We're reporting on the ballistic missile attack on Kyiv this morning: Here's what you helped us do this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

We hope you're doing well this Friday.

As the holiday season approaches, Russia launched five ballistic missiles at Kyiv this morning, reminding us of the realities of war.

Loud explosions were reported across the city, with fires starting in at least four of Kyiv's neighborhoods due to falling missile debris.

Pictured above, hotel guests left the heavily damaged Holiday Inn after the ballistic missile strike this morning. The photo is by Sasha Maslov for the Kyiv Independent, and you can find the rest of our photo story here.

We'd also like to give a warm welcome to the 105 new members who joined our community this week. 

We're fortunate to have a loyal community of supporters behind us, as we face whatever Russia's war will bring in 2025. It's thanks to members like you that we have a solid source of revenue to keep reporting no matter what — and one less thing to worry about.

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

We reported on North Korean troops fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Asami Terajima's article analyzes how the boost of manpower from 12,000 North Korean troops has changed the battlefield, allowing Russia to advance a few kilometers, further pushing out Ukrainian troops.

We wrote an explainer on Ukraine's conscription age. Elsa Court's article breaks down why Ukraine chooses to not draft men under 25, even as the U.S. pressures Kyiv to lower the draft age.

One of widely-read story this week was about Russia's advance near Pokrovsk. Kateryna Hodunova's story takes a close look at Russia's impending capture of Pokrovsk, the last stronghold in the southwestern part of Donetsk Oblast, and what this might mean for the future of the war.

We interviewed the Swedish defense minister Pal Jonson about Europe’s security and Ukraine’s future, as Sweden builds ties with Ukraine’s defense industry. Watch the video interview here.

We analyzed what might happen to Ukraine's F-16 fleet if Trump were to halt U.S. aid. Khrystyna Zhevlakova's article looks at the U.S.'s role in maintaining Ukraine's F-16 fleet and if Europe has the ability to fill the potential gap.

We wrote about two brothers separated by war, forever. Daria Shulzhenko's story shows the brutal reality of Russia's full-scale invasion: One brother Mykyta remains in Russian captivity at age 25, while his younger brother Maksym died earlier this year at age 12, in a Russian missile strike on his hometown.

We interviewed Belarusian political prisoners about their experience with the Lukashenko regime ahead of the country's elections. Kate Tsurkan's article sheds light on the inhumane conditions and extreme violence political prisoners have to face, with one woman recounting "There wasn't a single day (at the prison in Homel) where you didn't feel your life was in danger."

Finally, to end our weekly update on a little bit of good news: We have over 1,100 members who have already placed their pin on our community map! It's genuinely incredible to see how many people continue to support us, all around the world — it's a true bright spot for us, despite the reality of war. Thank you for continuing to stay informed and engaged when it matters the most. We wouldn't be here without you.

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