Total: 204 posts
Editor’s Note: We believe that stories can stand up to dictatorship — whether it's an artistic reimagining of resistance on a theater stage, or writing deeply-empathetic profiles of people targeted by criminal regimes.
This month, all our Ukraine …
0:00 - Who We Are
Why The Counteroffensive is set up in a war zone, and what our mission is.
3:08 – Editorial Team Introductions
Staff members introduce themselves and their roles (managing editor, reporters, creative editor, community manager). Story …
Russian President Vladimir Putin met President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Aug. 6. During this meeting, Putin reportedly offered Ukraine to “cede” the Ukraine-controlled territories in Donetsk and Luhansk oblast with no security …
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As we write about direct democracy and protests around the world, let’s …
UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Sep. 13 — In Kharkiv, on the evening of Sep. 7, the first protest began near the University subway station in the center of the city. Police estimated that about 70 people joined the demonstration.
Marko, one of the protest’s …
Nepal’s youth toppled the government within a day after authorities blocked social media platforms - a storyline Kremlin-controlled media chose to downplay, opting not to highlight how people mobilized for their rights, reports the news outlet …
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has conducted both open and covert mobilization.
Beginning in February 2022, after the invasion started, authorities pushed contract service under the guise of recruiting “volunteers” and …
Russia has recorded the 19th mysterious death of a top executive since the start of the war: a decapitated director in Kaliningrad has become part of a string of deaths among major businessmen.
Another unexplained death of a senior businessman has …
Residents of Russian-occupied Donbas are facing a water crisis that could escalate into mass protests.
The Russian Telegram channel “VChK-OGPU,” which is linked to Russia’s security services, published a post about the situation in occupied Donbas. …
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Former speaker of Ukraine’s parliament Andriy Parubiy was killed in Lviv, the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration (OVA), Maksym Kozytskyi, said on Telegram on Saturday, August 30.
Shortly before that, Ukraine’s National Police said that …
Editor’s note: Today’s Putin-Trump summit, taking place on American soil, is the latest sign that our reporting is more relevant than ever.
In other media outlets you will see abstract mentions of land and territory.
At The Counteroffensive we take you …
After Ukraine’s Parliament adopted bill #12414 limiting the independence of anti-graft bodies, NABU and SAPO, people across Ukraine went out to protests. On the same day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the bill, despite many asking to veto it. These …
In a significant move, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has passed a presidential bill, No. 13533, aimed at restoring the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). The …
Protestors once again gathered across Ukraine on the eve of a parliamentary vote to reinstate the independence of anti-corruption agencies, which lawmakers curtailed just a week earlier.
The new bill was proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky after …
The decision of the Ukrainian parliament - and then President Volodymyr Zelenskyy - to de-facto destroy the independence of anti-corruption infrastructure in Ukraine drew outrage from people and deeply concerned the EU. Zelenskyy and MPs have …
Amid the heavy strain of Russian attacks and anti-corruption protests, a festival organized by Georgians and Ukrainians brought much-needed respite and solidarity to Kyiv.
Over the weekend of July 25-27, thousands of people danced their way through …
Protests were held near the hotel housing the Russian fencers and outside the Sports Palace, the venue for the competition.
Protests sweep Ukraine in response to the new controversial law, which carries grim implications for integration into the European Union as peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations resume.
Twelve years after then-journalist Mustafa Nayem's Facebook post ignited the EuroMaidan Revolution, another social media call — this time from war veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi — mobilized thousands across Ukraine, united by a different cause.
The …
U.S. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal co-authored a bipartisan bill that would impose 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium.
Editor's note: We offered members of the Kyiv Independent community to share their questions about a controversial bill that undermined Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions and the street protests that followed it this week. Our staff's answers to …
After massive nationwide protests and fierce international criticism, President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a new bill to restore the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities.
The new bill, submitted July 24, has yet to be passed but …
UKRAINE, KHARKIV — Russian missiles reach Kharkiv in less than two minutes.
When asked about their reason to protest in the middle of the city in these circumstances — under martial law — Marko says, “what’s happening is absolutely unacceptable”. …
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed criticism of the controversial new law that strips Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies of independence, saying on July 24 that there should have been a dialogue between parliament and society before its …
On July 22 and 23, Ukrainians took to the streets in the country’s first mass anti-government protests since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale invasion three and a half years earlier.
