Protests on Tracking information about the Russian War against Ukraine

Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s supreme leader, pledges Russia’s steadfast support

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:26:54 +0100

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed Iran’s Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts, pledging Tehran “steadfast support” and expressing solidarity with “Iranian friends.”

“Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic. Now, as Iran confronts armed aggression, your work in this high office will undoubtedly demand great courage and selflessness. I am confident you will carry on your father’s work with honor and rally the Iranian people in the face of harsh trials,” Putin said in a message published by the Kremlin.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “unhappy” with the Assembly of Experts’ decision. According to Trump, Washington wants to see someone who will bring “peace” at the helm of the Islamic Republic. Israeli authorities have threatened to kill the new Supreme Leader if he continues the policies of the previous ayatollah.

News of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death emerged on the first day of joint Israeli and U.S. strikes: Trump first disclosed it, and the next day, on March 1, it was confirmed by Iranian state media.

Khamenei’s nearly 37-year tenure made him the Middle East’s longest-serving head of state at the time of his death and Iran’s longest-ruling leader since Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Critics view him as a repressive despot responsible for political repression and mass killings.

In late 2025, demonstrations erupted across Iranian cities amid mass anti-government protests and a deepening economic crisis, becoming the largest uprising since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. On Khamenei’s orders, police and troops opened fire on protesters, leading to mass killings that left tens of thousands of demonstrators dead.

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'I’m only afraid of Belarus becoming part of Russia' — released opposition activist Kalesnikava calls on Europe to re-engage with Lukashenko

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:03:20 +0100

A leader of the anti-government 2020 protests in Belarus, Maria Kalesnikava, reemerged from prison with a message that has polarized many: Europe must reengage with Belarus’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenko. Human lives, Europe’s security, and Belarus’ future are at stake, Kalesnikava argues.

After suppressing nationwide protests

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Why Trump needs Ukraine to stop Iranian drones

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:11:29 +0100

Editor’s note:

We’ve started a new Iran-focused sister-publication delivering real-time reporting on the war from neighboring Armenia and Iraq.

If you’re interested in The Counteroffensive’s human-centered perspective on the ongoing conflict with Iran, subscribe now!

Subscribe to Iran War Dispatches!

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Among dense trees, on the bank of the Dnipro River – the main artery through Kyiv – sits a ship.

But instead of sailors, its crew is a group of judges who, once every two weeks, become air defense soldiers. This is no ordinary vessel. Instead of oars, it carries machine guns.

“They brought us here for the romance,” said Vitalii Zuiev, a Ukrainian supreme court judge, looking up at the starry sky above the city. “Look — there’ll be a river, a ship, we’ll have it all. But the Shaheds will be coming over the Dnipro, and you’ll be the ones meeting them.”

That night was unusually calm. Hardly any Shahed drones were flying over Ukraine, allowing air defense servicemen to catch their breath, if only for a moment.

Silence is a rarity for them.

In the last week, it has become rare in the Middle East as well. Just a few weeks after The Counteroffensive visited the capital’s air defense positions, the world would be stunned by waves of deadly drones thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine.

Suddenly, other countries are asking Ukraine to stop them.

The shooting down of the Shahed drones with machine guns. Photo provided to The Counteroffensive by Supreme Court Judge Yurii Chumak.

After the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Saturday, Iran started imitating Russia’s tactic of combined mass strikes using Shahed drones and ballistic missiles. By deploying cheap, small drones, Iran is exhausting the air defense systems of the U.S. and other Middle Eastern countries, making interceptions by Western systems costly and inefficient.

This Wednesday Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send its experts who specialize in shooting down Shahed drones to the Middle East. As the country which experienced the most extensive drone attacks in the world, Ukraine’s air defense managed to gain Shahed interception rates of up to 90 percent.

The escalation in the Middle East has demonstrated that Ukraine is much more than a country in need of aid to repel Russian aggression. It is also an equal partner capable of its tremendous battlefield experience.

Iran attacked several buildings in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, on February 28, 2026. Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images.

Before February 2022, Ukrainian Supreme Court Judge Yurii Chumak lived a comfortable life. He even managed to go on vacation with his wife several times, though by then he had already bought himself a helmet and a thousand rounds of ammunition.

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, the city emptied before his eyes, turning gray, unusually quiet and bristling with concrete anti-tank obstacles. His acquaintance, Vitalii Zuiev, told him that a battalion was being formed in Kyiv of about 400 servicemen, several dozen of them judges. Then volunteers guarded strategic sites with rifles — government buildings, prosecutors’ offices, hospitals and maternity wards.

Supreme Court judge Vitalii Zuiev, who voluntarily serves in the capital’s air defense. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

“We were the ‘third’ line of defense,” Vitalii Zuiev said. “They told us we would be called in when things got really bad.”

When Russian forces withdrew from Kyiv, their role changed. The volunteers began helping with the city’s air defense, guarding their assigned sector along the river.

The judges settled on an old decommissioned ship. They brought in old furniture from their homes and set up monitors to watch for enemy targets entering the airspace. Above the vessel, they built makeshift structures with their own hands to mount three machine guns — the same guns they now use to shoot down Shahed drones.

One of the machine guns that is fired by the judges. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

“These aesthetes, these Supreme Court judges, were cleaning with a rag the walls and the floors,” said one of those judges, Nataliia Kovalenko, who also serves in the battalion just from the start.

Since the fall of 2022, when Russia first began launching Iranian Shahed drones at Ukraine and attacking its energy infrastructure, the judges have worked on a rotating schedule, taking shifts once every two weeks. They ask for time off from their day jobs and take up 24-hour duty, monitoring the airspace for threats.

If things are relatively calm, they drink tea in the kitchen or rest in their ship’s ‘cabins.’ But the moment Shahed drones start approaching, chaos erupts on the ship — they have to throw on body armor and helmets and rush upstairs to the machine guns.

Photo from the kitchen of the air defense crew. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

“Ten years ago we used to go hiking, and a sleeping mat and a couple of pine trees were enough to sleep well through the night. Now there’s even a bed here, but the next day you still feel completely drained,” Vitalii said.

After more than four years of aggression from Moscow, the Iranian-designed drones have undergone constant upgrades. Those improvements now help not only Russia but also Iran wage its own fight against the United States and countries in the Middle East.

Iran started developing its drones in the 1980s, when it came under sanctions and started producing weapons based on stolen Western designs. Economic isolation prevented the country from building advanced aircraft, but it found a way to focus on drone manufacturing instead. By the 2010s, the first Shahed models had entered Iran’s arsenal and were used in its military operations across the Middle East, gradually undergoing upgrades.

Now Shaheds are relatively small drones about 3.5 meters long with a wingspan of roughly 2.5 meters, capable of flying up to 2,500 kilometers. That range is enough to strike military targets or critical infrastructure not only in Ukraine, but as far away as Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

Iranian drones were launched at the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus. Map by BBC.

While Shaheds are much slower than ballistic missiles (of which Iran has relatively limited stockpiles), their large numbers allow Iran and Russia to overwhelm air defenses.

Ukraine, which is unable to afford to use costly Patriot missiles or F-16 fighter jets, has built a multi-layered air defense system. Shahed drones are hunted by mobile fire units mounting machine guns on pickup trucks, as well as electronic warfare specialists who jam the drones to knock them off course.

“A Shahed is actually quite hard to shoot down because it has several vulnerable points — the explosive payload, the engine and the control elements. It’s like a big double-door refrigerator. But those vulnerable spots are small. So you can pepper it, you might even see hits, but it can still keep flying,” Vitalii said.

Shooting down Shahed drones is usually a team effort. Air defense units are allowed to fire only within their assigned sectors to avoid hitting residential buildings. One group may damage a drone, while another finishes it off. Russia constantly tries to reroute the drones to bypass known military positions.

The judges often joke bitterly when a Shahed drone hits somewhere nearby, wondering whether their battalion can count it as a ‘downed’ drone.

“One of our colleagues went to a bomb shelter with his wife during an air raid,” Vitalii said. “When he came back, the apartment had burned down, and a Shahed engine was lying inside. He asked if it could be counted as a shootdown.”

As Yurii explained, sometimes air defense crews simply do not spot a Shahed in their sector quick enough. And when they do aim, they have to shoot ahead of the drone rather than directly at it. Otherwise, by the time the bullets reach it, the drone is already gone.

According to Yurii, artificial intelligence could calculate those trajectories and automatically guide machine guns onto the target. But he and his fellow volunteers cannot afford to buy such a system on their own yet.

The most significant breakthrough Ukrainian forces have made in taking down Shaheds is the design of interceptor drones. These low-cost drones can detect and neutralize Shahed drones using AI. In Kyiv alone, interceptor drones have shot down about 70 percent of the kamikaze drones launched by Russia. Ukraine has the potential to share this technology with Western partners.

U.S. officials now believe its air defense systems might fail to reliably intercept Iranian drones CNN. Since the drones fly lower and slower than ballistic missiles, they can more easily evade traditional air defenses. The Pentagon and at least one Persian Gulf country have reportedly already begun talks with Kyiv to buy interceptor drones.

“The issue is not that the United States or wealthy Arab countries lack the means to shoot them [Shaheds] down… but those are all expensive systems. They don’t have cheap ones. We do,” said Yurii.

At the same time, the high intensity of the fighting is rapidly depleting stocks of interceptor missiles for American Patriot systems, which are critical for Ukraine’s ability to defend its skies from Russian missile strikes.

This winter, Kyiv briefly ran out of Patriot missiles when temperatures dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius, nearly triggering a humanitarian disaster as Russia launched devastating attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

“On Jan. 6 we were standing there, and missiles were just flying in one after another. Almost nothing was being shot down — not because people weren’t firing or weren’t hitting their targets, but because, it seemed, there were already no missiles left in stock. We were watching it all, flying in and exploding,” Yurii recalled.

Supreme Court judge Yurii Chumak. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

Iran is also seeking to replicate some of Russia’s tactics in choosing targets. Tehran has begun implementing a strategy aimed at sowing complete chaos in the Middle East, according to The Financial Times.

Under a plan designed by the country’s killed Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and Tehran’s top commanders, Iran is expected to target energy infrastructure and other facilities whose damage could disrupt regional airspace. By doing so, Tehran allegedly seeks to destabilize global markets and increase pressure on Israel and the U.S.

Yurii believes Ukraine should offer its partners help in countering Iranian Shahed drones. But he is skeptical about whether the United States might just steal their hard-fought technology

“They may purchase them, test them, see how effective they are, and then say: ‘Thank you for your technologies and for everything you developed during years of war, testing it all in real conditions and bringing it to a more or less practical level of perfection. Now we’ll handle it ourselves.’”

Editor’s note:

We’ve started a new Iran-focused sister-publication delivering real-time reporting on the war from neighboring Armenia and Iraq.

If you’re interested in The Counteroffensive’s human-centered perspective on the ongoing conflict with Iran, subscribe now!

Subscribe to Iran War Dispatches!

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tania Novakivska

IRANIAN DRONES ATTACK AZERBAIJAN: One of the drones crashed into the airport terminal building in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while another crashed near a school building in the village of Shekerabad.

Two people were injured.

IRGC TAKES THE LEAD: Anticipating the decapitation of its leadership, even before Saturday’s attack by the US and Israel, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps delegated its powers to much lower ranks.

This leads to the preservation of Tehran’s tough strategy and its use of drones and missiles in the region. Potentially, this could complicate the outbreak of protests and further regime change, as repressive mechanisms remain controllable.

CHINA HALTS GASOLINE AND DIESEL EXPORTS: Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, which is disrupting crude oil supplies from one of the world’s key producing regions, the Chinese government has ordered leading refineries to stop signing new contracts and to cancel those already agreed upon, according to Bloomberg sources.

QATAR SUSPENDS GAS LIQUEFACTION: The country will not be able to return to normal production for at least a month, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

IRAN THREATENS ISRAELI NUCLEAR FACILITIES: Iran threatened to strike the facilities if Israel and the U.S. seek to change the regime, reported by the semi-official ISNA news agency, citing an Iranian military official.

It threatens the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, near the city of Dimona, which is considered key to Israel’s nuclear program. The site is one of the most secure in Israel.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Spring has arrived in Kyiv! On her way to get groceries, Nastia spotted this gorgeous cat bathing in the sunlight in her neighborhood.

Stay safe out there!

Best,
Mariana and Nastia

Source

Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Women In Iran Removing Burqas, Burning Pictures Of Khamenei After He Died In U.S.-Israeli Strikes In 2026

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:52:00 +0100

Does a video show women in Iran removing burqas and then burning pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after he died in U.S.-Israeli strikes in February 2026? No, that's not true: The clip being shared does not show people in Iran after recent strikes. It instead shows a demonstration in Paris from January 2026, when a group of activists protested in solidarity with Iranian women and against Iran's regime.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Instagram on Feb. 28, 2026. It read:

Veils are dropping. Hijabs are burning.

For 36 brutal years, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran as Supreme Leader -- enforcing mandatory veiling, crushing dissent, sponsoring terror across the region, and turning 'Woman, Life, Freedom' into a death sentence for those who dared speak it. He presided over the 2022 murder of Mahsa Amini for a 'bad hijab,' the mass executions of protesters, the funding of proxies that targeted civilians from Gaza to Yemen, and a regime that held half its population in chains under the guise of Islamic law.

Today -- February 28, 2026 -- that era ends.

Khamenei, 86, has been killed in a precision joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike, confirmed by Iranian state media itself. His iron grip is broken. His office is rubble. The architect of oppression is gone.

Watch these women tear off the symbols of their subjugation -- not in fear, but in raw, triumphant joy.

This is what justice looks like when tyrants finally fall.

This is the real revolution the regime tried to bury.

The hijab was never just cloth. It was a flag of control.

Today, that flag is ashes.

Women of Iran: Your chains are shattering. Your voices are rising. The nightmare is over for the Iranian people!

This is what the post looked like on Instagram at the time of writing:

(Image source: Post by the_rightsidemedia and rightsidebuzz on Instagram.)

Conflict in the Middle East

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, targeting the nation's political and military leaders. Khamenei died the same day in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran, Iranian state media (archived here) reported.

Original video

Using a screenshot from the video, Lead Stories ran a reverse image search on Google Images (archived here). The search showed that the video of the protests first appeared online more than a month earlier, in January 2026. One example appeared in a post (archived here) on X on Jan. 18, 2026:

(Image source: Post by @WDIAfghanistan1 on X.)

A story (archived here) on the protest appeared on Haberler, a Turkish news website, a day later on Jan. 19, 2026. This is what the post looked like at the time of writing:

(Image source: Post on Haberler.)

Source

Russian Embassy in Seoul removes ‘Victory will be ours’ banner, moves Defender of the Fatherland Day event indoors after government pressure

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:41:11 +0100

Russia’s Embassy in Seoul on February 24 took down a “Victory will be ours” banner in the colors of the Russian flag from the exterior wall of its compound, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry had expressed displeasure with the banner, saying the slogan—used during World War II—is now read as a reference to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The embassy also relocated an event planned for Defender of the Fatherland Day, marked in Russia on February 23. The celebration had been scheduled to take place outdoors in front of the embassy in central Seoul but was moved inside at the last minute.

On February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Korean activists and several Russians who joined them staged a series of one-person protests outside the embassy. The head of a local civic group held a sign that read “Stop Putin. Stop the war,” while chanting “Take down that ugly poster” and “The Republic of Korea is against war.”

Source

The ‘anniversary effect’: Ukrainians live by a trauma calendar

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:28:10 +0100

Editor’s note:

The war in Ukraine has been going on for nearly four years, and every day brings new challenges and news. The Counteroffensive follows what is happening around the country daily and reports on the most important developments.

Our team works under any conditions, in the cold, without electricity or stable internet. But we continue our work so that you receive reliable information.

Your subscription helps us provide backup power and warm conditions for the team. Support our work. Upgrade to a paid subscription today.

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Natalia wakes up in the middle of the night to check the time. The screen shows the year 2014.

She blinks, and the digits slowly return to normal.

Outside, it is February 2026. But she is living by a calendar that lags twelve years behind.

“I turn into a function, into a robot. My brain doesn’t care what year it is now — for my brain, these [February] days are simply 2014,” said Natalia Kolosovska, who has been suffering the ‘anniversary effect’ for more than a decade аfter Russia invaded Ukraine for the first time.

Russian armored personnel carriers reported to be heading to Simferopol in Crimea, Ukraine on Feb. 28, 2014. (Photo by Bulent Doruk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images).

Natalia lives through something each February — the annual reaction to the anniversary of a traumatic event.

The beginning of the full-scale war on February 24th, 2022 became a trauma for millions of Ukrainians; most of them woke up unexpectedly to explosions, shocking news alerts, or calls from relatives saying the war had begun.

Some had to pack their entire lives into suitcases and flee their homes, while others waited in terror, fearing that Russian troops could reach their towns.

Year after year, Ukrainians face what is known as the ‘anniversary effect.’ It involves reliving difficult and distressing emotions as the date of a traumatic event approaches, and it’s not limited to only February 24th — it can last for several days or even weeks.

This happens because the body remembers its response to the event or traumatic period, and it may unconsciously reproduce it each year.

For people abroad it might feel like Ukrainians should have adapted to the war already, but the reality is that the whole nation is going through cyclical retraumatization.

The anniversary effect is an example of how trauma embeds itself in the body and permanently alters the calendars we live by.

31-year-old Natalia Kolosovska from the Lviv region. Photo provided by her.

“I don’t remember what I ate or drank a month ago, but what happened during those days, I remember as if it were yesterday,” said Natalia.

The winter of 2014 was no less difficult for Ukrainians than 2022 would later be. That was when the country was shaken by the Revolution of Dignity, as millions took to the streets demanding European integration. They were protesting against Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovych, who was steering the country toward authoritarianism.

In Kyiv alone, up to a million people gathered on the central square of Maidan Nezalezhnosti at the peak of the protests. On January 22, 2014, snipers killed the first demonstrators. By the end of February, more than a hundred people were dead. Russia exploited the political instability, moving to annex Crimea and launch its occupation of Donbas.

Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv in 2014. Source: kyiv24.news.

From the Lviv region, then 19-year-old Natalia followed these events as they unfolded. She was far from the occupied territories, but she experienced their loss as if it were her own.

Since childhood, she said, she had felt a sense of danger coming from Russia. In school, she wrote essays about the Chechen war after watching documentaries about Russian war crimes there. At the age of 10, she asked her mother: “Why has no one in our family served?”

Her brother simply did not want to join the military, and her father had health issues. She recalls thinking even then: “I don’t want to do math exercises either, but I still do them.”

When the Russian threat to Ukraine became more real, Natalia’s parents told her that Crimea and Donbas had “never truly been Ukrainian;” that they “could be traded away” in exchange for an illusory peace.

She felt isolated, and over time this developed into what is known as the anniversary effect, relived year after year around the dates of traumatic events.

“A psychiatrist once explained something very simple to me. Everything that once existed within your family has spilled over onto a national level and your brain just said: ‘Now it’s everywhere,’” Natalia said.

She suddenly understood why she had been experiencing the anniversary effect for the past decade, despite being far from the epicenter of events. Feb. 24, 2022 added another layer, making the entire month unbearable for Natalia.

The anniversary effect is not always tied to war. It can be associated, for example, with the death of a loved one, a car accident, or even a divorce. Among Americans, anniversary reactions linked to the September 11 terrorist attacks are widespread, even among those who did not directly witness the events.

“If a trauma hasn’t been processed, it is stored as if it is happening right now… During an anniversary, it resurfaces in the unconscious as though the situation is unfolding again in the present. That’s why we feel fear, the urge to cry, or experience reactions we can’t fully explain, as if nothing is happening, yet we are anxious and our stress levels rise,” explained psychologist Vita Bakovska.

It might be a season, a certain temperature, a smell, or a sound. If someone lost a loved one at a specific age, they may experience a similar reaction when they themselves reach that age — it can simply be the context, Bakovska said.

Hundreds of people, including many women and children, take shelter inside a metro station as explosions are heard in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images).

The anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion carries an added layer of turmoil because Ukrainians are still living through the traumatic event and are thus stuck in a state of stress as the war continues.

It’s a collective trauma that has affected people on a massive scale. So even if someone does not personally experience an anniversary effect, they can be ‘emotionally infected’ by others, Bakovska explained.

But Ukraine is not unique in experiencing a mass anniversary effect due to war trauma.

“To this day, when the anniversary of the August war comes, I feel it. There’s a specific anxiety…And there is a terrible feeling I cannot describe or explain rationally. It’s as if the body itself remembers,” said Mariam Lomsadze, a Georgian woman who lives just steps away from the territories Russia occupied in 2008.

Georgian Mariam Lomsadze. Photo from her Facebook.

The war caught her when she was just 8, in her native village of Nikozi in Georgia. Russia invaded Mariam’s country under the pretext of ‘protecting Russians’ in the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, similar to how the war in Ukraine began.

Nikozi village in Georgia. Dashed lines indicate the border with occupied territories. Screenshot from Google Maps.

Mariam did not even realize it was a war at first, she said. Her village bordered South Ossetia, where separatists often held military exercises. So when the first gunfire broke out, the children paid little attention — until the sky turned red with bombs.

She had to flee to the nearby city of Gori, which would go on to become one of the hardest hit by Russian bombardment. People buried their dead in their own yards because they couldn’t reach the cemetery. Mariam’s family received news by phone of more and more people being killed in her village.

“We spent two nights hiding in a basement. We sat there, all of us, trembling with fear… there were cucumbers, and we couldn’t even eat them properly because there was no water,” Mariam recalled.

Nearly 20 years have passed since the war in Georgia, but the memories still catch up with Mariam, especially as the anniversary approaches.

Russian forces started their invasion of Georgia on August 7, 2008. Source: eurointegration.com.ua

Overall, the anniversary effect can manifest on several levels, according to Bakovska. The first is emotional, which presents as unexplained anxiety, irritability, low mood, aggression, or heightened sensitivity. It can also appear on a cognitive level, when intrusive memories surface.

“We may find ourselves sitting in anticipation of a catastrophe, repeating the same thoughts over and over again. This is called rumination. In simple terms, it’s like chewing gum: you keep chewing on the same thoughts and can’t let them go,” Bakovska explained.

On a physical level, it may involve insomnia, panic attacks, or flare-ups of chronic conditions. Behaviorally, as the psychologist noted, people may try to avoid reminders of the trauma and withdraw into isolation.

“Some people try to look away and forget, but I’m the opposite — in that period I actually go back and look at the photographs and the videos from that time. Somehow, doing that makes me calmer. I feel obligated to look at them, so I never forget what Russia did,” Mariam said.

Meanwhile, Natalia feels empty as the tragic anniversaries approach. She feels nothing at all because, for her, the realization of how many people are no longer alive is more than her psyche can carry. In 2015–2016, she attended many funerals for people killed by Russia, whom she did not know, simply to be able to cry. There, she said, her grief at least felt valid.

In February, it becomes especially difficult for her to fall asleep. She lives in a constant, high-alert state, bracing for danger. Thunder makes her flinch; it reminds her of shelling.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, she has also stopped eating green apples because, for some reason, they remind her of tanks. This month, she operates on autopilot — eating, working, going through her daily routines.

To make sense of her experience, Natalia writes down what she feels before later transforming it into prose or poetry.

Natalia’s poem extract. English translation: “I didn’t have to bury my own. No coffin. No ninth day. No black clothes at home. I didn’t have to hold someone’s hand as it turned cold. I didn’t sit by a hospital bed in the ICU. I didn’t sob into the phone: “Hold on, I’m coming.” But… I had to grieve everyone — without exception, without names, without goodbyes.”

And as Natalia sees it, one of the best ways to cope with the anniversary effect is to find people with similar experiences.

“For those who haven’t lived through this, it is pathologically difficult and sometimes impossible to understand,” Natalia said. “Not because they are bad or cruel, or somehow different, but because their scale of pain is different from ours.”

Editor’s note:

Our team works under any conditions, in the cold, without electricity or stable internet. But we continue our work so that you receive reliable information.

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NEWS OF THE DAY

By Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

RUSSIA REFUSES TO REMOVE VICTORY BANNER FROM EMBASSY IN SEOUL: In Seoul, a 15-meter long banner reading “Victory will be ours” in Russian appeared on the building of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in South Korea a few days before the four year anniversary of the full-scale invasion. This slogan was originally used during the Second World War, but recently has been used with reference to Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine.

Despite South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding the banner’s removal and claiming that this was a violation of diplomatic conventions, Russia has refused.

RUSSIA PROVIDES IRAN WITH AIR DEFENSE IN SECRET €500M DEAL: Iran has concluded a secret €500 million agreement with Russia to restore its air defenses which were damaged by last year’s Israeli attacks, the Financial Times reports. The systems were requested by Iran in July 2025,

According to the outlet, deliveries are planned for 2027–2029, though Iran may have already received some of these systems. This deal likely has been a way for Russia to repair relations with Iran after it abandoned its ally during Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in 2025, a former US official told the FT.

GREECE COULD BECOME KEY ROUTE FOR US LNG AHEAD OF RUSSIAN GAS BAN: As the EU moves towards a total ban on Russian gas supplies by 2027, Greece is positioning itself as the southern gateway for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, predominantly from the US, the FT reports. Before the full-scale invasion Russia supplied about 40 per cent of the EU’s gas, by 2024 Russia supplied only 11 per cent – this gap has been filled largely by US LNG.

The main LNG terminal on the island of Revithoussa moves gas north to the Balkans and beyond. The system was set up after 2022 Russia suspended pipeline gas supplies to Bulgaria after the country refused to pay in roubles.

Demand for long-term supplies is growing, with LNG buyers already booking slots for shipments through Revithoussa until 2040, viewing Greece as a strategic energy hub.

DOG OF WAR:

This pack of dogs often appears on Khreshchatyk and attracts people’s attention. One of the pups, Mitya, often lags behind the others, and the owner has to make sure he doesn’t fall behind.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana

Source

The Mathematics of War: How to Tell Real Losses From Propaganda

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:14:41 +0100

On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this war has definitively become the bloodiest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the combined casualties of both sides—killed, wounded, and missing—have reached approximately 1.8 million and could cross the 2 million mark in spring 2026.

In a conflict of this kind, every casualty figure becomes a weapon. Both Russia and Ukraine classify information about their own losses while actively publishing data on the enemy’s losses. In this “fog of war,” where every number is an instrument of an information operation, the search for truth requires scientific methods.

This article offers an analysis for a broad readership: who is lying, who is exaggerating, and where an objective picture can be found. We will examine three questions in turn: whether Russian military briefings can be trusted, what the real price of the war is for Russia, and what we know about Ukraine’s losses.

Part 1. The psychology of numbers and Benford’s law

To test the reliability of quantitative indicators, one of the most effective tools is Benford’s law, also known as the law of the first significant digit. It is a mathematical regularity that describes the probability that a particular digit will appear in the first position of numbers drawn from real, naturally generated (“organic”) datasets that reflect complex cumulative processes.

Contrary to the intuitive assumption that all nine digits (from 1 to 9) should appear as the first digit of a random number with equal probability (about 11.1%), Frank Benford found that in large-scale datasets digits are distributed according to a logarithmic law. Mathematically, the probability P(d) that the first significant digit of a randomly selected number is d (where d ∈ {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}) is given by the formula:

Accordingly, the theoretical distribution of first digits in an organic dataset is as follows: the digit 1 appears in the first position in 30.1% of cases; 2—17.6%; 3—12.5%; 4—9.7%; 5—7.9%; 6—6.7%; 7—5.8%; 8—5.1%; and 9—only 4.6% of cases.

This law is a widely recognized tool in global forensic accounting, auditing, and macroeconomic analysis for detecting signs of falsification in corporate financial statements, election protocols, tax declarations, and epidemiological statistics.

The psychological basis for the effectiveness of Benford’s law is simple: when a person (or group of people) attempts to fabricate statistical data or invent “random” numbers, they are guided by a false notion of randomness. They subconsciously try to distribute digits evenly, often choosing numbers that begin with 4, 5, 6, or 7, while avoiding excessive use of ones and twos, intuitively perceiving them as “too obvious” or insufficiently “convincing.”

A mathematical deconstruction of propaganda: analyzing Russian Ministry of Defense briefings on Ukraine’s losses

From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Russia’s political and military leadership adopted a strategy of total dominance in its domestic information space. The Russian Ministry of Defense publishes daily, extraordinarily detailed reports on the destruction of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and equipment. These briefings—long associated with Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov and later transformed into daily written summaries—are intended to create within Russian society a durable illusion of an inevitable and rapid victory, as well as to convince the international community of the futility of further support for Kyiv.

The daily briefings of Russia’s Ministry of Defense contain figures, precise to the individual, for Ukrainian service members reported “destroyed.” Analysis of these data for the period from February 2022 through February 2026 makes it possible to form a representative control sample. For example, official Ministry of Defense statements feature typical figures such as: “up to 1,075 Ukrainian service members destroyed” in one day on a single axis; total Ukrainian Armed Forces losses for January 19, 2026 are claimed at “1,240 soldiers”; the “Center” group of forces reports the destruction of “480 personnel” or “295 personnel,” the “South” group—“305 personnel” or “145 personnel,” the “East” group—“up to 960 service members,” and the “West” group—“more than 150 personnel” per day. Aggregate daily enemy loss figures are regularly reported at levels such as 1,495, 1,245, or 1,070 personnel. Overall, as of late 2024 through early 2026, Russia’s Ministry of Defense estimates Ukrainian army losses at more than 1 million killed and wounded.

When applying Pearson’s chi-square (x²) statistical test, which makes it possible to determine the statistical significance of deviations between empirical data and a theoretical model, the distribution of first digits in the reported figures of “Ukrainian Armed Forces service members destroyed” shows a significant deviation from Benford’s law.

First significant digit (d)	Benford theoretical distribution (%)	Empirical distribution in Russia’s Ministry of Defense data (%)	Deviation (%)	Deviation assessment
1	30.1%	~ 14.5%	15.60%	Critical underrepresentation (statistically significant)
2	17.6%	~ 19.2%	-1.60%	Deviation (not statistically significant)
3	12.5%	~ 18.7%	-6.20%	Artificial clustering (statistically significant)
4	9.7%	~ 16.4%	-6.70%	Artificial clustering (statistically significant)
5	7.9%	~ 10.1%	-2.20%	Deviation (not statistically significant)
6	6.7%	~ 5.2%	1.50%	Deviation (not statistically significant)
7	5.8%	~ 7.8%	-2.00%	Artificial clustering (statistically significant)
8	5.1%	~ 5.5%	-0.40%	Deviation (not statistically significant)
9	4.6%	~ 2.6%	2.00%	Deviation (not statistically significant)

Note: The empirical distribution in the table is an averaged representation of the time-series analysis of Russia’s Ministry of Defense briefings.

The statistical test shows that the deviation of the observed distribution of first digits from the theoretical one is nonrandom (p – value < 0.001). It can be assumed that Russian staff officers and spokespersons responsible for compiling these reports subconsciously avoid “overly round” or “overly small” leading digits in an effort to create an illusion of extraordinary precision, operational activity, and combat intensity. Numbers such as “480,” “305,” “295,” or “1,075” are generated either algorithmically or manually to match target indicators for enemy losses set by the political leadership.

A statistically significant deviation in the frequency of digits 1, 3, 4, and 7 from Benford’s law can be regarded as an indicator of falsification, turning statistics into an instrument of reflexive control aimed at a domestic audience to sustain the myth of the relentless success of the so-called “special military operation.” As shown in Part 3 below, Russia’s leadership significantly overstates Ukraine’s losses.

But there is a caveat. Benford’s law is a powerful tool, but it has limitations. For Benford’s law to work properly, the data must span several orders of magnitude (for example, from 10 to 10,000). In the case of Russia’s briefings on Ukrainian Armed Forces losses, daily figures vary within a narrow range and are often presented with “up to” or “more than” qualifiers, which makes them interval rather than exact values. Under such conditions, conclusions based on Benford’s law are better understood as risk indicators rather than proof of falsification. In political statistics, this is described as the forensic pitfall: Deckert, Myagkov, and Ordeshook (2011) show that Benford’s law, as a detection tool, should be applied cautiously—as a red flag, not proof of guilt.

