We reported on Ukraine’s battlefield gains, Russia’s recent troubles, and the future of the war — Here's what you helped us cover this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support. This week, we were glad to meet some of our members in Stockholm, where Olesia Bida, author of our latest documentary, along with Yevheniia Motorevska and Anastasiia Mozghova from the War Crimes Investigations Unit, presented the investigative documentary, “The War They Play,” and met with our community. It was a chance to discuss our reporting on war crimes, share insights from behind the scenes, and connect with the readers who make this work possible. The photo above is from the event. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look forward to more in-person meetings in the future!

We're grateful to have our members with us. We'd also like to give a warm welcome to the 832 new members who joined this week. We're currently aiming to reach 4,000 new members, and we are more than halfway through it! Thank you to everyone who has joined so far, it's thanks to you that we have the stability we need to keep going!

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

We reported on one of the most dangerous roads in Donetsk Oblast. Photo journalist Serhii Korovaynyi documented how Ukrainian troops are fighting to keep the vital route between Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka open as Russian drone attacks intensify, and our Francis Farrell helped put the story together from Kyiv.

One of our most-read stories this week was an analysis of Ukraine's expanding drone campaign against Russian logistics. Jimmy Rushton examined how Ukrainian forces are increasingly targeting supply routes and transport vehicles behind the front line, putting new pressure on Russia's ability to sustain its war effort.

We also analyzed why Ukrainian officials are increasingly talking about ending the war's "hot phase" before winter. Tim Zadorozhnyy reported that despite signs the battlefield momentum may be shifting in Ukraine's favor, concerns over air defense shortages and the possibility of a new Russian mobilization are driving Kyiv’s push for progress in U.S.-mediated peace talks. Hours after we published this article, Zelensky shared an open letter to Putin to invite him to a face-to-face meeting, which you can read on our website in full, along with the article explaining why Putin wasn't the only audience for Zelensky's letter.

We also took a closer look at Russia's flagship economic forum in St. Petersburg. Karol Luczka wrote that an event once promoted as Russia's answer to Davos has become increasingly isolated from the global mainstream, with critics describing it as a showcase for the Kremlin as Western leaders and major international business figures stay away. Our reporters Kateryna Hodunova and Yuliia Taradiuk covered the reaction within Russia, where growing issues like fuel shortages show the impact of Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s energy infrastructure.

We also examined a growing disinformation campaign targeting Ukrainian society. Tim Zadorozhnyy and Martin Fornusek reported that fake posts about a sudden "influx of labor migrants" from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are being amplified by pro-Russian networks and figures, fueling anti-immigrant sentiment and attempting to exploit social tensions as the war continues.

We covered Armenia’s crucial parliamentary elections, scheduled for this weekend. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is seeking another term amid growing tensions with Russia, and the outcome is likely to shape the country’s future ties with both Europe and Moscow.

We also examined Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its air defenses. Chris Powers reported that Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged the EU to use a newly unblocked fund to help finance U.S.-made systems like Patriots via NATO’s PURL program, as Russia intensifies its air attacks on Kyiv.

We wrote about a rare major foreign investment in Ukraine’s wartime economy. Luca Léry Moffat and Dominic Culverwell wrote that the world’s largest shipping company has taken a majority stake in a port near Odesa, signaling continued confidence in Ukraine’s Black Sea infrastructure despite ongoing Russian attacks on coastal and energy facilities.

On YouTube, we spoke with experts about the latest battlefield developments in Ukraine. Kateryna Hodunova spoke with military analyst Mykola Bielieskov about Ukraine’s recent territorial gains, Russia’s evolving tactics, the growing role of drones and robotic systems, and what these trends could mean for the future of the war. Also, Francis Farrell spoke with Ukrainian drone pilots who took part in Sweden’s Aurora 2026 military exercises, where they repeatedly disrupted NATO maneuvers while playing the role of attackers, exposing gaps in the alliance’s preparedness for modern drone warfare. 

We also spoke with two senior U.S. lawmakers during their visit to Kyiv. Deputy Chief Editor Oleksiy Sorokin sat down with Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Jim Himes to discuss Ukraine’s need for stronger air defenses, the future of U.S. support, sanctions on Russia, and the political debates shaping Washington’s approach to the war. 

We addressed a question we receive a lot from our readers: How does Ukraine’s mobilization system work in practice? In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur explains why the reality behind mobilization is often more complex than viral videos suggest, exploring how the system operates, the challenges it faces, and the reforms being debated as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. You can watch the video here.

Finally, on a positive note, we featured in our eleventh "How to Help Ukraine" edition Zemliachky, an organization that procures essential gear for women in Ukraine's armed forces, including uniforms, body armor, and helmets, specifically designed for female anatomy. The funds will help provide basic equipment kits for women in Ukraine's armed forces. If you wish to contribute, you can also make a donation via PayPal to zemlyachky@gmail.com.

We are also very grateful to everyone who completed our community survey – we now have more than 1,418 responses! We need a few more answers – 182 – to get a full picture of how you see the Kyiv Independent community. You can still complete the survey with this link: https://kyivindependent.typeform.com/to/YabXSZDt

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