We covered Ukraine's strikes on Crimea and debunked latest Kremlin narratives — Here's what you helped us do this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support. Overnight on July 2, waves of missiles and drones struck neighborhoods across Kyiv, killing at least 30 people, injuring dozens more, and damaging homes, businesses, energy infrastructure, and public services throughout the city. As our reporters documented, thousands of Kyiv residents spent the night sheltering in metro stations and underground parking garages as explosions echoed across the capital. In the morning, we watched as rescue crews worked through the rubble of a collapsed building. Above, you can see a picture of the aftermath in Kyiv, taken by our reporter Polina Moroziuk.

We're grateful to have our members with us. We'd also like to give a warm welcome to the 612 new members who joined this week. You're giving us the stability we need to keep going!

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

One of our most-read stories this week was how an ultimatum from President Volodymyr Zelensky changed the equation for Belarus. Maria Yeryoma looked at how Lukashenko appeared to back down after Ukraine gave him a direct warning to stop helping Russia strike Ukraine, switching off the drone relay equipment Russia had been using in a rare move from one of Moscow's closest allies.

We reported on how Ukrainian strikes are impacting life in occupied Crimea. Yuliia Taradiuk and Tania Myronyshena’s report showed how repeated attacks on Russian military and logistics infrastructure have disrupted the peninsula's tourist season, triggering fuel shortages, power outages, and a wave of canceled bookings as Kyiv intensifies its campaign to isolate Crimea from Russia. In a separate report, Yuliia Taradiuk spoke to pro-Ukrainian residents living under occupation, many of whom said the strikes have given them renewed hope that Crimea's deoccupation may one day become possible.

We looked at how new weapons deliveries could reshape the air war. Jared Goyette examined the arrival of Meteor missiles alongside Sweden's future Gripen deliveries to Ukraine, and why their long range could force Russian aircraft farther from the front line and reduce the effectiveness of Moscow's devastating glide bomb campaign.

We reported from the front lines in Donetsk Oblast, where Ukraine's expanding drone capabilities are helping slow Russia's offensive. Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko embedded with the Signum Battalion of the 59th Assault Brigade to document how elite FPV drone operators are using fiber optic drones resistant to electronic warfare to hunt Russian troops and equipment. You can watch the video here.

We debunked the latest Kremlin narratives broadcast via U.S. podcaster Tucker Carlson. Kate Tsurkan went through the claims made by Carlson's latest guest, Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, and unpacked how the interview recycled false narratives about Ukraine, the war, and Russia's role in the conflict.

We followed the fallout from the Monaco bombing that injured sanctioned Ukraine-born tycoon Vadym Iermolaiev and his family. Oleg Sukhov examined Iermolaiev's business empire, his ties to Russia and Ukraine's oligarchic networks, and why the controversial businessman remains an influential figure despite years spent outside the country. 

We reported on the opportunities and challenges shaping Ukraine's economic future. Dominic Culverwell traveled to Gdansk, Poland, to attend the largest conference on Ukraine’s recovery to date, where international partners pledged billions of dollars in investments despite ongoing political tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw. In a separate piece, he reported together with Chris Powers on new EU steel quotas, which could deal a severe blow to one of Ukraine's most important wartime industries.

We looked at how attitudes toward LGBTQ people in Ukraine have changed since the full-scale invasion, and why Ukraine’s laws haven’t caught up. In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Kateryna Denisova explores how public support has grown, with thousands of LGBTQ Ukrainians now serving in the military, even as many still can't have their relationships legally recognized. You can watch the video here.

We explored Ukrainian identity through its writers. As part of our Hidden Cannon series, Kate Tsurkan wrote about Mykhail Semenko, the poet whose avant-garde rebellion a century ago broke the old rules and helped shape a modern Ukrainian culture. Kate also spoke with author and soldier Kateryna Zarembo about why she enlisted in Ukraine’s army, what it's like serving as a combat medic, and why, for now, saving lives matters more to her than writing books. You can watch the video here.

Finally, on a positive note, we've updated our Community and Discord Community Policies and Commenting Guidelines. As our community is growing, we want to make sure that it remains a safe space where members can engage with our journalism, exchange ideas, and connect with one another. 

You can now find the updated Community Policy in the footer of our website or read it directly here. We encourage everyone to review the updated guidelines as we continue to build a thoughtful, engaged, and supportive community together. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to email it to us at community@kyivindependent.com.

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