Bureaucratic schizophrenia: verifying Russia’s real losses through its own civilian administrative records

Because Russia’s information space operates under conditions of strict autocratic censorship, an objective analysis of Russian Armed Forces losses requires a different approach. Russia’s Ministry of Defense ceased regular publication of official data on its own military losses in September 2022 (when it reported a figure of 5,937 killed), on the eve of announcing the so-called “partial mobilization.” Since then, the ministry’s official communication regarding its own losses has been reduced to zero. Moreover, Russian legislation has criminalized any attempts to independently count losses within the country, classifying such efforts as “discrediting” the armed forces or “spreading false information,” offenses punishable by multi-year prison terms.

However, the Kremlin’s authoritarian system faces a phenomenon that can be described as “bureaucratic schizophrenia.” The state can classify operational General Staff briefings, but it cannot halt the functioning of a vast civilian bureaucratic apparatus without triggering a total collapse of the social system. To stimulate recruitment, Russia’s government has undertaken to pay relatives of the fallen financial compensation on a colossal scale by the standards of Russia’s provinces (“coffin payments,” insurance payouts, and loan write-offs). Receiving these funds requires strict compliance with legal procedures: obtaining a death certificate (more than 300,000 forms of which have been ordered since 2022), opening an inheritance case with a notary, and filing documents with the Social Fund of Russia (SFR). Thus, each death of a Russian soldier inevitably leaves a digital and bureaucratic trace in state databases.

To ensure that Russia’s authorities were not falsifying these civilian data as well, journalists and researchers aggregated statistics from the National Register of Inheritance Cases of the Federal Notary Chamber of Russia (the number of cases opened for men of conscription age by municipality and region) and official demographic reports from the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) on excess mortality. This dataset was also subjected to verification using Benford’s law.

Unlike Russia’s Ministry of Defense briefings, civilian data are not generated centrally in the offices of military propagandists but are the result of decentralized actions by thousands of independent actors across Russia: notaries, civil registry officials, and social welfare employees. When the first significant digit was extracted from data on opened inheritance cases and excess mortality, the empirical distribution showed an extremely high correlation with Benford’s theoretical logarithmic curve.

First significant digit (d)	Benford theoretical distribution (%)	Empirical distribution from inheritance register and Rosstat data (%)	Deviation (%)	Deviation assessment
1	30.10%	29.80%	0.3%	Not statistically significant
2	17.60%	18.20%	-0.6%	Not statistically significant
3	12.50%	12.10%	0.4%	Not statistically significant
4	9.70%	9.50%	0.2%	Not statistically significant
5	7.90%	8.30%	-0.4%	Not statistically significant
6	6.70%	6.50%	0.2%	Not statistically significant
7	5.80%	6.10%	-0.3%	Not statistically significant
8	5.10%	5.00%	0.1%	Not statistically significant
9	4.60%	4.50%	0.1%	Not statistically significant

The correlation coefficient (R²) between the empirical and theoretical distributions exceeds 0.95. This indicates that the statistical probability of manipulation of these administrative data approaches zero. The conformity of data generated by Russia’s civilian bureaucratic apparatus to the mathematical laws of random variables demonstrates that these figures are an objective reflection of Russia’s social and demographic reality. Therefore, analysis based on these sources can be considered reliable.

Part 2. Arithmetic absurdity: how Russia fabricates statistics

The fabricated nature of Russia’s military briefings on Ukrainian losses is demonstrated not only by statistical analysis but also by violations of the fundamental laws of arithmetic in the calculation of cumulative losses of Ukrainian military equipment.

As of February 15, 2026, according to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Russian forces have destroyed a colossal quantity of Ukrainian weaponry, including more than 670 military aircraft, 283 helicopters, more than 114,000 unmanned aerial vehicles, 650 surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, and 27,704 tanks and armored fighting vehicles.

To understand the absurdity of these figures, it is sufficient to consult international databases of military capabilities. According to the World Air Forces 2022 reference, before the full-scale invasion the Ukrainian Air Force had only 318 aircraft in total, including Soviet-era platforms. Of these, 98 were combat aircraft and 112 were helicopters. Even if one adds to this list all aircraft and helicopters transferred to Ukraine by partner countries since 2022 (OSINT analysts at Oryx estimate this at roughly 150+ units), the total size of Ukraine’s aviation has never even approached 953 units. Russia’s Ministry of Defense has thus officially “destroyed” Ukraine’s air force at least three times over.

A similar situation applies to armored vehicles. When the Armed Forces of Ukraine had a total of about 8,165 tanks and armored fighting vehicles (including Soviet-era equipment and the first tranches of military aid), Russia’s army had already officially reported (on July 12, 2023) the “destruction” of 9,915 such vehicles. The claim of 27,704 destroyed armored vehicles as of February 15, 2026 is a mathematical impossibility, as this figure substantially exceeds the entire available fleet of tanks and armored fighting vehicles not only of Ukraine but also of the combined forces of many European NATO member states prior to their rearmament.

As for personnel, as early as mid-2022—when the war had lasted only a few months—the cumulative figures of “destroyed” Ukrainian service members in Russia’s Ministry of Defense briefings had reached levels that would have implied the loss of combat effectiveness of 80% of the entire Ukrainian Armed Forces. The fact that Ukraine’s army in 2026 continues to conduct large-scale defensive operations, inflicting catastrophic losses on the enemy and even holding footholds on Russia’s territory (Kursk region), demonstrates that Russia’s Ministry of Defense data bear no relation to battlefield reality.

The scale of confirmed Russian losses based on internal data

Based on the mathematically demonstrated reliability of Russia’s registries, the projects Mediazona and BBC Russian Service, with support from Meduza, systematically aggregate Russia’s irrecoverable losses.

Their methodology consists of two components: a name-by-name list of the dead and a statistical estimate based on the Register of Inheritance Cases.

By monitoring open sources—statements by regional governors, obituaries in the local press, photographs from cemeteries, as well as analysis of database leaks (such as lists from the Wagner Group and leaks from motor rifle brigades)—as of February 13, 2026, researchers had verified the names of 177,433 dead Russian soldiers. In just the first two weeks of February 2026, more than 9,000 names were added to this list through the processing of accumulated archival data. Among those identified by name are 6,414 officers, including 12 generals of Russia’s army. The largest absolute losses have been recorded among natives of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Sverdlovsk region, and Krasnodar Krai.

Because not every death is reported in newspapers or announced by governors, the name-by-name list represents only a lower bound of total losses. To establish a more accurate picture, researchers used data on the excess number of inheritance cases opened for men under the age of 50 compared with the prewar period. Taking into account the proportion of men who leave no property, this mathematical model showed that as of August 2025 the total number of dead Russians was about 219,000, and by preliminary estimates, by the end of 2025 this figure had reached approximately 300,000 irrecoverable losses. This estimate correlates with Rosstat reports, which recorded cumulative excess mortality among Russian men aged 20–54 at 138,500 in just the first two years of the full-scale war (2022–2023).

In addition, beginning in mid-2024, a mass wave of court petitions filed by Russia’s Ministry of Defense military units seeking to have missing soldiers declared dead has been recorded (around 90,000 such cases by the end of 2025). This allows the army to avoid evacuating bodies from the battlefield while formally completing bureaucratic procedures, which further increases the total number of deaths.

Intelligence consensus: everyone sees the same thing

Official Ukrainian data (more than 1.25 million), which Russia calls an “invention of the Kyiv regime,” in fact underpin the consensus estimates of leading think tanks. For example, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in a report published in early 2026, estimates Russia’s total losses (killed, wounded, and missing in action) at 1.2 million. Of that number, irrecoverable losses (killed) amount to up to 325,000 soldiers.

Source	Estimated total Russian losses	Date
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington	about 1.2 million	January 2026
Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff	more than 1,252,000	February 2026
UK Ministry of Defence	1,168,000—1,213,000	December 2025—January 2026
William J. Burns, Former Director of the CIA	about 1.1 million	January 2026
Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service	about 1 million	February 2026
Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), United Kingdom	about 1 million (240,000 killed)	September 2025

Moreover, this figure follows logically from mathematical calculations based on Russia’s civilian registries (219,000–300,000 confirmed deaths). Given the standard ratio of killed to wounded in modern conflicts (approximately 1:3 to 1:4), 300,000 irrecoverable losses imply total losses of more than 1 million. Thus, Ukrainian and international estimates of Russian losses are close to accurate.

The Dutch Oryx project, which uses the most conservative and rigorous methodology (recording only equipment losses with clear photo or video confirmation and geolocation), has documented Russia’s loss of 24,099 units of heavy military equipment. Of these, 13,887 armored vehicles were destroyed, damaged, or captured, including 4,334 tanks of various types (from older T-54/55 models to the most modern T-90M).

Ukrainian Armed Forces estimates of Russian equipment losses (~11,672 tanks as of February 15, 2026) are higher than Oryx’s visually confirmed figures (4,300 tanks), because OSINT captures only the lower bound of losses, as many vehicles destroyed in rear areas or in tree lines are never recorded on video, especially given the scale of FPV drone use and long-range artillery.

Part 3. What we know about Ukraine’s losses

The question of Ukrainian losses is the most sensitive aspect of this analysis. Kyiv long adhered to a policy of information silence, which is understandable: in an existential war for survival, any information about its own losses can be used by the enemy to plan military and information operations. However, estimates by international institutions, official statements, and foreign intelligence services now largely converge.

In February 2026, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with France 2 that 55,000 Ukrainian service members had been killed on the battlefield. He added that a “large number” of service members are still considered missing in action (according to estimates by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the number of missing Ukrainians ranges from 35,000 to 84,500). Earlier, at the end of 2024, he cited a figure of 43,000 killed and 370,000 wounded.

In January 2026, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published an estimate according to which Ukraine’s total military losses (killed, wounded, and missing in action) amount to 500,000–600,000. Within that number, irrecoverable losses (killed) are estimated at 100,000–140,000 (assuming a killed-to-wounded ratio of 1:4). This estimate correlates with counts by the independent UALosses project, which maintains a name-by-name list of Ukrainian losses based on public obituaries: as of early 2026, it had confirmed the names of more than 92,000 dead Ukrainian service members. The Economist, in summer 2025, also estimated the number of dead Ukrainians at 73,000–140,000.

Regardless of which specific figure is considered most accurate, the main conclusion remains unchanged: even by the highest estimates, Ukrainian Armed Forces losses are at least 2–2.5 times lower than Russia’s losses (600,000 versus 1.2 million). This indicates significantly higher effectiveness of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

Part 4. Nonobvious consequences: what lies behind the numbers

The erosion of Lanchester’s square law and the “drone war” paradox

Classical military theory (including Lanchester’s square law) holds that in combined-arms combat, an army’s combat power is proportional to the square of its manpower, provided there is a concentration of massed firepower and a mechanized breakthrough. However, in modern warfare this law no longer holds: the widespread proliferation of FPV drones, aerial reconnaissance systems, and Starlink integration has led to a dramatic degradation of Russia’s ground tactics, negated its numerical advantage, and made any concentration of equipment lethal. West Point (the U.S. Military Academy) analysts have described this as a “return of the tactical crisis”—a situation in which firepower once again exceeds the capacity for maneuver, as it did in the late nineteenth century.

It has been visually confirmed that Russia has lost more than 13,800 armored vehicles (more than its entire prewar active fleet) and has been forced to abandon massed mechanized assaults and shift to “meat assaults”: continuous attacks by small infantry groups of 2–5 soldiers. Tanks have been replaced by golf carts, ATVs, motorcycles, and even horses. The sole objective is to cross the “gray zone” under drone strikes at any cost. This “adaptation” has a shocking and nonobvious consequence: for Russia, the war is becoming far cheaper in material and financial terms, but far more costly in human lives.

The price of territory

Tactical degradation to the level of a frontal war of attrition reminiscent of World War I has produced extreme statistics on the “cost” of territory. According to analysts, in 2024–2025 Russia’s army lost an average of 102 soldiers killed and wounded for every square kilometer of Ukrainian territory captured. In 2025, this figure averaged 78 soldiers, although in some of the most intense months of fighting (in particular from January to April 2025) it reached 99 per square kilometer.

Thus, innovations by Ukraine’s Defense Forces in unmanned systems have effectively “broken” Lanchester’s law for Russia’s army, turning it into a slow-moving force capable of advancing (for example, capturing less than 1% of Ukraine’s territory in 2025—about 0.93%) only at the cost of enormous losses.

“Deathonomics” and the Kremlin’s social engineering

A question that often concerns Western analysts is why astronomical human losses (more than 1 million killed and wounded) have not led to a mass social explosion or antiwar protests in Russia. The answer lies not only in the effectiveness of the FSB’s repressive apparatus but also in the Kremlin’s creation of a unique macroeconomic model. Researcher Vladislav Inozemtsev, in a report for the French think tank IFRI (February 2026), described this phenomenon as “Deathonomics”—an “economy of death.”

Russia’s political leadership has deliberately transformed the war into an unprecedented mechanism for the redistribution of national wealth. Geographic and demographic analysis of losses confirmed through obituaries (including Mediazona data) reveals a cynical policy of social engineering. Russia’s “blood tax” is paid by the poorest, economically depressed regions—ethnic republics of Siberia and the Far East (the Republic of Tuva, Buryatia, and Chukotka), where the risk of death for local men is 25 times higher than for residents of Moscow or St. Petersburg. Bashkortostan and Tatarstan also suffer enormous absolute losses. Putin’s regime is effectively buying the population’s loyalty by paying astronomical sums for the deaths of their sons and husbands, which has produced a paradoxical consumption “boom” in Russia’s villages and small towns. Death has thus become the most profitable business.

But this model is a financial pyramid scheme. The loss of hundreds of thousands of working-age men has created an acute labor shortage. The defense industry operates around the clock in three shifts, producing equipment that is subsequently destroyed in Ukraine. Trillions of unbacked rubles are fueling an inflationary spiral. Even according to official data, GDP growth has fallen to a meager 1% (compared to 4.3% in 2024), forcing the government to raise taxes and drastically cut funding for civilian sectors such as education and healthcare. Although oil revenues and China’s support, including through sanctions evasion, allow the Kremlin to continue financing the war, they cannot conceal a deep structural internal deficit.

Another nonobvious consequence of the “Deathonomics” is the rapid aging of Russia’s army. Because the younger mobilization pool has largely been exhausted (or has left the country—estimates range from half a million to more than a million people who relocated in 2022 alone), in 2025–2026 the army has been replenished primarily by older “commercial volunteers” attracted by financial incentives.

According to statistical data, the average age of a Russian soldier killed at the front is approaching 50, and the most common category of fatalities is men aged 46–52. Russia has thus turned its army into an “army of old men,” sending them into continuous, exhausting assaults.

A geopolitical game: Munich 2026

According to analysts, the intensification of Russia’s offensive in late 2025 and early 2026 (especially on the Pokrovsk and Kupiansk axes), accompanied by record losses (30,000–35,000 killed and wounded per month for minimal advances of only a few square kilometers), was aimed less at achieving a strategic military breakthrough than at creating a cognitive illusion of invincibility among Western leaders.

The Kremlin is deliberately demonstrating to the world its willingness to expend an unlimited number of its own citizens’ lives. This “madman strategy” is intended to convince the U.S. administration and European leaders that Ukraine’s military resistance is futile, since no level of losses will stop Russia. At the same time, Russia continues its systematic campaign to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, reinforcing the narrative that Ukraine cannot sustain a war of attrition.

This information-psychological strategy has achieved a degree of success in the West. In the information space (for example, through media leaks in outlets such as the Financial Times or Axios) significant pressure is building on Ukraine to compel it to make territorial concessions (including recognition of the loss of the Donbas and the relinquishment of Crimea) in exchange for promises of Western security guarantees or a freezing of the conflict until summer 2026. Calls have also emerged for elections in Ukraine in exchange for a ceasefire.

In response to this pressure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026, criticized the idea of “appeasing” the aggressor. He directly called Vladimir Putin a “slave to war” and compared attempts by Western partners to pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions in exchange for an illusory peace to the shameful Munich Agreement of 1938, when the surrender of Czechoslovakia to Hitler failed to prevent a much larger war.

Zelenskyy emphasized that for Kyiv, any approach that demands concessions solely from Ukraine while Russia continues its terror and wages a hybrid war against Europe is categorically unacceptable. Insisting on firm 20-year security guarantees from the United States before signing any agreements, he made clear that the war will not end on terms of capitulation. Ukraine’s official public disclosure of its significant losses (55,000 killed), though many times smaller than those of its adversary, is itself a strategic move. It is intended to demonstrate to the West the extraordinary effectiveness of Ukraine’s Defense Forces and to show that, provided Western military and financial support is maintained and strengthened, the exhaustion of Russia’s “Deathonomics” will occur long before the Ukrainian nation’s will to resist is broken. Put in plain terms: we are fighting more effectively—support us, and the aggressor’s exhaustion, and thus a durable peace, will come sooner.

Conclusions

The information space of the Russia–Ukraine war is deeply asymmetric. Russia’s official military statistics, published by its Ministry of Defense, are an instrument of psychological operations and are fully fabricated. The combined evidence of mathematical testing of daily briefings using Benford’s law, independent investigations (such as those by Mediazona), and basic arithmetic logic demonstrates that these figures are artificially generated, violate the expected distribution of random variables, and bear no relation to actual battlefield events. Claims of the destruction of more than 27,000 Ukrainian armored vehicles or 953 aircraft and helicopters are arithmetically impossible. Data analysis indicates irrecoverable losses of Russia’s army in the range of 250,000–325,000 killed, corresponding to total losses (including wounded) of more than 1.2 million personnel. Comparative analysis shows that the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Staff’s estimates of Russian losses (more than 1.25 million) align with the consensus assessments of Western intelligence services (CIA, UK Ministry of Defence) and think tanks (CSIS).

The war in Ukraine has triggered irreversible transformations in military strategy and tactics. Technological battlefield transparency enabled by drones has undermined the traditional laws of mechanized warfare (including Lanchester’s law), forcing Russia to shift to bloody infantry infiltration assaults, in which each square kilometer of Ukrainian territory costs the aggressor 80–90 soldiers’ lives. To sustain this self-destructive model, the Kremlin has constructed a “Deathonomics,” buying the loyalty of the poorest regions through relatively high compensation payments for the deaths of their residents. However, this strategy is a financial pyramid scheme that is already fueling an inflationary spiral, depleting the labor force, and leaving the country with a deteriorating economy and a rapidly aging army.

On the geopolitical stage, particularly during the 2026 Munich Security Conference, Moscow’s willingness to expend hundreds of thousands of Russian lives in the furnace of war remains its principal lever in attempts to pressure the West into forcing Ukraine to capitulate. However, even the most conservative Western estimates confirm that Ukraine’s personnel losses are at least 2–2.5 times lower than Russia’s. Together with Kyiv’s firm position, this indicates that the Kremlin’s war of attrition is steadily approaching its critical breaking point.

Photo: depositphotos.com

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Russia’s Losses in Ukraine Are Reshaping the Middle East

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:50:35 +0100

Mass protests have again shaken Iran, and the regime looks more vulnerable—economically, militarily, and politically—in 2026 than it has been in decades. A key but often overlooked reason for this vulnerability is that Russia no longer has the capacity to meaningfully support its most important Middle Eastern partner.

For years, Moscow functioned as Iran’s strategic backstop. Russian weapons, diplomatic cover, and military cooperation allowed Tehran to expand its influence through proxies from Gaza to southern Lebanon. Today, that system is under strain, and not just because of Israel’s and United States’ military action in the Middle East. Russia’s war in Ukraine has depleted Russia’s military stockpiles, distracted its leadership, and significantly limited its ability to project power beyond its immediate neighborhood.

The collapse of Assad’s regime underscores this shift. Once Russia and Iran withdrew meaningful support, Damascus fell with surprising speed. The lesson for Tehran was unmistakable: Moscow’s guarantees are no longer reliable. Going forward, Iran will have to confront internal dissent and external pressure without the assurance that Russia can intervene decisively on its behalf.

This shift matters because Russia has long viewed Middle Eastern instability as strategically useful. Conflicts involving Israel, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah divert Western attention and resources, weaken U.S. alliances, and elevate Moscow’s role as an indispensable power broker. Russia’s partnerships with Iran and its proxies were never ideological. They were transactional, designed to frustrate American influence and constrain democratic states.

The military cooperation between Russia and Iran illustrates this logic. Over the past decade, Moscow supplied Tehran with weapons and operational know-how. Iranian drones have been sustaining Russia’s campaign against Ukrainian cities. Iran’s April 2024 drone and missile barrage against Israel reflected tactics Russia has refined in Ukraine: saturation attacks combining drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles to overwhelm air defenses.

But Russia’s ability to support Iran is being gradually eroded by the war in Ukraine. Arms transfers are harder to sustain, even as Iran is becoming asymmetrically more dependent on Russia. And Moscow has little appetite for a direct confrontation with Israel or the United States while its forces remain bogged down in Eastern Europe.

The same dynamic applies to Russia’s ties with Middle Eastern terrorist groups. Moscow has maintained working relationships with both Hamas and Hezbollah, hosted their leadership in Russia, and benefited from the global distraction created by wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Yet even here, Russia’s leverage is waning. A weakened Russia cannot simultaneously sustain a major European war and act as a guarantor for Iran’s proxy network.

For Europe, the United States, and other allies, the connection between Russia and bad actors in the Middle East creates a strategic opportunity: strong action in Europe has positive spillovers to other regions. Supporting Ukraine is not merely about defending European borders. It directly constrains Russia’s ability to fuel instability in the Middle East. A Russia forced to prioritize its own survival has fewer resources to arm Iran, fewer incentives to provoke regional crises, and less capacity to shield authoritarian partners from the consequences of their actions.

The recent unrest in Iran was not necessarily caused by Russia’s decline. But it unfolded in a geopolitical environment far less favorable to Tehran than in years past. That environment was shaped in large part by Ukraine’s resistance and the West’s support for it.

Thus, far from being competing priorities, Ukraine and the Middle East are inherently linked. Weakening Russia’s war machine creates ripple benefits on all fronts. Sustained military aid to Ukraine, tougher enforcement of sanctions, and fewer self-imposed limits on Ukraine’s ability to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia would accelerate this effect.

The lesson of recent events is straightforward: when Russia faces large enough losses in Ukraine, its capacity to destabilize other regions declines. That is a strategic dividend worth recognizing and reinforcing.

Фото: depositphotos.com

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Italy foils Russian cyberattacks targeting Olympics

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:00:00 +0100

On or before 4 February 2026, Italy foiled a series of Russian cyberattacks aimed at disrupting the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The attacks targeted foreign ministry offices including Washington, as well as critical Olympic locations such as hotels in Cortina. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani disclosed these incidents amid tightening security operations as the Games approached. Political focus centered especially on Milan, where key leaders including US Vice President JD Vance were expected for the opening ceremony. The issue became contentious over the potential involvement of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Milan. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi emphasized that ICE agents, who are engaged in US immigration crackdowns, would not patrol Milan’s streets. ICE clarified that its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel would operate only within US diplomatic missions as intelligence agents without executive policing authority. Milan’s mayor rejected ICE presence, calling it “a militia that kills.” Additionally, Piantedosi affirmed standard security protocols involving sending officials to Olympic events, dismissing controversies. The US ambassador stated that HSI’s role during the Olympics would be limited to advisory and intelligence functions. Separate demonstrations and protests were planned relating to ICE deployment, Israel’s participation in the Games, and environmental concerns over new infrastructure and artificial snow use. The response highlighted ongoing cyber threats and political sensitivities surrounding the international event’s security environment.

Category: Cyber & Information Warfare

Subcategory: Cyber Attacks

Incident Type: Hacking, malware, ransomware

Country: Italy

Source report: www.france24.com/en/live-n…

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With Iran's uprising suppressed, Trump signals that military strikes are back on the table

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:59:46 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump issued another ultimatum to Iran on Jan. 28, threatening to strike the regime if it does not agree to a deal on limiting its nuclear weapons program.

Earlier in January, Iran was rocked by nationwide protests fueled by high inflation and the sharp depreciation of

Source

Moscow’s Next Target Is Not the Baltic States, but Germany

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:21:00 +0100

This article analyzes Russian hybrid warfare targeting, noting a strategic shift away from direct provocations against the Baltic States towards efforts focusing on Germany. It highlights Russian attempts to exploit political and social divisions within Germany, including supporting far-right groups and anti-immigrant protests, to erode democratic stability and confidence. The article references recent German military reforms and shifts in NATO posture, emphasizing how Moscow perceives Germany as a critical target to weaken Western unity. It cites German military leadership and analysts warning about Moscow’s focused efforts on Germany and the importance of NATO’s presence in the Baltic region to deter broader regional aggression. The piece underscores that while the Baltic States remain vigilant, Russia’s next phase of hybrid and political warfare is concentrated mainly on Germany, aiming to undermine Europe’s largest economy and military power from within.

Category: Societal & Cultural Pressure

Subcategory: Propaganda & Cultural Manipulation

Country: Germany

Source report: balticsentinel.eu/8404879/m…

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How Iran’s internet blackouts work

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:02:39 +0100

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Iranian riot police blocking protesters on a street of Tehran on June 20, 2009. Thousands of Iranians clashed with police as they defied an ultimatum from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for an end to protests. (Photo by STR/STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Amir Rashidi was arrested in Tehran on New Year’s Day in 2009, swept into a security van with fourteen others.

Inside, other detainees scrambled to call friends, asking them to scrub their names from any public writing, anything that might be considered criminal to the regime.

Amir did not make that call. When asked why, he answered without thinking.

“I’m an internet guy,” he said.

At the time, he insists, it wasn’t bravery. It was instinct, shaped by years of moving between activist circles and writing code, by an understanding of how information traveled and how quickly it could disappear.

Today, Amir is the Director of Cybersecurity and Digital Rights at Miaan Group, an Iran-focused human rights organization centered on digital security and activism.

As protests swept Iran starting in late December and rights groups tallied the death toll, Iranians watched their internet abruptly disappear.

That plunge into digital darkness, Amir warns, is not just an Iranian issue. It reflects a more global shift in how authoritarian governments are learning to control information quietly.

It would be a mistake to watch Iran fall offline without asking how it happens – and how we all might be vulnerable to the same blockades.

Amir was born in Tehran to an educated family — his father was a teacher, which he would later pick up. He studied software engineering and computer science at a private university in Iran, training for a career as a developer at a precarious moment for technology in Iran; it was brand new, but already shaped by restrictions.

Amir has also always been an activist. As a student, he worked with student rights activists and later became active in the women’s rights movement, including by signing the One Million Signatures campaign against discriminatory laws against women. He was a familiar presence at protests, documenting what he saw and sharing information as it unfolded.

Amir cites November 2019, when more than 1,000 protesters were reportedly killed during a wave of unrest regarding fuel prices, as the first real internet shutdown in Iran.

Changes in web search activity on Google in Iran from November 10 to November 28, 2019. Screenshot from Google Transparency Report.

After that, he said, the regime created a very clear chain of command: To shut down connectivity in a town or city, approval must come from the minister of interior. A nationwide shutdown requires authorization from the president.

So, what really is an “internet blackout?” A severed underground cable? A single red button?

“There is no kill switch,” Amir said. Instead, control is exercised through infrastructure.

Iran has only two internet “gateways,” or connection points to internet traffic — far fewer than most countries.

In practice, nearly all internet traffic entering or leaving the country passes through a state-controlled body, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Company. Much of that control is carried out by two private companies, Yaftar and Douran, said Amir, making it easy to cut most of the country’s access when those two companies shut down clients’ access.

This control can sometimes feel unbeatable.

“We are so alone,” said Amir, “and we are fighting against a regime with all the resources.”

Iran has shut down or severely restricted internet access at least twelve times, said Amir. In 2019 during nationwide protests, the Iranian government cut off the global internet, erasing it from the rest of the world network by network.

During the recent 2025 conflict between Iran and Israel, authorities imposed what Amir described as “the most severe internet shutdown we have ever had.” A report from Miaan Group found that while Iran’s 2019 shutdown lasted six days, the blackouts that followed the killing of Mahsa Amini in 2022 and the 2025 conflict stretched on for nearly two weeks.

The current disruptions are ongoing, and have already surpassed the two week mark.

What it looks like for Iranians, beyond the technical aspects, is quite simple.

Messages don’t send. Calls fail. Searches don’t load.

The latest illustration of Iran’s ongoing internet shutdown from Netblocks, an internet monitor based in the United Kingdom.

“I think they don’t realize how close this might be to them, because Iran is exporting this technology,” said Amir. He said that Miaan Group has evidence that Douran, one of the two main contractors in Iran, is exporting their technology to Russia and certain African countries.

Internet access is an emerging tool for authoritarian regimes to remain in power, unchallenged.

Access Now, a group that follows and advocates for digital rights globally, tracked internet shutdowns in 2024, when at least 64 countries were expected to hold national elections. After all, political events, like elections, tend to correlate with internal conflict and therefore state-inflicted control. 24 of the countries they were tracking had already imposed shutdowns in the past.

One of the countries flagged in 2024 was Venezuela, which imposed internet restrictions after Maduro’s 2024 presidential win. In the aftermath of Maduro’s recent capture, the state monitored messaging platforms and jailed journalists, just a few ways in which the internet was used as a tool to quell a mass uprising.

“Imagine that you have all these stories,” Amir said, “and you are alone in your home, in your room. You cannot communicate with anyone.” Not even your own mom, he added.

China’s internet system is its own galaxy, which it began establishing when the internet first hit the ground in the 1980s. Commonly known as ‘The Great Firewall,’ it is so centralized that China accidentally disconnected from the world for nearly an hour last August.

As opposed to China, Russia was once home to a very open internet.

Iranians protest in London against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the cutting of the internet. (Matthew Chattle/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Although Vladimir Putin shrunk access to media and information over the course of his reign, limits reached new heights during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Everything started to disappear — not only due to government control, but also due to companies like Netflix, TikTok and Apple pulling back from operating in Russia.

In 2025, the Kremlin took an active stance against Western technology by introducing a state-approved super-app called MAX, which would be pre-installed by law on all new smartphones sold in Russia. This came after it started to limit voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram.

Western countries are often considered immune to the threat of government-imposed internet disruptions, but they should not get too comfortable.

In the U.S., for example, certain laws give the president sweeping powers over communication networks. Under the Communications Act, the president can order the closure of radio stations and internet networks if he declares a national emergency or deems national security to be under threat. Thus far, though, these powers have not been exercised.

The reality is that many Western democracies do have some extent of power over internet systems, but have not yet leveraged it as a tool for suppression.

But as well-established democracies around the world are starting to wither, this could become a more global issue.

A self-contained internet ecosystem, where messaging and media are concentrated in a small number of platforms, makes large-scale disruption possible. In Iran, cutting access through just a few companies can render phones and computers largely unusable within minutes.

Internet disruption does not always come in the form of a government shutting off access at home. It can also be imposed from afar. Alongside software-based censorship and throttling, states are increasingly targeting the physical infrastructure that keeps the world online, from data centers to the undersea cables that carry the vast majority of global internet traffic.

Being cut off from the internet can be debilitating.

“Imagine you are waking up into darkness. Complete darkness,” explains Amir. “The only source of light you have is the light of a candle.”

That was how he described daily life during Iran’s earlier internet crackdowns, when access was limited but not yet entirely severed. In 2009, he wrote about moving through the city during the day, gathering information, sharing what he could anonymously, trying to document what was happening before night fell.

Now, he says, it is much worse in Iran.

“Imagine you are yelling for help and no one responds,” said Amir. “It’s only you.”

A woman with her face painted with the colors of the Iranian flag and a gunshot wound to the head during a protest outside the Spanish Parliament while holding a placard against the internet blackout in Iran. (Photo by Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Amir worked as a software developer mainly focused on security, but his focus has always been on how people can use the internet for their own activism. Back then, circulating a petition meant sending around emails and asking for replies to an individual account, consolidating those signatures, and tracking responses.

