We reported on Russia’s renewed mass attacks on Ukraine — and the growing illusion of peace: Here’s what you helped us cover this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

This week, Ukraine faced the largest missile attack of the winter as a supposed energy ceasefire collapsed. As Russia continues its attacks, we continue reporting on the ground despite power outages, disruption to heating, and sleepless nights. 

The support from our community is carrying us through this winter. We'd like to give a warm welcome to the 262 new members who joined this week. Thank you for choosing to stand by us in these times. 

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

We covered Russia’s latest wave of attacks on Ukraine, including the largest missile strike of the winter. Russia launched a massive barrage of missiles and drones toward Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on Feb. 3, targeting energy infrastructure across the country. This signaled the end to a supposed energy ceasefire, announced just days before by U.S. President Donald Trump. 

We explained how Trump’s announcement of a brief halt in Russian strikes on energy infrastructure quickly unravelled, with experts warning that Moscow was likely using the pause to buy time rather than signaling any real move toward peace. After Trump claimed that Putin “kept his word,” we published an article relaying Kyiv’s bewildered reaction to the U.S. president's comments. 

We reported on how energy equipment donated by Ukraine's partners is sitting idle as Ukrainians freeze. Business reporter Dominic Culverwell details how factors like safety regulations, a lack of specialists, and a political blame game are hampering Ukraine’s ability to use urgently needed parts to repair its battered grid. 

We wrote about how Ukraine appears in the latest Epstein files. Kateryna Denisova and Oleg Sukhov reported on newly released documents linking Epstein to contacts in Ukraine, including modeling agencies, travel arrangements from Kyiv and Odesa, business dealings, and discussions of Ukraine’s politics during the 2019 presidential elections. Oleg Sukhov and Tim Zadorozhnyy also explain Epstein’s Russia connections in a separate article. 

We also wrote about how Moscow is struggling to avoid full mobilization as Russian losses in Ukraine mount. Tania Myronyshena explains how the Kremlin is relying on coercion, deception, and recruitment from poorer regions and occupied territories — while avoiding mobilization in major cities — as casualties rise and financial pressures grow.

We covered how the Kremlin drafted Russia’s hackers to attack the West. Kollen Post’s article details how Russian military intelligence built and directed cyber groups to carry out large-scale DDoS attacks across Europe, recruiting volunteers, using crypto incentives, and turning hacktivism into a state-controlled weapon of war.

We also published an interview with Keith Kellogg on why he left Trump’s White House to be “free to talk” about Ukraine. Tim Zadorozhnyy reports on Kellogg’s decision to step outside government in order to speak more openly about the war, as the White House confirmed his departure had been planned in advance. 

We also interviewed the EU ambassador to Ukraine. Deputy chief editor Oleksiy Sorokin spoke to Katarina Mathernova about sanctions against Russia, security guarantees, and why Europe must be involved in shaping Ukraine’s future. Watch the video here. 

We spoke to a Canadian female fighter who is flying drones in a Ukrainian unit. Canadian volunteer Brittney Shki-Giizis left the Canadian military to fight in Ukraine and spoke to Jared Goyette about why she chose to come to Ukraine, her experience of being a woman in the Ukrainian military, and the realities of drone warfare. Watch the interview here. 

On a final note: We felt compelled to respond with an editorial after Jeff Bezos gutted the Washington Post, carrying out mass layoffs that included foreign bureaus. 

The staff of the Kyiv bureau, who have done outstanding reporting on Russia’s war in Ukraine, are among those cut. The fate of the Washington Post is painful not just because it signals a loss of English-language reporting from Ukraine, but also because of our own experience of media ownership.  

Back in 2021, another wealthy businessman fired the staff of the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s main English-language newspaper, as he wanted more control over the newsroom. The journalists refused and went on to found the Kyiv Independent. This lesson — that journalism cannot be subject to the whims of wealthy owners — is why we rely on our readers for the majority of our funding.

So, thank you once again for standing by our side, as we continue to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world — even as many newsrooms are forced to shrink or divert resources from Ukraine.