We covered Ukraine's country-wide protests in response to the controversial law that removes independence from key anti-corruption institutions: Here's what you helped us achieve this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

On Tuesday, Ukraine broke out in protests — the first country-wide protests since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion — after Zelensky confirmed he signed Law 12414, a controversial piece of legislation that effectively removes independence from two key anti-corruption institutions.

The Kyiv Independent published an editorial about the anti-democratic backslide, showing that the law isn't an isolated incident, but part of a massive crackdown. The editorial also explains why Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure is so important, especially as it was one of the wins of the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, a democratic, pro-Western movement that overthrew the corrupt, pro-Russian president. Over 100 protesters were killed before the revolution prevailed.

Yesterday, after country-wide protests, Zelensky submitted a new draft law, that aims at restoring the independence of the anti-corruption bodies.

Our deputy chief editor Toma Istomina also shares in an op-ed her experiences protesting during EuroMaidan 12 years ago and seeing the younger generation protest this week. You can read the entire opinion piece here.

"I don’t know whether the bill will ultimately pass, whether any new contentious amendments will be made, but what I do know is that the path Ukraine set upon during the EuroMaidan Revolution — and the sacrifices it has made and continues to make for it — isn’t something any president can pause or reverse.

Power in Ukraine belongs to its people. That’s what our Constitution says. That’s what 18-year-olds are proving in squares across the country today."

Pictured above, Toma works on her laptop, editing a news story, during the anti-corruption protests in Kyiv on Thursday night – the protesters are seen in the background.

We want to say thank you for your support of independent journalism in Ukraine — your contributions give us the financial stability and the freedom to report, without having to depend on government funding, a wealthy owner, or anything else that could threaten our editorial independence.

We've received a lot of messages from our community — words of support, as well as questions about the law and what goes into our editorial decision-making process — and we're committed to help you understand the situation.

We're also proud to know that our members care, and that you're following the domestic political developments in Ukraine, as the country fights for a more democratic and free future. Thank you for your support and your solidarity.

We'd like to give a warm welcome and thanks to the 164 new members who joined this week. We wouldn't be here without you.

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

We reported on Ukraine's country-wide protests in response to the controversial law that strips two anti-corruption bodies of their independence. Tania Myronyshena's story covers why Ukrainians are protesting and responses from activists. We also interviewed Ukrainian soldiers about Zelensky anti-corruption crackdown, with one battalion commander calling the move a "a fatal mistake of the authorities."

We published an explainer about Zelensky's justification for signing the protested law — that reportedly its purpose was to curtail Russian influence. Oleg Sukhov's article analyzes this claim, and his other explainer breaks down the anti-corruption crackdown and why it's happening now.

We also interviewed a Ukrainian lawmaker who opposed the signing of the bill. Oleksiy Sorokin sat down with Anastasia Radina, a member of Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, to discuss the controversial signing in-depth and what this law means for Ukraine's democracy.

We also wrote about what Zelensky's new draft law might mean for protests. Andrea Januta and Yana Prots take a look at how Zelensky is reversing course on the anti-corruption crackdown, including what the new draft law aims to do and if it might quell the protests across Ukraine.

This week, one of our most widely-read stories was about a U.S. general threatening to invade Russia's Kaliningrad. Chris York's article breaks down the strategic significance of the exclave — one of the most militarized places in Europe — and the comment from U.S. Army general Chris Donahue that NATO forces could take control of Kaliningrad "in a timeframe that is unheard of."

Another popular story was about what Ukraine could hit in Russia with U.S. Tomahawk missiles. Yuliia Taradiuk's article explains why Ukraine wants Tomahawk cruise missiles in its arsenal, after Trump reportedly considered supplying the missiles to Ukraine, and which targets in Russia would be within range, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.

We wrote about the thousands of Ukrainian civilians in Russian captivity. Estimates calculate that anywhere between 2,000-16,000 Ukrainian civilians have been imprisoned by Russia — though securing their freedom is an enormous challenge, as civilians don't legally qualify for POW exchanges. Myroslava Chaiun's article tells the stories of Ukrainians illegally detained by Russia, the horrific conditions they faced, and how they might be freed.

We published a video explainer on how sanctions against Russia work. Despite sweeping sanctions imposed on Russia, its economy hasn't crashed yet. Dominic Culverwell explains misconceptions around sanctions and the current state of Russia's wartime economy.

Finally to end on a positive note, we've been raising money to purchase a vehicle for the Kyiv Independent — a first for us as an organization. We're planning to buy a reliable SUV for our front-line reporters, so they have more flexibility and don't have to depend on rented vehicles while they're in the field. We’ve already raised over $2,400 out of our goal of $20,000. If you'd like to make a donation towards our goal, you can email our donations manager Lisha at l.shmidt@kyivindependent.com. Thank you for your support!

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