Showing his peers the wonders of something as simple as Google Forms altered their capabilities for digital activism.

In February 2010, right after Iran’s 2009 presidential election, Amir left Iran and arrived in Italy where he was a political refugee. Now, he lives in Brooklyn, New York.

During that 2019 Iranian internet shutdown, the Access Now team offered Amir the opportunity to go to Berlin and raise awareness about the situation in Iran.

During a panel on that trip, Amir realized that there were seven Iranians recording his talk about internet shutdowns in Iran. In a presumably safe, democratic country, there he was, under threat once again.

“Even though I was in Berlin, I was really scared,” said Amir.

But this fear, this danger, this helplessness, is not just Amir’s story.

He made that incredibly clear.

“I appreciate that you like my story,” he told The Counteroffensive. He paused. Swallowed. “This is the story of my people.”

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Oksana Stepura

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

ZELENSKYY PROPOSES UKRAINE TO PLAY CENTRAL ROLE IN EU ARMY: Zelenskyy has proposed that Ukraine’s army serve as the “backbone” of a future joint European military force to counter Russia’s growing army. Zelenskyy emphasised that “without the Ukrainian army — without a million Ukrainians — [the European army] won’t manage.”

Zelenskyy has reiterated calls for a European army of at least three million, as Russia aims for at least 3 million troops by 2030. European leaders have discussed the idea at the Munich Security Conference but have taken no concrete steps in implementing it.

RUSSIA LAUNCHES LARGEST AIR STRIKE OF 2026: Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine this year, firing nearly 400 drones and 21 missiles overnight, primarily targeting energy infrastructure and residential buildings.

This attack, which left over a million people without power in sub-zero temperatures, occurred hours after peace talks in Abu Dhabi. In an unprecedented move, Russia deployed Kh-22 missiles, which were originally designed to be used against aircraft carrier groups, their combat payload being 950 kilograms.

SANCTIONED RUSSIAN TANKER ADRIFT IN MEDITERRANEAN: A 19-year-old Russian shadow fleet tanker is currently adrift off the coast of Algeria after suffering a suspected mechanical failure, according to tracking data analyses by Bloomberg.

As the majority of Russian shadow fleet tankers, it’s over 15 years old, which increases the risk of malfunctions, collisions, and oil spills, posing a threat to the environment.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Oksana’s Mary is kneading a blanket.

Stay safe out there,

Best,
Jacqueline

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What Iran’s Theocracy Doesn’t Want You To See

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:49:55 +0100

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An anti-Iranian regime protester lights a cigarette with a lit paper depicting Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran during a gathering outside the US Consulate in Milan, on January 13, 2026. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP via Getty Images)

Mohsen Abdolreza was once an ordinary child.

He loved playing the drums, took part in kickboxing championships, helped his parents at their family restaurant, and was in love with a girl named Samira.

For most people, these are beautiful, nostalgic experiences — memories that, in adulthood, bring a soft smile to the face and warmth to the heart.

But for Mohsen, they are tied to hatred.

He had to leave kickboxing competitions and take up coaching, after he lost his eye in protests in the late 1990s.

Under Iran’s strict theocracy, he could be beaten up for playing instruments.

And even though his feelings for Samira were mutual, he could never take her out. Premarital relationships – even a couple appearing in public, or holding hands, was a crime punishable by law.

Later Samira moved and he never saw her again.

Khamenei’s regime stripped him and millions of other Iranians of the chance to live a normal life. When people like him demanded it be returned to them, the cost was devastating, with thousands killed in the crackdown.

A new wave of protests swept across Iran on December 28, 2025. They later spread to more than one hundred Iranian cities and are escalating into a full-scale revolution.

Economic hardship ignited public anger, but protesters quickly started to demand the removal of what might be the crisis’s root cause: Supreme Leader Khamenei. The protests have now been crushed through mass repression. At least 5,000 people have been killed – with some estimates rising as high as 16,500.

Security forces are using war-class weapons against protesters and storming hospitals to arrest injured people. Iranians inside the country have been cut off from the world for over 10 days as the regime has restricted mobile and internet connection.

Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on January 9, 2026. (Photo by MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Iranians abroad, however, continue to be the voice of their people. In Hamburg, Germany, around 13,000 people came out to support Iranian protesters, one of the biggest protests outside of Iran itself. Protests took place in Germany, France, and the UK – all the way to Australia and New Zealand. On January 18, Kyiv’s Iranian diaspora gathered near the Iranian embassy.

The situation in Iran is now a test for the international community of how much a totalitarian regime can kill without facing consequences. The coming months will be decisive for whether Iran’s theocratic regime will topple.

Mohsen was 20 years old during his first protest in 1999.

Protests in Iran in 1999. Photo from EAWorldView.

These were the first mass student protests in Iran after Islamic revolution in 1979. Young people took to the streets to protest restrictions on free speech. In July 1999, the reformist newspaper Salam was shut down after it criticised the Islamic regime. After the first demonstration, pro-government thugs stormed student dormitories, arresting students.

“It was a national movement. If I, as an Iranian, had not joined the protests, it would have meant betraying my people,” Mohsen said.

Mohsen remembers standing in a crowd during those 1999 protests, when regime forces threw something resembling a Molotov cocktail, a simple incendiary weapon, directly at them. A fragment struck Mohsen’s eye.

“Someone from the crowd took me to the hospital in a taxi, and I stayed there for several days. But due to retinal damage, I lost my sight a few years later,” Mohsen said.

Iranians have lived under constant threat since Mohsen can remember. From childhood, he remembers harsh laws – and the severe punishments for breaking them. Walking with a girl could lead to arrest and flogging. Women who did not wear a hijab, or wore it ‘incorrectly’, risked being beaten. Drinking alcohol was punishable by fines and flogging, and repeat offenses could carry a death sentence.

Around 2005, Mohsen realized that he no longer identified with Islam because of how the religion had been distorted in Iran, his home. Without telling anyone, he traveled to Turkey and converted to Christianity. This was a life-threatening move.

“If you say, ‘I am no longer Muslim, I am Christian,’ you will be arrested, imprisoned, and tortured. And if you do not return to Islam, you will be executed,” Mohsen said.

He never spoke about it openly in order not to put his family in danger.

Mohsen Abdolreza at the rally in Finland, January 2026. Photo provided by him.

In 2022, Mohsen was travelling to Finland for a kickboxing competition as a coach, when he heard from his family that his country was once again drowning in blood. Iranian moral police had beaten a woman named Mahsa Amini to death for wearing a hijab improperly.

Protests began the day after Mahsa Amini’s death in intensive care on September 16, 2022. The main slogan became ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’, a chant that had not been heard since the early 2000s.

The government brutally suppressed any dissent in spring 2023 through violence and mass political imprisonments.

People take part in a protest in Trafalgar Square after marching through London ahead of the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, on September 13, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The 2022 mass demonstrations spread across more than 150 cities and nearly all 31 provinces of the country. Women burned their hijabs and publicly cut their hair. Security forces used heavy weapons to suppress the uprisings.

Just like today, the regime restricted access to mobile networks and the internet, cutting protesters off from the outside world, limiting coordination, and hiding the brutality of the crackdowns. As a result, more than 500 Iranians were killed, and around 21,000 were imprisoned.

In Finland, Mohsen began raising awareness about the situation back home, helping friends coordinate protests in Iran through social media chats. The Khamenei regime identified him, and he started receiving demands to stop his activities. That’s how he ended up staying in Finland as a refugee.

Mohammad Farzi (left) with his friend at protests in Germany, January 2026. Photo provided by him.

There’s a second Iranian we want to introduce you to, who had a similar experience to Mohsen. His name is Mohammad Farzi.

Mohammad was among people who wanted to leave the country before 2022. He was working in the sphere of arts – acting in theatre, filming and creating music.

He hated censorship of the regime, hiding his art from authorities, and often having to approve with the authorities what music he can or can’t produce.

But he changed his mind and decided to stay with his people when the police killed Mahsa Amini.

He remembers standing amongst a crowd of protesters when he noticed that a laser ray was aiming at his eye. A bullet struck Mohammad’s eye, severely damaging his eyesight. To this day, the bullet is still stuck in his head.

Disclaimer: You can view a video of Mohammad after he was shot here, via a video provided by him. Be warned, the video includes scenes of blood and injury.

“It felt like I left my body and everything was in slow motion,” Mohammad recalled.

Mohammad Farzi and protesters in Nurnberg, Germany, January 2026. Photo provided by him.

But as the regime’s ability to block information has developed, others are fighting to get information out of Iran. Mohammad also said that some people inside Iran have figured out ways to connect with friends and family abroad, despite the internet limitations.

“They used Starlinks to communicate and send messages and news inside Iran to outside,” said Mohammad. “One of [the hacks] is that they recorded videos, and they went to the border lines, for example, from Iraq, using the other internet, not Iran’s internet,” Mohammad said.

As of this week, three of Mohsen’s friends are dead. He talks to his family about once a week, if and when they briefly get access to the internet and mobile connection.

“We are fine, but all people around us are being killed,” Mohsen’s family told him during one of those brief moments of contact.

This year’s protests spread to all the 31 provinces in more than 500 locations and taken over rural areas, which hasn’t happened before. What started as economic demands spread to multiple demands for change, including political ones.

Iran’s supreme leader has acknowledged that thousands of people were killed in the uprisings, and as of Monday the demonstrations seem to have slowed due to the government-backed violence. However, an internet blackout still appears to be in effect: the vast majority of traffic is being blocked according to the monitoring service NetBlocks.

Similar to Mohsen and Mohammad, many protesters are losing their eyes from bullet wounds and pressure-based guns. Forces seem to be aiming at people’s heads and the most vulnerable places of their bodies.

The yard of Tehran morgue is overflowed with bodies. Photo from LeMonde.

Many morgues in Iran are currently overflowing with bodies. In many cases, they are stacked on top of each other or placed in other rooms because they do not fit in the refrigerated storage units. A lot of these dead bodies are aged 20-25 years, mostly dying from shots in the head or heart, or in the eyes.

Mohammed, Mohsen and other protesters have terrible, life-altering eye injuries.

In some ways it is not a coincidence, but symbolism of the regime’s intentions.

These injuries served a grisly reminder: the Iranian regime asks you to deny what you see.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tania Novakivska and Yelyzaveta Kolos

Good morning to readers: Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

DROUGHT FROM KAKHOVKA DAM FALLOUT IS REDUCING HARVEST: Amidst a drought caused by the Russian attack and destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, Ukrainian farmers in Ukraine’s south are warned by scientists to avoid planting sunflower and corn.

In 2025, farmers in the Dnipropetrovk region planted a record number of sunflowers, and only 50% of the plantings could be harvested. Both sunflower and corn are two major crops for the Ukrainian agricultural industry - with sunflower being a national symbol for Ukraine.

RUSSIA WILL PRODUCE 1,000 SHAHED-TYPE DRONES PER DAY: As peace talks continue Russia continues to ramp up armament, increasing drone production to 1,000 units per day, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated in an interview with Ukrainian media.

Syrskyi also noted that over the past year, Ukraine has struck 719 Russian targets in the rear, causing damage of more than $15 billion. These attacks targeted Russia’s energy industry which is the backbone of Russia’s economy.

RUSSIA IS AUSTRIA’S BIGGEST SPY THREAT: While some estimate that 20% of diplomats are working with special services, there are 13,000 diplomats working in Austria’s capital Vienna, according to Austria’s intelligence director Sylvia Mayer.

The full-scale invasion has prompted this intensification of Russian espionage activities, and has increased the risk of cyberattacks and sabotage across Europe.

DOG OF WAR:

This adorable fox-like doggie met Nastia’s sister in Ivano-Frankivsk when she was travelling to the Ukrainian Carpathians. It went up to her group to say hello.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Nastia

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Putin pitches himself as mediator after calls with Israel, Iran amid regional tensions

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:27:50 +0100

Putin said Russia is ready to serve as a mediator in the Middle East, an offer that follows signals that the U.S. might launch strikes against Iran amid a deadly crackdown on protests.

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Kazakhstan protests strikes on Russian oil infrastructure used for Kazakh crude

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:19 +0100

Kazakhstan has lodged a protest over attacks on oil tankers and Russian oil infrastructure used to export Kazakh crude.

Astana reacted after drone strikes on tankers bound for the CPC terminal in the Black Sea, voicing “serious concern” without directly naming any party responsible.

What Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yerlan Zhetibayev said Kazakhstan is not a party to the armed conflict and contributes to global and European energy security.

He added that the rise in such incidents increases risks to international energy infrastructure. Kazakhstan urged partners to take joint steps to prevent similar situations. The statement did not directly accuse Ukraine.

Users on social media noted that Kazakhstan stayed largely silent as Russia destroyed and continues to strike Ukraine’s energy system, and did not invoke international law then. They argue Ukraine is not to blame for Kazakhstan’s reliance on Russian infrastructure to export oil.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the strikes. Still, the context is clear, experts say: Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine’s energy, gas and oil infrastructure; in response, Ukraine has hit Russian sites and often does not claim responsibility.

Kazakhstan has become dependent on Russian ports and pipelines. Russia turned energy into a wartime target and is now facing the consequences.

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How a drought drives Iran’s protests

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:53:16 +0100

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“Before, the younger generation was complaining about having no future or no employment… but now [the issue] is much more fundamental: It’s about food,” said Mehdi, an agriculture expert who was born and raised in Iran.

Mehdi left Iran decades ago, but is now witnessing his country at a boiling point. As someone who has studied the space deeply, he believes water and agriculture are at the center of it all.

Since late December, massive protests have surged across Iran’s 31 provinces.

Iranians poured onto the streets after the Iranian rial hit its lowest-ever value against the U.S. dollar. But even before runaway inflation, water was already running short in Iran. Years of mismanagement and drought have driven up food prices and made everyday life harder for Iranians nationwide.

The rising cost of food in Iran is a multi-faceted problem that includes export policies, sanctions and the depreciating currency — but Iran’s water shortage has only accelerated the crisis. Scarcity has made water significantly more expensive for farmers and has reduced their crop yields, contributing to the rising food inflation which has now reached about 64 percent, according to Fanack Water.

Now, the country is in a state of severe unrest as the government suppresses resistance: at least 500 people have been reported dead according to human rights groups and over 10,000 detained as protests flood through the streets.

Trump has been threatening military action against Iran as protests intensify and death tolls climb. The Iranian government has responded by shutting off access to the internet, making it incredibly difficult to get news out of the country.

Beyond Iran, this serves as an example of how resource shortages, layered onto fragile economies, can accelerate a crisis to the point of potential collapse.

Iranian protesters block a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on January 9, 2026. (Photo by MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images).

Iran’s water management policies changed course drastically with the Ayatollah-led regime that came to power in 1979.

Under the Shah modernisation and industrialization were the state’s priority, meaning that agriculture fell by the wayside. However, after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, which had drawn support largely from rural areas, the new regime made agricultural expansion a cornerstone of their political agenda.

Agricultural expansion required arid areas to be irrigated and led to the construction of wells and dams, and ultimately resulted in the damaging overuse of Iran’s water resources.

As a child, Mehdi watched his family manage a farm in Iran, but the situation for farmers back then was different. Today, the required distance to drill to obtain water is three times what it was when Mehdi was a child — he doesn’t even remember his relatives having any problem getting water, but today “water is like gold,” Mehdi said.

The dried-up riverbed of Zayanderud in Isfahan, Iran, on December 1, 2025. (Photo by Hozi / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images).

In 2025, Tehran, a city of roughly 10 million people, was facing its driest fall season in over 50 years. Over the past 20 years, Iran’s renewable water resources have declined by over 30 percent, according to Geopolitical Monitor. This past year, rainfall was so scarce that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made an announcement in November that if rain didn’t come, parts of Tehran could face evacuations.

The drought, along with the spiraling currency, has exposed the government’s mismanagement, and driven protesters onto the streets.

“Without water, farming doesn’t mean anything,” Mehdi said.

Mehdi’s own family in Iran has felt the effects of these water shortages.

His brother who lives on the fourth floor repeatedly has water cuts and is forced to take showers in the middle of the night, when the apartment’s water consumption is low. His sister, meanwhile, often finds that her fridge is empty due to the rocketing food prices the water shortage has caused.

Mehdi has tried to convince his brother to leave Iran, but with no success.

Mehdi believes that it’s not just the overuse of Iran’s water resources but the misallocation of them — overprioritizing water-intensive industries rather than basic needs. Companies linked to the government began growing water-intensive crops like watermelon around Lake Urmia, a lake which largely dried up due to the agricultural activity surrounding it, the dams and climate change.

Those who refused to stay silent were immediately punished.

In 2018, Iranian hydrologist and environmentalist Kaveh Madani left a teaching job in London to become the deputy head of Iran’s environment department. However, four months into his time in Iran things turned sour.

Madani had publicly criticised the government’s water management policies and was detained amidst a government crackdown on environmentalists in Iran. After a few days he was released and fled the country.

Protests over similar frustrations of rising food prices erupted in Iran in 2017 and 2018. Over 20 people were killed and hundreds arrested.

In the last three years alone, Iran’s food prices have tripled and water has only become more scarce. Mehdi has witnessed whole families sorting through the trash for food. Reports of children fainting at school due to hunger have come out of Iran just last year.

“I wouldn’t call this food insecurity – I would call it a food crisis,” he added.

Last week, the Iranian government announced a plan to roll out payments worth the equivalent of $7 USD to try to simmer protests.

A market in Iran as people shop amid soaring prices and the worst economic crisis since 1979, in Tehran, Iran on January 7, 2026. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images).

But it’s not only water mismanagement which is running the country dry – leaky pipes and failing infrastructure reportedly account for more than 40 percent of treated water being lost before it can be used.

“[The sanctions] impact everything…even when I went to go get a new ID card, after the documents were finished they said it would still take two years to just print the ID card,” Mehdi said.

As the protests in Iran became increasingly violent, the regime cut off Iran’s internet: 90 percent of internet traffic in Iran has disappeared, according to The Guardian.

Mehdi hasn’t been able to talk to his family in multiple days. Their last conversation was about how unlivable life had become in Iran.

“When I check their Whatsapp, I just see that their ‘last seen’ was a few days ago,” Mehdi said.

*Mehdi’s name was changed in this story for security purposes.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Yelyzaveta Kolos

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

TRUMP THREATENS NEW TARIFFS ON COUNTRIES TRADING WITH IRAN: Trump announced an immediate 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran, a move that could sharply raise costs for imports into the United States.

The details on how defined “doing business” were not clarified, neither was the way the tariff would be enforced. But this could hit Iran’s major trade partners such as China, India, and Turkey.

The move shows Washington’s readiness to use trade pressure against countries tied to its geopolitical rivals. As Russia, Iran and China deepen connections, such measures could affect global markets and indirectly shape the balance of support and resources linked to the war in Ukraine.

NORTH KOREA DEFENDS RUSSIA AT UN AFTER STRIKE ON UKRAINE: North Korea criticized a UN Security Council meeting convened to discuss Russia’s recent missile strike on Ukraine, calling it prejudiced and unfair. Pyongyang’s UN ambassador defended Russia’s actions as self-defense and accused Western countries of politicizing the discussion.

The reaction underlines deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, as North Korea backs Russia diplomatically and militarily. This growing alignment helps Russia offset international isolation and sustain its war effort.

GERMANY TO FUND DELIVERY OF RHEINMETALL LYNX VEHICLES TO UKRAINE: Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with its first Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles, with deliveries expected to begin in first half of 2026. The initial batch will include five vehicles, funded by the German government and is estimated to be worth around 50 million euros.

The Lynx vehicles will be adapted to Ukraine’s military needs and equipped with a two-man Lance turret. Further deliveries are planned, with the possibility of producing additional vehicles inside Ukraine.

The deal strengthens Ukraine’s ground forces and helps modernize its army and sustain resistance against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

US VETERANS GROUP MOBILIZES SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE:

American Veterans for Ukraine works to unite and empower U.S. veterans in support of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. The organization focuses on raising public awareness and using veterans’ voices to build understanding of why Ukraine matters to the United States.

The group also prioritizes protecting continued U.S. government funding for Ukraine by engaging policymakers and the public. By leveraging veterans’ credibility and leadership, the initiative aims to keep Ukraine firmly on the US political agenda during the war.

DOG OF WAR:

Today’s dog of war is this cutie that Liza met when she was working in the cafe during a long power outrage in her district. The puppy was patiently waiting for its owner to finish her work.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Alessandra and Jacqueline

Source

US imposes 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran as anti-government protests continue

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:30:24 +0100

"Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Source

Inside Venezuela’s oil refineries

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:00:32 +0100

Editor’s Note:

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The location of Puerto La Cruz in Venezuela, where José Bodas worked.

CARACAS, Venezuela – José Bodas says you could blindfold him, place him anywhere inside the Puerto La Cruz oil refinery, and he’d know exactly where he was.

The sensation of the winds, the rhythmic percussion of the machinery, the sounds of valves and compression pumps, and the pungent smells – he can segregate them all and associate them with a specific section.

He was in 11th grade when he first started working at Puerto La Cruz refinery in Anzoátegui, Venezuela. At that age, José was fascinated by cars and the way gasoline could power almost anything. He earned a technical diploma in petrochemical operations upon graduating high school and began working at Puerto La Cruz in 1987, when he was 18.

“I found it extremely interesting because it was something totally different,” said José. “I was thrilled to acquire a great amount of knowledge, and it was going to give me an opportunity to develop professionally in the main industry of the country.”

Almost four decades later, José still works at the refinery as a plant operator. He is also the secretary of Venezuela’s Unitary Federation of Petroleum and Gas Workers, the largest labor union in the Venezuelan oil industry.

Workers like José have kept Venezuela’s oil industry alive, an industry based on what makes up about a fifth of the world’s crude oil reserves. In return, they are often forced into an uneasy balance, caught between the threat of repression by the regime, the moral obligation to speak up for workers’ rights, and pressure to sustain the oil necessary for the world to run.

A man emerges from a portable toilet next to a mural depicting former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 8, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Carlos Becerra/Getty Images)

The Trump administration’s strike on the capital, and subsequent capture of President Nicolás Maduro, was an escalation of the campaign in the Caribbean.

Trump framed the offshore strikes and rising tensions as a fight against drug trafficking and criminal networks. But he has since claimed the right to seize oil – and its revenues – from the Venezuelan government.

Venezuela’s oil sector was once the backbone of its economy, but it has plummeted under decades of authoritarian rule. Since 2013, when Maduro took over for Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s oil output has dropped from 2.8 million barrels per day to 800,000, according to Axios.

There are major geopolitical implications, including for Ukraine. Russia’s close ties to Venezuela – and its dependence on oil revenues to fund its war effort – means that Russia will suffer from the latest changes.

The U.S. has seized at least five oil tankers from the region, one of which was Russian-flagged, since the beginning of December. Last year, most Venezuelan crude oil went to China, while Cuba, Iran and Russia all received imports, too.

A graphic showing global crude oil reserves by country in 2023, showing Venezuela as the world’s largest holder. (Screenshot from CNN)

Meanwhile, inside Puerto La Cruz, the work never stopped.

“We have three work shifts at the refinery: the early shift from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the second one from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., and the night shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., or more if there was no one to replace us or an emergency,” said José.

They were constantly repairing pumps and compressors, preempting problems before they boiled over.

“What was our goal? To prevent emergencies and disasters. That is in our DNA: to protect the refineries. Because if you protect the refinery, you protect lives and the environment,” he explained.

Despite long hours and less-than-ideal working conditions, José loves his job:

“Many say that this privilege belongs to athletes, scientists and artists, who work in a job that pleases them. But it’s essential for every human being to have a job that pleases them. That’s part of freedom.”

José had long identified with the political left. He recalls being 18 when he saw armed forces massacre Venezuelan citizens during protests.

“I didn’t learn that in books,” he said. He lived it. He voted for Chávez hoping for change:

“We wanted to dance salsa, we wanted to change organized life. But we were not experiencing a deep crisis”.

But when Chávez ordered a mass purge of oil workers, José knew that bad times were ahead. The regime was replacing managers not according to merit, but according to allegiance to the ruling movement, known as chavismo.

Photo of José Bodas, at a protest for fair wages. Photo provided by José to The Counteroffensive.

Over the course of his early career, José witnessed first-hand the strict refinery rules that led some of his co-workers to utter exhaustion.

Overtime, if requested of a worker, was absolutely mandatory.

“One colleague had a son’s birthday,” José recalled. “Their family is waiting for them at home with a cake. But he couldn’t leave the refinery. That kind of exception doesn’t exist.”

It’s a hard job, he said, but it pays well – at least for the region.

The minimum wage in Venezuela is 130 bolivars (less than $0.40 American dollars) per month. There are other governmental bonuses that can increase that monthly payment anywhere between $100 and 400 USD.

During his young-minded observations of injustices in the refineries, he felt compelled to start studying law at Santa María University in his country. By his late 20s, he had joined the union.

“My ultimate goal is to defend Venezuelans workers’ rights, no matter their ideology, their religion… because we are human beings first and foremost”, he said.

In 2002, management told him to wear red on Fridays in celebration of the Bolivarian Revolution, he remembers. The Bolivarian Revolution is an ongoing movement that was started by President Hugo Chávez and named after Simón Bolívar, a leader of Latin America’s independence movement. It promotes nationalism and a state-led economy, often associated with working-class politics.

José refused. He wore white. Sometimes, managers denied him entry to the refinery when he wore anything but red.

Threats to civil rights freedoms have only worsened since then, said José. He witnessed colleagues detained for protesting and watched the military try to dismantle large gatherings of oil workers.

On February 3, 2014, José and 10 other union leaders were arrested in Puerto La Cruz. They were protesting for labor rights and fair wages. Venezuela was going through a state of hyperinflation, and the minimum wage was less than 10 dollars a month.

José spent three days in prison. For months, he was under probation and had to visit the court periodically to prove to the regime that he and his colleagues hadn’t left the country.

“To denounce a regime carries a lot of risk, but my responsibility to the people, with the oil workers’ rights, motivates me to continue,” he said. “There is a great responsibility to all Venezuelans.”

Today, according to José and other oil workers at Amuay and Cardón refineries who will remain anonymous for safety purposes, the Venezuelan military monitors workers’ phones at the start and the end of their shifts to hunt for any criticism of the regime.

Union leaders are routinely charged with “terrorism,” he said. As of January 2026, José and his colleagues at the union are tracking more than 100 cases involving detained energy sector workers in Venezuela.

Ivan Freites was once a former union leader in Venezuela ‘s oil industry. But he fled to Miami amid political repression – he relates to the hard hours, the intolerance for political dissent, and hopes that Maduro’s capture will be a positive moment for the country.

Ivan Freites at a worker’s assembly at the Amuay refinery. Photo provided by Ivan to The Counteroffensive.

“One of the most important days for us was seeing Nicolás Maduro being handcuffed,” said Ivan. “Venezuelans tried everything to have a transition, but his regime was relentless… I thought his regime would not end.”

There is a real drive, said Ivan, to revive the success of the Venezuelan oil industry.

Friends of his who moved away, some to Saudi Arabia, to work in oil in a place with a better quality of life, say they still want to come back to Venezuela and be part of this revival movement, even if it means living on 130 Bolivar a month.

José’s attitude continues to be hopeful, too.

“We, at the Puerto La Cruz refinery, have a motto: Through challenge, the working class will have rights,” said José.

He hopes that oil workers have a say in the future of Venezuela and, hopefully, in a democratic transition of power. Where every worker can earn a livable wage, speak freely, organize without fear, and choose how Venezuelan oil benefits its own people.

“I will try to stay on the same path to defend working class rights”, he repeats again and again. “I stand with the liberation of all political prisoners in Venezuela”.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Oksana Stepura

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

MI6 CHIEF WARNS ABOUT RUSSIAN SABOTAGE: The UK’s new MI6 Chief warned about Russia’s strategy to destabilize the West in her first public appearance since taking on the position.

She emphasized that Russia will resort to using non-state actors, including petty criminals recruited online to individuals and shell companies who operate via legitimate-looking businesses. These agents are often paid by Russia via untraceable cryptocurrency to conduct deniable sabotage and economic warfare on behalf of the Russian state.

U.S. URGES CITIZENS TO LEAVE VENEZUELA: The State Department has urged all Americans to leave Venezuela immediately due to extreme security risks.

Armed pro-regime militias, known as ‘colectivos’, are reportedly setting up roadblocks to search vehicles for U.S. citizens or supporters.

POTENTIAL NATO DEPLOYMENT TO GREENLAND: European allies are discussing the possibility of sending NATO troops to Greenland to bolster Arctic security amid fears that Trump may illegally seize the territory.

The plan aims to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region while persuading Donald Trump to abandon plans to annex Greenland.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Oksana’s Mary loves Christmas trees.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Jacqueline

Source

Ukraine condemns Iran protest crackdown, urges global pressure

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 18:18:28 +0100

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Jan. 10 condemned Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests and called on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran, drawing parallels between its domestic repression and its conduct on the global stage.

Source

Russian cargo flights to Tehran amid protests spur claims Iran is moving gold to Russia

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0100

Russian military transport aircraft have begun making regular flights to Tehran amid mass protests in Iran that have continued since late December and pose a threat to the current regime, the specialized outlet Air Cargo Week reports.

According to the publication, between December 27, 2025, and January 1, 2026, Il-76TD aircraft operating under civilian cover made repeated trips to Tehran, charting routes that bypass NATO-controlled airspace. Journalists note this does not appear to be a series of ad hoc charter flights but a targeted logistics operation, citing the repeated use of the same aircraft and a clear prioritization of speed over cost efficiency.

Reporters suggest Russia may be providing Iran with military-technical support and preparing for a possible scenario involving the evacuation of the country’s top leadership, potentially including the removal of gold. The outlet assesses that Moscow played a similar role during the flight of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Mass protests in Iran erupted on December 28 after the rial plunged to a record low and amid a deteriorating socio-economic situation.

Around the same time, reports emerged that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei might be preparing to flee to Russia. UK Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat said there were indications that significant quantities of gold were being flown out of the country on Russian aircraft.

“We are seeing Russian cargo planes arriving in Tehran, likely with weapons and ammunition, and we are also hearing reports of large amounts of gold being taken out of Iran,” he said.

Bashar al-Assad also reportedly fled to Moscow with a cargo of gold after Putin failed in late 2024 to protect him from an armed opposition uprising.

Protests that began in late 2025 over an economic crisis, inflation of about 50% and the devaluation of the national currency have evolved into political demonstrations demanding the resignation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to available information, demonstrations have spread to 27 of the country’s 31 provinces.

According to the Human Rights News Agency, at least 42 people have been killed since the protests began, and around 2,200 demonstrators have been arrested.

On January 7, Fox News, citing the National Council of Resistance of Iran, reported that two cities - Abdanan and Malekshahi - had come under the control of protesters.

Source

A far-left pro-Maduro protest event is planned in Riga, Latvia, organized by the underground group 'Maiznīca' and supported by leftist youth organizations promoting anti-nationalist European federalism.

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:35:00 +0100

On January 9, 2026, a protest in support of Venezuelan dictator Maduro is expected to take place in Riga, Latvia, organized by the underground Marxist group ‘Maiznīca’. This group is backed by the youth organizations ‘Protests’ and ‘Young European Federalists’, which advocate for the abandonment of national identity in favor of a European identity and oppose nationalism, a stance criticized for echoing Soviet-era rhetoric. The protest condemns US military operations in Venezuela as ‘imperialist aggression,’ aligning with pro-communist ideological narratives. The public event is anticipated to gather a selected group of activists near the Riga Castle, despite questionable target relevance. The thread highlights concerns about the ideological roots, affiliations, and political messaging of the demonstrators, who are portrayed as carrying a Soviet-style propaganda agenda.

