We published our first story with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project: Here's what you've helped us achieve in the last week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

We published our first story with Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. The OCCRP is a major investigative journalism organization, and the Kyiv Independent is one of only two Ukrainian media outlets that are member centers of OCCRP in Ukraine.

Our first story with the OCCRP is based on our documentary about Russia's use of sexual violence in Ukraine – and how we identified two of the perpetrators based on first hand accounts. Read the story on our website, as well as on the OCCRP's.

Pictured above is a frame from the documentary, showing one of the film's heroines, Maryna, and her son in the park.

We'd like to give a warm welcome to our 132 new members this week. Thank you for standing with us – we wouldn't be here without readers like you.

Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent this week:

We analyzed the outcome of Russia's new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast. Francis Farrell's article takes a close look at Russia's operation, now bogged down two weeks after its start, if it can be considered a success and what this means for the future of the war. You can also join our next Q&A, which will be a war update with Francis Farrell next week – register and submit your questions here.

Our most popular story this week was Chris York's explainer on the Russian Su-57 fighter plane, which breaks down the hype versus the reality of Moscow's allegedly cutting-edge fighter jets, after at least one jet (possibly two) were hit in a Ukrainian strike.

Another popular story this week was Martin Fornusek's piece on France’s Mirage 2000-5 jets and how Ukraine can use them, after Macron pledged an unspecified number of the supersonic jets for Ukraine – as well as training for pilots – at the D-Day commemorations on June 6.

We wrote about the new "sweeping" sanctions the U.S. has issued against Russia. Nate Ostiller's article explains how these sanctions attempt to undercut Russia's war machine, targeting the limited international financial connections Russia has remaining, and if it will make a difference this time.

Our research unit KI Insights will take part in an online panel discussion "Frozen Russian assets: How to confiscate in favor of Ukraine" on Monday, in collaboration with the Center for Economic Strategy and the International Center for Ukrainian Victory. They will discuss what the G7 position means for Ukraine and the fate of frozen Russian assets. Panelists include representatives of the Ukraine's president's office, the IMF, and legal experts. This is a free event open to everyone, in English with Ukrainian translation. Register and submit your questions here.

We wrote about Ukraine's critical energy situation, as Russia's severely increased attacks have pushed Ukrainian energy infrastructure towards "the worst case scenario" – an estimated 20 hours of blackouts a day – according to the country's largest private energy company DTEK.

We reported on Ukraine's efforts to recruit prisoners to bolster the number of front-line troops. Alexander Khrebet's story from a prison in Zhytomyr Oblast explains how new legislation will allow those convicted of minor offenses to get parole in exchange for joining an assault unit, as well as monthly pay and social welfare for soldiers.

This week Belarus Weekly looks at Poland's decision to set up a special government commission to investigate Russian and Belarusian influence in Poland, as the country's officials maintain that Poland is facing intensified hybrid attacks from Russia and Belarus.

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