We reported on the historic prisoner swap: Here's what you helped us achieve this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

We hope your week is going well.

On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered on Kyiv's Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square to commemorate the Ukrainian POWs killed in Olenivka camp explosion two years ago and to raise awareness for those still in captivity.

On July 28, 2022, Russia deliberately caused an explosion in the Olenivka POW camp, which killed at least 54 Ukrainian POWs and wounded over 150, and included members of the Azov Regiment, who had been captured in Mariupol. In the two years since, still no one has been prosecuted for this war crime.

Photos from the demonstration are included above and at the end of this email, all taken by our videographer Olena Zashko. We've recently tried including additional photos at the end of our weekly community letter – is this something you're interested in? You can share your feedback about additional photos – or the weekly letter in general – in the comments below or by emailing community@kyivindependent.com.

We'd also like to give a warm welcome to our 127 new members this week. Thank you for helping fund our reporting.

Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent this week:

We reported on the historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West, the largest in 15 years. Nate Ostiller's piece explains who was released from Russia, including two Americans: journalist Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan, as well as Russian opposition leaders and anti-war activists. On the other hand, those released to Russia included killers, spies, and smugglers.

We reported from the front lines near Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast. Reporter Francis Farrell and videographer Olena Zashko spent a day with the Ukrainian infantry soldiers, holding the last positions before no man's land. Watch their video report here. You can also watch Francis answering questions about what it's like to report on Russia's war, from choosing stories to planning trips to the front line.

We reported about the decision of Kyiv and Warsaw to form a military unit from Ukrainians in Europe. Dinara Khalilova's article breaks down everything we know about the Ukrainian Legion so far: The soldiers are expected to be trained and equipped in Poland, with the right to return to Europe after a rotation in Ukraine.

We wrote about Kamala Harris' potential running mates. Owen Racer's article takes a look at the top three VP contenders and their stances on Ukraine.

We wrote about the multi-million dollar Ukrainian company Petcube. Dominic Culverwell's story looks at how a noisy chihuahua started it all, the company's innovations over the years, and how they've faced challenges since the full-scale invasion.

We also wrote about air alarm sirens are increasingly normalized for Ukrainians even in heavily-targeted cities. Kate Tsurkan explains why some don't seek shelter during air raid alerts, with one Kharkiv resident saying "I think that people who stay in Kharkiv today accept the strict rules of the game and understand that every day and every moment could indeed be the last."

This week Belarus Weekly includes Lukashenko's release of a German citizen, who was sentenced to death by firing squad, as part of the historic prisoner swap, as well as reports of political prisoners in Belarus being forced to petition for pardon.

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