We reported on the ground from Kharkiv Oblast where Russia started a new offensive: Here's what you helped us achieve this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

Pictured above is our reporter Francis Farrell reporting from the town of Vovchansk, only about five kilometers (three miles) south of the Russian-Ukrainian border, which now faces annihilation as Russia has opened a new front.

We'd like to welcome our 109 new members this week. Your contribution helps us send reporters like Francis to places like Vovchansk, the new front of Russia's war. You're helping us document the reality of Russia's brutal, ongoing invasion, tell the human stories of war, and bring the world the truth. Thank you for standing with us.

Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent this week:

Our most popular story last week was Francis Farrell's field report from Vovchansk – now ground zero of Russia’s new offensive into Kharkiv Oblast – which gives an up-close look at how the police are working to evacuate civilians as Russia's glide bombs decimate the town. The Kyiv Independent joined local police on their mission on May 11, and you can watch the video report here.

We also reported from Kharkiv – Ukraine's most-bombed major city. Chris York's article takes a look at how day-to-day life in Kharkiv continues, despite increasingly frequent air attacks, particularly guided bombs from Russia's Belgorod region, and citizens' experiences of the war, after he spent 48 hours in the city earlier this month.

We wrote an explainer about the effectiveness of Russia's glide bombs. Dinara Khalilova's article breaks down why Russian offensives, like in Kharkiv Oblast, rely on glide bombs and what makes them so effective, despite being a simple and low cost munition.

We answered your questions about the war. Thank you to those who sent something in! This round of members' questions included topics such as what would and wouldn't be considered a fair peace plan, current attitudes towards mobilization, and how the next Ukrainian and Russian offensives could go. You can read our answers here.

This week, Belarus Weekly looks at a bill in Ukraine's parliament that, if passed, would grant citizenship to foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine, and would also allow temporary residency permits to be issued to those with expired passports, a move especially significant for Belarusians.

This Thursday was Vyshyvanka Day, an international holiday dedicated to Ukraine's traditional embroidered shirt. Our photo story shows how this Ukrainian tradition, which has skyrocketed in popularity since the EuroMaidan Revolution, has been preserved throughout history.

Thank you for standing by our side as we bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.