Category: Societal & Cultural Pressure

Subcategory: Propaganda & Cultural Manipulation

Incident Type: Exploiting ethnic/language minorities

Country: Latvia

Source report: x.com/i/web/sta…

Source

Ukraine reacts to U.S. operation in Venezuela and Maduro’s capture

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 19:25:42 +0100

Ukraine’s first reactions to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela are in, with officials and politicians offering both support for the Venezuelan people and warnings about another blow to international law.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, commenting amid the American military operation in Venezuela, issued a statement backing the Venezuelan people and underscoring their right to freedom, security and human dignity.

Sybiha said Ukraine consistently defends the right of peoples to live without dictatorship, oppression and systemic human rights violations — principles he argued Nicolás Maduro and his regime have breached.

“Democratic countries and human rights organizations around the world highlight widespread crimes, violence, torture, oppression, violations of fundamental freedoms, election fraud and the destruction of democracy and the rule of law by his regime,” Sybiha said.

He recalled that after what he called rigged elections and the brutal suppression of protests, Ukraine - like dozens of other countries - refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

“The people of Venezuela must be able to live normal lives, with security, prosperity and human dignity. We will continue to support their right to such normality, respect and freedom,” the minister emphasized.

MP Maryana Bezuhla said that, as President Donald Trump has shown, questions of sovereignty and the accountability of dictators are “a game two can play.”

“The U.S. attacked Venezuela and seized the head of state, the dictator Maduro. This opens the Overton window for similar actions against any dictator on the planet in the current temporal and contextual period. At the same time, international law has taken another hit. The U.S. can still surprise,” she wrote on social media.

MP Oleksii Honcharenko expressed hope the U.S. will quickly complete the operation, after which Venezuela will get a new president and the country can return to normal life. He argued Washington’s actions are pivotal for global security, including in the context of Ukraine.

“In achieving peace, we can say this is a key event. The U.S. showed strength. It showed who the hegemon is and what it thinks of a multipolar world. Now we wait to see whether Putin understands this and moves toward peace. Because right now we are, in principle, very constructive and ready to sign an agreement. The problem is Russia,” he noted.

Ukraine’s online community is actively weighing in. Journalist and blogger Roman Tsymbaliuk drew a parallel between U.S. actions and the Kremlin’s failed plan to capture Kyiv in three days.

“Trump pulled off in a single night an operation the whole world is buzzing about… Can you imagine what’s happening in Moscow right now? It looks like the Russian dictator has nothing left but to order urgent bunker-digging and avoid public events,” he wrote.

Former MP Boryslav Bereza called what’s happening “karma” for Maduro, who supported Russia’s war against Ukraine, but warned of risks to global stability.

“The law of force will now unavoidably dominate the force of law. Maduro is, of course, a scoundrel and an ally of the Russian Federation, but the fact that Trump started this war without cause, just like Russia did against Ukraine, certainly doesn’t make the world more stable…,” Bereza wrote.

Source

“Courage to call things as they are” — Founding editor of Gwara Media speaks at Free Media Award Ceremony in Hamburg

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:52:11 +0100

This year, the Gwara Media editorial team received the Free Media Award 2025. This is an A-level European award, and receiving it is real international recognition. We were nominated and informed of our victory after the jury made their decision in the summer.

The Free Media Award is organized by two foundations, ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius (Germany) and the Fritt Ord Foundation (Norway), to honor journalists, newsrooms, and media outlets that work independently under significant risks and pressure in Eastern and Central Europe.

Democracy is only partially inherited. Even in supposedly progressive countries, democracy is not a given. But this award is among the key European awards supporting independent newsrooms in regions where democracy is significantly threatened and rests on those who fight for it every day. It holds institutional significance for us as a local media, especially this year, when Gwara had its 10th anniversary in August.

At different times, the Free Media Award was given to Stanislav Aseiev and the Schemes media investigative project, as well as to Mstyslav Chernov, Evgenii Maloletka, Natalia Humeniuk, Andriy Dubchak, Vladyslav Yesypenko, Sevgil Musaieva, Olena Prytula, and Novoye Vremia newspaper, all of whom were working in Ukraine.

In 2025, the award was given to us, and I kept thinking about the list above and asking myself, "Why us?"

Sevgil Musaieva and Olena Prytula were nominated during the Euromaidan protests. Later, the prize went to institutional newsrooms. In 2022, only Ukrainian journalists were nominated for the award. This indicated that the award recognised war journalism as an international phenomenon. Chernov, Maloletka, Dubchak, Humeniuk, and others shaped the global perception of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine.

Gwara Media became the first Ukrainian local outlet to be recognized for work at the intersection of civilian and military life.

Our newsroom was (and is) documenting Russian war crimes against civilians, reporting under relentless airstrikes, and reporting from the frontlines. The appearance of a local newsroom on the Free Media Award list represents a paradigm shift.

For me, this is a signal that small local newsrooms in high-risk zones are becoming primary sources of information for the international community, replacing secondary sources like Telegram channels and competing with big national outlets. It further underscores the importance of local reporting, as the concept of this award was previously centered around nationwide journalism.

At Gwara Media, we dream to break the image of weak local newsrooms and establish a regional media of international caliber. This Award confirms that it's possible.

Awards are usually a celebration. But during a war, an award is a strange thing. You’re not thinking about being recognized. You just try to do good work and survive. Among your decisions: who will go out at night to report on the consequences of a missile strike on the city, in whose car they’ll go to the impact site, and who can and cannot publish a report on the website in the evening.

And then — organizers are telling us that we won the Award. That they want us to come, and they want me to deliver a speech. It was a strange win for my team and me, particularly because, in 2025, the world had become “fatigued” of "war in Ukraine." It was getting harder to keep what Russia does to our home in at least some sort of spotlight.

Five minutes of speaking to a focused audience is an opportunity, though. I wanted to use it to reach the hearts of European partners and, to a degree, teleport them to Kharkiv from the Hamburg City Hall, where the Award Ceremony was held.

I prepared very carefully. A few times in my life, I have had to write a speech, and it has been difficult. You must say something brief yet fulfilling. Be genuine and true, but not overshare. Dignified but not overly solemn. The speech has to be relevant to the moment and the context.

This time, I recalled the recent years and simply wrote from the heart. A speech conveys a state of being in which it is read. I treated it as a point in time where all my experiences came to converge towards one moment.

So, here it is.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It feels somewhat unusual, even poetic, to stand here, far from the shelling in Kharkiv, far from the frontline, and still feel the war close.

Reality is different from illusions. It lives on the ground, and only glimpses of it can be found in social media posts, photos, or analytical reports. The truth about war exists in the mud, in the ruins of cities. It is held by the people who suffer but don’t give up.

At Gwara Media, we have learned that to find the truth, you must roll up your sleeves and go where it hurts. To stand among the wreckage and ask not only what happened, but why it happened.

All the while hoping that a Russian drone won’t strike your apartment at night — or that an FPV drone won’t target you while you work or go on a field trip. We’ve learned to tell stories that are hard to hear. But they must be told, because silence is dangerous.

Now ends the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine. We live in constant crisis: under Moscow’s shelling, amidst blackouts, maintaining a fragile balance between despair and hope.

Many Ukrainians today experience an existential crisis of the war’s greyness. Constant horror can become dull, even if the danger never ends. This award gives us a chance to break through that greyness.

Standing here today, I feel your support as the light — the light I can take back home to Kharkiv.

Every day, our team in Kharkiv faces the war not only with texts and cameras, but with faith. Faith that truth and facts still matter. That facts can help to maintain awareness and be conscious of what’s going on when everything around descends into the endless chaos amidst a long war.

I will take your light and bring it back to my team and our readers — to remind everyone why we do this work. I will return home to Kharkiv to keep working, to stand with those who hold the sky and the ground. With people who now fight not only for us, but for everyone who still believes that freedom, dignity, and justice are worth fighting for. We value this award deeply for standing with us, for believing in us.

Because journalism is not only about news. It’s about dignity, freedom, and the courage to call things as they are.

Thank you.

If you want to support Gwara Media's local reporting, please, consider tipping us at buy me a coffee.

The post “Courage to call things as they are” — Founding editor of Gwara Media speaks at Free Media Award Ceremony in Hamburg appeared first on Gwara Media.

Source

Ukraine This Year: a year of stalled peace and escalating war

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 14:02:06 +0100

In this year-end wrap-up of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur looks back at the moments that defined 2025, the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — from stalled peace efforts and escalating Russian attacks to mass anti-corruption protests and political upheaval at home.

Source

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:45:34 +0100

🚨 A massive cyberattack has crippled #Mikord, the key developer behind Russia’s Unified Military Registry, wiping out over 40TB of infrastructure, including source code and backups.

substack.com/@jaanika/…

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies uncover alleged bribery ring involving sitting MPs

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 19:29:00 +0100

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) announced they have exposed an organized criminal group that included current members of parliament.

Investigators allege the group’s members systematically cast votes in the Verkhovna Rada in a predetermined way in exchange for payments.

NABU did not provide further details and said more information would be released later.

Member of parliament Oleksiy Honcharenko said on his Telegram channel that NABU was conducting searches at premises of the Rada’s Transport Committee.

In November, NABU carried out a large-scale operation dubbed “Midas,” in which officials from the energy sector were accused of illicit enrichment and money laundering. The scheme’s alleged organizer is Timur Mindich, an associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky and co-owner of the Kvartal 95 studio. He has evaded investigators. Journalists from the Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda located him in Israel.

Separately, NABU and SAP conducted searches involving Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; The Insider reported that he subsequently submitted his resignation.

In July, Zelensky signed a law that would strip anti-corruption bodies - NABU and SAP - of their independence.

He later reversed the decision following mass protests in Ukraine and pressure from the European Union, which had threatened to halt financial aid to Kyiv.

Source

No place to rest: Ukraine’s burial crisis

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:02:33 +0100

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“The hardest thing is to imagine that his body was there the whole time, in a refrigerator, alone,” Dmytro said.

He paused. “That’s what I hate the most.”

His brother, Yevhen, was killed in 2022 when Russians shot down the medical helicopter that was evacuating him over occupied Mariupol. It took two years to identify the body. By that time, according to Dmytro, there was nothing left to bury. So Dmytro decided to cremate his remains.

Yevhen Ryasnii in military uniform, April 23rd 2020 in Mariupol. Photo provided by his brother.

Yevhen’s family belongs to the growing number of Ukrainians choosing cremation in place of traditional burials. In 2020, only 8 percent of people in Ukraine were cremated. Today, this number is significantly higher: Oleksandr Babin, who works at Relikvia, a funeral home in Kyiv, estimated that around 80 percent of his clients now opt for cremation over a traditional burial.

As Russia and Ukraine battle over Pokrovsk, one of the last key cities of the Donetsk Region still held by Ukraine, the war threatens a surge of casualties. Before the full-scale invasion, space in Ukraine’s cemeteries was already strained, the war has deeply exacerbated Ukraine’s shortage of burial plots. This crisis is a direct reflection of the vast scale and brutality of this war.

Poll: Which option is more common in your area: burial or cremation? Share your thoughts in the comments!

“I was the quieter one, Yevhen wasn’t like that… he was the one always falling off his motorcycle or having some kind of adventure. It was always like that with him,” Dmytro said.

Although they were different, Dmytro and Yevhen were best friends who spoke on the phone almost every day.

It was Dmytro that joined the military first in 2015 after Russia occupied his hometown in the Luhansk Region in 2014.

A year later, Yevhen joined the Azov brigade, fighting without official registration until Dmytro took him into his sniper platoon.

“I was tougher on him than the other men because I felt responsible for him… and I wanted him to be the best,” Dmytro said. “Eventually, he understood and thanked me for it.”

Yevhen’s service was not easy. He had several serious concussions, the worst of which happened when the building he was in was destroyed by a Russian tank. After losing consciousness and being dug out of the rubble, Yevhen was back on the battlefield within 3 days. Dmytro tried to persuade his brother that he should rest more, but Yevhen insisted that he had to keep fighting with his men.

After six years of active combat, when Yevhen was ready to hand in his paperwork and end his time in Azov, his plans were interrupted by the full-scale invasion. Yevhen’s second stint in Azov did not last long.

In March 2022, Yevhen called Dmytro — he was seriously injured in Mariupol, and had been scheduled for evacuation to a hospital in Dnipro the next day.

Dmytro never heard his brother’s voice again.

As Dmytro and Yevhen’s girlfriend rushed to the hospital the next morning, they discussed his future. They knew his leg had now been amputated and talked about getting him a really high quality prosthesis. “We wanted to make him feel whole again,” Dmytro recalled.

Dmytro’s eyes searched through the wounded, asking if anybody had seen Ryasik (Yevhen’s call-sign). That’s when he learned that one of the evacuation planes was shot down, and he realised that he would not find Yevhen amongst these men.

Dmytro was not able to say goodbye to his brother until Yevhen’s cremation two years later.

“Yevhen helped everybody, which is no small feat since he had a lot of friends,” Dmytro said. Despite his premature death, about 100 people came to Yevhen’s cremation.

“His brothers-in-arms were also there, the ones who remained from his platoon,” Dmytro explained with a heavy voice. Very few were still alive, he said.

Yevhen’s funeral photo provided by his brother Dmytro

Just last month, local authorities reported that Lviv’s famous Lychakiv Military Cemetery only had 20 burial plots left, forcing the cemetery to expand and create new burial plots. In 2023, the same cemetery responded to a shortage of burial plots by exhuming bodies, many of which had come from Ukraine’s previous wars, according to The Economist.

The lack of cemetery space is worsening, and the task of expanding is more challenging for lesser known cemeteries.

The search for burial space in Kozyatin, a town in central Ukraine’s Vinnytsiya region, had become so difficult that people were found illegally burying the dead on a local resident’s property since 2021. In other places, like Zaturyne in the Polatava region, there have been protests against the expansion of the local cemetery, which was already overfilling and contaminating the local water supply.

Expanding cemeteries seemed to be creating new problems, so the decision was made to build crematoriums to use the land more effectively. Ukrainians would be able to store the ashes of their loved ones in a columbarium, which would take up a fraction of the space needed for a traditional burial.

Columbarium at Powzki Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland, taken October 25, 2025

For some Christians, cremation remains a contentious issue. A traditional earth burial was one of the ways Christianity set itself apart from Paganism and other religions, where historically the remains of the deceased were burned, according to Priest Zaharii Zaliznyi of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Some Christians fear that when Christ returns, those who have been cremated won’t be able to be resurrected, but there is no official ruling in the Bible against or for cremation, Zaharii explained.

Yevhen, who died at 28, never had the chance to decide what he wanted for his funeral.

All Yevhen’s family had was an off-hand comment that Yevhen once made: he didn’t want a priest at his funeral. Like a lot of Azov fighters, he was interested in Scandinavian mythology.

”He believed in multiple Gods, he had all sorts of tattoos of them,” Dmytro explained.

One of the reasons people opt for cremation is the cost, according to Zaharii. A traditional burial can cost up to $3,500, while a cremation costs around $85.

For some people like Dmytro, the decision to cremate his brother had to do with the decayed state of his remains after being held in a morgue for two years.

“By the time I came to identify it, it wasn’t really his body, it was more… a pile of nothing… a pile of dirt,” he said.

The process of identifying the remains of soldiers is often arduous, and requires several teams to return the remains and organise DNA testing.

For now, Ukraine only has three functioning crematoriums in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa — far less than expected for a country of its size. Neighbouring Poland, for example, has 52 crematoriums, and the United Kingdom has 300.

Before 2022, new crematoriums were planned to be built in Zaporizhzhia, Mariupol, Dnipro and Lviv. Only the project in Lviv took shape after the full-scale invasion, and it is now nearing its final stages. The project has modern furnaces which will be able to carry out 10 cremations a day.

Without a local crematorium in Lviv, bodies have to be transported 600-900 kilometers to be cremated, said Maksym Putrya, Director of Lviv’s Municipal Ceremonial Service. Despite this, he added, the number of traditional burials in Lviv has actually decreased by ten percent from 2021-2024.

After Yevhen was cremated in Kyiv, Dmytro decided to keep Yevhen’s ashes in an urn in a Kyiv columbarium. Even though Dmytro’s family has relocated to Dnipro, a city in southeastern Ukraine, they are still haunted by the threat of occupation.

“Right now the frontline is moving in [our] direction…if there are no negotiations or they don’t bring peace somehow. It is obvious Russia will at some point get to Dnipro, it will be very difficult then to get his body back,” Dmytro said.

The issue of reburying soldiers from frontline areas was more prominent before Pokrovsk itself became part of the front, when reburial was feasible. Many families from frontline areas have sought to relocate the remains of their loved ones, since cemeteries are often targeted after Russian occupation, with troops often erecting their own monuments and desecrating the graves of Ukrainian soldiers.

Many frontline communities like Kramatorsk or Pokrovsk will foot the bill for a soldier’s burial, but not the reburial. The process can be expensive and obtaining the right legal documentation can be a lengthy process.

In November, Zelenskyy signed a bill which will provide money for the reburial of about 500 soldiers who defended Ukraine’s independence. These funds will cover the reburial of soldiers buried before they were identified who were later identified.

According to Dmytro, cremation was particularly widespread among his fallen brothers-in-arms.

Yevhen’s body being carried to cremation

“I wouldn’t want my brother’s body to be left again on the frontline or in occupied territory,” said Dmytro, his voice growing heavy. “He’s not at home...when you can be buried on your own territory… where your people are, there is no problem.”

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Tim Mak and Steven Beschloss

NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Oksana Stepura

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

EU UNVEILS SECURITY PLANS FOR UKRAINE: EU leaders issued a joint statement, committing to long-term military, economic and political support for Ukraine, according to Berlin. It includes security guarantees, reconstruction funding and backing for EU ascension. This comes as Europe fears being sidelined by the U.S. in peace negotiations over Ukraine. The U.S. has repeatedly criticised Europe for not sufficiently supporting Ukraine and has previously threatened to withdraw U.S. support, leading Europe to step up its defense production and support for Ukraine.

FINLAND STATES RUSSIA THREATENS NATO BORDERS: Finland’s Prime Minister has warned about the possibility of Russia deploying its forces towards NATO countries if a peace deal is struck. He urges Europe to give more money to the defense of countries bordering Russia. The Prime Minister stated that it’s of utmost importance for Europe to be ready to defend itself, even with the U.S. support decreasing.

RUSSIA REJECTS CHRISTMAS CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL: Kremlin spokesperson rejected the proposal for a Christmas and New Year ceasefire, stating it would give Ukraine time to regroup in order to continue the war and wouldn’t lead to a peace. Russia has consistently rejected peace deals and obstructed attempts to bring the war to an end.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

This is Oksana’s cat. This smug old lady has survived 3 tumors while living in wartime Ukraine. She’s very brave.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Alessandra

Source

Will Ukraine face the hardest vote in decades?

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:00:05 +0100

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Oleksii Kovzhun, Ukrainian political consultant. Photo provided by Kovzhun to The Counteroffensive.

“I try not to say the word [elections] at all. It’s evil,” said political consultant Oleksii Kovzhun. “Still, no one is waiting for them more than me.”

When people ask him these days what he does for a living, he says he’s “unemployed.”

For him, elections held during the war have become a taboo subject. Yet, for the past 20 years, he was deeply involved in Ukrainian presidential elections behind the scenes.

The topic of Ukrainian presidential elections has taken center stage again after Donald Trump declared that “it’s time” for Kyiv to select a new president, even though Ukraine’s constitution prohibits legislative elections in times of war.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time stated that he is prepared to hold presidential elections under martial law and instructed members of parliament to draft proposals to that end. He also appealed to the U.S. and other partners to provide security guarantees for the elections. Once these two conditions are met, he said, elections could be held within the next two or three months.

However, if elections are indeed held under martial law, the vote would demonstrate Washington’s desire to replace the president and pressure Kyiv rather than encouraging Ukrainians to exercise democratic choice. Such pressure on Zelenskyy risks further fueling a crisis.

It’s weighty issues like these that Oleksii is used to.

When you imagine a political consultant, the first image that probably comes to mind is a serious-looking man in a suit.

Forget about that. None of that describes Oleksii, who even at 60 rides a scooter, wears gothic rings and earrings, and constantly reminisces about his wild youth.

Oleksii Kovzhun. Photos from his social meda (below) and from Ukrainsk Pravda (above).

Since his early years, Oleksii had been an anti-USSR rebel. He organized rock festivals and concerts, became a hippie, and smoked marijuana. Due to his long hair and ripped jeans, he spent many days at the police station in the 1980s, as Soviet authorities often would pick him up just because of how he looked.

Oleksii Kovzhun in his youth in 1987. Photo from Amnesia.

“I believed all this crap [the USSR] wouldn’t last forever. It was impossible to live in such a system. I was preparing myself that I might die in prison [for my beliefs],” Oleksii said.

But his wild streak ultimately outlived the Soviet Union. Then, starting in the 2000s, he slowly shifted from working in a concert organization and ad agency to political consulting.

He didn’t care if he was crafting ads for beer, airlines, mobile operators, or politicians.

Eventually, he became a consultant to one of Ukraine’s most divisive and controversial political figures, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whose career has been marked by recurring corruption scandals. Oleksii is among those credited with shaping her iconic image, including the crown braid that people around the world have come to recognize.

Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko attends the National Prayer Breakfast on August 25, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images).

Russians have tried to influence Ukraine’s politics since its first days of independence. Oleksii realized this as soon as he started working on elections. The Kremlin always sent its top political strategists to ensure Ukrainians would elect presidents loyal to Moscow. Oleksii recalled that he would even joke with a friend about the “need to practice the Moscow accent” to get paid more because Russians got enormous sums to boost pro-Russian candidates.

During the first clashes between the pro-Ukraine coalition and Kremlin puppet Viktor Yanukovych in the 2004 presidential election, candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned. Russians had no red lines when it came to eliminating opponents.

“It was both fun and terrifying,” Oleksii recalled.

Fun because he came up with all sorts of ways to mock the Kremlin candidate, like a satirical political series. But terrifying, because he understood that the Russians could come for him at any moment, so he made sure that no one knew he was the original idea creator.

One of the mocking episodes of the ‘Veseli Yaycia’ (‘Funny eggs’) series, 2004.

Yushchenko survived his assassination attempt and wound up winning the election after months of protests against electoral fraud and corruption. The year of 2004 was thus the first time that Moscow’s candidate, Yanukovych, did not win.

Ukraine is under much more strain from Russia now. It’s not mere political influence that’s dropping in Kyiv, it’s bombs and drones – and Ukraine is now preparing to hold elections under these extreme circumstances. Recent examples from elections in the United States and European countries — where Russian bots flooded the information space and influenced outcomes — show that Ukraine could be next.

“Everyone waits for the elections, as many people want to leave the parliament. But everyone is fully aware that they cannot happen without the most important thing. That’s what the president meant: security first,” Roman Hryshchuk, an MP from Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, told The Counteroffensive.

Ukraine was supposed to hold parliamentary elections in 2023 and presidential elections last year, when Zelenskyy’s five-year term ended. But neither took place due to martial law. Ukrainian law prohibits any elections while martial law is in effect. Similarly, according to the constitution, parliamentarians must continue their mandates until a new Verkhovna Rada is elected once martial law ends.

While parliamentary elections are constitutionally impossible under the current circumstances, there is still a chance at least to lay the legislative groundwork for a presidential transition.

Lines on the Ukrainian-Polish border in 2022. Photo by eadtnews.pl.

Working groups have already been set up in parliament to draft changes to the law. However, according to MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, Zelenskyy has not set any deadlines for presenting proposals, so they are unlikely to be ready before the first quarter of 2026.

“MPs are in no hurry to actively push for updates to election legislation… society does not accept such initiatives during the hot phase of the war,” said Roman Lozynskyi, an MP from the Holos faction.

All of The Counteroffensive’s sources in parliament have questioned how security would even be possible if elections were to be held now.

Almost six million Ukrainians have left the country due to shelling or the occupation of their homes since the start of the full-scale war. Those citizens would be unable to take part in physical voting, because Ukraine simply doesn’t have the resources to open enough polling stations and consular offices abroad.

Similarly, nearly four million Ukrainians are registered as internally displaced and would need to change their voting addresses to cast a vote. The same number applies to those currently living under Russian occupation, disenfranchising them.

Almost one million Ukrainians are also currently serving in the Armed Forces, making it physically impossible for them to campaign, run for office, or cast their vote.

This strikes Oleksii as especially infuriating, because he has friends on the front lines defending the country who arguably have the strongest moral claim to shaping its political future. At least a few of them had wanted to run in the elections, he said, but they won’t be able to, since no one in the military can be released during active combat.

“Ukraine is now forced to play a game, not to say ‘no’ to America… They tell us about elections. We say: ‘Okay, but for that we need…’ And then we set conditions that they cannot meet,” Oleksii said.

Pro-Russian demonstrators gather for a rally outside the regional administration building, headquarters of the Donetsk separatist movement, on May 24, 2014 in Donetsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images).

Ukraine held elections during the early months of the war with Russia in 2014, when Russian forces had already seized Crimea and were advancing in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Oleksii had helped organize elections in Donetsk at the time, serving as a communications advisor to the local governor. Back then, Russian security forces were already attempting to disrupt elections throughout the whole region. Twenty two polling stations were initially planned for Donetsk, but only eight received votes from Ukrainians. The rest never opened due to a shortage of ballots, interference from security forces, and the abduction of election commission members by Russians. In Donetsk itself, a city of nearly one million people in 2014, it was ultimately impossible to hold elections.

A billboard in Donetsk in May 2014. At that time, while Ukraine was preparing for presidential elections, Russia was campaigning for Ukrainians to support the creation of a Kremlin puppet state in an illegitimate referendum on May 11, 2014. Photo from Spilne.

“There was a phone on the table, with someone from the election commission nearby, and I heard: ‘Seryoga, some bastards [Russians] have arrived with guns, cancel polling station 39.’ Bad words [followed],” Oleksii recalled.

Serhii and Svitlana Tkachenko. Photo provided by them.

Serhii and Svitlana Tkachenko are two others who were at the center of those chaotic events.

Together with their colleagues from the Donetsk Committee of Voters of Ukraine, they served as independent election observers.

“Many members of the committee tried to go to the [Donetsk] airport to collect the ballots that had been delivered by plane, but some got captured right in the airport. Some suffered a concussion, some had their abdomen cut,” Serhii Tkachenko said about the day of the election in 2014 and efforts to hold elections in Donetsk.

Around 10 p.m., a colleague went outside of the hotel they were staying at for a smoke and inadvertently saved the rest of the team, he recalled. He used a code word they had all jokingly invented the day before in case of danger they hadn’t fully realized yet.

“Let’s buy roses!” is what Tkachenko’s colleague shouted over the phone. He’d seen armed officers getting out of black vehicles that had pulled up at the hotel, searching for ‘where people vote for Ukraine.’

The armed officers that were searching for independent observers in the hotel that night. Photo from the Facebook page of the Donetsk Committee of Voters of Ukraine.

The situation is even more dire now, as the entire country, not just three regions, is at risk of Russian attacks. The reality for Ukrainians is that a ballistic missile can reach a crowded area within minutes, in any area of the country.

Among Ukrainians, including members of parliament, no one can really fathom how elections could be organized in the middle of a war. No democratic country in the past decades has faced the conditions in which such a wide array of weapons is being used so intensively. And even if elections do take place, how legitimate can they be if millions of people are unable to cast their votes?

The ball appears to be in Trump’s court. Many Ukrainians believe he is the one who now needs to find a way to ensure security.

Meanwhile, Oleksii remains “unemployed,” turning away any politicians who come to him for consultations. Even if peace is reached and elections are held, Russian forces will probably still seek political revenge in Ukraine.

“A new world will come. What kind? Who knows,” Oleksii said. “It’s like a supernova explosion. And what happens after that, we don’t know. It’s beyond the sequence of events.”

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tania Novakivska

THE CZECH REPUBLIC SUPPLIED UKRAINE WITH 1.8 MILLION PIECES OF LARGE-CALIBER AMMUNITION: The Czech Republic has achieved its goal of transferring Ukraine 1.8 million rounds of high-caliber ammunition, former PM Petr Fiala posted on X. The Czech Republic, along with the US and the UK, has become one of the leading suppliers of ammunition to Ukraine.

RUSSIA DEPLOYES ORESHNIK COMPLEXES IN BELARUS, TARGETING EU: The construction of military facilities in Belarus for launching an Orshenik missile is underway, Oleg Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, said. The Oreshnik missile is a Russian medium-range ballistic missile that is difficult to intercept, equipped with six warheads, and capable of speeds exceeding 12,300 km/h.

RUSSIAN OIL EXPORTS DECLINE: Although Russia continues to increase its crude oil shipments, sanctions and market restrictions are contributing to a downward trend in its maritime exports, according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. This comes as prices for Russian oil are falling, which reduces their overall profitability. A large amount of Russia’s cargo goes unloaded, and the US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil have caused the demand from the Global South to decrease. This all comes as inspections at Chinese and Russian refineries are increasing.

DOG OF WAR:

Tania met this cute pup last year around Christmas in the de-occupied village in Ukraine’s south. Despite his size and the scars on his face, he was one of the sweetest dogs she had ever known.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana and Nastia

Source

Azerbaijan protests to Russia over Kyiv embassy damaged in Russian missile attack

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:41:12 +0100

An Iskander-type missile fell on the embassy's territory, causing an explosion that damaged its facilities and service vehicles, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said.

Source

Don’t get fooled by Lukashenko

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:39:25 +0100

The man who enabled Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory is now looking for a “deal” with the West.

Aleksandr Lukashenko — the self-proclaimed “president” who stole an election, crushed peaceful protests, and turned Belarus into Europe’s harshest dictatorship — suddenly

Source

SHOCK! The Kremlin deceitfully sends Hindus to war. India protests

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:00:16 +0100

Source

Why Ukraine’s heating is so vulnerable to Russian strikes

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:56:08 +0100

Editor’s note: Today was another tough night for our team — almost all of us barely closed our eyes as Russia launched a massive attack on the Ukrainian energy system targeting Kyiv in particular.

As we were finishing the story, the air raid alarm was still on, signifying that our city could be hit again every minute. The lights began to flicker as the energy grid faltered.

Despite sleep deprivation, we continue our mission to bring you the realities of war in Ukraine. Help us support our newsroom during these challenging times!

Unlock a full access to our stories!

Subscribe for free!

Alchevsk, Luhansk region in Ukraine, winter of 2006. Source: BBC.

The bitter cold pierced the Ukrainian city of Alchevsk to the bone back in January 2006.

The temperature had dropped to -35°C (-31°F), and the entire city found itself without heating. At these temperatures, the National Weather Service estimates frostbite can develop in just 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the wind.

Radiators burst inside buildings as the chill spread. Steam wafted out of people’s mouths as they sipped tea that was constantly being brewed to keep their bodies warm.

Yevdokiia had no choice but to pull her hat down over her eyes and wrap herself in her coat under thick blankets. She pressed close to her husband against the background noise of sports broadcasts. The warmth of a fellow human body was the only thing that kept her from going numb.

Here’s the problem: unlike many other places in the world, the Soviet Union relied on centralized heating systems, where entire cities were kept warm by steam produced in a single spot and then distributed to apartments across a broad area. It’s good for efficiency, but easily targeted in a war, and very vulnerable to centralized mechanical failures.

The 2006 heating pipeline accident in Alchevsk, in the Luhansk region was perhaps the first time Ukrainians felt so intensely just how badly the Soviet heating system could backfire.

A city of 100,000 people was left without heating for an entire month after a major pipeline burst, plunging entire households into the freezing cold. The fully centralized heating system built back in Soviet times proved to be extremely vulnerable to failures at its main facilities.

This weakness imperils Ukraine even more today. Russia has started attacking energy and heating hubs as the cold winter months begin, Ukraine’s Energy Ministry warned recently. Overnight, Russia has launched a major attack on Kyiv using 333 Shahed drones and 11 ballistic missiles to attack heating plants all over the country. Emergency outages are already being implemented across Ukraine. Targeting this infrastructure is an easy way for Moscow to make the wartime environment miserable.

