We gave a lecture about building trust in our community – thank you for your support! Here's what you helped us achieve this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

Earlier this week, head of marketing Yerbolat Bekbau and community manager Brooke Manning gave a lecture in Kyiv (in Ukrainian!) about building trust with our readers and our community – and we want to say thank you for your trust. It's because of readers like you that we're able to bring locally-produced news from Ukraine to the rest of the world. Thank you for standing with us.

Pictured above, Brooke (left) and Yerbolat enjoy a glass of complimentary wine at the lecture. We work in collaboration with the Tellers Agency for these talks, and you can keep up with their announcements and events in Kyiv here.

We'd like to welcome our 114 new members this week. We're proud to be backed by this community. Cheers to you.

Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent this week:

We reported from Kharkiv Oblast. Francis Farrell reported on the Russian missile strike on a Kharkiv printing press, reducing it to ashes and killing seven people. The attack is the latest in a series of intensified attacks against civilian targets in the oblast, forcing people to evacuate, like this couple who escaped from embattled Vovchansk after losing their house and former life.

We wrote about Russia's new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and what it means from a military strategy perspective. Igor Kossov's article explains how the offensive is stretching Ukrainian defenses, making it easier for Russia to advance in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

We also wrote about Russia's newly appointed defense minister Andrey Belousov. Oleg Sukhov's article analyzes Belousov's appointment as an attempt to further streamline Russia's wartime economy and solve the poor logistics and lack of strategic planning seen over the past two years – a dangerous development in the war.

We reported on the attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and what this means for the country. Martin Fornusek's story breaks down how the assassination attempt has escalated already palpable social and political tensions in Slovakia.

This week, Belarus Weekly looks at reports that Russia has added an additional 400 Belarusians to its wanted list, including independent journalists, human rights advocates, former political prisoners, and prominent opposition figures.

We want to hear from you! We are thinking about selling Kyiv Independent merch, and we want to know what products you'd be interested in – you can join the conversation with our digital marketing specialist Owain Jones in Discord. Here are the instructions for linking your Patreon and Discord accounts and getting access to our community server. Our social media manager Liza Nechyporuk is also looking for reader testimonials about why you support the Kyiv Independent – find the additional details in Discord here.

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