Here's what you helped us achieve last week

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Today we are celebrating two years of the Kyiv Independent – and we'd like to say thank you to you, our members, who give us the financial freedom to keep telling the truth about Russia's war, even in the face of another uncertain winter with expected attacks on energy infrastructure and Russia's new offensive in the east.

Starting today, we are also launching our ambassador campaign: Our goal is to reach 500 new members, with your help, before the start of December. We want to say thank you to those who have agreed to become our ambassadors. We appreciate you taking extra time and making an additional effort to help us. We truly wouldn't be here without our community. Thank you.

Pictured above is the Kyiv Independent team during our general meeting earlier this week, taken by Oksana Parafeniuk for Zetland.

We'd also like to welcome the 118 new members that joined us this week. Thank you for standing with us.

Here are some highlights from the Kyiv Independent over the last week:

• Our most popular story last week was Francis Farrell's story explaining how Russia's homegrown Lancet drone has become so feared in Ukraine. The drone has gained a reputation of being able to hit higher-value Ukrainian military targets located dozens of kilometers behind the zero line.

• We interviewed the EU ambassador to Ukraine. Katarina Mathernova said "Even Putin can’t stop Ukraine’s accession," as this week the European Commission published its annual enlargement report, which recommended that membership talks with Ukraine formally begin.  You can also read here what's next for Ukraine as it moves one step closer to joining the EU.

• Episode 33 of "This Week in Ukraine" is also about Ukraine's EU bid. Host Anastasiia Lapatina sits down with reporter Anastasiia Malenko to discuss Ukraine’s recent successes in its decade-long journey towards joining the European Union, with your questions starting at 11:10.

• We reported on the increased Ukrainian efforts to cross the Dnipro. Alexander Query's story looks at the Ukrainian forces' raids, which became more frequent since the beginning of summer, culminating with the latest confirmed clashes in Krynky.

• We also interviewed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez about Russian influence and propaganda in Latin America. Lopez, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison by Russia-backed dictator Maduro and has since escaped to live as an exile in Spain, said that Ukraine will never convince Latin and African autocrats.

• This week Belarus Weekly looks at Belarus receiving the lowest ranking in Europe for rule of law, and includes the historical context for why the country is also Europe's most dangerous for journalists.

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