoner of war detention centers a secret. The Kyiv Independent got exclusive access to a Russian POW camp in western Ukraine, providing a glimpse into the daily life of captured soldiers.
Ukrainian soldiers reclaim their lives at rehabilitation center
Ruslan Lysenko and Serhii Kopyshchyk are among those who have taken on the challenge of getting back on their feet by obtaining prostheses at the Superhumans Center near Lviv. Watch their journey.
Kakhovka Dam destruction: Tracking the catastrophe’s aftermath down the Dnipro River
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam had catastrophic consequences for several southern Ukrainian regions.The Kyiv Independent went to the affected areas to see the scale of the catastrophe.
Life in Borodianka 1 year after Russia’s devastating airstrikes
Borodianka, located about 40 kilometers from Kyiv, suffered greatly from Russian airstrikes. One year later, many of its residents continue to live there either because they have nowhere else to go or because they feel emotionally attached to their hometown.
Ukraine changes combat bonus system, soldiers warn it might lower morale
An overhaul of how the military determines bonus pay may cause more harm than good, six servicemen from multiple brigades told the Kyiv Independent. This change, which came into force in February, takes away the money that many service members need to both support their families and get vital military
How Kherson residents resisted Russian occupation
These Khersonians residents were openly protesting against the occupation. But as Russia tightened its grip, some of them continued their protest in more subtle ways – despite the risks of being kidnapped or killed.
Video: One year of Russia’s all-out war through the eyes of one Ukrainian newsroom
The Kyiv Independent was just a three-month-old startup when Russia launched an all-out war against Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. A year later, its team members look back at making the choice on whether to stay or flee, reporting from the front line.
How Mykolaiv residents survive without drinking water supply
In April, Russian forces wrecked the water supply line for the city of Mykolaiv. Since then, Mykolaiv residents have had no drinking water supply, relying for the past 10 months on alternative sources. Their main source of water is a system of wells.
Survivors of Russian torture chamber in Kherson share stories of abuse
Two survivors spoke to the Kyiv Independent about what they had endured.
Ukraine's National Opera loses members to Russia’s war, says art is always political
Following a three-month break after the start of Russia’s all-out war, the National Opera of Ukraine resumed its performances. With some of its members serving in the army, and having dropped all Russian pieces from the repertoire, the theater team argues that art is always political. Culture Ministry: Russia
One day of a Kyiv family struggling with power outages
The Kyiv Independent spent a day with a family in Kyiv that is currently experiencing the hardships of living amid power outages.
In Chornobaivka, children face one obstacle after another to go to school
In the village of Chornobaivka in Kherson Oblast, children had to hide in bomb shelters, schools were closed during occupation, and now, even after liberation, power outages and Russia's attacks make studying nearly impossible.
‘Killed for nothing’: Evidence of Russian war crimes emerges in liberated Chornobaivka
The liberation of Ukrainian settlements from Russian occupation inevitably comes with the revelation of new war crimes committed by Russian soldiers. In the liberated village of Chornobaivka, Kherson Oblast, at least 18 people were killed during its occupation.
This museum in Kherson is the recent victim of Russian robbery
ne of the recent victims of Russian barbarism is the Kherson Regional Local Lore Museum, which used to have around 180,000 exhibits in its collection. Now, the shelves of some of its halls stand completely empty.
Kherson volunteers risked their lives to help others during Russian occupation
The humanitarian situation has been worsening in Kherson since Russian forces occupied the city in March and continues to be difficult even after liberation. Local volunteers share how they helped fellow residents by delivering medicine and food .
Joyful tears as Kherson welcomes first train from Kyiv after Russian occupation
Dozens gathered at the Kherson railway station on Nov. 19 to greet the first train from Kyiv that arrived in the city after eight months of Russia's occupation. Many have reunited with their loved ones for the first time in months.
‘Three weeks of hell' — residents of Chernihiv Oblast village recall Russian occupation
Like many other villages in northern Ukraine, Lukashivka was among the first to take the brunt of Russia's full-scale invasion. For almost the entire month of March, its residents lived under shelling and occupation as the Russian army was destroying their homes and killing their neighbors.
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