Thousands of citizens rallied in cities across the country on the …
Editor’s Note: We had another story ready for publication today, but the protests that erupted suddenly yesterday in Ukraine deserve your attention more.
The Counteroffensive’s Ukrainian staff encouraged us to cover what started as just a domestic …
Demonstrators gathered in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa to oppose the legislation, which grants sweeping new powers to the prosecutor general over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s …
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Before her harrowing footage of life in Mariupol under siege from Russian invaders was viewed around the world in 2022, Yuliia Paievksa — call sign “Taira” — was already well known to Ukrainians for leading a volunteer medical unit in …
Police aggressively dispersed protestors at an anti-government rally in Belgrade, whereover 100,000 demonstrators gathered on June 28 to demand snap elections.
The rally marks the latest mass action in a protest movement that started last fall, with …
Key developments on June 27:
Around 150 pro-Palestinian activists have broken into a storage facility and damaged military equipment intended for Ukraine, the Belgian news outlet 7sur7 reported on June 26.
The facility belongs to OIP Land Systems, a company that produces military …
A native of Donbas and veteran of Ukraine’s fiercest battles, Artem Karyakin, better known by his nom de guerre, Skhidnyi, offers his firsthand view from the front lines of the war. For years, he operated in secrecy as a spotter for Ukrainian …
Despite suffering over 1 million casualties, pounding Ukrainian cities nightly with missiles and drones, and committing countless war crimes, one startling fact about Russia’s full-scale invasion remains — Moscow has yet to officially declare …
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — As NATO leaders convened in The Hague for a two-day summit on June 24–25, allies and Kyiv braced for the first annual meeting since U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office.
With the Israel-Iranian conflict dominating …
After a high-level U.S. visit to Belarus led to the release of 14 prisoners, observers have been left wondering what autocrat Alexander Lukashenko may have secured in return.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith …
More than three years into Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, many Western cultural institutions that had distanced themselves from Russian artists as a gesture of solidarity with Ukraine are now reversing course.
The U.K.’s Royal Ballet and …
Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a Belarusian oppositionist recently released from prison, thanked the U.S. on June 22 for brokering his release and appealed to President Donald Trump to help free other political prisoners in Belarus.
“President Trump now …
Fourth year into Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the decisive support Kyiv found among its neighbors to the west is beginning to show cracks.
Once resolute Poland is seeing rising skepticism toward Ukraine, underscored by …
Key developments on June 18:
U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg will meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in the coming days, Reuters reported on June 17, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
Kellogg will meet Lukashenko in a visit to Belarus as peace …
Kyiv Pride held a parade with over 1,500 participants in the Ukrainian capital on June 14, which was met with counterprotests.
“Other Ukrainian Prides also participated — including Kharkiv Pride and Ukraine Pride. Kyiv’s student community was …
Russian losses in Ukraine hit a massive, and grim milestone on June 12 — 1 million Russian soldiers killed or wounded during the 39-month-long full-scale war, according to figures from Kyiv.
Although hugely symbolic, the number is unlikely to prompt a …
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, film director Kateryna Gornostai found herself questioning whether she would continue working.
“I had this feeling that life — at least professionally — had come to an end,” she …
A charity event for Kyiv Pride took place on June 7 outside the Foreign Ministry and was met with nearby counterprotests.
The event collected donations, with proceeds going toward FPV drones for Ukraine’s Armed Forces provided by the Serhiy …
The European Union is set to reinstate tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural exports on June 6.
This is the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion that the EU will not renew an agreement suspending trade barriers between Ukraine and Europe. …
Slovakia’s parliament passed a resolution on June 5 urging the government to oppose any new international sanctions or trade restrictions against Russia, citing alleged negative economic impacts, Slovak news outlet Noviny reported.
The non-binding …
The European Union has condemned Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act, characterizing it as a setback for the country’s democratic development and calling on Georgian authorities to reverse democratic backsliding.
In a joint statement …
Leader of the Georgian opposition party “Coalition for Change,” Nika Melia, was detained by authorities on May 29, NewsGeorgia reported, citing Melia’s associates.
