We reported from the front lines, covered Ukraine's defense tech boom, and investigated Russian podcasters — Here's what you helped us cover this week.
Dear Kyiv Independent community members,
Thank you for your continued support.
We hope you've had plenty of rest over the Easter break, enjoyed the start of spring, and spent time with your loved ones. Here in Kyiv, we are preparing for Orthodox Easter, which is this weekend.
Ahead of this holiday, we published a new article in our Explaining Ukraine series on pysanky — Ukraine’s centuries-old tradition of decorated Easter eggs, which was suppressed by the Soviets and is now seeing renewed popularity.
We'd like to give a warm welcome to the 254 new members who joined us this week. Our members give us the stability we need to keep going!
Here's what you helped us accomplish at the Kyiv Independent this week:
We published a field report from the southern front line. Francis Farrell spoke to soldiers in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where Ukrainian troops brace for new Russian offensives while navigating an increasingly fluid battlefield.
We also covered Ukraine's defense tech sector. Dominic Culverwell reported on the rapid growth of the industry and rising investment, while Kollen Post highlighted challenges Ukrainian drone makers face in relocating production to Europe.
We also reported on escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine's railways. Tania Myronyshena reported on how drones are increasingly targeting passenger trains, putting thousands of civilians at risk and expanding tactics already seen in front-line areas.
We also covered the impact of drone warfare on humanitarian aid. Alex McDonald wrote that aid workers in Ukraine face growing risks as drones make even clearly marked vehicles potential targets.
We also published an investigation into a pro-war podcast popular with the U.S. far right. Linda Hourani revealed the identities of the creators behind "Russians With Attitude," uncovering that they are two ultranationalist Russian bloggers who have fundraised for troops invading Ukraine.
We also published a fact-check on Kremlin disinformation targeting Hungary's election. Martin Fornusek explained how pro-Russian narratives are amplifying claims of potential unrest and aligning closely with Viktor Orban's anti-Ukraine messaging.
We also published an interview with historian Serhii Plokhy. In conversation with Kate Tsurkan, Plokhy explained Russia's imperial legacy, why Ukraine has long been central to Moscow's ambitions, and how historical narratives continue to shape today's war. You can also watch the video version here.
We also covered shifting geopolitics in the latest episode of "Ukraine This Week." Anna Belokur examines why the United States is re-engaging with Belarus — and what that could mean for Russia's war against Ukraine, including the risks of legitimizing Alexander Lukashenko's regime. You can watch the video here.
Finally, to end on a positive note: Last week, we held an online event with Daria Rabinovitsch, Co-CEO of Helping to Leave, as part of our ninth "How to Help Ukraine" edition. Thanks to your support, we raised more than €13,500 for them. We are grateful to everyone who supported Helping to leave and who attended the event with Daria.
Thank you for standing by our side as we bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.