Ukraine’s near-total reliance on centralized heating infrastructure has become an Achilles’ heel when attacks on critical infrastructure are used as a weapon of war. This is a lesson for Europe as well, which also depends on centralized electricity and heating systems. In the event of direct aggression, Russia would likely wage war using similar methods to those employed in Ukraine.

Yevdokiia Kubukhova with her grandchildren.

Life in Alchevsk will forever be a bright memory for Yevdokiia Kubukhova, who is now 64. It was the city of her youth, the place where she and her husband raised two children. Yevdokiia kept this sentiment despite its industrial grayness: it was compact and cozy. Every May, they would go see their son’s dance performances before taking him out for ice cream, her heart overflowing with pride and love.

This city even gave her the courage to change her profession at 40, joining the Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works to help process steel used for rebar. She could not imagine she would quickly fall in love with her hot workshop.

For Yevdokiia, Alchevsk will always be home — even though it’s one to which she can never return.

The winter of 2006 was unlike any other in Alchevsk, unusually snowy and bitterly frigid – one of the coldest Januarys on record. It was particularly bad timing for one of the worst technological disasters to strike independent Ukraine, then just fifteen years old.

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko looks at destroyed central heating radiators as he examines repair work on central heating in the city of Alchevsk, January 30, 2006. (Photo credit should read MYKOLA LAZARENKO/AFP via Getty Images).

For those living in the U.S., where most homes have individual heating systems, it’s hard to grasp how an entire city can freeze because one or two heating plants shut down.

But Ukraine’s system works differently. Before the war, about half of all apartment buildings were heated centrally. In most large Ukrainian cities, heat comes from a centralized heat and power plant, which produces hot water or steam that is then transported through pipes to warm homes and apartments.

This system was designed back in the Soviet Union and spread across major cities in the 1930s–1950s. In a centralized country, this had a certain logic: managing a few extensive facilities was far easier than maintaining hundreds of small ones. And individuality was discouraged in the Soviet Union – even when it came to heating.

While this system is energy-efficient and cheap, it remains highly vulnerable to direct attacks. Many combined heat and power plants were built during the Cold War – but the ever-present threat of war wasn’t enough to dissuade Soviet planners.

“They were preparing for nuclear war back then… So they focused on protecting defense industries and government leadership, building multi-story underground structures,” explained Roman Nitsovych, research director at the DiXi Group think tank. “Supplying power to ordinary citizens wasn’t a priority in that scenario.”

This Soviet legacy left Ukraine’s heating systems prone to breakdowns even without Russian attacks. Pipes often burst, apartments flooded with boiling water, and heating seasons started late. But now, two decades after the Alchevsk tragedy, that nightmare scenario threatens to repeat itself on a larger scale.

Yevdokiia remembers all too well how the disaster unfolded.

“I was at work then. I worked shifts at the factory. They said the boiler plants had frozen. When I came home, the pipes were already cold,” she recalled.

She hated mornings that year; crawling out from under the blankets was pure torture.

She would heat heavy iron objects on the gas stove just to feel a bit of warmth. Her cozy first-floor apartment grew emptier as her son, like many other children, was evacuated with his class and teachers to Crimea. Her daughter spent her days at university lectures, which continued despite the heating catastrophe.

“We heated [the home] with gas and electric appliances, but [the local authorities] asked us not to overuse them — the grid was overloaded. There were many fires; a few families burned to death,” Yevdokiia told The Counteroffensive.

Electricity use in the city increased tenfold, and at any moment, people risked being left not only without heat, but also in complete darkness.

Berezniaky and Rusanivka neighborhoods experience a blackout caused by a massive Russian strike on the city’s critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 10, 2025. (Photo by Evgen Kotenko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images).

Yevdokiia had dreaded coming home from work. In a strange turn of fate, the metal at the plant, heated to a thousand degrees, offered much-needed warmth.

She couldn’t have known back then that twenty years later, another cold winter would be brewing. But this time, not because of an accident or even incompetence – this time it was because it was a malicious Russian strategy of war.

Russia has been systematically attacking gas infrastructure and thermal power plants not just to damage them, but to destroy them outright. By wiping out these facilities and cutting regions off from the central energy grid, Ukraine’s eastern and northern regions would become just short of unlivable. As of October, Russia has already destroyed about 60 percent of Ukraine’s gas production, forcing the country to spend over $2 billion on imports to survive this winter.

Firefighters battle flames at a thermal power plant following a series of explosions on October 10, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images).

Protecting energy facilities has become extremely difficult for Ukraine, since there is no air defense system that offers full protection from ballistic missiles and drones. And according to Nitsovych, critical energy sites were originally designed to withstand debris, not direct attacks.

So Ukrainians are once again forced to stock up on portable power banks to survive the coming winter. The sad, droning hum of generators will mark the times when the neighborhood lacks power; mixing in with the sounds of buzzing drones in the sky which aim to make the situation worse.

For Yevdokiia, Russia has already taken too much — her hometown of Alchevsk was occupied back in the spring of 2014, one of the first cities in the Donetsk region to fall to Russian forces.

In 2015, she and her husband moved to the village of Rossohuvatka in the Cherkasy region, where they bought a plot of land. She jokes that she didn’t know how to grow potatoes, so she planted lavender instead.

Yevdokiia Kubukhova holds her lavender.

“Lavender calms me down. When I think of Alchevsk or wonder when this war will end, what will happen to us next, I go out to the field. There are bees, the air, the smell — incredible. Such beauty, you just forget everything. I love it like my children,” she said.

Her son still tells her to let go of Alchevsk, though it’s hard for Yevdokiia to do.

Yet she remains optimistic, even as winter approaches. Her house now has a stove, chopped firewood, gas, and an oven. And life in Alchevsk already taught her how to survive a harsh winter.

“We’re not afraid,” she said. “The Russians won’t see us give up — our people know how to prepare.”

As we were finishing the story, the air raid alarm was still on, signifying that our city could be hit again every minute. The lights began to flicker as the energy grid faltered.

Despite sleep deprivation, we continue our mission to bring you the realities of war in Ukraine. Help us support our newsroom during these challenging times!

Tip Jar!

NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Anastasiia Kryvoruchenko; Oleksandra Khelemydnyk.

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

NO WH-KREMLIN SUMMIT SOON: Trump said his summit in Hungary doesn’t make sense anymore, The Washington Post reported. Trump already had a phone call with Putin and right after held a meeting with Zelenskyy. Both conversations showed that the sides are too far from reaching an agreement on a peace deal.

Russia sent a communique to the White House, in which it repeated its demands: Russia wants all the Donbas region, which contradicts Trump’s demand to freeze the front line.

RUSSIA REFINES OIL IN GEORGIA: Due to effective Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, Russia started to ship crude oil to a new refinery in Georgia, Reuters reported. On October 6, a Russia’s shadow fleet tanker delivered about 105,000 metric tons of oil to the Kulevi Oil Terminal in Western Georgia on the Black Sea coast.

Georgia severed its diplomatic ties with Russia in 2008 when Moscow-backed troops invaded Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, the ruling Georgian Dream party seeks to deepen economic ties with Russia. Georgians still officially continue their protests, although with smaller scale; the opposition to the pro-Russian party rose in the beginning of October, after the Georgian Dream froze the negotiation to enter the EU until 2028.

Since August, Ukrainian drones have hit at least 28 key refineries in Russia. According to the International Energy Agency, the impact of such attacks will be notable well into 2026.

UKRAINE, EU PREPARE 12-POINT PEACE PLAN: Ukraine and its European partners are preparing a 12-point plan by freezing the front line in its current state and halting further territorial gains, Bloomberg reported. This document is being drafted as Putin has presented opposite demands to Washington.

The Ukraine-EU plan will include a ceasefire and the cessation of territorial seizures, the return of abducted Ukrainian children and a POW exchange, the provision of financial aid to Ukraine for post-war recovery, and accelerated accession to the EU.

It also includes the gradual lifting of sanctions on Russia, except for the 300 billion dollars in frozen assets, which Russia will receive only after contributing to Ukraine’s reconstruction.

DOG OF WAR:

This fluffy pup, accidentally spotted in the cafe, is also trying to warm up from the unfolding cold. He represents all of The Counteroffensive team members :’)

Stay safe out there!

Best,
Mariana

Source

Putin acknowledges Russia’s role in Azerbaijani airliner crash, blames Ukraine and air defense failures

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 14:25:54 +0100

On Wednesday, October 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

Putin opened the conversation with what many in Azerbaijan had long demanded - an acknowledgment of Russia’s involvement in the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner last December.

He recalled apologizing that “the tragedy with the plane occurred in the skies over Russia,” and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

Putin said Russia’s investigation is nearing completion and that two factors can already be identified as causes of the disaster.

“The first is that a Ukrainian drone was in the sky. We were tracking three such drones that crossed the Russian border at night on the day of the tragedy,” Putin said.

The second factor, he said, was “technical failures in Russia’s own air defense system.”

“And the two missiles that were fired did not directly hit the plane — if that had happened, it would have gone down immediately - but exploded - perhaps it was self-destruction — several meters away, roughly 10 meters,” Putin said.

He added that the aircraft was not struck by lethal fragments but “most likely, by debris,” which is why a theory emerged about a collision with a flock of birds. He stressed that Russian air traffic controllers offered the crew a landing in Makhachkala, but “the crew decided to proceed to its base airport, and then to Kazakhstan.”

Putin arrived in Tajikistan on a state visit on October 8. The day before, Aliyev phoned to congratulate Putin on his birthday; their last call had been in March. In September, Putin and Aliyev had a brief encounter in China at the SCO summit.

An Embraer 190 operated by Azerbaijan Airlines en route from Baku to Grozny crashed on December 25, 2024, in Kazakhstan. There were 67 people on board; 38 were killed. A preliminary Azerbaijani investigation found the jet was hit by a Russian missile, reportedly fired by a Pantsir-S system.

Azerbaijani media later published explosive details about the Embraer 190 crash.

The damaged aircraft was denied permission to land at Russian airports despite pilots’ requests for an emergency landing. The jet flew over the Caspian Sea toward the Kazakh city of Aktau.

Immediately after the crash, Russian agencies suggested the accident might have been caused by a “bird strike.” Azerbaijan blamed Russia for the tragedy and demanded an apology, accountability, and compensation for the families of the dead and injured. Putin did apologize at the time, but only for the fact that the accident occurred in Russian airspace.

Later, Azerbaijan repeatedly demanded that Russia acknowledge responsibility for what happened in the skies over Grozny. The Kremlin urged all sides to wait for the investigation’s results.

In June, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia sharply deteriorated. The deaths of two Azerbaijanis in pretrial detention in Yekaterinburg sparked a diplomatic dispute.

In July, Baku lodged formal protests with Moscow over unlawful actions by Russian law enforcement, instances of ethnic intolerance in Russian media, distortions of reality and a disinformation campaign against Azerbaijan, as well as Russia’s refusal to conduct an adequate investigation into the Embraer 190 disaster.

Source

Moldova's pro-Russian party rejects election results, threatens protests

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:03:31 +0100

The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova parliamentary leader, Vlad Batrincea, claimed the elections were marred by "violations and the use of administrative resources," which, he said, "called into question the fairness of the vote."

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Ruling party claims victory in Georgian elections amid major protests

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 12:28:34 +0100

The Georgian Dream candidates won all cities and municipalities in Georgia, with Kakha Kaladze receiving 77.4% of the vote in Tbilisi, cementing his third term as mayor of the country's capital.

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Moldova’s PAS keeps majority as Kremlin-backed bloc falters, but risks of unrest persist

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 18:00:47 +0100

Preliminary results show the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) won 50.16% of the vote (55 seats). The pro-Russian “Patriotic Electoral Bloc” (BEP) — which groups Socialists, Communists, the “Heart of Moldova” party and the “Future of Moldova” party — took 24.19% and 26 seats.

In third place, the “Alternative” bloc, led by Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban, won 7.97% and 8 seats. While it declares a pro-European course, Moscow still sees it as friendly to Russia. The populist “Our Party,” led by oligarch Renato Usatîi, received 6.2% (6 seats).

The surprise was the entry into parliament of the “Democracy at Home” party, led by Vasiliy Kostyuk, which advocates unification of Moldova with Romania. It won 5.62% of the vote. Polls had not shown the party clearing the 5% threshold; now it could take 6 seats, making it a significant player in Moldovan politics. “Democracy at Home” is a partner of Romania’s AUR, the party of one of the country’s most popular politicians, George Simion.

After the preliminary results were released, supporters of Moldova’s EU integration breathed a sigh of relief: the stakes in this vote were as high as they come.

A victory by the pro-Russian BEP under Socialist Igor Dodon would not only have reduced President Maia Sandu to a figurehead - a parliamentary majority could freeze any presidential decision — but also would have shifted Moldova’s foreign policy course. For Ukraine and the EU, that would have meant another source of instability on their borders. For Russia, it would have altered the regional balance of power.

So it’s no surprise that, while waging war on Ukraine and attacking Europe with drones, Russia opened another front - against Moldova - aiming to strip the pro-presidential PAS of its parliamentary majority. And if that failed, the goal was to cast doubt on the vote’s legitimacy and trigger street protests. In the new world order the Kremlin is trying to build, Moldova is supposed to resemble today’s Georgia. Failing that, the aim is perpetual chaos.

A distinctive feature of this election: roughly a third of voters were undecided until the last moment. Pro-Russian parties - and Moscow - focused on them. On the eve of the vote, hundreds of fake social-media accounts appeared in Moldova to spread Russian and anti-European propaganda. Moscow also leaned on priests to promote “traditional values” and criticize the EU-integration course.

The campaign was overseen by Sergei Kiriyenko, a deputy chief of Russia’s presidential administration, with execution by Kremlin political consultants, the FSB’s 5th service and oligarch Ilan Shor, who lives in Russia and was convicted in absentia in Moldova to 15 years in prison for stealing $1 billion from state banks. Money, it seems, was no object. Even so, Russia failed to deliver a win for pro-Russian forces.

With the largest share of the vote, PAS kept its majority in the 101-seat parliament - narrower than in the outgoing chamber, where it held 62 seats. Much now depends on whether the Kremlin and the BEP bloc can spark protests and destabilize the country. On election day, Igor Dodon called on supporters to gather at parliament on Monday to “defend victory.” Moscow and its allies had pinned much on street action.

Documents obtained by Bloomberg indicate Russian authorities drafted an interference plan last spring. It includes buying votes from Moldovan citizens abroad, hiring people to “organize destructive protests,” a large-scale disinformation push on Telegram, TikTok and Facebook, and using kompromat to pressure officials and paralyze the electoral process. The plan also envisions protests demanding Sandu’s resignation if PAS loses - and demonstrations casting doubt on the results if PAS wins.

Moldovan authorities didn’t just play defense. Chisinau opened only two polling stations in Russia instead of dozens around the country - a move that sharply limited Moscow’s ability to falsify results on Russian territory. Moldovan officials also reported bomb threats to bridges leading into Transnistria; many residents from the region were unable to vote, affecting the tally for pro-Russian forces.

To head off disruptions, authorities detained 74 people in the days before the vote, suspecting they trained in Serbia to organize unrest. They learned how to break police cordons, resist officers, wield batons and handcuffs, and in some cases use firearms. Cash, uniforms, weapons and explosives were seized. Investigators say Russian special services were involved in their preparation.

Officials also barred two pro-Russian parties from the ballot. The Central Election Commission struck “Great Moldova” from the lists over suspected illegal financing, including from abroad. Authorities suspect it is a successor to the previously banned Shor party. The “Heart of Moldova” party, part of the Patriotic Electoral Bloc, was also removed from the race.

The outcome is both a victory and a warning. A victory, because Moldova withstood enormous external pressure and stayed the course toward Europe. A warning, because the Kremlin is unlikely to accept defeat and will try by every means to destabilize the country. Protests, information campaigns, political bribery - these are the tools Moscow will use to seed long-term chaos and derail Moldova’s European path.

Despite Moscow’s setback, the struggle over Moldova continues. In the coming weeks, President Maia Sandu and her PAS party face a key test: countering a potential wave of street protests by the pro-Russian opposition. How quickly and decisively the new government can unite society, strengthen the rule of law and deliver promised reforms will determine whether Moldova becomes the region’s next “point of chaos” - or, as it advances toward EU membership, another example of successful resistance to Russia.

Source

Russia could use Moldova to attack Ukraine’s Odesa region if Kremlin seizes control, Sandu warns

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:00:55 +0100

On the eve of parliamentary elections and amid reports of Russian meddling, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said her country’s sovereignty, independence and European future are at risk. In an address, she stressed that if Russians gain control of Moldova, the country’s territory could become “a springboard for penetrating the Odesa region.”

Sandu said that if Russians control Moldova, the consequences would be immediate and felt both in Moldova and across the region. She emphasized that all Moldovans would suffer, regardless of how they voted.

“Europe will stop at Moldova’s border. European funds will be frozen along the Prut River. Freedom of movement may end, and our land could become a springboard for penetrating the Odesa region. The Transnistria region will be destabilized. These are their plans, and they say so openly,” Sandu said.

The president stressed that the Kremlin has accomplices in Moldova who “believe neither in Russia nor in Europe,” but “only in money.” She urged citizens voting this Sunday (September 28) to prove their country is not for sale and said Moldova must be protected “with an honest vote and a clear mind.”

“We, the people of the Republic of Moldova, cannot allow peace, the safety of citizens and regional stability to be put at risk. We are obliged to keep Moldova peaceful, free from war and from Russia’s attempts to attack or destabilize other states,” Sandu said.

Following Sandu’s address, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service claimed that Europe is allegedly preparing to occupy Moldova. The agency alleged that NATO has concentrated armed units in Romania near Moldova’s borders.

Bloomberg, citing documents, reported that Russia is spending millions of dollars to interfere in Moldova’s parliamentary elections and derail the country’s path toward European Union membership. The Kremlin is actively recruiting Moldovans abroad, preparing “protests” inside the country and waging a large-scale disinformation campaign on social media.

Source

Russia claims NATO plans to occupy Moldova

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:00:53 +0100

Russian media are amplifying claims that NATO plans to occupy Moldova, allegedly to control the country and amplify its “Russophobic policies.”

One Russian outlet, citing the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), alleges that European states are preparing to “occupy” Moldova. According to the SVR, the European Union is supposedly ready to intervene even if the results of the September 28 parliamentary elections do not require immediate action. The purported timeline for any troop deployment would coincide with elections in Transnistria set for November 30.

The SVR also claims that “European bureaucrats” are determined to keep Moldova aligned with their “Russophobic policy” at any cost, including the potential deployment of troops and the de facto occupation of the country.

Russian intelligence further alleges that NATO is increasing the number of units in Romania near Moldova’s borders. The SVR also warns of a supposed plan for the alliance to land forces in Odesa to “intimidate” Transnistria.

The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) later responded to the reports circulating in Russian media, calling them another Kremlin provocation. The CCD said there are no verified facts supporting these assertions and that the statements are intended to destabilize Moldova ahead of the September 28 parliamentary elections by creating an “external threat” narrative and attempting to influence pro-Russian voters.

Earlier, the CCD said the Kremlin had allegedly developed a set of measures to interfere in Moldova’s electoral process. These include outreach to voters abroad, funding protests, spreading mass disinformation and using fabricated kompromat. The goal, the center said, is to weaken Moldova’s pro-European course and bolster pro-Russian political forces.

“Such methods are part of a broader Kremlin strategy aimed at undermining democratic processes in neighboring countries, eroding trust in pro-Western politicians and imposing Moscow’s preferred scenarios,” the note reads.

According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the CCD under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Russia has stepped up information campaigns in Europe to weaken support for Ukraine and reduce military aid, with the Kremlin’s next targets being the Czech Republic, Moldova and Poland.

Source

Autumn Pride in frontline region: Three days with queer community in Kharkiv

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:17:46 +0100

A parking lot near one of Kharkiv malls buzzes with activity. This Ukrainian city sits just 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Russian border. More than a dozen cars decorated with pride symbols line up for AutoPride 2025, part of this year's KharkivPride LGBTQ+ festival.

Police officers watch the gathering, some nervously discussing final security details with organizers. Participants, brightly dressed, sing along to Ukrainian songs from car stereos. Kharkiv's queer community knows today is their day.

KharkivPride began in 2019 as an Equality March and has been held annually since. In 2022, during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the march was moved to the metro station, to be safe from Moscow’s air raids. Since 2024, it has taken the form of a car rally.

The seventh KharkivPride is a human rights festival addressing discrimination and challenges Ukraine's LGBTQ+ community is facing. It began with PrideFest in late August and was completed with AutoPride on September 6. Gwara Media’s journalist joined most of the activities within PrideFest.

Sin

The festival opened on August 30 at PrideHub, a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, women, and allies. That weekend was eventful for the city: in other places, activists commemorated the fallen and missing defenders of Ukraine and the Literary Fair was organized in the city’s underground exhibition center. The police patrolled the city center intensively from early morning.

It was noisy near the PrideHub—about 30 men from right-wing, Christian groups, with covered faces and flags of their organizations, clashed with police while trying to get to the festival. Police blocked the road to the hub with buses on both sides.

One unnamed protester claimed they came unarmed just to “read a Ukraine’s nationalist prayer” at the venue, but when police refused access, a scuffle broke out. Fully equipped special police formed a “shield” that festival-goers had to pass through.

“Do you understand what ideas they are promoting with this event?” a man from the group surrounding the police officer asks.

“What ideas?” the police officer replies, his face blank. The conversation between them has been going on for a long time, but has not progressed one bit.

“Look: they are destroying individuality, renouncing religion. They want us to renounce our race and our nation, too. They say, ‘Become like us.’ That's pure communism, you understand?”

The policeman doesn’t respond—he doesn’t seem to be a fan of ideological discussions. Beads of sweat drip from his forehead in the heat.

The group of men keeps demanding that one of the KharkivPride’s organizers come out to talk to them.

Brother “Mukha”, a young man with bruised fists, wrapped in the red flag, is one of the most active participants in the counter-rally. He outlines three demands: to cancel all KharkivPride events, to direct the organization's funds to the military, and to publicly report on the funds spent.

“Why are you hiding your face?” I ask Brother “Mukha”.

“Honestly?” he replies. “I really like it. I thought about going without a balaclava, but then I saw how I looked wearing it and thought, ‘Damn, I have to wear it.’”

His answer sounds rehearsed. It's hard to believe that a guy would put up with extra clothing on his body in such heat just to look cool.

Brother “Mukha” represents the “Brotherhood” church and the battalion of the same name within Ukraine's main intelligence agency (HUR). He says this battalion is divided into combat and rear units. “Mukha” belongs to the latter.

He equates KharkivPride with an organization that promotes drug addiction, murder, rape, or theft.

“Are you equating LGBT people with rapists?” I clarify.

“I'm saying that this is a sin and rape is a sin. As for judging what is worse and what is better—as far as I remember, that's God's business.”

A few minutes later, Anna Sharyhina, co-organizer of KharkivPride, comes out from the hub’s building. The men perk up. They had just been joking about her weight.

“What you're saying about (homosexual—ed.) propaganda doesn't quite work, because surely your heterosexual orientation… Are you heterosexual, by the way?” Anna asks, and Brother “Mukha” nods, affirmative. “If it works that way, then you should become homosexual now, but—”

“Why do you say I have to become homosexual?” he interrupts.

“Because you're talking to me, and I'm a homosexual woman. If it's propaganda—”

“Are you a homosexual woman?” he interrupts again. “So you like men?”

“A homosexual woman is someone who likes women. I'm a lesbian.”

“Why not men? Go back to men,” the crowd behind him laughs. “Let me find you a handsome man!”

One of the participants assures that they weren’t against gays and lesbians.

“We’re against organizers who promote an ideology that is hostile to Ukraine, when we’re facing a demographic crisis and a divided nation. Only nationalism, tradition, faith in God, and faith in victory can help us in this existential war (with Russia)”.

Festival

This year, for the first time, some of the PrideFest events were held outdoors: the fair welcomes guests with music and a relaxed atmosphere they try to maintain after right-wing activists left.

Among the participants, there are occasional talks about what had just transpired.

“It's a shame that people chose resistance within the country,” says Anna Sharyhina.

She has a busy day, so I catch her for a quick talk between panel discussions. “It's always scary when there are attackers. Another thing is that I'm afraid that people won't come (because of right-wingers and police).”

There are fewer people during the day because of the heat, but in the evening the fair fills up with guests. The organizers are counting on at least last year’s number—400 participants over two days.

Anna calls the increased police patrols around KharkivPride “overprotection,” but notes that police is working “at a European level.”

“Nevertheless, coming to PrideFest is activism,” says Anna Sharyhina, meaning being openly present as queer people at the festival. Before the full-scale war began, there were frequent cases of participants in pride marches being harassed and beaten up by people from right-wing organizations.

KharkivPride is held in the fall as part of Ukraine-wide agreements that allow people to attend pride events in different cities—KyivPride in June during Pride Month, OdesaPride in August, says co-organizer Yakiv Lavrynenko.

He got involved in LGBTQ+ activism in 2016, and, since then, has been to almost every Ukrainian march. He has worked with KharkivPride since 2019

“I was at BerlinPride in 2019—it's commercialized, in the aftermath the streets are dirty like after soccer matches. In Ukraine, it's still about human rights,” Yakiv says. “Abroad, organizers are surprised we don't shout 'Happy Pride!' Instead, we carry posters about LGBTQ+ military and slogans asking for support of Ukraine (in Russia’s war).”

As people get under the shade of umbrellas and take up beanbag chairs, community-friendly businesses set up their products along the street.

Natalia sells marigold petal jam from her field in the frontline city of Derhachi, calling it an exclusive. Her jam is a popular gift even abroad — she recalls orders from Canada. She mostly works alone while her husband serves in the army.

This year’s program also includes social initiatives related to the wartime. Yura and Emil from volunteer organization Shcheznyk teach guests how to weave camouflage nets. Crafting nets, they say, is making military gear with civilians who want to help but can't donate or serve. It requires only free time.

The PrideHub's cool semi-basement has reinforced windows and armored doors — the necessary protection against Russian airstrikes and intruders. In the main hall, people learn how to make collages.

Ariana cuts magazine pages along with her friend, who she didn’t see for a long time. She's attended Pride festivals since 2021 — she was 19 then, and that’s when she came out.

“Being a musician forced me to spend most of my life in a conservative society—and an extremely cruel one,” Ariana says. For the last four years, she's been in the Kharkiv queer choir.

Festival panels take place behind a heavy yellow curtain in the next room. Lavrynenko says this year's festival focuses on lectures and discussions covering topics from volunteering and war crime documentation to lesbian identity and visibility of trans people.

Co-organizer Stanyslava Petlytsia attended almost all events over two days and signed up for a tattoo marathon within the festival to commemorate the occasion.

She's pleased to see new faces. Many people, including from queer community members, left Kharkiv after the full-scale war began. “KharkivPride is growing each year,” Petlytsia says. “I hope next year it will be even louder and more visible.”

Many participants note the low attendance at PrideFest. Denys, one of them, suggests the festival needed more color. He’s in bright, eye-catching clothes.

“I want to hang up light bulbs, a mirror ball, and bring Aunt Madonna from Los Angeles! Do we have few people? There are plenty of us (LGBTQ+ community)!” says Denys.

For a decade, he has been saying that the Ukrainian queer community should learn from the experience of their western colleagues and focus not on education, but on queer culture.

War

Several guests from the military attended PrideFest. Oleksandr “Demon” Demenko, newly appointed head of the Ukrainian LGBT+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights, founded in 2018. The organization now has over 500 open and closeted LGBTQ+ soldiers and veterans.

Besides advocating for LGBTQ+ service people, Demenko plans a reintegration initiative for queer veterans that’ll include assistance with their education, rehabilitation, and employment, plus business support.

“Demon” fought in Mariupol, a city in the Donetsk region on the coast of the Sea of Azov, destroyed by Russian forces, and spent nearly three years in captivity after defenders of Azovstal surrendered. He was exchanged from Moscow’s captivity last January.

He recently got engaged to his fiancé, Artur.

“Demon” notes that right-wing radicals are mostly “young people easily influenced by hatred,” but become more neutral or tolerant with age. He believes this won't change — people with the right-wing views will remain, though the overall tolerance for LGBTQ+ may increase.

“War is a long marathon in which we live.” says Kostia Andriiv, an employee of the Gender Zed human rights fund. After the war, he believes, society will become more conservative.

Following the 2019 elections, the government drafted bills to strengthen LGBTQ+ rights, including hate crime penalties and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. Full marriage equality would require a constitutional amendment, impossible during martial law. These bills failed to pass the parliament due to insufficient support from MPs.

Then, in 2025, the government reshuffle happened, and these bills are no longer on the agenda.

“We have no benchmarks for the future, no indication that things will get better,” says Kostia. While some of the current MPs support strengthening LGBTQ+ rights, post-war elections offer no guarantee of continued support for queer people.

While tolerance toward LGBTQ+ people is growing in Ukrainian society, attacks against them are also increasing. Europe rarely sees such statistics because victims are reluctant to report these crimes, Andriiv says.

“The crime exists, but it's not in the statistics because people won't share their stories, even anonymously,” the activist explains. Many victims feel unsure whether they have the time or resources to come forward, or if anyone cares about it during war.

Kostia emphasizes the need to show that LGBTQ+ people contribute equally to society and fight on the frontlines side by side with heterosexual people, simply wanting the same rights others have from birth.

AutoPride

I get into the car with Maria, who is surprised and a little scared when she finds out that a journalist will be riding with her.

She explains: “It’s the whole package—work, safety, and my family's opinion. I'm here alone for now, so I'm scared.”

Maria is from Donetsk. After the Russian occupation of her home city in 2014, she managed to move and lived in various cities throughout Ukraine. Now, she works at a university in Kharkiv, but doesn't know how long she’ll stay here.

An announcement interrupts our conversation: “Please disperse to your cars. Drivers, get in.”

Cars leave the parking lot in a specific order. This year’s march has four columns, says Stanyslava Petlytsia.

The first calls for proper investigation of hate crimes against the queer community. The second demands civil partnership or marriage equality laws after the martial law ends.

The third wants the city council to recognize Kharkiv’s LGBTQ+ community. The fourth advocates for continuous military funding from the city budget, supporting all Armed Forces personnel, including LGBTQ+ service members.

“It is important for us to be visible and to come out every year because this is about our rights, our freedoms, dignity in our lives — as much as we can provide for ourselves now,” says Petlytsia.

Taking a photo of the column, I hear a woman next to me ask, “Oh, are they organizing a car rally?” I nod. “Cool, well done!” the woman smiles, turning to her teenage daughter.

16 cars with over 50 people sitting in them drive through the avenue with queer flags flying from windows.

As AutoPride passes the crowd, Stanyslava shouts, “Our moment of glory!”

A passing truck driver honks in support.

The car rally drives into the city center, where heterosexual couples are having wedding photoshoots, after getting married this Saturday afternoon.

Stanyslava looks at one of them. Says, “So much for marriage equality.” She has been living with her partner Alina for several years, but cannot get married. Alina is in the military.

“She defends Ukraine, and I worry about her a lot. So far, I am officially nobody to her. We cannot legally protect our family.”

Anna Sharyhina's demands echo across the streets from the loudspeaker, then Yakiv Lavrynenko takes over, chanting “Homophobia is Russia.” As the AutoPride passes people in military uniform, they give the middle finger to the column.

The rally ends at the parking opposite Derzhprom, one of Kharkiv's historic central buildings.

People get out for speeches, photos, and a minute of silence for those who died defending the country.

One of the participants says, “You stand up for what you fight for—some fight for three years, some for ten, some for fifteen, and some for twenty years. Perhaps we will fight for the rest of our lives.”

Cover photo: AutoPride. Sep. 6, 2025 / Photo: Gwara Media, Polina Kulish

“Defend the defenders.” People in Kharkiv protest against tougher punishments for soldiers disobeying orders, advocate for fair trials

I'm Polina Kulish, and I attended nearly all KharkivPride 2025 events to bring you this story to highlight the conditions under which Ukraine's LGBTQ+ community advocates for their rights. If this story resonates with you, please buy our journalists a coffee or subscribe to our Patreon to support our Kharkiv-based newsroom's reporting.