Melia is being investigated for refusing to testify before a …
Dmytro Bodyu, a U.S. citizen and the pastor of the “Word of Life” Pentecostal Church in Russian-occupied Melitopol, was detained by Russians in March 2022. During his detention, he was accused of working for the CIA and received death …
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia and Herzegovina — When a court convicted Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik of defying an international peace envoy in February, it was supposed to end his career in politics.
He faced not only jail time, but a ban on holding public …
As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s “root causes” be addressed before agreeing to any …
The European Union has agreed to reintroduce import quotas on several Ukrainian agricultural products starting June 6, Bloomberg reported on May 23.
The move marks a significant shift in EU trade policy toward Kyiv, as bloc members seek to balance …
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea on May 22, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a press conference on May 23, according to the Polish news outlet RMF24.
The …
The Council of the European Union will hold a hearing regarding the potential loss of Hungary’s voting rights at a meeting on May 27, according to the agenda on the Council’s web portal.
This will be the eighth hearing regarding Hungary …
Editor’s note: The article was updated with a confirmation from an EU official.
EU countries have agreed in principle to launch a common defense fund of 150 billion euros ($170 billion), an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on May 19.
The …
Around 10,000 people rallied in Hungary’s capital on May 18 to protest a controversial bill that critics say would limit free expression and mimic Russia’s restrictive “foreign agent” law, the Associated Press reported.
The demonstration …
Australian authorities have begun loading the first of the 49 decommissioned Ukraine-bound Abrams tanks onto a cargo ship despite continued private objections from U.S. officials, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on May 19. …
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in neutral Switzerland, but politics are center stage. While debate continues over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza, Russia — banned from the contest since its full-scale invasion of …
The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
The move follows Poland’s call for the European …
Polish truckers lifted the blockade at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine’s State Border Guard said on May 13.
The protesters ended the blockade after the Lublin Court of Appeal upheld Dorohusk Mayor Wojciech …
Days before the Romanian presidential election runoff, the two presidential hopefuls are neck-and-neck. According to the latest poll by AtlasIntel, far-right George Simion and liberal pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan are tied at 48.2%.
Yet, another …
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on May 9 slammed European leaders attending Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day celebrations as Russia wages its war against Ukraine.
“I have no doubt that being present at the victory parade in …
Demonstrators have been holding street performances since May 4 in protest of Russia’s “immortal regiment” and its Victory Day celebrations, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on May …
More than 1,500 foreign mercenaries from 48 countries recruited to fight for Russia against Ukraine have been identified in an investigation by the independent Russian media outlet Important Stories published on April 23.
Despite Russian President …
Poland reports two attacks on border guards, one allegedly involving a Belarusian serviceman.
Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko invites up to 150,000 workers from Pakistan to Belarus amid deepening labor shortage.
Director of Russia’s Foreign …
Serbia’s parliament approved the composition of a new government led by Prime Minister Djuro Macut on April 16, Serbian state broadcaster RTS reported.
While President Aleksandar Vucic had previously promised sweeping personnel changes, most …
European Union officials have warned on April 15 that Serbia could be blocked from joining the EU if its president travels to Moscow for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s May 9 Victory Parade.
Serbia applied to join the European Union in 2009 …
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will attend Russia’s military celebrations in Moscow on May 9, despite EU High Representative Kaja Kallas' warnings to European leaders.
“I am going to Moscow on May 9,” Fico wrote in a Facebook …
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on four politicians and prominent business figures on April 12.
The decree put into effect a decision made earlier by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
Included on …
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We cover Ukraine not just as a battlefield but as a country with deep culture, history, and …
In recent years, authoritarian parties and those on the political extremes have been gaining ground across Europe. This trend is worrying not only because of their illiberal agendas but also because many of them have ties to Moscow. Russia has …
Eleven years ago, Russia seized Ukrainian territory by force. Three years ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, Ukraine faces a new threat to its sovereignty: U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that the country hand over a …
#HandsOff2025 Live www.youtube.com/live/ZB2D…
The Georgian Parliament passed the final reading of a new “foreign agents” law, Georgian media outlet Sova reported on April 1.
