We made Russian officials mad and explained the latest war developments — Here's what you helped us do this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support. Last week, our audience development manager, Elsa Court, and community manager, Anastasiia Chernova, were in Vienna — and took the chance to meet some of you in person. Over brunch, we got to hear your thoughts on our coverage, discuss how the war is portrayed in Austrian media, and connect with the people who make our work possible. Thank you to everyone who came — it meant a lot to us, and we hope to do more similar events soon.

We're so grateful to have all our members with us — and we'd like to welcome the 652 new members who joined this week. 

We have exciting news: Together, we have just successfully completed the campaign to get 4,000 new members, an incredible milestone for our newsroom and community. 

Thank you to everyone who joined and supported us along the way. It's down to you, our members, that we have the stability we need to keep going!

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

We published an analysis of Russia's breakthrough into Kostiantynivka, which became one of our most-read stories this week. Francis Farrell reported that Russian forces have broken into the city, opening a new phase in the fight for Ukraine's "fortress belt" in Donbas. As Russia makes rare gains in the area, the battle could prove decisive for the future of Ukrainian-held Donetsk Oblast.

We reported on two key developments in how the war is being waged. Tania Myronyshena explained how Russia exploits Ukraine's vulnerability to ballistic missiles by combining them with drones and cruise missiles to overwhelm air defenses. Meanwhile, Jimmy Rushton examined how Ukrainian forces are increasingly targeting supply routes, fuel infrastructure, and transport links connecting the Crimean peninsula to Russia, aiming to isolate Crimea and make it significantly harder for Moscow to sustain its occupation of the area.

We also reported on the growing role of ground robots on Ukraine’s battlefield. Our Kateryna Hodunova spoke with Vasyl Korenovskyi, CEO of RoverTech, about how unmanned ground vehicles are being used to transport supplies, evacuate wounded soldiers, clear mines, and support combat operations, as well as what the rise of military robotics and artificial intelligence could mean for the future of warfare. You can watch the video here.

We published an exclusive on why Ukraine believes it has secured U.S. backing for a more assertive strategy toward Russia. Tim Zadorozhnyy revealed that President Donald Trump privately encouraged President Volodymyr Zelensky to act "more boldly" to pressure Moscow into meaningful negotiations, as Kyiv intensifies efforts to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. It drew the attention of senior Russian officials. 

We reported on the deepening diplomatic rift between Poland and Ukraine. Martin Fornusek reported that Prime Minister Donald Tusk is caught between Kyiv and Warsaw as tensions over historical grievances push relations toward crisis. Martin also reported that Ukrainian and Polish media outlets issued a rare joint appeal, warning that the deterioration in bilateral ties poses a strategic risk to both countries.

We covered Kyiv's largest Pride march since the start of the full-scale war. Kateryna Denisova and Luca Léry Moffat reported that thousands gathered in the capital, describing the march as an act of defiance — a statement that Ukrainian civil society continues to push for a more progressive future regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

We took a closer look at the reality checks mounting on Ukraine's EU candidacy, four years in. Chris Powers reported that while Ukraine has made progress on reforms, skepticism is growing within the EU over the pace of change and the bloc's capacity to absorb new members.

We examined how the Kremlin is preparing for Russia's upcoming parliamentary elections amid growing domestic pressures. Karol Luczka reported that while the outcome of the vote is largely predetermined, Ukrainian drone strikes, economic difficulties, and declining living standards are making it harder for the Kremlin to maintain its image of stability and control.

We also reported on a Ukrainian media investigation into alleged abuse and noncombat deaths in the Skelia assault regiment. According to the investigation, 25 noncombat deaths and allegations of mistreatment have been documented among recruits — shedding light on serious accountability concerns within Ukraine's military. The commander of the unit has since been suspended.

We also covered Ukraine's economic and governance challenges. Liliane Bivings spoke with one of Ukraine's most prominent long-term investors about what three decades of doing business in the country taught him about Ukraine’s economy, potential, and persistent structural problems. Last week, Dominic Culverwell also investigated why Ukraine's efforts to root out corruption in its nuclear sector are moving slowly, despite international pressure and wartime urgency.

We reported on two works that shed light on the realities of war and repression. Kate Tsurkan reviewed a Belarusian prison memoir bringing renewed attention to the scale of Lukashenko's repressions, drawing on testimony from those who survived his detention system. Kate also wrote about Ukraine's wartime action thriller “Killhouse,” which has reached a global audience on Netflix — marking a new level of ambition for Ukrainian wartime cinema.

We examined how Estonia is preparing for a potential future conflict with Russia. Martin Fornusek traveled across the Baltic nation to explore how a country of just 1.3 million people is adapting lessons from Ukraine's war through drone training, NATO exercises, and preparations for hybrid threats along NATO's eastern flank. You can watch the video report here.

We explored the role of notorious Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich as the Kremlin’s unofficial negotiator. In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur discussed Abramovich's role in past negotiations, his ties to the Kremlin, and why Ukraine is once again signaling a willingness to work with him. You can watch the video here.

Finally, on a positive note, in the 11th edition of our newsletter "How to Help Ukraine," we featured Zemliachky, an organization that procures essential gear for women in Ukraine's armed forces. Thanks to you, we raised more than $5,422 to support their work. The funds will help finance basic equipment kits for women in Ukraine's armed forces. If you wish to contribute, you can also donate to them via PayPal at zemlyachky@gmail.com.

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