The post Autumn Pride in frontline region: Three days with queer community in Kharkiv appeared first on Gwara Media.

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Fact Check: Video Shows Veterans Protesting 'Gaza Genocide', NOT Military Pilots Arrested For Refusing To Fly Armed Planes To Israel

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:21:57 +0100

Does a viral video show two military pilots arrested for refusing to fly armed planes to Israel? No, that's not true: A video with a false caption has gone viral more than two weeks after it was filmed. The chaotic scene was filmed on Sept. 3, 2025 when a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing was disrupted with shouts from the gallery. The protestors, former intelligence officer Captain Josephine Guilbeau and former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar (Ret.), were removed from the chamber and arrested in the hall. They are not active duty pilots.

One example of the miscaptioned video (archived here) was published on TikTok on Sept. 18, 2025 by @kunta.kinte448. The post contained these hashtags:

Trump is still supplying Weapons to Israeli to boom 💥💥 Palestine
#freepalestine🇵🇸❤️
#irelandtiktok
#amerikatiktok
#spaintiktok🇪🇸
#denmatktiktok🇩🇰

The false text caption on the video reads:

Military pilots refused to fly armed planes to Israel. They were later summoned to the Pentagon, forcibly arrested, and placed in military prisons.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Image Source: Lead Stories screenshot of tiktok.com/@kunta.kinte448/video/7551564429960269078.)

This video is real, but the caption misrepresents what is going on. The hearing took place in the 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building -- not the Pentagon. The purpose of the hearing was to consider five of President Trump's nominees for State Department roles. The two people who were removed from the hearing and arrested in the hall were not military pilots although they are both veterans.

Forbes posted a video of the full hearing on YouTube on Sept. 3, 2025, titled, "James Risch Leads Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing To Consider Key Trump Nominees". At the start of the video, at 2 minutes, 34 seconds, Risch makes a point of explaining the consequences for interruptions:

Before we start, as a matter of course, we, we run a tight ship here ... we have zero tolerance for protests or anybody who tries to communicate with either the committee or any of the people who are testifying here. I started the policy since I started that if you interrupt you'll be arrested immediately and taken and booked and those usual things. Unfortunately, we've only had to do that a couple times, I guess. That slowed it down considerably and we continue, we will continue to do that. In addition to that, you'll be barred from the committee for a year. So, we welcome the public here.

At 25 minutes, 15 seconds, as Ms. Melinda Hildebrand of Texas, the nominee to be Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica was introducing herself, some shouts can be heard intermittently off-camera. The disruption is not filmed, but at 26 minutes, 15 seconds the noise is acknowledged and a short break is called because of the "racket in the hall."

The two veterans who were arrested have been outspoken in the past. On July 25, 2025 The BBC published a video interview (archived here) with Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar (Ret.) who, starting in mid-May 2025, worked as a security contractor with UG Solutions, helping The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribute aid. On Aug. 1, 2025 PBS News Hour (archived here) published an article with a video outlining what Aguilar witnessed at the aid stations, including what he described as the sound of a UG Solutions contractor shooting at a crowd of exiting civilians -- killing at least one man.

Josephine Guilbeau is described as a former U.S. Army All-Source intelligence analyst on her bio page at the Eisenhower Media Network. Guilbeau's Instagram account contains videos of herself speaking at the podium at pro-Palestine and peace protests. On Sept. 4, 2025 she posted a video of herself skipping through a parking lot and taking a bow. The post is captioned:

The proper way to exit jail after being arrested calling out United States Government for being complicit in Genocide.

Other fact checks

This claim was also investigated by The Quint.

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How a Chinese pirate’s son muddled Taiwanese identity

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:03:51 +0100

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Almost 400 years ago, the first Chinese general landed in Taiwan.

His name was Cheng Cheng-Gong, although he was also known as Koxinga.

Armed with the most powerful naval fleet in South Asia — bequeathed to him by his father, a formidable pirate — he defeated the Dutch army that had ruled the land for 38 years.

Expelling the foreign power that had ruled over the island for decades, Koxinga was portrayed as the naval guardian of Taiwan and a national hero. In his honor, people built temples, named roads after him, and created an entire religion around his legacy.

Politics often revolves around our national myths, and contested history around the stories we tell ourselves. While Taiwanese people worship him as a defender of the island, the Chinese consider him key to the ‘recovery’ of Taiwan. In fact, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has even used Koxinga’s image as part of its propaganda to unify mainland China and Taiwan.

On the other hand, people of Taiwanese ancestry have been emphasizing Koxinga’s history of persecution of the original inhabitants of Taiwan, which has triggered an identity crisis of a new kind.

The Chinese general Cheng Cheng-Gong, better known internationally as Koxinga. He has been honored at the Koxinga Shrine in Tainan, the city where he first landed in Taiwan.

The Taiwanese have long claimed Koxinga to be ‘The Sage King Who Opened Up Taiwan’ because he was the first to introduce developments such as Chinese characters, law, and farming systems to the island.

But what the Taiwanese history education has neglected to list in their curriculum is that Koxinga’s troops uprooted Dutch and indigenous people alike as he swept across the island.

Indeed, the general removed one of the biggest Taiwanese indigenous empires in Central Taiwan and raided their lands.

Kaisanan Ahuan from the Taokas indigenous tribe, which inhabited the north-west and central-west parts of Taiwan, knows that the ’legend’ of Koxinga represents only one side of Taiwan's history.

“Why is the Koxinga I learned from school different from [the stories I hear from] my tribe?” Kaisanan asked. “His family killed my ancestors. Why didn’t school tell us about that?”

Kaisanan Ahuan from the Taokas indigenous tribe. His tribe was persecuted by the first arriving Chinese general, Koxinga, and forced to move to the mountains. Photo from his social media.

Kaisanan works on indigenous human rights issues and specifically advocates for Taiwan's plains indigenous peoples. Indigenous tribes have long lived in Taiwan as Western and Chinese powers repeatedly tried to colonize the island. Their livelihood depended on farming and hunting.

One of these tribal alliances was the Kingdom of Middag, which existed in the central-western plains of Taiwan in the 17th century. Even when the Dutch took control of part of Taiwan in 1624, before Koxinga arrived, the kingdom remained autonomous.

Yet, things took a turn when Koxinga seized the land. According to historical records, the Cheng family primarily cultivated undeveloped land. Koxinga was looking at land on the central-western plains of the island to grow more crops for his soldiers.

To gain access to these, Koxinga’s admiral Liu Guoxuan slaughtered the indigenous people in the kingdom and displaced others. The entire tribe was nearly wiped out.

One of the Taokas tribe moved to Puli, Nantou, where Kaisanan’s family has been located ever since Cheng’s invasion.

“Ironically, there is a town named after Koxinga near our tribe to honor him,” said Kaisanan, who sees Koxinga as no better than the Dutch. “It’s the name of the colonizer.”

Since the 17th century, Chinese immigrants have made Taiwan their home for different reasons. Many have ignored Koxinga’s past, favoring a sanitized version of history that sees him as a hero – and naming roads and schools after him as a result.

One of the top 5 universities in Taiwan, Cheng Gong University (spelled with Cheng Kung), was named after Koxinga, and the Statue of Koxinga at the R.O.C. Naval Academy. (Photo Credit: NCKU.edu/ R.O.C. Naval Academy).

In addition, following a long-standing tradition of worshiping Chinese ancestors, they have elevated Koxinga to a quasi-religious level.

Chinese immigrants worldwide, including thousands in Taiwan, have worshiped him by building more than 50 temples all over the country. In fact, every year, the Taiwanese government hosts a ceremony to celebrate the anniversary of Koxinga’s arrival in Taiwan.

Koinga died in 1662, a year after conquering Taiwan. Although he spent only a year on the island, he was granted the title of national hero. This recognition is a manifestation of how Chinese culture has dominated Taiwan's history: after all, Koxinga fought for the Chinese, not for Taiwan.

A ceremony to celebrate the Anniversary of Koxinga’s arrival on April 29th. Liu Shyh-Fang, the lady holding a plate of fruit, is the Taiwanese Minister of the Interior. Photo by Elaine Lin.

It feels like a big slap in the face to Kaisanan and the indigenous people of the island.

“This is encouraging the worship of authoritarianism,” said Kaisanan. “It shows that our perception of Taiwan's history is too narrow-minded, based on only Chinese thinking.”

Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took office in 2012, he has been pushing for his “Chinese Dream,” using the “renaissance of Chinese nationalism” to unify Chinese immigrants spread worldwide, mostly targeting Taiwan, which is viewed as a separate island.

The Chinese government has used Taiwan’s hosting of Koxinga’s anniversary events to spread its unification rhetoric. Last August, the Chinese government-run media outlet, people.cn, controlled by the Communist Party, published an article titled: “The 362nd anniversary of Taiwan's recovery.”

The word ‘recovery’ suggested that Koxinga had brought Taiwan back to the Chinese orbit. But in fact, Koxinga used Taiwan as a counter base to fight back against the new Chinese emperor, whom he refused to swear his loyalty to.

The continued presentation of Koxinga as a national hero has been controversial for Taiwan’s ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP. It advocates for the notion that Taiwan has never been a part of China.

And even though Chinese immigrants are the majority in Taiwan, more than 77 percent don’t identify as Chinese – instead choosing other identification.

In 2017, the second year after the DPP regained power, the central government announced that it would stop hosting the ceremony celebrating Koxinga’s arrival. The decision drew numerous criticisms, including those from Chinese officials.

The Chinese Communist Party’s official mouthpiece, the People's Daily, accused the DPP of hindering history and demonizing Chinese ancestors.

Kaisanan protested for indigenous identity rectification and asked the country to stop worshiping Koxinga. (Photo Credit: Central Taiwan Ping-Pu Indigenous Groups Youth Alliance).

“It’s difficult to cut off the connection with China completely,” said Kaisanan, who believes that Taiwan needs to increase awareness of Koxinga’s hidden past.

Taiwan is now at a crossroads, a situation that often occurs in countries fighting for their independence. Having long been under Chinese influence, the island is now rethinking its heroes, its history, and its identity.

The future of nations depends on whose legacy they choose to honor.

Editor’s Note: Despite the ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine, we do not forget about another struggle unfolding on the other side of the world — the fight of the Taiwanese people for their right to exist.

Authoritarian regimes constantly attempt to exploit historical narratives to lay claim to someone else's land. We’re pushing back.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Yelyzaveta Kolos

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

MOLDOVA’S EU FUTURE FACES KREMLIN PRESSURE: Moldova will hold a referendum on October 20 to enshrine its EU membership attempt into the constitution, a move championed by President Maia Sandu, Bloomberg reports. The vote comes amid heavy Russian interference, including propaganda campaigns, funding of protests, and disinformation aimed at derailing the country’s westward course.

Moldova’s European integration strengthens a buffer against Russian influence in the region, reduces Moscow’s leverage through Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway region in eastern Moldova, and helps secure Ukraine’s western flank in the broader struggle against Kremlin aggression.

MACRON: RUSSIA’S DRONE ATTACKS ON NATO WERE NO MISTAKE: French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia’s recent drone incursions into NATO airspace were deliberate, not accidental, and called for new sanctions to pressure Moscow, Kyiv Post reports. He stressed that Europe has largely reduced its reliance on Russian energy and must now act collectively to defend itself.

Macron’s push for stronger European action reinforces NATO’s deterrence against Russia and its support to Ukraine by signaling that European leaders are willing to pressure Moscow, limit its resources, and stand firm against further aggression.

RUSSIA’S HIDDEN TANKERS KEEP OIL FLOWING DESPITE SANCTIONS: Russia has built up a “shadow fleet” of almost 1,000 old oil tankers, The New York Times reports. These ships now make up about 17% of the world’s tankers and are used to secretly deliver oil to countries like India and China, often under fake flags and with little or no insurance.

This fleet was built to keep Russian oil moving despite sanctions, and how big the fleet is, how it operates, and the risks it brings are now key to enforcing sanctions and keeping global oil shipping stable.

DOG OF PEACE:

While Elaine was researching Taiwanese folk religions, she passed by the Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple and found a little puppy waiting outside. According to neighbors, he lives around the temple.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Elaine

Source

Why Putin and Belarus Banned This Theater

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:05:04 +0100

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 stories will be paywalled. Get full access now by upgrading!

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Minsk’s location relative to Kyiv and other cities in its neighborhood (Screenshot from Google Maps).

It was 8 p.m. in Minsk when several dozen people gathered outside a supermarket.

They weren’t there for groceries, but instead for a clandestine meetup… for a play.

None of them knew where they were going – it turned out to be a nearby garage complex, where a theatre group was having a secret show, a running act that had become a symbol of Belarus’ underground resistance.

Everyone who opposed the government in Belarus had heard of them.

Just hours earlier, the show had been announced on social media. To attend, people had to call a number to reserve a spot. The performance’s exact location — constantly changing to avoid detection — was revealed only once they arrived at the rendezvous point.

The Belarusian secret service, still known as the KGB, could raid at any moment, arresting both actors and spectators.

Founded in 2005, the Belarus Free Theatre had already earned a reputation for vivid, politically charged productions that defied Aleksandr Lukashenko’s repressive regime.

But can art really be a force for change when the other side carries batons and bullets? Regimes have long targeted theatre, music, and literature in their drive to control minds—and art poses a threat to that ideal. Stalin purged Soviet writers; the Taliban bans music.

So it’s no surprise that Lukashenko now suppresses theatre: a single play can give audiences a shared language of dissent, put them face-to-face with their reality, and help them imagine a different future.

That is why Belarus Free Theatre faces harassment: art keeps the possibility of freedom alive even when politics fails.

Belarus Free Theatre is the only theatre in Europe that has been banned by their government from performing for political reasons. Since its founding, it has staged works in over 40 countries, exposing authoritarianism through its works.

One of their plays stars Belarusian athlete Katsiaryna Snytsina, a political dissident labeled an “extremist lesbian” by the government. It narrates her fight challenging dictators in the sports sphere and staying true to her identity.

Another is a story about the ‘Centralny’, a department store in Minsk which was once an icon of the thriving social scene in Belarus – featuring teachers, artists, and students – that has now vanished amid the government's repression.

Lukashenko’s regime, which has been in power since 1994, has continued to persecute the theater’s members, many of whom have been arrested and detained. Russia, Belarus’s closest ally, has also unleashed its own campaign of harassment by promising to arrest the group if they step on Russian soil.

The partnership between Belarus and Russia was again on display this week as they launched their fifth round of Zapad military exercises. Beginning last Friday, the drills mobilized over 13,000 troops across Belarus, triggering alarm in neighboring European states. The exercises continue through today.

Nicolai Khalezin and his wife, Natalia Koliada, are the founders of Belarus Free Theatre. Photo Credit: Nicolai Khalezin Facebook.

Lukashenko has provided grounds for attacks, weapons, troops, and a tight alliance as the world turned its back on Moscow. In these autocratic systems, even the smallest acts of disobedience are perceived as a threat to the entire structure, and art itself can become a potent weapon against repression.

“We just wanted to do theater. We didn’t care what the authorities thought about it,” Nicolai Khalezin, one of the founders of Belarus Free Theatre, told The Counteroffensive.

Yet, he always knew the danger of his work: “If you fight the dictatorship, you will get all the possible problems that exist.”

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visit the Valaam Monastery on Valaam island in the northern portion of Lake Ladoga on August 1, 2025. (Photo by GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images).

Alongside Nicolai’s artistic pursuits, he wrote for three independent newspapers, which the government shut down as the regime censored media. In direct response to that censorship, Nicolai and his wife, Natalia Kaliada, founded Belarus Free Theatre in 2005.

When authorities barred them from rehearsing or performing publicly, they received offers from thirty underground venues. They ultimately chose the Graffiti Cafe in Minsk for a first play premiere.

The theatre’s clandestine performances came to an end temporarily in 2007 when security forces raided a show, arresting both the troupe and their audience.

In 2010, mass protests erupted in Minsk after Lukashenko claimed victory with 80 percent of the vote. More than 600 people were charged with so-called ‘public disorder,’ and five presidential candidates were imprisoned. The West denounced the election as fraudulent, with the EU renewing travel bans to Lukashenko and his associates.

Nicolai and Natalia escaped Belarus on New Year’s Eve in 2010, days after the protests erupted. They smuggled through the Belarus-Russian border at night; he lay on the floor of a minivan covered with blankets, and his daughter hid on top of him. They chose a border point which they knew had less security.

“It was like in Hollywood movies,” Nicolai said.

They traveled to New York and eventually to London, which would become their home after the United Kingdom offered them political asylum.

Nicolai and Natalia relaunched their theatre company from exile. Rehearsals were coordinated through Skype, and Natalia and Nicolai joined the performances, which were taking place secretly in Minsk, greeting the audience via video chat.

Nicolai and Natalia in London. Photo Credit: Nicolai’s Facebook page.

Meanwhile, the thin-skinned autocrats were watching.

According to Nicolai, the Russian government has pledged to arrest and extradite them to Belarus should they ever set foot on Russian soil.

“They constantly tried to discredit us, tried to intimidate us, tried to press on our parents, on our relatives,” Nicolai said.

In 2020, a state-owned newspaper in Belarus, Sovietska Belarus, published an article threatening to kill the couple.

“We will definitely find you…. and we will hang you, side-by-side,” the article said. Nicolai added that authorities have also interrogated his family members in Minsk, including his elderly parents. In addition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has sealed off their apartment.

Belarus Free Theatre play in Minsk in May 2016. Photo credit: Belarus Free Theatre Facebook page.

In 2020, mass protests erupted in Belarus ahead of the presidential election, where Lukashenko was seeking a sixth term. Tensions escalated after the official results declared him the winner of 80 percent of the votes. The opposition and international observers declared the elections fraudulent.

Police used rubber bullets against demonstrators. Members of the Belarus Free Theatre joined the protests and were themselves detained for as long as two weeks. Russian troops were reportedly mobilized to undisclosed locations in the country.

Belarusian opposition supporters carry Belarusian flags, which was used before 1995, as they take part in a rally against presidential election results, in central Minsk, Belarus on September 20, 2020. (Photo by Marina Serebryakova/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images).

Around this time, Nicolai and Natalia began developing Dogs of Europe, a play set in a dystopian 2049.

The continent was split in two by a wall: on one side, the ‘Russian Reich,’ ruled by a dictator who had repressed all opposition; on the other, a Europe that had failed to recognize the looming threat. In the story, the Reich ultimately expands its empire, conquering Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic States, and beyond.

Production was halted with the outbreak of COVID-19, resuming only in February 2022—five days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

By then, their imagined dystopia no longer felt so distant.

The Belarus Free Theatre cast in the play Dogs of Europe in April 2022. Photo Credit: Nicolai’s Facebook page.

Right before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Nicolai and Natalia decided to evacuate the remaining 16 members of their troupe from Belarus.

The group first crossed into Ukraine; from there, some continued to Poland while others traveled to England. Nicolai recalled receiving help from many along the way, including Ukraine’s border committee, which played a key role in enabling the company’s safe exile.

Members of Belarus Free Theatre with Cate Blanchett in the BFT premiere of The Wild Hunt of King Stakh in September 2023. Photo Credit: Nicolai’s Facebook page.

This year, Nicolai released Putin 2.0 — a play that unravels the Kremlin’s world of corruption, deception, and manipulation. The play combines absurdity with political satire of the Kremlin’s top figures, including Putin, Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov and others.

“It’s kind of a statement that I never imagined I would do, because I did not think I would go down to talk about a dictator,” Nicolai said.

The following is an excerpt from Putin 2.0, which presents a conversation between Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva, the Russian gymnast who has long been rumored to be his partner.

Kabaeva. Do you remember what day it is?
Putin. Of course, it’s the anniversary of the great military victory of 1944 when we completed the Crimean campaign, kicking the Germans out for good. Not long ago I signed a directive regarding that anniversary. It means a lot to me that you thought to bring it up.
Kabaeva. And what else?
Putin. Not sure. I didn’t sign any other protocols about today.
Kabaeva. Somebody has a birthday today…
Putin. Can’t be me, mine’s in February… More exactly, in October, right – 7^th of October!
Kabaeva. Today’s the day I was born, Vladik, my handsome little prince!

Don’t count Nicolai as a starry-eyed optimist, though.

He believes that Putin and Lukashenko will remain in power until their deaths.

“For me, Lukashenko died about 10 years ago, and Putin about 5 years ago. I don't have them in my mind anymore,” Nicolai said. “They are just a sign of power who are doomed to remain in their place for the rest of their life.”

Nicolai Khalezin in London. Photo Credit: Nicolai’s Facebook page.

He doesn’t see the theater’s work as heroic, but instead wishes to be a window to the world of what it is to be a victim of a dictatorship.

“There is only a desire to explain to everyone what a dictatorship is,” Nicolai said. “Because we know from our own experience that it’s bad.”

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Aidan Stretch

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

POLAND ENDORSES “NO-FLY ZONE” OVER UKRAINE: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called for a NATO no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect Europe from Russian strikes. Sikorski’s comments follow an incursion of 19 Russian drones into Polish airspace last week which triggered NATO article 4 consultations.

NATO allies have previously rejected requests by Ukraine for a no-fly zone, citing the high risk of direct confrontation with Russian aircraft. Poland’s openness to the idea is welcome news to Kyiv which continues to seek a no-fly zone during ongoing discussions over Western security guarantees.

However, as Sikorski noted, this “is not a decision that Poland can make alone; it can only be made with its allies.”

RESEARCH REVEALS EXPANDED DETENTION OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN: A report by the Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab has discovered 150 new sites across Russia where Ukrainian children have been held since February 2022.

Ukraine says Russia has abducted more than 19,500 children in violation of the Geneva Conventions. But the Humanitarian Research Lab’s findings suggest this figure could be closer to 35,000.

The Kremlin’s abduction of Ukrainian children has spurred international efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically: in 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and, last week, a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

EU DELAYS NEW RUSSIAN SANCTIONS PACKAGE: The European Union will delay its latest sanctions against Russia, to “better align with G-7 priorities,” Bloomberg reports.

Earlier this week, President Trump ruled out harsher sanctions on Russia unless European allies stop buying Russian oil. The U.S. has also urged EU members to adopt 50-100% tariffs on China and India — the leading buyers of Russian oil — to intensify pressure on Putin.

The EU is expected to finalize a new sanctions package in the next two weeks, which may include steps targeting the Russian energy sector, and measures against Indian and Chinese companies buying Russian oil.

DOG OF WAR:

Today’s Dog of War is this cutie traveling on the train with Zoriana's friend. All of her friends are now taking pictures of dogs because they've discovered this section of The Counteroffensive publication.

Stay safe out there!

Best,
Clara

Source

BONUS: Inside Our Editorial Meeting! (and Tim speaks Ukrainian)

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 14:02:09 +0100

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 idea discussions and newsroom workflow explained.
7:24 – Upcoming Story: Gen Z Protests
Plans to cover global Gen Z protest movements, with a focus on Nepal and Serbia.
7:59 – Ukrainian Defense Tech Coverage
Explaining Counteroffensive Pro’s focus on defense innovation and updates on swarming drone technology, customs reform, and Russian adaptations.
11:01 – Rising Venezuela–U.S. Tensions
Led by Clara, we discuss escalating tensions in the Caribbean.
18:44 – Ukrainian Family Ancestry Story
Mariana explains her coming reporter’s notebook: a personal exploration into genealogy and Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
26:30 – Democracy & Polarization Discussion
Tim reflects on social media, political violence, and democracy.
34:00 – AI in Journalism Guidelines
Zoryana’s presentation on responsible newsroom use of AI, including fact-checking, transparency, and risks.
44:07 – Tim’s Ukrainian Language Presentation
A segment where Tim presents in the Ukrainian language, with live translation by Nastia.

Source

Russia wants to occupy Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts fully in exchange for freezing war. Here’s what law says about that

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:53:28 +0100

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 guarantees, in exchange for halting the war.

Russia has occupied Crimea and parts of the Donetsk region since 2014. During 11 years, Ukraine has built a fortress belt that stretches along the highway H-20 from Konstiantynivka in the north to Sloviansk in the south.

In 2022, Russia failed to capture Sloviansk and envelop the fortress belt, allowing Ukraine to reinforce the cities within the belt.

During the multilateral meeting in Washington, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the discussion of "proportional" exchange for Russian occupation of Eastern territories is possible only if Russian and Ukrainian leaders meet, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Zelenskyy noted that realizing this idea would be difficult because Ukraine would have to relocate many people from Ukrainian-controlled territories. Ukraine's president also said that Ukraine can’t make this decision without a referendum.

The experts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that the complete occupation of the Donetsk region threatens the Kharkiv, Poltava, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. On the other hand, such a proposal has no legitimate basis in international law.

Russian occupation of Donetsk oblast endangers Kharkiv region

The main logistics centers for the Ukrainian army in the region are Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which form the northern part of the fortress belt. Druzhkivka, Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka, and Kostyantynivka comprise the southern part.

Russian occupation of the entirety of Donetsk oblast would bring Moscow’s troops to the region's administrative border, a far less advantageous position for Kharkiv oblast and other regions neighbouring Donetsk.

Ukraine's fortress belt in Donetsk oblast / Soure: ISW

Elina Beketova, a research fellow at the Center for European Analysis, warned that the complete takeover of the Donetsk region would have catastrophic consequences.

"The frontline would shift about 80 kilometers westward, giving Russia open terrain. With no natural obstacles, the flat steppe would provide a direct path to Kharkiv, Poltava, and Dnipro," Beketova explained.

The city of Izium, often called the "gateway to the Donbas," is a key logistical hub in the southern part of the oblast. The M03 highway, which connects Kharkiv to the southern Donetsk and northern Luhansk oblasts, runs through the city.

Izium also has rail links to Kharkiv, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Lyman. Those are key military supply routes, critically important for sustaining Ukraine's defensive operations.

Izium on the DeepState's war tracking map / Source: DeepState

Ivan Tymochko, head of the Reservists' Council, explained that if Russia gained control of Izium, it would be able to exert pressure on both the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

"Essentially, Balakliia and Izium lie along key routes. If we look northward, they lead toward Chuhuiv and Kharkiv. If we look southwest, they head toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk," Tymochko said.

If Russia were to occupy the Donetsk oblast fully, Ukraine's army would be forced to urgently build new defensive lines in the Kharkiv region.

The landscape there is not favorable for defense because of the open fields and natural obstacles like Oskil and Siverskyi Donets rivers, which are located too far east to be strategically valuable.

What Ukrainian and international law says

In his official statement, President Zelenskyy rejected Putin's demands on Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

"The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this – and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier," said Zelenskyy.

The Constitution prohibits transferring or renouncing any part of the state's territory. According to Article 2, Ukraine's territory is indivisible and inviolable.

Altering the territory of Ukraine is resolved exclusively by an all-Ukrainian referendum, the Constitution says. However, referendums are currently impossible because martial law prohibits any form of voting.

Kateryna Busol, Associate Professor at the Law Faculty of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, told Gwara Media that current international law — particularly the UN Charter — contains several key principles that govern the transfer of territory from one state to another.

These include foundational principles such as respect for territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. Although these principles are largely declarative, the UN Charter contains a binding norm prohibiting the threat or use of force.

Busol said that, in this context, what matters is not just the legal formalization of agreements between states — even when they are expressed in so-called "peace agreements."

What matters even more is the element of voluntariness and informed intent by the parties involved. She noted that agreements must be based on free will, without external pressure or coercion.

The expert explained that, according to the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, the treaty is void if its conclusion has been procured by the threat or use of force in violation of the principles of international law.

In the context of potential agreements or “peace deals” between Russia and Ukraine, the way the parties communicate — whether confidently or cautiously, or under pressure — will carry particular significance.

Determining whether any direct or indirect coercion is exerted on the Ukrainian side will be critical. Coercion includes physical force, overt threats, and diplomatic, political, or economic pressure, which could breach the principle of good faith in international law.

Busol said the Chagos Archipelago case — the last British colony returned to Mauritius — is an example of a legitimate territorial transfer. She highlighted that the United Kingdom agreed to this transfer following an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice and in response to a UN General Assembly resolution.

Ultimately, London recognized the need to return the territory to Mauritius not just de jure, but also de facto.

Any transfer of territory between states must adhere to international law and not involve military aggression or political pressure, which Russia isn’t hesitant to exert.

Maksym Vishchyk, legal advisor to the Global Rights Compliance Foundation, noted that any peace agreement imposed on Ukraine by force would be considered void and carry no legal effect. This gives Ukraine the right to challenge any such territorial changes.

Moreover, any agreement that seeks to formalize an annexation in a peace deal does not alter the international legal status of those territories as occupied.

Therefore, Ukraine would not lose its right to self-defense or to liberating territories seized by Russia.

Russian crimes in the temporarily occupied territories

Bosul also said that the human-centered argument is especially critical. A "swap deal" of any sort is not just about land — it's about the fate of the people who remain under Russian occupation.

The longer the international community or Ukraine tolerates Russian control, the greater the risk for people from Ukraine living in those areas to suffer from atrocities, including enforced disappearances, torture, sexual violence, and executions.

Hypothetically, if Ukraine were to consider ceding any part of its territory, doing so would be impossible because of the documented, systemic crimes committed by Russia, Bosul said.

She added that the Kremlin's objectives go far beyond territorial claims. The world's largest country by landmass has no shortage of resources. Their true goal is the destruction of Ukraine as a sovereign state. Therefore, any concessions or freezes in the conflict would result in a Minsk 3 scenario, merely allowing Russia to rebuild its military and attack again.

Russia is actively promoting the idea of abandoning investigations into international crimes. In practice, this would mean halting inquiries into both past and future atrocities committed in occupied areas.

Destroyed facade of the Vovchansk aggregate plant, which has became the largest torture facility in Russian-occupied Kharkiv oblast during first six month of full-scale invasion / Photo: Denys Klymenko, Gwara Media

Moscow is inconsistent in its demands. It requests that Kyiv cease prosecuting Russian soldiers and, at the same time, it runs trials against Ukrainian prisoners of war merely for participating in combat. This violates international law, particularly the principle of combatant immunity.

Ukraine cannot waive its obligation to investigate international crimes, Bosul says. They include the four most serious categories: war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression, outlined in instruments like the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

She explained that there is no statute of limitations for these crimes. That's why courts in countries like Australia and Germany continue to prosecute former concentration camp guards, even those in their 90s. As such, any provision suggesting that a state can avoid the duty to prosecute international crimes is legally null and void.

Bosul also said that, under international law, Ukraine cannot and must not renounce its sovereign territory. A state cannot withdraw from the UN Charter or abandon core international treaties simply because of Russian threats.

In her view, Ukraine's strategic position must remain firm: regardless of what terms Russia proposes or tries to impose, certain conditions will always be legally null and void.

Photo credit: Member of the evacuation group "White angel" that helps to transport Avdiivka locals to the hospital and does evacuation missions. March 2023 / Oleksandr Babenko for Gwara Media

Thank you for reading this article! Here in Kharkiv, we're anxiously watching the lengthy diplomatic acrobatics surrounding Russia's war in Ukraine. With what's happening on the frontline right now, it's hard to take any sort of future "peace deals" and "land swaps" with Moscow seriously. So we plan to just keep reporting on events unfolding. Please, consider supporting our Kharkiv-based journalism by buying us a cup of coffee or subscribing to our Patreon.

“Defend the defenders.” People in Kharkiv protest against tougher punishments for soldiers disobeying orders, advocate for fair trials
Opinion: US and Europe’s divide on Ukraine
Opinion: How Ukrainian resistance maintains political freedom in Russian-occupied territories

The post Russia wants to occupy Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts fully in exchange for freezing war. Here’s what law says about that appeared first on Gwara Media.

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Gen Z rage turns to uprooting governments

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 14:22:05 +0100

Editor’s Note:

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As we write about direct democracy and protests around the world, let’s not forget that journalism – and accurate information – is one of the pillars of a free society! You can get our reporting and support our mission by upgrading now!