The law, replacing a controversial version adopted in May 2024, broadens the definition of foreign agents to …
The Docville Film Festival in Leuven canceled the screening of the controversial “Russians at War” documentary after an intervention of the Ukrainian Embassy, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry announced on March 31.
Canadian-Russian …
Moldova expelled three Russian embassy employees on March 31, citing activities contrary to diplomatic status, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced.
The move follows reports that Moldovan lawmaker Alexandr Nesterovschi, sentenced to 12 …
Anzhalika Melnikava, the speaker of the Belarusian Coordination Council, disappeared on March 25, and there has been no contact with her since, the council reported on March 28.
Polish authorities have been notified of Melnikava’s disappearance …
A Dutch university is to screen the controversial documentary “Russians at War” and a panel discussion with its director, despite Ukrainian calls for it be be canceled because it “whitewashes… murder, rape, and torture." …
Evghenia Gutul, the head of Moldova’s Gagauzia region, was detained at Chisinau airport on the evening of March 25 while attempting to leave the country, the Moldovan service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
Gutul is implicated in …
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko began his seventh term in power on March 25 after declaring himself the winner of the January elections broadly seen as neither fair nor free.
In his inauguration address at the Independence Palace in Minsk, …
Sergey Beseda, former head of the 5th Service of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), was an unconventional choice to represent his country in the talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia on March 24.
Seventy-year-old General Beseda, however, has been …
Technical negotiations between the U.S. and Russia to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine are ongoing in Saudi Arabia today. Reports suggest that parties will discuss a 30-day truce, not just in the energy sector but also in the Black Sea, which is …
Istanbul police assaulted Russia Today (RT) correspondent Yasin Eken and his cameraman while they were covering protests in the city, the Russian state-run outlet claimed on March 24.
“They were hit with batons, also had their RT signs ripped …
Editor’s Note: The Counteroffensive exists to explore the human side of war – going beyond headlines to show how real people experience it.
We cover Ukraine not just as a battlefield but as a country with a rich culture, history, and traditions. Want …
On a Sunday afternoon in mid-February, a small but politically charged event took place in the heart of Amsterdam.
A group of eight people gathered for a photo-op protest on the city’s Dam Square holding placards that called for an end to Western arms …
Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko visits Moscow, enacting a security treaty and signing a range of agreements that pull Belarus further into Russia’s orbit.
U.S. President Donald Trump slashes RFE/RL funding in another blow to Belarusian media in …
The European Commission is contemplating significant cuts to Ukrainian sugar imports after complaints from EU producers about plummeting sugar prices, Reuters reported on March 20, citing information from three sources.
The EU initially opened its …
Over the past three years of full-scale war, Ukraine’s cultural figures have shifted from focusing solely on their craft to becoming diplomats, advocating for their culture abroad as the Russian army continues its relentless attempt to destroy it.
At …
With the Polish presidential elections just two months away, two of the country’s leading right-wing candidates have become increasingly antagonistic toward Ukraine and its leadership.
Kyiv can ill afford another hostile head of state among its …
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on March 16 drew comparisons between the ongoing anti-government protests in Serbia and Ukraine’s 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, vowing to “protect and defend” the country from such an event.
His …
A court in Georgia has sentenced former President Mikheil Saakashvili to an additional four and a half years in prison on illegal border crossing charges, Georgian TV channel Mtavari reported on March 17.
The latest ruling follows a nine-year sentence …
Editor’s Note: We strive to bring you the most unexpected stories about Ukraine you won’t find anywhere else. Through unique perspectives, we explore all aspects of life here: politics, art, culture, food habits, and people. Who would have thought …
Russia proposed building a drone factory in Belarus with an annual capacity of 100,000 units.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko appoints new government ahead of his seventh “inauguration.”
Belarus cracks down on the unemployed amid workforce …
Belarus will not formally merge with Russia in the near future, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said on March 14 while addressing the Russian Federation Council.
“If we are going to burst through this open door, we will ruin everything …
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on March 13 that the Ukrainian government failed to prevent and adequately investigate deadly clashes between the EuroMaidan supporters and opponents in Odesa in May 2014.
