We reported on Ukraine in US presidential race: Here's what you helped us accomplish last week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

We hope you've been well.

This week, we planned a company-wide blood donation to help replenish the donor blood reserves in the face of recent Russian attacks on Kyiv. Things didn't go exactly as planned: Between the strict restrictions on donating blood (a weight of at least 50 kilos, no recent tattoos or surgeries, and Ukrainian citizenship or permanent residency, a high enough hemoglobin level and blood pressure), we had only two people successfully donate blood in the end. Pictured above our deputy chief editor Toma Istomina (left) and our office manager Sofa Koretska pose after their blood donations on Wednesday.

The rest of us? Well, we'll have to try again.

Meanwhile, we'd like to give a warm welcome to our 102 new members this week. We're proud to rely on our readers for funding.

Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent this week:

We reported on the developments in the U.S. presidential race, including Trump's selection of running mate and what it means for Ukraine – JD Vance is on record saying he "doesn't really care about what happens to Ukraine one way or another" – and the efforts currently underway to sway Trump to Ukraine's side.

One popular story last week was Asami Terajima's article about Ukraine's struggle to hold Chasiv Yar: As Russia advances toward a key eastern highway after a months-long siege on the town, Ukraine’s grip on Donetsk Oblast is threatened.

We wrote about the loss of Krynky in Kherson Oblast, where the Ukrainian military carried out missions on the Dnipro's left bank. Nate Ostiller and Martin Fornusek explain the gains and the cost of the perilous mission, and the complications caused by the swampy terrain and the delays of U.S. aid deliveries.

We reported on the inventory of military equipment: Chris York's explainers on the F-16s currently on their way to Ukraine and Russian T-90M tank losses, which have now hit 100, break down why these developments are important and what this means for the battlefield.

We reported on Ukraine's first responders. As Russian forces attack civilian areas, including residential buildings, on a near-daily basis in Ukraine, rescuers must go to the sites of aerial attacks to sort through the rubble in search of living and dead people. Our video report follows these rescuers to the scene of an attack in Kyiv, showing what it takes to be a first responder in wartime Ukraine.

We interviewed the Dutch ambassador to Kyiv about everything from F-16s to MH17 and Scythian gold. Jennes de Mol reflects on the five years he spent in Ukraine before he moves to his next assignment as the ambassador in Poland, saying that "the reality is, I became a little bit Ukrainian. I will leave Ukraine, but Ukraine will not leave me."

We wrote about the thousands of internally displaced people in Ukraine and the struggles they face as they have to adapt to a new life. Dinara Khalilova's story takes an in-depth look at the housing and employment crises IDPs face, and the devastating effects of war on mental health.

This week Belarus Weekly includes the details of the four Russian kamikaze drones that veered into Belarusian airspace after being launched at Ukrainian targets between July 11 and 16.

Our next community event will be a Q&A about press freedom in wartime Ukraine. Join us next Thursday as editor-in-chief Olga Rudenko and reporter Dinara Khalilova answer your questions about the continued pressures journalists face in Ukraine. Register and submit your questions here.

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