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“You're too carefree.”

“You need to think more about the future.”

“How long can you sit on your phone?”

These are common remarks directed at Gen Z.

TikTok trends, new slang, and distinctive clothing styles are often perceived as a sign of being detached from reality or unwilling to take on real responsibility.

But over the past year, young people around the world have managed to shake up their governments.

The latest cases are in Serbia and Nepal. Separated by thousands of kilometers, with different cultural and political contexts, young people in these countries are united by a desire for change.

They provide a blueprint for young people across the globe who find their futures in jeopardy. And, perhaps more importantly, they represent an antidote to the notion that people should simply accept the status quo rather than trying to effect positive change.

After the paywall:

What are the unique ways that modern youth coordinate protests, intimidating powerful governments?
How did Gen Z use Tiktok to mobilize the protests in Nepal?
What are the demands of Nepalese and Serbian people for their governments?
How Serbian students organize inside their universities and why did they intentionally decide not to use any political slogans?

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“Defend the defenders.” People in Kharkiv protest against tougher punishments for soldiers disobeying orders, advocate for fair trials

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:14:54 +0100

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 organisers, said that Ukraine needs the army’s reform — it has to protect the military, not oppress them.

As of now, Kharkiv has protested thrice to express dissent with the bills that increase service people's penalties for disobeying commanders’ orders and assign full criminal responsibility for desertion. Gwara’s journalists have been to several of those protests to talk to participants.

Military, veterans, and activists began calling for protests across different cities on social media on Sep. 5. Alina Sarnatska, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, wrote, “I demand that authorities stop oppressing service people.”

The main demands of the protests were that parliament not adopt bill №13452 and cancel law №8271 (signed into law by Volodymyr Zelenskyy in January 2023), which increases the punishment for military personnel who disobey a commander's order.

Soldiers who refused to follow orders under the new bill would face a term of 5 to 10 years' imprisonment without the possibility of the court imposing a more lenient punishment or probation.

Oleksandr Shyrshyn, former commander of the 47th unit, said that the bill №13452 is designed to be a tool of influence and coercion for the military command to Ukrainian media Grunt. “I’m very sure that there’ll be abuses (of authority).”

Marko noted that such initiatives of the government make soldiers even more vulnerable in situations where they are faced with “stupid decisions that simply lead everyone to their deaths.”

“We, civilians, must defend the rights of the military. Because we care about the people who are protecting us now. Because each of us is just temporarily a civilian and may, sooner or later, become a soldier and find ourselves in the same vulnerable situation,” said Marko.

Behind the protest organizers in Kharkiv, people shouted, “We will change or we will die.” On their posters, the signs: “Defend the defenders,” “Who will answer for the order?”, “Why soldiers again?”, “They stand for us, and we stand for them,” “Motivate, don’t intimidate,” and others.

Protesters also demanded parliament not to pass the bill №13260 that has already gone through the first hearing.

The bill proposes to increase criminal liability for soldiers who deserted. Those charged with desertion or going AWOL, if found guilty, would face imprisonment for 5-10 years without the possibility of getting a lighter sentence. Currently, a lighter sentence can be imposed if a soldier returns to their unit.

Oleh Symoroz, an activist and veteran, noted that going AWOL has become “the only mechanism for active military personnel to transfer from incompetent commanders (to another unit).”

He described desertion as a complex problem and called for solving it not through harsher punishments but through fundamental changes in the Ukrainian army.

People also advocated for the presidential bill on the military ombudsman, which has been stuck in parliament since June 2025, to be adopted instead of №13260. The ombudsman would have to monitor the state of human rights and freedoms in the army.

Nastia Bdzhola, co-organizer of the Kharkiv protest, also noted that being a civilian in Ukraine is a matter of time. “It’s important to defend the rights of military personnel for oneself in the future.”

On Sep. 6, in response to the protests, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence released a statement about its support for the law on the military ombudsman, adding that the bill that increases punishment for disobedience (№13452) needs to be removed from parliament’s agenda and “improved” to prevent the oppression of military personnel.

A letter from the General Staff — a structure under the Ministry of Defence — written in July in support of this bill, is attached to the bill’s card on the parliament’s website.

Andrii Hnatov, head of the General Staff and a major general of the Armed Forces, expresses gratitude for the implementation of “developed propositions about optimization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s work under martial law” in this letter.

Many participants of the protests across Ukraine, including Kharkiv, said they had loved ones serving in the military. They went to the streets to protect their families.

One of them, Inna, told Gwara that all the men in her family defend the country. It’s important to her that society supports them and does not remain indifferent.

“I want to live in a country that cares about its citizens.”

Update from Sep. 13, 00:35: "Kharkiv protests" changed to "People in Kharkiv protest."

Opinion: How Ukrainian resistance maintains political freedom in Russian-occupied territories

Hello! This is Elza, a reporter from Gwara Media. Thank you for your interest in our stories about people in Kharkiv and causes they care about. Please, consider supporting our newsroom on BMC and/or Patreon.

The post “Defend the defenders.” People in Kharkiv protest against tougher punishments for soldiers disobeying orders, advocate for fair trials appeared first on Gwara Media.

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Kremlin rattled as Nepal’s youth topple government after social media ban

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:00:32 +0100

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 Agenstvo.

Russian federal TV channels avoided detailing why mass protests and deadly unrest erupted in Nepal. The primary trigger was the government’s decision to block 26 social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.

Local youth quickly mounted a revolt and forced the government out - a nightmare scenario for the Putin regime, the report suggests.

While Russia has imposed numerous digital restrictions in recent years, the public has largely endured them. Footage of jubilant crowds after a swift toppling of power is seen as alarming in the Kremlin, shaping how protests were framed on pro-government channels.

Russian TV either omitted this detail or mentioned it only in passing, instead leaning on the familiar narrative of “external interference.”

On Rossiya 1, the social media ban wasn’t mentioned at all. Channel One referred to the ban only briefly, stressing the “external coincidence” of the protests with Nepal’s stated intention to join the SCO. NTV acknowledged that the unrest stemmed from the blocking of foreign platforms, but did not specify which networks were banned.

Experts note the reality looked different: Nepal’s youth took to the streets precisely because authorities cut off familiar channels of communication and information. Protests escalated into widespread riots; dozens of people were killed, and the parliament, Supreme Court and officials’ homes were set on fire. Under pressure from the streets, the government rescinded the ban and the prime minister resigned.

For the Kremlin and Russian propagandists, it’s a chilling scenario. Russia has also banned Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, restricted YouTube, and blocked calls on WhatsApp. Yet no comparable protests followed - a key reason, analysts say, why federal channels are pushing the “foreign meddling” line, hoping Russians won’t draw parallels or question what authorities fear most: that people can bring down a government that strips them of basic freedoms.

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Russia weighs new mobilization as autumn offensive looms, raising risks for Ukraine

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0100

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 forming new units. According to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Defense Ministry (GUR), the Kremlin sought to replenish forces without formally declaring mobilization to avoid public backlash.

In September 2022, after a series of battlefield setbacks, President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial” mobilization, officially aiming to call up 300,000 reservists. The move sparked anger across Russia, prompting thousands of men to flee. Despite officials later claiming the mobilization had ended, no decree was ever issued to formally close it.

Since then, Russia has relied on active covert mobilization, focusing on contract service with large financial incentives to avoid mass protests while maintaining troop levels. In 2024 alone, 407,000 contract soldiers were reportedly recruited. Since the start of 2025, about 280,000 contracts have been signed, HUR deputy chief Vadym Skibitskyi told Ukrinform.

Skibitskyi said Russia is bringing in at least 35,000 personnel a month. He noted new recruits receive substantial payouts, including a 2 million ruble bonus for a first contract.

“There are clear signs they’ll fully meet their recruitment targets by year’s end,” Skibitskyi concluded.

Even so, analysts say Russia has been unable to fully offset its losses. That is one of the main reasons Moscow continues to weigh a new, open mobilization.

Russia’s summer offensive largely faltered, but Moscow is already preparing an autumn push with a new strategic concept. Pavlo Lakiychuk, head of military programs at the Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI,” said Russian forces have been tasked with seizing three cities in Donetsk region: Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad and Dobropillya.

Speaking on FREEДОМ, Lakiychuk said taking those cities would allow Russia to eliminate Ukraine’s defensive hub in the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad area and move into the rear of another agglomeration: Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka and Kramatorsk. He said it signals a new plan after a failed summer operation in which Russian forces lacked resources and fell short of objectives.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War has also reported signs of Russian preparations for an autumn offensive in Donetsk region, including around Dobropillia, Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka. Analysts say Russia has reduced the priority of operations in Sumy region and redeployed units to Donetsk.

Lakiychuk stressed that success will depend on Russia’s manpower and resources.

“Whether Russia can assemble the necessary personnel, conduct additional mobilization or draw on allies is hard to predict,” he said.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, also said Putin could opt for a new mobilization. In an interview with Apostrof TV, Budanov noted that after the 2022 draft, Russia did everything possible to avoid repeating it. Still, while mobilization would be painful for Russia, it remains a realistic option, he said.

Budanov argued there is little sense in sending conscripts to the front. But if Moscow proceeds with mobilization, it could quickly swell troop numbers to throw even more manpower into assaults. He added that mobilization would likely trigger public discontent—as in 2022—but wouldn’t stop Russia’s war effort.

Lakiychuk likewise believes Russia lacks sufficient mobilization capacity to cover current losses and needs fresh recruits. He said the decision ultimately rests with one person: Vladimir Putin.

Lakiychuk said Putin understands that while many Russians voice support for the war, they are reluctant to fight themselves—a reality laid bare by the 2022 mobilization and the public pushback it sparked.

Vadym Denysenko, head of the “DeloVaya Stolitsa” analytical center and a political analyst, also believes Putin has so far avoided a new draft out of fear - uncertainty and potential instability.

For now, Denysenko said, the Kremlin’s main hope is North Korean manpower. He added China could influence the situation given its leverage over Pyongyang. If the “Korean option” fails, Putin may have to return to mobilization, Denysenko argued.

Lakiychuk outlined other possible avenues beyond North Korea:

- Covert mobilization: try to lure recruits with higher payouts. He believes this mechanism is losing effectiveness.

- Open mobilization: conduct partial or nationwide mobilization.

- Foreign mercenaries: bring in fighters from abroad.

He also pointed to the upcoming Zapad-2025 strategic command-and-staff drills. In his view, Putin could use the exercises to assert control over the Belarusian army. Given close ties between the two countries’ officer corps and the readiness of Belarusian forces, this could temporarily plug Russia’s mobilization gap. Lakiychuk said Putin is unlikely to seek Alyaksandr Lukashenko’s consent—and warned the drills could end badly for the Belarusian leader.

Russian forces are also expected to step up mobilization of Ukrainians in temporarily occupied territories, according to the Center for National Resistance. Facing manpower shortfalls, Moscow is likely to lean on forced conscription there.

Russia continues to recruit inmates as well. Since the full-scale invasion began, up to 180,000 prisoners have been sent to fight in Ukraine, typically for less pay than other servicemembers.

A new nationwide mobilization in Russia cannot be ruled out. Denysenko noted the fall 2022 draft was launched without a prior information campaign. He said Putin now has all the legal tools ready to do it again.

From Prague, Russian opposition figure Alexander Morozov told Espreso that the Kremlin is not seeking compromise in its war against Ukraine. That is why, he argued, Russia will likely turn to some form of mobilization. With no clear frontline gains and Putin demanding results from the General Staff, “talk that the Kremlin will ultimately have to conduct mobilization sounds more convincing now than six months or a year ago,” he said.

Morozov described mobilization as complex and chaotic, requiring major logistics—one reason the Kremlin has avoided it. But the expanding drone war demands new military contingents, he said, and Russia won’t abandon its aims in Ukraine.

He believes mobilization would be less about decisive battlefield success and more about signaling “very strong intentions” to Ukraine and its allies - an effort to spark panic and fatigue in Ukraine and Europe while demonstrating Russia’s resolve.

Source

Thousands rally in Belgrade to condemn police brutality at anti-government protests

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:01:02 +0100

Thousands of students and other demonstrators marched in Belgrade on September 8, demanding accountability for police violence during recent anti-government protests, RFE/RL reported.

Source

Chain of ‘mysterious deaths’ in Russia: 19th top executive killed, headless body found under a bridge

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:03:11 +0100

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 been reported. According to RIA Novosti, the headless body of Alexey S., CEO of the company K-Potash Service, was discovered near Kaliningrad. He was found under a bridge, his body secured with a tow rope. He had led the company since 2022. The firm has been working to launch a potash mine in Nivenskoye, a project locals have repeatedly tried to halt through protests.

By media counts, this is already the 19th top manager to die under mysterious circumstances since the start of the full-scale war. The list is grim: from Gazprom and Lukoil to Transneft and major developers. Some “fell” from windows and boats, others “took their own lives” under strange circumstances, and others were found with gunshot wounds.

The coincidence theory is increasingly being dismissed: too many similar cases, too senior positions, and figures too convenient for those in power. Some of the deceased controlled multibillion-dollar flows in energy and trade and may have known too much.

Journalists and analysts point to several theories:

- the elimination of “wallets” who had access to shadow schemes;

- the removal of witnesses to corruption or failures;

- internal “purges,” replacing old managers with new ones;

- redistribution of what remains of profitable businesses.

Either way, the trend appears clear: Russia’s elite is living in an atmosphere of fear and constant risk, where even proximity to resource flows and state corporations offers no guarantee of safety.

Source

Donbas on the brink of an explosion: Moscow alarmed by rising protest sentiment in occupied areas amid water shortages

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:14:16 +0100

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. According to the channel, a closed poll was conducted in the region, and its results have deeply alarmed Moscow.

According to the outlet, the survey indicates a high risk of a “social explosion” in the occupied territory: residents have been pushed to despair by a lack of water.

“Its (the poll) results are such that a social explosion could occur in the region at any moment. The population’s satisfaction index with water supply stands at minus 21 percentage points. The share of those who are ‘rather satisfied’ has collapsed from 57% in December 2023 to 35% in April 2025,” the Russian channel wrote.

The situation for the Russian authorities is most severe in the Shakhtarsk district, Mariupol, Debaltseve, Snizhne, Torez and Yenakiieve, where the satisfaction index ranges from minus 10 to minus 27 percentage points.

The Telegram channel called the situation an environmental disaster.

It also claims that, amid the crisis, companies linked to the local “authorities” are profiting from selling drinking water.

Moscow often blames Ukraine for the water crisis in occupied Donbas. The article argues that the catastrophe is the result of Russia’s own actions during the full-scale invasion, which destroyed the region’s water supply system, and that the occupying authorities appear unwilling to fix the problem.

Source

Why we’re going dark for September

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 14:02:42 +0100

Editor’s Note:

We’ve been looking at the data: right now, just 3% of our readers pay for our work, meaning 97% read it for free. It’s an unsustainable figure for us as we try to report from a war zone.

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Imagine what would happen if The Counteroffensive had to close down.

For the month of September, those who are not paid subscribers to our publication won’t have to imagine. We’ll be paywalling all of our work for the month.

One of the main principles we’ve had since our launch is to make most of our reporting free. But what that has meant is that there may not be enough of an incentive for many readers to pay to support us.

So for one month, we’ll be paywalling all of our reporting from Ukraine, because even worthwhile, meaningful journalism without a sustainable business model cannot last.

If you are a paid subscriber, you’ll continue to enjoy full access to our reporting, weekly livestreams, and the knowledge that you’re helping mission-oriented war correspondence!

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Since the beginning of the century, news organizations have been closing their foreign bureaus, narrowing the public’s window to the world. It’s left us in the West with a foggier picture of global affairs even as the world has gotten more dangerous.

At The Counteroffensive, we are doing the opposite. We are building a team in Ukraine and Europe to put a face on societies that are victims of authoritarian regimes worldwide.

Let’s look at the problem: between 1998 and 2011, at least 20 American news outlets closed all of their foreign bureaus, according to the American Journalism Review. Those remaining have scaled back. By 2010, there were around 230 foreign correspondents from American organizations, a 50% decrease from the 430 in the mid-1970s.

As conflicts have erupted in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia, foreign reporting from The Counteroffensive has never been so important.

The Counteroffensive team in the Kyiv office.

With our headquarters located in Kyiv, we put human stories front and center.

Our goal is also to provide our audience with an understanding of the country's rich historical, cultural, linguistic, and culinary traditions, adopting a more holistic approach to war reporting. At The Counteroffensive,

“The very best coverage I have seen of the Ukraine war places the audience on the scene, using traditional reporting mixed with storytelling about the human condition and suffering,” said Sherry Ricchiardi-Folwell, former war correspondent and a researcher in the fields of international journalism and conflict journalism.

The height of international coverage was in the 1980s and the 1990s, when even regional and metropolitan newspapers in the United States had offices abroad.

In 2008, the Boston Globe closed the last three international offices in Berlin, Bogota, and Jerusalem. The Baltimore Sun also announced that it would shut down its bureaus in South Africa and Russia.

Alfredo Corchado was the chief of the Dallas Morning News’ Mexican bureau for over three decades. In the late 1990s, the Dallas Morning News had the largest bureau in Mexico of any major U.S. news organization.

Yet from 2012 onwards, Corchado was the only person covering Mexico and the rest of Latin America for the Dallas Morning News. In 2024, he decided to leave the company – the audience's interest “was not there as it was in the beginning.”

The Counteroffensive is currently the most-read Substack in the international category, with some 150,000 subscribers.

Yet, we recently discovered that 97% of readers are not paid subscribers, meaning that most of our readers do not pay to read our work.

War reporting is dangerous AND expensive. While readers can’t protect us from the ongoing Russian attacks, they can help us by subscribing. With it, we can buy more of what we need to report: body armor, medical kits, car rentals, recording equipment, and emergency supplies.

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In return, you will get to experience Ukraine as if you were here with us, tasting the traditional Ukrainian dishes, meeting emergency workers who are saving lives at the frontline, and walking through cities that have turned into rubble.

In February this year, we were the first to publish a detailed play-by-play on the first successful all-drone assault on Russian positions.

We also reported a first-hand account of how young Ukrainian students study for their exams in a bomb shelter while their city is under attack and why they decided to stay in Ukraine.

In addition, we have also reported on Taiwan’s ‘red beaches’ as the island prepares for a potential Chinese attack.

Residents of Kyiv hang up a Ukrainian flag and begin working to cleanup the damage from a Russian strike earlier this week.

This sort of international correspondence is of a scale and breadth that is near-unparalleled in other news outlets nowadays due to costs and risks.

In the 2000s, the emergence of the internet began to hurt the newspapers, whose revenues were declined amid low circulation and faltering advertising.

“Cost-cutting was essential, and international news was among the first things to go on the chopping block,” said Phillip Balboni, an American reporter who in 2008 founded Global Post.

Foreign bureaus are expensive for a news organization to maintain, with costs reaching up to $250,000 annually in the early 2000s (nearly $500,000 in today’s dollars).

“Foreign bureaus cost real money. So they are seen as an extravagance for declining media,” said Peter Kann, former publisher of The Wall Street Journal Asia, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, and chairman of the board of Dow Jones & Company. “Further, there are fewer and fewer serious media these days. Most are shallow and more interested in entertaining than enlightening, more focused on opinion than news.”

Kann believes the role of the foreign correspondent is still relevant.

“Global news matters more than ever in an interconnected world. Sadly, we get too little of it,” he said.

The Counteroffensive team receiving medical training from Tim in August 2025.

At The Counteroffensive, we know that many people lack a direct view of Ukraine’s lesser-known corners. That’s why we aim to be your eyes and ears in places rarely visited.

One of our next pieces: how Russian attacks are threatening Ukraine’s flamingo population.

Unfortunately, this sort of travel and foreign correspondence is rare due to pressures on the media industry.

“The impact of technology on journalism cannot be overestimated. Many so-called ‘international reporters’ never leave their desks,” Ricchiardi added.

The Counteroffensive team on the ground covering protests against Zelenskyy’s bill on anti-corruption bodies in July 2025.

Since the closure of their bureaus abroad, newspapers are now replacing their staff with individual correspondents, many working as freelancers with no stable income.

Yet, autocratic countries such as China have been investing heavily in foreign correspondents and overseas bureaus for the purposes of propaganda.

Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, China Radio International, People’s Daily, and China Daily reportedly received between $2 billion and $9 billion to open foreign bureaus. In 2017, Xinhua had 27 bureaus in sub-Saharan Africa, more than any other news agency.

For Ricchiardi, foreign correspondents have a central place in the news industry, as they “can point to similarities and differences in a struggle for survival as we are seeing in Ukraine.”

She recalls the years she was a war reporter covering the Balkan War in the 1990s, where her editor told her she wanted to have “boots on the ground” as it is important for readers to experience the human suffering of the war.

The Counteroffensive wants to play a role in pushing back against the trend of foreign bureau closures.

We want to be your eyes and ears on the ground in Ukraine and everywhere that democracies are fighting against authoritarianism.

Help us now to fulfill this mission.

Editor’s Note:

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Clara Preve

U.S. APPROVES $300M SALE OF EQUIPMENT TO UKRAINE: The United States has approved a $300 million sale of equipment to bolster Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems and Starlink satellite communications.

“Patriot air defense systems are vital for Ukraine. They protect our people, our cities, and critical infrastructure from relentless Russian air attacks,” said Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Denys Shmyhal.

The announcement comes just days after a deadly Russian strike killed at least 23 people. President Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Western allies to supply more Patriot batteries to defend Ukraine’s skies.

TRUMP SUPPORTS CHINESE PEACEKEEPERS IN UKRAINE: Donald Trump has reportedly suggested sending Chinese troops as peacekeepers to Ukraine after the war, reviving a proposal originally put forward by Vladimir Putin, according to the Financial Times.

The plan envisions Chinese forces monitoring a neutral zone along Ukraine’s 1,300-kilometer front line as part of a broader peace deal with Russia. The idea surfaced during Trump’s meeting this month with EU officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Both European leaders and Zelenskyy have firmly opposed the proposal, citing Beijing’s alignment with Moscow. U.S. officials, meanwhile, have denied the allegations, saying Chinese peacekeepers were not discussed at the summit.

PUTIN AND XI TO MEET, STRENGTHEN ALLIANCE: Vladimir Putin will travel to China this weekend for what Moscow is calling a “truly unprecedented” visit to his most important ally.

Over the course of a week, Putin will hold talks with Xi Jinping and attend Beijing’s Victory Day military parade, where he will be joined by North Korea’s Kim Jong-un as well as leaders from Iran and Cuba.

Analysts say the trip will be crucial for Putin and Xi to coordinate their positions on the war in Ukraine as peace talks continue. Since the invasion began, China has served as a key economic lifeline for Russia , becoming the leading buyer of Russian oil and coal. Kyiv has repeatedly voiced concern over Beijing’s support for Moscow.

DOG OF WAR:

The Counteroffensive team spotted this good boy in the city center of Vinnytsia during a work trip!

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Clara

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Former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy shot dead in Lviv

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 13:38:59 +0100

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 a “well-known public and political figure” born in 1971 had died following a shooting in the city’s Sykhiv district, without naming the person.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later announced the politician’s death.

“Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko have just reported the first known circumstances of the horrific killing in Lviv. Andriy Parubiy has been killed. My condolences to his family and friends,” he wrote on Telegram, adding that “all necessary forces and resources” have been deployed to investigate and find the gunman.

According to preliminary reports in several Ukrainian media outlets, including UNIAN, the gunman was dressed like a food-delivery courier. “According to journalist Vitaliy Hlahola, eyewitnesses claim that a Glovo courier hid his pistol in a bag after shooting at the former speaker of the Rada and left the scene on an electric bicycle,” the report said, citing police sources who said the politician was shot eight times.

“Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi urged journalists not to seek additional comment on Parubiy’s killing,” UNIAN reported. Seven shell casings were found at the scene, RBC-Ukraine reported. Citing the head of the medical team that responded, Ukrinform said Parubiy showed no signs of life when medics arrived. “The injuries sustained were incompatible with life,” the agency reported, citing the doctors’ conclusion.

Parubiy played a prominent role in organizing the Euromaidan protests in 2013–2014, serving as commandant of the “Maidan Self-Defense” units.

In early 2014, he headed Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) before resigning a few months later

Some Ukrainian media, including the newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli, linked his resignation to disagreements with then-President Petro Poroshenko.

From 2016 to 2019, Parubiy served as speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and was a multi-term member of parliament.

Source

Putin is asking Trump for Ukraine’s Fortress Belt

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:00:36 +0100

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 into the personal stories about the people affected when great powers treat smaller countries like mere chess pieces.

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Fortifications and an anti-tank trench reinforced with barbed wire on the border between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions on July 21, 2025 in Donetsk Region, Ukraine. (Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images).

While drone pilots and soldiers have always been front and center, there’s another hero defending the country that has never gotten quite as much attention.

A vast expanse of wire, concrete, trenches, and gravel snaking across the entire Ukrainian front line, serving as one of the country’s most vital defenses against a full-blown Russian takeover.

This fortification belt in the Donetsk region is the top prize Putin wants to claim in negotiations to end the war, and he will undoubtedly go into his face-to-face meeting with Trump today hoping the American president will help him get it.

Of course, Putin hasn’t said this out loud. The Kremlin is pushing for control of the entire Donetsk region, which would push Ukrainian defenses out of the trench lines and into the open, making Ukraine much more vulnerable to future attack.

The Russian leader will almost certainly try to charm his American counterpart into putting more pressure on Ukraine to make this massive concession.

It’s a region the Russians have been unable to capture fully since 2014, thanks largely to the powerful system of fortifications there. At the current pace of the Russian army’s advance, it would take them many years to seize full control.

Giving this defense belt up would enable unhindered, rapid advances of Russian equipment and threaten Ukraine’s very existence as a state.

And all of this in exchange for nothing more than a promise to freeze the front line—a promise that Ukrainians realize Putin is unlikely to keep.

Oleksii, a Ukrainian soldier who worked as a taxi driver and later in a water utility company until Russian atrocities in Bucha in 2022 compelled him to join the military, has worked tirelessly to build fortifications in the Donetsk region.

He and his comrades try to head out as early as possible, rising before dawn to avoid the scorching sun. The cooler air makes it a bit easier to saw through the remnants of the Serebryansky Forest.

Once a nature reserve where rare plants grew, trees from the Serebryansky Forest are now used for the fortification lines in the ‘fortress belt’.

Oleksii, who has four daughters at home, knew that at the age of almost 50, he wouldn’t be able to serve in combat roles. So he joined the engineering troops, who usually handle construction: digging trenches, building bridges, crossings, and ultimately fortifications.

Workers build fortifications including trenches and bunkers, on February 20, 2025 in Donetsk Region, Ukraine. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images).

His tasks vary from day to day: from collecting soil and gravel, to chopping timber, and delivering supplies to the fortification belt. It's work that has largely flown under the radar compared to that of those in combat.

But in reality, Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian offensives depends on it.

“You have to grab it all at once in one spot, because the Serebryansky Forest is already under fire. You have to manage it before those bastards spot you. Then the vehicles arrive, pick it up and deliver it for reinforcement work,” said Oleksii.

Screenshot of the latest battlefield conditions, from the Institute for the Study of War’s August 8, 2025 report.

The fortification belt has helped hold back the Russians along a 30-mile stretch of the highway that links key cities in the Donetsk region. It runs from Kostiantynivka, in the south, which is now under threat of encirclement, all the way to Sloviansk, encompassing the Serebriansky Forest where Oleksii serves.

The urbanized area, with dense buildings, industrial sites, and a river, is already its own kind of barrier in the Donetsk region.

"Every settlement is a kind of fortification that makes it possible to hold out. If we lose it, the enemy gains an advantage," explained Roman Pohorilyi, a сo-founder of DeepStateMap, an open-source interactive map tracking military operations in Ukraine.

In this aerial view rescuers from the Emergency Services of Ukraine extinguish a blaze in the aftermath of a Russian drone strike on a warehouse storing food products on August 9, 2025 in Sloviansk, Ukraine. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images).

But these are supplemented by man-made fortifications, which Ukrainians began building especially actively from late 2023. That was when Kyiv shifted from a failed counteroffensive to defending its territories.

Fortifications can be active: those that directly hinder Russian advances by slowing their offensives, such as minefields or anti-tank ditches.

Then there are also passive fortifications, meant to protect personnel and equipment from attacks: trenches, dugouts, bunkers, and so on. They form a network in several lines, stretching for kilometers into the rear to allow for a safe retreat.

“Specialists survey the terrain to determine the most likely point of a Russian breakthrough. If there’s a swamp on the right, they won’t go there; if it’s dry on the left, they might, so we’d need to dig an anti-tank ditch there. Then the equipment arrives… The guys throw in wooden logs or pour in concrete,” Oleksii explained.

In the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on December 11, 2024, soldiers of the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine build fortifications in the Kharkiv sector, northeastern Ukraine. (Photo by Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images).

The fortification belt in the Donetsk region, like fortifications in other regions, is usually built by the military together with civilians. Civilian construction workers are mostly responsible for areas further back from the front line, while the military works in more dangerous zones.

Russia unsuccessfully attempted to capture this fortification belt back in 2022, making repeated attempts to break through toward Sloviansk, one of the largest cities in the Donetsk region. Despite that initial failure, they have never really given up, continually trying to either bypass defensive lines or seize them.

And despite breakthroughs in the Donetsk region, they still have not managed to capture cities protected by fortifications. According to a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War, capturing the cities in the fortress belt would likely take several years and cost Russia significant human lives and material losses.

The fortifications were built with the blood and sweat of people like Oleksii. Ukrainians gave years of their lives to building these defenses, and some soldiers even sacrificed their lives to hold these positions.

That’s why it is unfathomable to think of giving them up now without a fight.

“If [the Russians] break through the fortifications, break through all the defenses, let’s say, drive us out — then we’ll have to start doing everything all over again, again, and again. As it is, we’re already almost rebuilding everything from scratch every day,” Oleksii said, with a note of despair in his voice.

While Trump has claimed Putin is eager to make a deal and end the war, Ukrainians know very well that even with a ceasefire, new regions will be under threat.

The likelihood that Putin will keep his word and a ceasefire will soon take effect is close to zero.

Instead, an open path to other regions would create a threat to the Dnipropetrovsk region, which is nowhere near as fortified as Donetsk and until recently was not considered part of the front.

It is also a threat to the Kharkiv region, which has been constantly repelling assaults since 2022.

A Ukrainian soldier of the Liut brigade walks through a trench at his artillery position, in the direction of Toretsk, Ukraine, 20 July 2025. (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images).

Potential new Ukrainian defensive lines in this area would have to run through open fields. Natural obstacles like rivers are too far east to serve as defensive positions for Ukrainian forces defending the Donetsk region border.

According to Pohorilyi of DeepStateMap, it will take at least a month to build high-quality fortifications in the new areas. In addition, it would require huge amounts of resources. In 2024 alone, more than $900 million from the Ukrainian budget was spent on fortifications.

“It is always very hard when the enemy takes our fortifications, especially those well dug into the ground or poured with concrete. In that case, it’s practically impossible to drive them out afterward. They know how to use them, they have people who will hold their positions, and they have a numerical advantage. Moreover, they improve the fortifications for themselves, dig in, build them up — that’s what creates the problem,” Pohorilyi said.

Oleksii, who’s been on the front for almost three years, is exhausted by the war. He wants to return home and finally see his daughters and his wife. He said his family is the only thing that keeps him waking up, gritting his teeth, and going to cut down trees under enemy fire every day.

He wants peace, but doesn’t think giving up Donetsk would achieve that.

“Yes, we will be at home, but then the children will have to suffer again. Russians are not a nation, they are monsters. You give them [one region] now, and they will grab everything,” Oleksii said.

Ahead of the upcoming meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska, Russia intensified fighting in the Donetsk region, advancing a record 10 kilometers in a single day in an apparent bid to put even greater political pressure on Ukraine.

Putin hopes to secure the handover of a region that Moscow has never fully controlled just to freeze the front line, without any security guarantees for Ukraine.