The ruling concerns seven …
On March 7, tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Slovakia for the third time this year to protest the pro-Russian policies of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government. They voiced concerns that Slovakia is drifting away …
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been sentenced to an additional nine years in prison for an alleged large-scale embezzlement of state funds, the Tbilisi City Court ruled, as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Georgian service …
Protests erupted in downtown Bucharest following the Central Electoral Bureau’s decision to ban Russian-backed far-right politician Calin Georgescu from running in the upcoming re-run presidential elections.
Georgescu, who is openly supported by …
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has appointed Alexander Turchin as the country’s new prime minister, state-owned news agency Belta reported on March 10.
Turchin, who previously served as head of the Minsk regional executive committee, held …
Thousands of protestors gathered on March 7 in more than 40 cities across Slovakia targeting the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovak media Aktuality reported.
In Bratislava’s Freedom Square, protesters chanted “shame” and called Fico a …
Belarus and Russia ratified the Union State Security Pact, expanding the nuclear umbrella and military integration.
Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko invites U.S President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian …
Editor’s Note: Following a number of attacks against peaceful protestors in Serbia, the Kyiv Independent agreed to not publish the last names of people who gave comments for this story.
BELGRADE, Serbia — Thousands of protestors walked 300 …
Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and missing persons held a peaceful rally outside of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on March 6, urging Washington to help secure the release of all Ukrainian soldiers and civilians held in Russian captivity. …
For decades, if not more, English speakers the world over referred to Ukraine’s capital as Kiev, pronouncing it kee-yev.
Few people knew they were using the Russian name for the city. The city is pronounced keeiv in Ukrainian and is transliterated …
In a move reminiscent of tactics employed by authoritative figures to consolidate power, President Donald Trump’s recent establishment of a U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve raises significant concerns. This initiative, ostensibly designed to …
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Badra Gunba on winning the presidential “election” in the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia in a statement released by the Kremlin’s press service on March 2.
“I expect …
Several European politicians that are considered pro-Russian expressed their approval for the U.S. President Donald Trump after he clashed in a heated argument with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban …
Thousands of people rallied in support of Ukraine on Feb. 23 ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion which began on Feb. 24, 2022.
Rallies were held across Europe on Sunday, with thousands of demonstrators lining the streets of …
Editor’s Note: We are living in dangerous times.
Help The Counteroffensive’s team with the gear that we need to safely report in wartime Ukraine. Subscriptions go towards medical kits, body armor, batteries and to support our Ukraine-based team. …
U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 19 launched an astonishing attack on President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” with a “very low” approval rating that refuses to hold elections in Ukraine.
The comments came a …
U.S. Deputy Assistant State Secretary Christopher W. Smith visited Belarus alongside two other U.S. officials in an unannounced meeting on Feb. 12, the New York Times reported, potentially ending Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s …
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stunned those watching on Feb. 14 when his speech at the Munich Security Conference turned into a searing attack on Europe’s ideals and a call to embrace far-right political parties.
At an event focused almost …
Slovakia, a landlocked country on Ukraine’s western border, is undergoing a dramatic political shift under Prime Minister Robert Fico. Once a staunch supporter of NATO and the EU, Slovakia has now moved toward a pro-Russian stance, halting military …
In a shocking development, Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) Colonel Dmytro Kozyura has been detained on suspicion of espionage for Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). The security service announced the arrest of the Chief of Staff of its …
UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Feb 10 — On Feb 8, Kharkiv locals gathered to protest against the construction of a café near the historic building called “Giant” (“Gigant” in Ukrainian), a dorm of the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, which was built in 1931 year. …
Editor’s note: The transcript of this interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Poland holds a special position among Kyiv’s partners — with a shared history of Russian oppression and conquest, its leaders have left no room for doubt …
A coal crisis within Russia, largely sparked by the ongoing war with Ukraine, has prompted some of the first significant protests.
The protests flared in the Kuzbass region of Kemerovo, driven by a mix of war-induced shortages, sanctions, and …
Members of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party voted to revoke the mandates of 49 opposition parliamentarians on Feb. 5 after they refused to take their seats, citing concerns over the legitimacy of the results of the October parliamentary …
More than a decade after Ukraine’s pro-democracy EuroMaidan Revolution, the false — but persistent — claim that the movement was a Western-backed “coup” refuses to die.
