We reported on Russia's deadliest attack on Kyiv this year: Here's what you helped us do this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

Tuesday night marked another mass air attack, as Russia launched 472 aerial weapons — i.e. different types of drones and missiles — at Ukraine, with the strikes primarily targeting Kyiv.

It's not easy to keep working during Russia's war, but it can also be difficult to convey exactly how repeated, sometimes near-nightly attacks can wear on you. Audience engagement manager Elsa Court explains how Russia has turned sound into a weapon in an op-ed this week, writing about what Shahed-type suicide drones sound like during an attack on Kyiv and how the noise of constant bombardments can affect you.

Thank you for helping us bring the world the news from Ukraine amid Russia's all-out war. We'd like to give a warm welcome to the 182 new members who joined this week. We're grateful to be backed by you — thank you for being with us.

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

We reported on Russia's deadliest attack on Kyiv this year, where at least 28 people were killed and 117 more were injured. Kateryna Denisova and Natalia Yermak's article features the locals who survived the bombardment — a combined attack of almost 300 drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles — and then started to search for the missing. Pictured above is a photo taken by Anna Donets, showing smoke rising over Kyiv after the attack on June 17.

Our most widely read story was about Ukraine's domestic production of ballistic missiles. Earlier this week, Ukraine announced that its short-range Sapsan ballistic missile would go into mass production. Yuliia Taradiuk's story takes a look at what domestic ballistic missiles would mean for Ukraine's war effort, especially as it faces growing challenges securing weapons from the West.

We reported on Ukraine's ability to sustain its fight against Russia, as no new U.S. aid packages are on the horizon. Kateryna Hodunova's article explains the role of U.S. military aid in Ukraine's war effort, both for soldiers on the front line and for civilians in cities, and what alternatives Ukraine will have to replace U.S. support if the U.S. refuses to provide further assistance.

We also reported on Russia's new push into Sumy Oblast. Francis Farrell's article looks at Russia's rapid advances into Sumy Oblast — part of its larger spring-summer offensive — as well as Ukraine's faltering defensive fortifications and new threats from Russia, including the unjammable fiber optic drone.

We wrote about how an Israel-Iran war might affect Russia's war in Ukraine, as it might provide the economic boost Russia needs to continue fight against Ukraine, while the U.S. remains Israel's strongest backer, which might make it more difficult for Ukraine to acquire U.S. military aid. We also covered how Trump's push for peace is failing in both Ukraine and the Middle East for similar reasons.

We also explained why there are so many videos of Israel's air defense systems working — while there are none of Ukraine's. Yuliia Taradiuk and Chris York break down the differences between air defense systems, the geography of the countries, and the laws around filming air defense — which isn't legal in Ukraine.

Finally, to end on a positive note, last week we launched our "How to help Ukraine" newsletter — an exclusive benefit for our members that we developed based on your feedback. In our first edition, we featured the Leleka Foundation and their procurement of medical equipment for front-line medics. Thanks to your help, Leleka has already received $16,500 in donations, enough for 16.5 medical backpacks. We want to say a huge thank you for your help! According to Leleka, each backpack has enough equipment to save at least 10 lives. We really hope that you find this newsletter useful, especially for those who are looking for more ways to get involved or who are interested in learning more about Ukraine's civic society. We're proud to be backed by readers like you!

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