We reported on new Russian attack tactics, failed winter preparations, and the threat from the north — Here's what you helped us do this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support. 

This week, the Kyiv Independent visited Riga, Latvia. Our Chief Executive Officer, Daryna Shevchenko, and Head of War Crimes Investigations Unit, Yevheniia Motorevska, met with our community there for a conversation about the work and strategy of the Kyiv Independent, what goes on behind the scenes of our investigations, and the challenges of documenting Russian war crimes during wartime. Thank you to everyone who came to see us! The photo above is from that meeting.

As ever, we're grateful to have our members with us. We'd also like to give a warm welcome to the 359 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 about Ukraine trying to hunt down Russian ballistic missile launch sites. Francis Farrell reported that, with almost no way left to shoot down ballistic missiles in flight, Ukraine is going after the launchers themselves, trying to shoot the archer instead of the arrow. Chris York laid out Ukraine's parallel plan to close Russia's skies with waves of long-range drones, after Zelensky warned that “the Russian sky will be de facto closed.”

We looked at how Ukraine's students are starting another school year under fire. Yevgeniya Doluda reported on how, as schools reopened, many Ukrainian children heard air raid sirens instead of the first bell. She also wrote about an exiled Donetsk university in Ukraine's west that is bracing for an influx of students fleeing missile-battered cities.

We examined the end of Kyrylo Budanov's political honeymoon. Kateryna Denisova reported on how the powerful military intelligence chief, once seen as untouchable, is now facing mounting political friction.

We looked at Europe's next step toward breaking away from Russia. Chris Powers reported on Brussels' plan to clear out its cobweb of outdated Russian investment treaties, cutting more of the ties that still bind Europe to Moscow.

We stayed on the fallout from the disgraceful shootout between Ukraine's HUR and SBU. Polina Moroziuk reported on how the case is deepening, with fresh FSB accusations, denials, and claims of threats made in secret detention.

We reported on the growing Russian threat to Kyiv and the north. Yuliia Taradiuk reported that Kyiv endured a fifth day of near-constant air raid alerts as jet-powered Russian drones swarmed the city, part of a wave of strikes that killed seven and injured 43 across Ukraine. Tania Myronyshena examined Kyiv's warning of a new Russian northern offensive and whether such an attack could realistically happen.

We reported on Ukraine's lack of preparedness for another hard winter. Dominic Culverwell and Tania Myronyshena reported that Ukrainians know a difficult winter is coming, but their government is not prepared for it.

We covered the resignation of Estonia's defense minister over faulty ammunition for Ukraine. Lachlan Hyatt reported that the minister stepped down after 70 million euros ($82 million) was wasted on defective ammunition meant for Ukraine.

We reported on the growing risk to Ukraine's path to the EU and its international funding. Chris Powers reported that with Ukraine's EU reforms stumbling, a new envoy has come to Brussels on a trust-building mission. Kateryna Denisova reported that stalled legislation and a growing budget shortfall now put billions in international funding at risk.

We spoke with an investor betting on Ukraine's future mid-war. Liliane Bivings interviewed Amber Infrastructure about what it takes to invest in Ukraine's infrastructure now, and why some see opportunity even during the war.

We examined whether a new state initiative can strengthen Ukraine's cultural sphere. Kate Tsurkan reported on the $77 million program and whether it can deliver on its promise for Ukrainian culture.

We looked at how Germany's Kremlin-friendly AfD is eyeing a historic election win. Martin Fornusek reported on the party's surge, its ties to Moscow, and what a strong AfD result could mean for Germany's support of Ukraine.

We published an interview on Russia's escalating attacks against Ukrainian businesses. Dominic Culverwell spoke with Hlib Vyshlinsky of the Center for Economic Strategy about why Russia is increasingly targeting Ukraine's civilian economy, how businesses are adapting, and what the attacks could mean for inflation, employment, tax revenue, and GDP growth. You can watch the interview here.

We published an interview on how Ukraine is adapting to Russia's growing use of drones. Francis Farrell spoke with "Schweiger," a Ukrainian drone operator from the Signum UAV Battalion, about carrying out one of the first kamikaze FPV drone strikes in 2022, how drone technology has evolved, and how Ukrainian and Russian capabilities compare today. You can watch the interview here.

Finally, a quick note before we go. Due to a technical issue, some of you may have stopped receiving our Ukraine Daily newsletter over the past week and a half. We're sorry about that. It's now fixed, and as of last Friday, the newsletter should be landing in your inbox again as usual. If you're still not seeing it, check your spam and Promotions folders. If you can't find it anywhere, reply here in comments or email Oleksandra at o.nazarenko@kyivindependent.com. We'll be glad to help!

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