Elon Musk on Feb. 2 boosted to his more than 215 million followers a …
A homeless Ukrainian citizen was beaten to death in Bratislava, Slovakia, the Slovak media outlet Aktuality reported on Feb. 3.
The Ukrainian man was found on Jan. 30 in front of the Nivy shopping center in Bratislava with serious injuries to his head …
Georgian police arrested two opposition leaders, including the former mayor of Tbilisi, during a street protest against the ruling Georgian Dream party, Echo of the Caucasus reported on Feb. 2.
Along with former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava, the leader …
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) dismissed claims by Slovak officials that HUR had orchestrated an attempted coup in Bratislava using members of the volunteer-based Georgian Legion.
“The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine …
Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Independent isn’t a recipient of U.S. foreign aid, and its funding wasn’t affected by the aid freeze.
With the stroke of a pen, U.S. President Donald Trump last week put a freeze on projects that have helped Ukraine become …
Slovakia has banned Georgian Legion commander Mamuka Mamulashvili from entering the country after the government linked his unit to an alleged coup plot, Denník N reported on Jan. 31.
The volunteers-based Georgian Legion, which has been fighting in …
Aleksandr Lukashenko has awarded himself a seventh term as president of Belarus, with the West calling the so-called vote a sham and introducing additional sanctions.
Belarusian political observer Artsiom Shraibman told the Kyiv Independent that …
The police in Slovakia detained a Ukrainian citizen on Jan. 30 suspected of preparing a coup in the country, Slovak media Aktuality reported.
The Ukrainian is being held in the border police office ahead of his deportation to Ukraine, according to …
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned Slovak Ambassador Pavel Vizdal on Jan. 30 to express its rejection of Bratislava’s claims that Kyiv is interfering in Slovakia’s internal affairs.
This comes amid tensions between Slovak Prime …
EU officials are discussing the option of resuming purchases of Russian pipeline gas as part of a potential settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 30, citing undisclosed sources.
The proposal’s advocates, …
Georgia withdrew its delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Jan. 29 after the Assembly passed a resolution calling for Tbilisi to hold new parliamentary elections.
The country’s fall 2024 parliamentary …
The Slovak Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador to Bratislava Myroslav Kastran on Jan. 29 after Kyiv criticized the country’s Prime Minister Robert Fico for wanting to continue Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, it said on social …
The European Union does not plan to extend the preferential trade agreement framework in its current form past its June 5 expiration date and is considering a new set of rules instead, the Polish news portal RMF24 reported on Jan. 28.
While the …
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned the recent presidential election in Belarus, calling the vote “a farce” in a statement issued Jan. 27.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko “won” a seventh consecutive term as …
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the winner in the country’s so-called presidential elections, in which zero members of the country’s opposition were allowed to take part.
According to the country’s …
The European Union suspended parts of its visa facilitation agreement with Georgia on Jan. 27, citing concerns over the country’s democratic backsliding.
“Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. …
The Kremlin on Jan. 27 welcomed Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s claimed election victory, dismissing Western criticism of the vote as “expected."
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is Russian President …
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself president for his seventh consecutive term in an election on Jan. 26 internationally deemed as neither free nor fair.
The Belarusian Election Commission claimed that Lukashenko …
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Jan. 26 that Belarus had “unilaterally” released an American woman from detention, as Alexander Lukashenko is set to win a seventh term in office.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko appeared set to win a seventh term in office on Jan. 26 in an election widely dismissed by the West and opposition groups as a sham.
Lukashenko has reportedly secured 86.82% of the vote, according to …
“Bratislava is not Moscow, Slovakia is Europe,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X on Jan. 25, voicing support for protests against Slovakia’s government.
The demonstrations, held under the slogan “Slovakia is …
Editor’s note: We ask questions others don’t, and get answers others can’t.
Support our human interest style of journalism? Convinced, as we are, that the stories of free people fighting back against authoritarianism is worth the risk we take with our …
The Foreign Ministry denied Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s claim that Ukraine is connected to a cyberattack on Slovakia’s national insurance company, according to a statement on the Ministry’s website on Jan. 24.
