We launched our own line of merchandise: Here's what you've helped us achieve in the last week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support!

The big news of the week is that we launched the Kyiv Independent store, offering our branded merch as well as special collections featuring Ukrainian artists. As our members, you're eligible for a 15% discount with the code WELOVEOURMEMBERS (because we love you)!

Pictured above are members of the Kyiv Independent team, wearing items from the core collection. For the first three months, the profits from this collection will be donated to the Ukrainian charity Repower, which helps front-line medics recover both mentally and physically so they can continue their work.

Below are some additional photos from our branded core collection. We're also looking for photos of our members wearing our merch, especially in front of landmarks so we can show the support for Ukraine and independent journalism all around the world. If you'd like to share a photo, please email community@kyivindependent.com. We really appreciate it!

We'd also like to give a warm welcome to our 87 new members this week. Thank you for standing with us.

Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent this week:

We reported on Ukraine's unprecedented attack on Russia's Kursk Oblast. Francis Farrell's story explains the attack on Russian soil, involving a Ukrainian force likely numbering hundreds of troops and dozens of vehicles strong, unlike previous incursions typically involving small units of pro-Ukraine Russian nationals. You can follow the live updates on our home page.

Our next community event will be a Q&A with our U.S. correspondent Owen Racer about the 2024 presidential elections and what the results could mean for Ukraine. You can register and submit your questions here. Read Owen's latest story about pro-Ukrainian lobbying efforts hoping to sway Trump to oppose Putin.

We reported on the first F-16s that have arrived in Ukraine. After more than a year of waiting, likely around 10 F-16s are finally flying in Ukraine's skies, and can provide critical additional support.

We wrote about the shortage of workers in Ukraine. Andrea Januta's story explains how Ukrainian businesses are forced to rethink their operations, as millions of Ukrainians are out of the labor force due to migration, internal displacement, and mobilization.

We published a video report about how street culture is uniting displaced people in Lviv. As Russia's war rages on, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes. In Lviv, one center for IDPs offers a new kind of solace, bringing people together and rebuilding bonds through street culture.

We published an op-ed by our war reporter Francis Farrell about the difficult road to peace without catastrophe in Ukraine, saying that "Kyiv and the West must not let themselves sleepwalk into a losing war in Ukraine; there is still so much to lose."

This week Belarus Weekly includes how five Russian kamikaze drones entered Belarusian airspace – the largest observed incursion of Russian drones into Belarus – and during the largest drone attack on Kyiv this year.

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