The next generation of Ukrainian journalists is graduating from our J-School: Here's what you helped us accomplish in the last week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

This week, we conclude our second annual J-School: a two-week program where the Kyiv Independent staff and outside media experts provide training for young Ukrainian journalists in English-language journalism and media management.

Pictured above, business editor Lili Bivings lectures in the first session of the Kyiv Independent's J-School earlier this November.

We'd like to give a warm welcome to the 313 new members who joined our community this week — we've set a goal to reach 1,000 new members in celebration of the Kyiv Independent's third birthday, and we've overwhelmed at the amount of support our readers have shown. It's thanks to you we're prepared to face whatever 2025 will bring.

Thank you for your continued support!

Here's what you helped us accomplish at the Kyiv Independent this week:

We reported from Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. Boldizsar Gyori's article explains the situation in Kupiansk — a city that has already been under Russian occupation and liberated — as Russian troops approach once again and attacks leave the residents without basic necessities, like water.

Our most popular story this week was about the reactions of Ukrainians to Joe Rogan's rant on his podcast — where he argued that Ukrainians should negotiate with the Kremlin, as opposed to pursuing military action —with one interviewee saying in response "Honestly, go f**k yourself. Come here, live here, and truly understand what’s happening instead of making assumptions with your headlines."

We also wrote about Trump ally Tucker Carlson's criticism of the Biden administration supplying Ukraine land mines. On a podcast, the conservative talking head described Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator and claimed that helping Ukraine is not about defending democracy. We interviewed experts that explained the need for additional military aid for Ukraine.

We told the stories of those who survived Russian missile strikes. Dasha Shulzhenko's article shows the people who have lost health, loved ones, and homes as a result of Russian attacks.

We reported on how Ukraine attempts to reform mobilization efforts to combat draft-dodging. Natalia Yermak's story explains how some currently avoid mobilization — officials in the Ukrainian healthcare system are suspected of taking bribes in exchange for fake disability documents — and what steps might be taken

We interviewed U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Steven Pifer, about the political implications of Russia's attack on Dnipro with the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile last week, with Pifer saying "it's not a credible threat."

This week, Belarus Weekly takes a look at Belarusian dictator Lukashenko's threats that he will shut down the country's internet in the case of protests during the 2025 presidential election.

We recently launched a new feature for members: our digital community map. We wanted a way to showcase our global network of supporters and say thank you for making it all possible. You can add your own pin to the map here, either with your first name or anonymously.

We also launched our winter collection on the Kyiv Independent Store, which draws inspiration from Ukrainian Christmas traditions including vertep — a mobile puppet theater — and the wheat sheaf decoration called didukh. Don't forget you're eligible for a 15% discount with the code WELOVEOURMEMBERS (because we love you).

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