“We categorically …
Protests erupted in more than 20 Slovak cities on Jan. 24 under the slogan “Slovakia is Europe,” targeting the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, Slovak media Aktuality reported.
Protesters chanted slogans like “Enough of …
Early voting began on Jan. 21 in the Belarusian presidential election scheduled for Jan. 26, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
The previous election, held in August 2020, was accompanied by large-scale voting fraud and the largest protests in …
Editor’s note: This article is an on-site version of KI Insights' The Week Ahead newsletter covering events from Jan. 20-Jan. 26. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events, delivered directly to your inbox every …
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused opposition leader Michal Simecka of “kissing Zelensky’s ring” during his recent visit to Kyiv and said the MP wanted to stage a coup d’etat in Bratislava.
Simecka, the pro-Western …
Maria Zaitseva, a 24-year-old Belarusian volunteer soldier fighting for Ukraine, was killed in action near the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast on Jan. 17, Nasha Niva reported.
Zaitseva joined the Ukrainian army after the start of Russia’s …
OSCE observers not invited to monitor upcoming presidential election in Belarus.
Belarus to host over 13,000 Russian troops for Zapad-2025 joint military drills with Russia.
Belarus sentences EU diplomatic staffer to four years in prison. …
Slovakia’s pro-Western opposition parties announced plans to initiate a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government, citing concerns over his governance and foreign policy direction, TASR news agency reported on Jan. …
Croatia’s populist incumbent president, Zoran Milanovic, was re-elected to the post by a wide margin on Jan. 12, election results show.
Milanovic defeated Dragan Primorac, the candidate of Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s HDZ party, by a margin …
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has refused to invite a mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the country’s upcoming presidential election, the OSCE said in a statement issued Jan. 9. …
UKRAINE, KHARKIV — On January 7, a photo exhibition called “Dali: I will get my life back” opened in Kharkiv to honor Maksym Kryvtsov (also called Dali), a poet and a soldier, who was killed in a combat mission near Kharkiv a year ago. The …
The Russian opposition is an odd bunch. While not supporting Russia’s brutal all-out war against Ukraine and its people, the leaders of the so-called opposition don’t want their country to lose.
A number of those who oppose Russian …
Photos and a video of Viktar Babaryka were published by blogger Raman Pratasevich on Jan. 8 after the jailed Belarusian opposition leader was held incommunicado since February 2023.
The footage was released weeks after Belarusian dictator Alexander …
Key developments on Jan. 6:
Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko apologized to President Volodymyr Zelensky over the country’s involvement in the war, Zelensky revealed in an interview with American podcaster Lex …
Georgian citizens are being urged to participate in a nationwide strike on Jan. 15 to demand the release of detained protestors and to call for new elections, Protest 24 posted on Facebook.
The strike, organized by Protest 24, will begin at 3 p.m. and …
The Georgian government is planning to deport 25 foreigners for participating in mass protests in November and December 2024, News Georgia reported on Jan. 4, citing a Georgian Interior Ministry statement.
The pro-Russian Georgian Dream party claimed …
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko will visit China this month ahead of the Jan. 26 presidential elections, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported on Jan. 3.
With Belarus isolated from the West due to Lukashenko’s …
Russian President Boris Yeltsin officially resigned on Dec. 31, 1999, anointing Vladimir Putin, then prime minister, as his successor.
Following the hardline stance against terrorism and the successful conduct of the Second Chechen War, Putin won the …
Polish farmers launched a protest in Warsaw on Jan. 3 against agricultural imports from Ukraine and the EU policies they claim are threatening their livelihoods, the RMF24 news outlet reported.
The protest follows a series of demonstrations by Polish …
The United States has sanctioned two entities accused of advancing Iranian and Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing American voters before this year’s election, according to the Treasury Department.
Treasury officials announced on …
The Nordic Baltic Eight countries have urged Georgia to hold new elections following disputed parliamentary elections in October and the inauguration of the new president, according to their statement published on Dec. 29.
The countries include …
Georgian anti-Western politician Mikheil Kavelashvili, an ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was inaugurated as the country’s sixth president on Dec. 29 in a move seen as illegitimate by the opposition.
