We exposed Russian influence, explored Ukraine’s challenges, and won a court case — Here's what you helped us do this week

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support. 

This week, we published a powerful story about the long road to recovery for Ukrainian soldiers wounded in Russia's war. Asami Terajima and Sasha Maslov followed the "Face-to-Face" mission, an initiative that brings American doctors of various specialties to Ukraine to perform complex surgeries on people injured in the war. 

American and Ukrainian surgeons work side by side to reconstruct faces damaged by explosions, helping patients regain not only their appearance but also their confidence and dignity. In the picture above, Vitaliy Yakovets sits with his mother-in-law in a hospital ward in western Ukraine, one day after undergoing facial reconstructive surgery. You can read the photo story here or watch the video report on our YouTube channel here.

We're grateful to have all our members with us, and we'd like to give a warm welcome to the 589 new members who joined this week. We're currently aiming to reach 4,000 new members and are more than halfway there. 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 had an important victory for press freedom. Ukraine's Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Kyiv Independent in a libel case brought by the late Andriy Portnov, a former politician who served pro-Kremlin ex-President Viktor Yanukovych. The ruling affirmed that journalists have the right to publish value judgments on matters of public interest.

• We investigated how Russia turned a strike in occupied Starobilsk into a propaganda flashpoint. Linda Hourani and Yuliia Taradiuk examined Moscow's claims that Ukraine deliberately targeted civilians, how the incident was used to justify further attacks on Kyiv, and why Ukrainian officials say the strike was aimed at Russian military targets, not students.

• We analyzed Putin's latest statements on the war — and compared them to reality. Tania Myronyshena reported that while the Kremlin continues to insist on its maximalist goals, developments on the battlefield increasingly contradict Russia’s narrative of steady success.

• We reported on Ukraine's efforts to prepare for another wartime winter. Dominic Culverwell and Chris Powers wrote that Kyiv is racing to strengthen its energy infrastructure and protect critical facilities from Russian attacks, but still faces a major funding gap for its €5.4 billion energy resilience plan.

• We examined the diplomatic crisis between Poland and Ukraine, triggered by a military unit name. Martin Fornusek reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after the UPA reignited long-standing historical disputes, prompting criticism in Poland and highlighting how differing interpretations of World War II history continue to complicate ties between the two allies.

• We looked at the challenges facing Ukraine’s defense-tech industry. Luca Léry Moffat reported that, despite booming demand for military technology, many Ukrainian defense startups still struggle to access bank financing, forcing companies and lenders to find creative ways to bridge the gap between wartime security needs and financial risk.

• We covered major developments on the battlefield and beyond. A Russian drone strike damaged part of the spent nuclear fuel storage facility in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, while Ukraine continued its long-range drone campaign against targets in Russia and occupied Crimea, including strikes on oil infrastructure and key logistics routes.

• We examined the humanitarian crisis in Russian-occupied Oleshky. In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur explored how the town has been devastated by occupation, the flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, and growing isolation, highlighting the worsening conditions faced by civilians three years after the disaster. You can watch the video here.

• We investigated how Russian steel continues to enter the European market despite sanctions. Chris Powers reported that Belgium remains one of the largest importers of Russian steel slabs due to a sanctions exemption, fueling debate over whether economic interests are undermining the EU’s efforts to reduce financial flows to Russia.

• We discussed the future of U.S. support for Ukraine and the course of the war. Martin Fornusek spoke with historian and strategic studies professor Phillips O'Brien about the Trump administration's Ukraine policy, Europe's response to a less reliable United States, and whether mounting military and economic pressures could eventually force Russia to end the war. You can watch the video here.

• We debunked claims made by U.S. far-right commentator Candace Owens following her visit to Russia. Martin Fornusek and Jimmy Rushton examined how Owens echoed Kremlin narratives on Ukraine, aid, and Russia's image abroad, and explained why many of her arguments do not hold up to scrutiny.

• We examined the outcome of Armenia's pivotal parliamentary elections. Toby Woodall reported that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan secured another term after winning a parliamentary majority, as many voters viewed him as the most viable option despite deep divisions over his leadership, relations with Russia, and Armenia’s future direction. Meanwhile, James Beardsworth reported that the vote was seen as a choice between closer ties with the West and renewed alignment with Russia, as both Moscow and Western capitals sought to influence the future direction of the strategically important South Caucasus nation.

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