Georgia’s fifth president, …
In 2024, Belarus, under dictator Alexander Lukashenko, continued to descend into totalitarianism, imprisoning people at will and providing full-fledged support to Russia in its brutal all-out war.Lukashenko signed a number of bilateral treaties with …
Georgian Protest Under Ru-Propaganda Attack By Viktoria Odusanvo Georgia’s parliamentary elections have sparked a political crisis, triggering widespread protests in the streets of Tbilisi. These demo Source : uacrisis.org/en/georgi…
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Editor’s note: Democracy matters. Resistance to Russia needs to be highlighted and supported. That’s why we’re bringing you coverage from Tbilisi, Georgia today, to highlight yet another place that pr Source : …
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has pledged to veto a proposal to impose EU sanctions on Georgian officials, for their crackdown on anti-government protests, the First Channel of Georgia re Source : kyivindependent.com/hungary-v…
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, host Anna Belokur explains the recent meeting between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky, the escalating protests in Georgia Source : kyivindependent.com/trump-zel…
Georgian police detained Tsotne Koberidze, a politician and member of the Coalition for Change opposition group, on Dec. 6 amid government crackdowns as pro-EU protests in the country continue. This c Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky signed on Dec. 5 sanctions against Georgian government officials who are, in his words, “surrendering Georgia to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.” The sanctio Source : …
Georgian police detained Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the Coalition for Change opposition party on Dec. 4 amid government crackdown as pro-EU protests in the country continue. Gvaramia was dragged out Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…
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President Volodymyr Zelensky tasked Ukrainian officials to prepare sanctions against the Georgian government amid a crackdown against pro-EU protests in the country, he said in an evening address on D Source : kyivindependent.com/ukraine-p…
For the fifth day in a row, Georgians are holding massive protests in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. The brewing dissatisfaction was ignited by the country’s democratic backsliding under the leadersh Source : …
The council of Russian-occupied Abkhazia against a controversial investment agreement with Moscow, which sparked mass protests last month, Interfax reported on Dec. 3. Twenty-one lawmakers voted again Source : kyivindependent.com/abkhaz-co…
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Source : www.youtube.com/watch
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned on Dec. 2 the violent crackdown by Georgian authorities against pro-EU protesters, saying the government’s steps demonstrate a “turn toward Moscow.” At the same ti Source : …
Georgian police stepped in with beatings against the pro-EU protests in Tbilisi ongoing for the fourth day on Dec. 2, forcibly dispersing the protesters. The latest wave of protests against the ruling Source : kyivindependent.com/georgia-p…
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Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Mass protests against the pro-Russian government have broken out in major cities across Georgia, despite police attempts to disperse demonstrators, the Georg Source : …
The United States is suspending the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership due to the anti-democratic actions of the ruling Georgian Dream party, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Source : kyivindependent.com/us-suspen…
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The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) condemned Georgian authorities’ aggressive response against protestors in Tbilisi, according to a statement released on Nov. 29. “Ukraine strongly conde Source : …
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Thirty-eight Russian combat drones enter Belarus on Nov. 24-25, marking the most significant overnight incursion so far and nearing the previous monthly record. Alexander Lukashenko threatens to shut Source : kyivindependent.com/belarus-w…
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has stated that he may completely shut down the internet during the 2025 presidential elections if protests similar to those in 2020 arise, state-run news outl Source : kyivindependent.com/lukashenk…
Georgian police dispersed a protest in Tbilisi demanding new elections on the eve of Nov. 18, but organizers promised a quick resumption elsewhere. The protests came as part of the pro-EU opposition’s Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…
Aslan Bzhania, president of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, submitted a letter of resignation on Nov. 19 in an effort to make a deal with anti-government protesters. A controversial invest Source : …
Unable to overcome Ukraine’s resistance on the battlefield, Russia is increasingly focusing on information and psychological pressure on Ukrainians. In 2025, the Kremlin’s propaganda budget will rise Source : spravdi.gov.ua/en/how-do…
Protests against a controversial investment agreement with Russia escalated into clashes in Sukhum, the capital of Russian-occupied Abkhazia. The proposed law seeks to permit Russians to purchase prop Source : kyivindependent.com/protester…