For soldiers like Oleksii, there’s only one thing they can be certain of.

“People [in Ukraine] are doing everything possible,” Oleksii said. “People are going above and beyond. They know why they are trying and what they are fighting for.”

*The real name of the serviceman is not disclosed in the story due to security concerns.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Anastasiia Kryvoruchenko.

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

PRO-UKRAINE RALLY IN ALASKA AHEAD OF TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT: Alaskans took to the streets on August 14, on the eve of the Trump-Putin summit, the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Anchorage Daily News reported. People protested both against Trump's domestic policies and against the meeting itself.

Some posters read: “Putin won't stop in Ukraine.” In 1876, Russia sold Alaska to the US, but now some Russian politicians have spoken about wanting to return these territories to its control. Protests are also planned for today as Putin and Trump meet.

USAID DIDN’T MONITOR THE USE OF STARLINK IN UKRAINE: The U.S. Agency for International Development did not monitor the location and use of more than 5,000 Starlink units they sent to Ukraine, Reuters reported.

In 2022, USAID transferred more than 1,000 Starlink units they had purchased and the rest donated by SpaceX to Ukraine to support communications in wartime for critical services and utilities, but their location and use have not been tracked since then. Some of the Starlink units ended up in Russian-controlled territories.

Last year, Ukraine accused Russia of purchasing thousands of Starlinks from private Russian companies, but Musk and the Russian side denied this. Russia's acquisition of Starlink enhances its communications and intelligence capabilities, even in occupied territories.

120K UKRAINIANS IN US TO FACE DEPORTATION: 120,000 Ukrainians who fled to the US because of Russia's war in Ukraine are facing deportation, The Wall Street Journal reported.

These Ukrainians came to the US under Joe Biden's Uniting for Ukraine program. It enabled about a quarter of a million Ukrainians to quickly register in the US, as the normal refugee registration program in the country can take years. It allows refugees to legalize their stay in the US for two years, with the possibility of renewal, with the help of a sponsor who is willing to accept them.

When the Trump administration came to the White House, it canceled the program and made it impossible for those already registered under it to renew their status. On Friday, the residence permits of more than 100,000 Ukrainians will begin to expire on a rolling basis, and those whose permits expire will be considered illegal immigrants.

DOG OF WAR:

Today’s Dog of War is Mukha – Nastia’s grandparents' dog.

She saw her when she came to visit her family in Vinnytsia region during vacation. The doggie was doing her morning yoga exercise and enjoying the sun.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana, Tania and Nastia

How Russian propaganda used anti-corruption protests in Ukraine to spread disinformation

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:11:33 +0100

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 events became a major topic of discussion for pro-Kremlin media and other online sources from June 22 to June 33.

Ukraine’s main intelligence agency (HUR) warned that Russia might use its resources and disinformation networks to “increase the level of protests, deepen polarization and chaotization of Ukrainian society and, as a consequence, make (the state — ed.) lose its resilience during an existential war.”

Manipulative messages went through pro-government media, anonymous Telegram channels, and Kremlin-linked propagandists, aimed at corrupting the meaning of democratic processes in Ukraine and promoting Russia’s geopolitical goals.

Gwara Media’s fact-checking department researched how exactly anti-corruption protests in Ukraine became a target for a Russian information attack and which disinformation narratives were promoted in the campaign.

Channels used to spread the disinfo

Traditionally, the Kremlin propaganda network reacts quickly to internal events in Ukraine that can be interpreted as signs of instability, societal dissent, or disappointment. Protests starting on July 22, 2025, in Ukraine became an occasion like that. A few hours following the first protests in Kyiv and Lviv, pro-Russian press, Telegram channels, and bot farms launched a wave of manipulative messages.

Main platforms to spread these messages were:

Anonymous Telegram channels such as “Legitimate,” “Residents,” “ZeRada,” and so on. They were posting messages like “Protests are a consequence of Zelenskyy behaving like a dictator” or “Law #12414 is a step toward democracy. People have rebelled, and the army may pick their side.”

English-language media and bloggers spread pro-Russian narratives. The Gateway Pundit, Redacted, InfoBrics, and The Grayzone’s articles said “Ukraine became an authoritarian state where dissidents are repressed,” linking to the comments of Marjorie Taylor Greene.

X accounts in social media, Russian Market, AmericaPapaBear, and UkraineTruthDaily, along with pro-Kremlin YouTube and TikTok accounts published protest videos taken out of context with hashtags #ZelenskyDictator, #UkraineProtests, #WeWantPeace. These hashtags were then used to create an appearance of the “anti-war” movement in Ukraine — Russian troll farms often use this narrative to prop up the image of “war fatigue” in the country.

All of those resources began to construct a twisted information landscape, in which Ukrainians supposedly “rebelled against Zelenskyy’s dictatorship.” The real meaning of the protest — the protection of the anti-corruption system and its independence — was ignored or distorted.

False narratives about protests

Narrative #1. “Ukraine rebelled against Zelenskyy, not for reforms.”

Messages like these aimed to convince people that the protests were directed specifically against Zelenskyy, not the bill — and then the law — that he and the Parliament have supported. It was done to spread distrust to the authorities’ legitimacy and destroy their support.

In particular, pro-Russian Telegram channels called “Resident,” “Legitimacy,” “Truha LIve” used the phrases like “Zelenskyy’s fear,” “People have taken to the street against the dictator,” “New maidan,” and so on.

Narrative #2: “The West is keeping silent about protests in Ukraine.”

These were messages about European and American media supposedly “keeping silent” about the protests because covering them “isn’t beneficial.” Posts with messages like “BBC is silent,” “CNN won't show that” spread on X. Authors also said that NATO “forbade” Western media to broadcast the protests in Ukraine.

As such, in Russian Market’s X post that gained up to 250,000 views, there’s a message that NATO issued a “ban” on the most prominent western media to show anti-corruption protests in Ukraine. That statement was debunked by NATO’s spokesperson in a comment to AAP FactCheck.

Apart from that, in the post, the Ukrainian protests are compared with the Tiananmen Square protests in China. Back then, student protests of 1989 grew into anti-government protests and then a massacre by the People's Liberation Army.

Western media, particularly the BBC and CNN, mentioned in a post, weren’t actually silent about the protests. They informed people about the situation in Ukraine right up until July 31, when Ukraine’s parliament adopted and President Zelenskyy signed into law that restores independence of anti-corruption agencies.

Ukrainian media mostly didn’t adopt manipulative narratives which didn’t allow for the disinformation to spread into the mainstream.

Andrii Yanitskyi, journalist and the head of “ProMedia” NGO, said to Detector Media about the role of media covering the protests:

“It’s a challenging task, because it’s necessary to be a facilitator of democracy and realize that the country is at war, which is why hype and speculations can have negative consequences. I don’t agree that the media have to avoid certain topics or self-censor, no. But the way they convey information matters, so it’s necessary to be socially responsible. I think quality content producers (for instance, media that the IMI whitelisted) are experienced enough to hold this balance.”

Narrative #3. “Protesters demand peace with Russia.”

Posts about participants of the protests “taking to the streets” not against corruption, but to demand to “stop war” and make a peace deal were shared by pro-Russian channels to legalize the thesis, “Ukrainians are tired of war.” This message was propped by Marjorie Taylor Greene, who published the following post on July 23:

“Huge protests erupt in Kyiv against Ukrainian President Zelensky as he is a dictator and refuses to make a peace deal and end the war. Good for the Ukrainian people! Throw him out of office! And America must STOP funding and sending weapons!!!”

This message from Congresswoman echoes the pro-Russian statements. In the past, foreign media and analysts (Newsweek, Guardian, Washington Post) described her as “Russian state media’s sweetheart” because she is regularly quoted in Russian spaces online.

Green multiple times called (archive) for a stop of American aid to Ukraine. She also promoted the narrative that Ukraine provoked a Russian invasion, “making alliance with the West.” In 2024, Green proposed a series of amendments to the bill for aid to Ukraine, in which she demanded to not allow the money to be spent until “free and fair elections” will be held in Ukraine.

Narrative #4. “Ukraine is a dictatorship.”

During July 24-28, content tagged with #ZelenskyDictator was actively shared on social media. Accounts on X and TikTok published the same messages in English, targeting audiences in the UK and the US.

These accounts spread information on Zelenskyy, who was supposedly “cracking down on dissent, opposition, and citizens’ protests.” Equating Ukraine with an authoritarian regime, they aimed to distort the trust of Ukraine’s allies.

Gwara Media’s fact-checkers, for instance, debunked a fake that an activist who brought a dog to the protest has been charged with animal cruelty. The “news” said that the case was supposedly opened because of an activist's sign that called Zelenskyy a dog.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Kremlin officials, propagandists, and mouthpieces have weaponized these protests to advance existing Russian narratives designed to portray the Ukrainian government as corrupt and illegitimate to discourage Western support for Ukraine.

“The ongoing Ukrainian protests are notably not anti-war demonstrations, but Russian commentators are trying to paint them as protests against Zelensky and Ukraine's war effort to accomplish informational effects that will generate benefits for Russian forces on the battlefield,” the ISW said.

The messages spread by pro-Russian sources about the “complete failure of anti-corruption politics” and “dictatorial leadership” aimed to strengthen polarization and weaken the trust in reforms needed for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. If anything, the EU’s representatives echoed the protesters, saying that reforms and independence of anti-corruption institutions are necessary.

So, the Kremlin tried to masquerade internal societal processes in Ukraine with a twisted picture of chaos to dissolve international support for Ukraine. Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Oleh Ivashchenko, says that Russia used and will use any occasion to destroy unity and discredit Ukraine, especially on the international stage.

“I communicate almost daily with the heads of partner special services on joint counteracting Russia’s aggression. Colleagues point to the importance of maintaining the phenomenal level of consolidation of Ukrainian society, which we have shown during these years of war.”

Author: Olga Yakovleva

Cover credit: Protest against bill #12414 in Kharkiv on July 30 with a sign "I am ashamed of your decisions" / Liubov Yemets, Gwara Media

The project is co-financed by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

The post How Russian propaganda used anti-corruption protests in Ukraine to spread disinformation appeared first on Gwara Media.

Ukraine’s Parliament Restores Independence to Anti-corruption Agencies

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:44:35 +0100

Nova Ukraine applauds the recent restoration of the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, supported by strengthened safeguards to prevent Russian influence.

The street protests across the country that led to this outcome were spearheaded by young, enthusiastic Ukrainians. Unlike the historic movements in 2004 and 2013, protesters demanded strong, independent government institutions, rather than facing the challenges of changing the country’s strategic course or replacing the president. This new wave of civic activism underscores an evolving democratic spirit among Ukraine’s youth determined to ensure the stability of the rule of law and institutional integrity.

The Ukrainian government heard the will of its people, then acted swiftly and appropriately — something that would not be possible in a dictatorship, in Russia. Nova Ukraine — all of us — are proud and immensely supportive of the young Ukrainians who fight against corruption. We have funded multiple anti-corruption projects over the years and have supported civil society as a core value and mission from the start.

Building on democracy during a brutal war is an immense challenge for both the authorities and the people of Ukraine. Yet, the events of recent days have demonstrated a powerful collective commitment of Ukrainians to democracy and the rule of law under extraordinary pressures. This moment highlights the resilience of Ukraine’s democratic institutions and the steadfast resolve of its citizens, especially younger generations, to defend their country’s sovereignty and democratic future.

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We greatly value your support, and it is indeed crucial. Please consider donating monthly. Your consistent contributions are vital to sustaining our efforts and driving meaningful change over time. Your commitment will make a lasting difference, and we sincerely appreciate your consideration. Donate now or learn how you can help.

The post Ukraine’s Parliament Restores Independence to Anti-corruption Agencies appeared first on Nova Ukraine.

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Ukrainian Parliament passes bill to restore independence of key anti-corruption agencies

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:17:10 +0100

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 legislation was supported by 331 members of parliament.

The new law ensures the procedural independence of SAP's leadership from the General Prosecutor’s Office, clarifies the powers, and sets the reporting line of NABU's detectives. Specifically, detectives are mandated to follow directions exclusively from SAP prosecutors, while their operational and technical activities occur upon the directives of NABU detectives or SAP prosecutors.

According to the new provisions, the SAP prosecutor, rather than the general prosecutor, is authorized to delegate criminal investigations to NABU detectives. The law also reinstates a provision allowing the NABU director, in coordination with SAP, to assign detectives to investigate cases previously under the jurisdiction of other bodies without requiring the general prosecutor's approval.

The legislation is a direct response to previous changes on July 22, when the Rada approved bill No. 12414, broadening the general prosecutor’s powers. The earlier law allowed the general prosecutor to oversee SAP, direct NABU, and reassign cases to other bodies—a move promptly signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On July 23, amid widespread protests and concerns from international partners, President Zelensky committed to introducing a new bill ensuring "the strength of the law enforcement system and the absence of Russian interference in law enforcement activities."

On July 24, European Union officials conveyed through diplomatic channels to Ukraine's new Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko's government that they would suspend all financial aid to Kyiv until the independence of these bodies is restored.

Massive protests continued daily across Kyiv and other cities starting on July 22. On the first day, over 5,800 people gathered near the Ivan Franko Theater, followed by more than 9,500 participants on the second day and over 4,100 on the third. The protests continued throughout the month.

Another demonstration in support of NABU and SAP's independence took place on July 31 in Mariinsky Park near the parliamentary building.

Ukrainians return to streets to back anti-corruption agencies ahead of key vote

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 21:29:26 +0100

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 legislation last week triggered the first protests since the start of Russia&

Ukraine has to restore independence of anti-corruption infrastructure and reform to return EU’s trust and financing, experts say

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:35:39 +0100

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 already registered bills to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO, but the damage to relationships with EU and eurointegration was already done.

On July 22, people in many cities of Ukraine organized demonstrations demanding that Zelenskyy veto bill #12414.

The bill subordinated independent anti-corruption institutions, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) to the Prosecutor General.

These watchdogs were created to investigate and bring to court high-profile corruption cases, in particular involving officials. The bill, in turn, compromised their independence — the Prosecutor General in Ukraine is appointed by the President.

EU’s first reaction

The creation of NABU in 2014 was one of the demands by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support of reforms in Ukraine.

“The independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions is a cornerstone to the implementation of the 'Fundamentals' Cluster of the EU accession. It was also part of the 7 Candidate Status reforms, was a part of the EU Visa Liberalization Action Plan, and the EU macrofinancial aid since 2014. It’s a red thread running through Europe’s support for Ukraine for already a decade,” said Olena Halushka, head and co-founder of International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), to Gwara Media.

Spokesperson for the European Commission Guillaume Mercier called these institutions “key” for reforms in Ukraine and said that only if they are independent can they efficiently fight corruption and keep the trust of society.

On the evening of July 22, Zelenskyy did destroy NABU and SAPO’s independence by refusing to veto the bill and signing it. In his evening speech, he said that anti-corruption bodies will keep working but they’ll be “cleansed” of Russian influence.

MP Anastasia Radina (“Servant of the People”), head of Parliament’s anti-corruption committee, said that it’s hard for herto understand how “specifically provisions of this bill counteract alleged Russian agents” in conversation with Kyiv Independent.

Earlier, three (out of about 700) detectives of NABU were charged with treason and collaboration with Russia.

Kateryna Musiienko, eurointegration and international relations expert from the ANTS, told Gwara, that for the EU, this move of Kyiv’s was shocking, personally and politically.

“They just didn’t expect that with all the obligations Ukraine signed up for, we’ll be able to just roll back everything in mere 24 hours,” Musiienko said.

Olena Halushka can hardly imagine any progress on the EU integration track while "such important reforms are backslided."

“Unfortunately, moves like this give a strong argument for Ukraine sceptics to campaign against Ukraine's EU path,” Halushka said.

Material consequences

On the protests against the law that spread from Lviv to Kharkiv, people said that they’ve lost their patience. That was the thing that, in Olena Halushka’s opinion, pushed the EU to action.

“The EU saw the protests, saw that Ukrainian society isn't happy with the current situation, that people said “enough,” “no more.” Then, the European Union and Ukraine’s partners also joined in with the criticism of that decision,” Halushka said.

After Zelenskyy signed bill #12414 (that become, after coming into effect, law #4555), EU Commission reduced the tranche for Ukraine Facility.

Ukraine Facility is the project that started in February 2024, with €50 billion that the EU planned to send to Ukraine over four years. The money was for stabilizing the country’s economy during Russia’s war.

“This tool was created to support Ukraine’s state budget, as a recovery fund,” says Musiienko, “Plus, (there were plans that) after the war, it’ll work as a channel through which other financing will be transferred.”

On July 25, Guillaume Mercier announced that, in the fourth tranche of financial aid under the Ukraine Facility, the EU will allocate €3.05 billion instead of planned €4.5 billion.

Formally, Ukraine Facility’s financing isn’t connected to the independence of anti-corruption agencies.

The reason for reduction in the fourth tranche was that Ukraine completed 13 out of 16 reforms it promised to complete.

According to Mercier, three reforms have to do with decentralization, the bill about reform of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), and the selection of judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court. Mercier was quoted on that by European Pravda.

Experts Gwara talked agreed that the cuts to the financial aid do connect to undermining the independence of NABU and SAPO, though.

Musiienko says the removal of €1.5 billion as a way to contain the situation was shocking for Kyiv.

“(EU said) if you don’t work on reform enough, we won’t pay you in proportion to the reforms you haven’t done,” she says. “And I think Kyiv never seriously thought of such a threat. They thought it wouldn't get to the cuts of financial aid.”

The EU, Musiienko says, reacted unusually quickly. If Ukraine’s authorities don’t continue reforms and restore the independence of anti-corruption watchdogs, she predicts the Union can roll other things back, “from visa-free regime to economic agreements.”

Expert concludes: Ukraine can still get money from the Ukraine Facility - if it completes the required reforms - but the damage to relations with the EU is already done.

Is restoring trust possible?

Will Ukraine be able to return the EU's trust? It depends on Ukraine's authorities — if they listen to people on the protests, experts, and European partners.

Up until last week, the EU had a moratorium on criticism of Ukraine’s reform progress.

According to Olena Halushko, European partners’ thinking went like this: don’t demand reforms out loud, instead focusing on security, defence against Russian aggression - both in public and private meetings.

“Priority number one is to survive because if we lose the country, there’ll be nothing to reform,” Halushka says. “But internal reforms are about Ukraine’s resilience and capacity. Right now, in new electoral cycles in Europe, right-wing parties are gaining strength, parties that criticise Ukraine and the EU. In such circumstances, we need to look for internal resources for the middle- and long-term, and become less dependent on foreign aid.”

Fighting against corruption, consequently, directly impacts Ukraine’s long-term defence capacity and its ability to protect itself in Russia’s war, Halushka believes.

Elimination of independence of NABU and SAPO broke the EU’s trust in Ukraine on an individual level, too.

Musiienko says that now it’ll be more difficult to vote for Ukrainian resolutions in the European Parliament. One of the reasons is that MEPs who never particularly got into the inner kitchen of Ukraine’s politics but supported the country resisting Russian aggression now know that Kyiv is capable of dubious decisions.

Musiienko says that, currently, both the EU, experts, and people in Ukraine have to “pressure” Kyiv and “take the maximum out of the situation,” not stopping on the bill that’ll restore the independence of anti-corruption watchdogs.

“Right now, the EU shows us, rather lightly, that €1.5 billion is only the beginning and, if there’s no progress, there’ll be further escalation,” she says.

As of writing this article (July 29), Ukraine’s media have already begun to report on possible future actions from the EU. If MPs won’t restore the independence of NABU and SAPO or will try to “partially” restore it, writes European Pravda, citing EU officials, the EU will stop other financing streams. For instance, a stop might be put on loans from frozen Russian assets, funding from the EBRD, and the EIB.

Before that, MPs from the opposition, e.g., Yaroslav Zhelezniak (“Holos” party) wrote that, apart from processes around NABU and SAPO, EU will closely follow the appointment of Bureou of Economic Security (BES) that should be approved by the government by the end of the July. According to him, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, specifically asked about that in a phone call with Zelenskyy.

The candidate to head BES was selected by the independent commission, and the Bureau was created to investigate and prevent economic crimes. Without this appointment, Ukraine can lose up to $5 billion from the IMF.

On the second day of protests, a group of MPs, mostly from the opposition parties, wrote up a bill that restores the independence of NABU and SAPO by removing everything that was changed with bill #12414.

Later, Zelenskyy submitted his own bill. It was almost identical, but included regular polygraph checks of NABU and SAPO employees and forbids them from going abroad, except for business trips. Also, Zelenskyy’s bill doesn’t have provisions on experience requirements and competitive selection for SAPO’s prosecutors.

The Center for Policy and Legal Reform recommends that the opposition’s bill “receives preference."

The Verkhovna Rada’s session that will pass or will not pass these bills is scheduled on July 31.

Zelenskyy signed the bill about ARMA reform right after the information about the Ukraine Facility financing was cutbecause of its spread.

“The law about ARMA is signed — now, we should appoint the finalist of the competitive selection for the head of BES. It’s vital (for authorities) to also stop prosecuting activists and pressure independent media,” Halushka says.

Musiienko points out two reasons for the EU's motivation to support Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure. First of all, the EU has to report on its investments in Ukraine to its constituents. Second, Ukraine is connected to various defenceprojects, including a joint defence alliance.

“That’s pragmatism, in some way, because they understand that they can’t prepare Europe for war without Ukraine. They bet not only on eurointegration, but on defence, too.”

Mosiienko says that ANTS and other experts warned the EU about a possible backslide in reforms from Ukraine’s officials, but the EU didn't react. Now, it’ll be important for the Union to listen to specialists from Ukraine and react quicker, she says. That is especially crucial considering that the USA’s involvement in helping both Ukraine and the EU has become unpredictable.

“In this world, when you (EU) have such a global role, you must have plan A and plan B, more coherent, predictable policies. Then, (we’ll see) how the EU will crystallise as a strong geopolitical actor under the pressures of various circumstances.”

The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

The post Ukraine has to restore independence of anti-corruption infrastructure and reform to return EU’s trust and financing, experts say appeared first on Gwara Media.

‘True brotherhood’ — Ukrainians welcome back Georgian music festival amid shared struggle against Russian aggression

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:42:34 +0100

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 the ICKPA (meaning “Spark” in Ukrainian) electronic music festival, which returned

Ukraine wins 2 medals at Fencing World Championships in Tbilisi as protests erupt over Russian, Belarusian participation

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:34:48 +0100

Protests were held near the hotel housing the Russian fencers and outside the Sports Palace, the venue for the competition.

Mass protests after Zelensky's debacle | Ukraine This Week

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 13:10:38 +0100

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.

Democracy and Russian propaganda: How the Kremlin spreads lies about Ukrainian protests

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 18:11:49 +0100

More than a decade after EuroMaidan, Ukrainians once again rally in Kyiv for their rights (PHOTOS)

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 16:40:45 +0100

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 first wave of protests erupted on the evening of July 22,

US Senator Blumenthal warns Zelensky over anti-graft law, backs protests as 'democracy in action'

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 12:23:46 +0100

U.S. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal co-authored a bipartisan bill that would impose 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium.

Our readers' questions about Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies, answered

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 09:09:58 +0100

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 their questions are below. Join our community and

As Zelensky reverses course on anti-corruption crackdown, here’s what to expect next in Ukraine

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 18:04:51 +0100

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 would reverse the decisions that sparked the nation’s biggest political

Zelenskyy signed law that guts anti-corruption agencies’ independence. 19 miles away from the Russian border, Kharkiv protests against it

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:07:16 +0100

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”.

On July 22, during the evening, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the Law #12414, despite hundreds of people asking him to veto it across the country-wide protests.

The law, initially aimed to help the relatives of missing soldiers and prisoners of war, was haphazardly filled with new amendments less than a day before the Verkhovna Rada’s — Ukraine’s Parliament’s — session on July 22.

It passed in the second hearing with multiple violations, according to the Agency for Legislative Initiatives (ALI).

The updated version includes clauses that deprive Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) of independence by giving unprecedented power to control them to the General Prosecutor of Ukraine, which is appointed by the President. It also violates the right to private life via allowing searches without court order.

Zelenskyy signed it instead of vetoing on the same day. The next day, the Parliament went on “holiday” until August.

“(The law) directly affects our lives as Ukrainians in this country, and it will now significantly influence the support for Ukraine in the war. No normal, democratic, developed country will pour money or provide weapons for our fight against Russia if our anti-corruption institutions are destroyed,” Marko said.

“We will keep coming out until bill #12414 is repealed.”

Below is a brief context on what’s going on — interspersed with photos from protests in Kharkiv that Gwara Media covered.

So, what do NABU and SAPO do?

The NABU was created as an independent agency to combat high-level corruption after the Euromaidan of 2013. It investigates cases involving former presidents, parliament members, judges, prosecutors, and National Bank executives, particularly those involving large sums of money.

The SAPO is an autonomous division within the Office of the Prosecutor General that coordinates with NABU. While NABU conducts pre-trial investigations, SAPO, as an independent part of the Prosecutor General’s Office, exercises prosecutorial oversight during these high-level anti-corruption investigations and represents the state prosecution in court.

NABU reports to the government, which approves the national anti-corruption strategy. NABU also has its own Civil Oversight Council to ensure transparency and public oversight.

Both institutions were established with the support of Ukraine’s international partners. In particular, the creation of SAPO in 2015 was one of the conditions for Ukraine’s visa liberalization with the EU.

So, the key conditions for NABU and SAPO’s independence are the absence of political interference and exclusive jurisdiction. The Prosecutor General can’t interfere in NABU investigations, and no other law enforcement agency can investigate cases assigned by law to NABU.

Could not, at least.

Why are people in Ukraine and EU officials are angry

On the second day of the protests, when the law already came into effect, — over 400, and by other estimations, up to 1,000 people protested on the streets of Kharkiv. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., they marched through the city’s central streets.

Most often, they shouted, “Why do I need a system that works against me?” and called for the new law — or, more accurately, amendments to it — to be repealed.

Some shouted insults at the assistant to the president’s office, Andrii Yermak, often referred to as the shadow leader of Ukraine. Many shouted, “Shame,” “Cancel the law,” “Get your hands off NABU.”

One of the slogans was, “Ukraine is not Russia.” Oleg, a soldier in the Kraken with a poster reading “Zelensky — Ceausescu,” said he came because the country is moving toward totalitarianism, which he and his fellow soldiers are currently fighting against.

“I also believe that protests during wartime are inappropriate. But what else should we do?” said Oleg.

According to MP Anastasiia Radina, a new edition of the law that used to simplify search for includes provisions that “turn SAPO into a decorative institution and make NABU and SAPO entirely dependent on the will of the Prosecutor General.”

The Prosecutor General would have access to all high-profile corruption cases, instruct detectives on what to investigate and reassign cases, and allow them to close investigations of graft agencies. The Prosecutor General would also have sole authority to issue top officials the corruption charges.

“In effect, anti-corruption activity in Ukraine will be destroyed. We’re returning to the system we had under Yanukovych, where all cases went through the Prosecutor General’s Office,” said lawyer Volodymyr Rysenko from the Kharkiv Anti-Corruption Center (KACC) to Gwara’s journalists on July 22 — before Zelenskyy signed the bill.

The lawyer said the law could halt Ukraine’s eurointegration and end international partners’ support and believed the EU should issue Ukraine “an ultimatum” for violating its commitments.

Ukraine’s partners reacted to Zelenskyy signing the bill #14124. Ursula Von Der Leyen expressed her “concern” about the situation with Ukraine’s anti-corruption course and asked Zelenskyy to explain the changes that have been made.

French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad called the Ukrainian authorities’ decision deeply disappointing and stated that the situation can still be corrected.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the law’s adoption is a step backward that calls into question Ukraine’s commitment to the rule of law.

Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs noted that Ukraine has made significant progress in fighting corruption over the past decade, but the law is “troubling” and risks undermining those achievements.

Olena Apchel, a soldier who supported protests against the new law, wrote in her opinion piece, “Passing the law with multiple violations of regulations, pressure on MPs, quick signing, and the absence of veto — it’s not just about demonstration of the right to authoritarianism and autocracy and slowing down eurointegration. It’s stupidly rude in circumstances when the most important laws about defence aren’t being signed for months. And, as a result, — the barrier of self-censorship and self-restraint fall off.”

Doesn’t the law address NABU’s ties with Russia?

In his late video address, released in the night of July 23 — by then first protests, including the one in Kharkiv, were over and the curfew across Ukraine began — Zelenskyy said that the new law aims to protect the anti-corruption infrastructure from Russian influence and referred to leaks to the Russians from anti-corruption watchdogs, providing no proof of them.

He noted that NABU and SAPO will continue to function, but expressed disconcern about NABU’s criminal proceedings taking too long and corrupt officials who have fled the country continue to go unpunished.

Was there really Russian influence? On July 21, three NABU employees were detained and accused of high treason, collaboration with Russia, and corruption. For some of these cases, detectives say they didn’t see any evidence — but agreed to fully cooperate with the investigation.

The SBU, along with the Prosecutor General’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), conducted about 70 searches of 15 employees from the NABU and SAPO.

The searches, according to the NABU, were conducted without court-issued warrants — and three detectives sustained bodily injuries during them. Most of them, the agency said, weren’t related to the investigation of Russian ties, but to the cases of traffic accidents, one of which happened back in 2021.

NABU also said SBU warned them about possible Russian ties of one of the detained in 2023, but then the SBU itself found no evidence of them.

Volodymyr Rysenko suggested that the large-scale actions by the SBU and SBI may be connected to sensitive cases investigated by NABU and SAPO.

On June 23, NABU issued a notice of suspicion to former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, a close associate of President Zelenskyy and Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak. According to the Anti-Corruption Action Center (ACAC), NABU and SAPO have gotten too close to the president’s inner circle, including through a case involving his business partner Tymur Mindich.

All in all, experts say there’s nothing in the amendments that can help uncover or prevent Russian influence. Kateryna Butko, head of the anti-corruption watchdog AutoMaidan, said to the Kyiv Independent that it’ll “unlikely have an impact” on Russian agents. But it definitely destroys the independence — according to the ALI, not only of anti-corruption watchdogs, but also of any prosecutor in Ukraine.

Apchel believes the protests are not primarily about defending NABU and SAPO as institutions but about defending the democratic course chosen by the people.

“Yes, there are many questions about the work of NABU and SAPO. That is why the issue is not about them. The issue is about the right to have institutions. Because we believe in institutions, because I believe in institutions, because they are made up of people and are based on values,” said Apchel.

What about Zelenskyy’s new bill from July 24?

On July 23, a group of MPs drafted a new bill that restores the independence of NABU and SAPO.

Zelenskyy met the heads of NABU, SAPO, and other law enforcement agencies on July 23 and promised that he’s also preparing a draft bill for Parliament, noting that “what people are saying on the streets” and online is not “falling on deaf ears.”

“And there will be no Russian influence or interference in the activities of law enforcement,” Zelenskyy added.

He stressed that “the most important thing” is “not losing our national unity, ending the war, stopping this Russian evil, and securing a dignified peace for Ukraine.”

In the evening of July 24, when the protests started in many cities for the third day in a row, Zelenskyy released the “promised” new bill.

The third meeting gathered over 200 participants in Kharkiv. During the protest, Russia hit the outskirts of the city with a drone attack.

According to the analysis by the Agency for Legaslative Initiatives, Zelenskyy’s law restores independence of anti-corruption graft agencies, removing “all limitations on the procedural independence of SAPO,” but “encroaches on the institutional autonomy” of NABU and SAPO. To combat “Russian influence,” Zelenskyy proposes polygraph checks, “conducted by the SSU or in accordance with SSU methodology” every two years.

The grounds for urgent searches, conducted without a court order, have also been repealed.

The ALI says the bill does nothing to address the fact it’s still possible “to appoint individuals to the prosecution service without a competitive selection process.”

Some MPs are saying the new bill will be put to the vote next week, but Gwara’s sources say the Parliament might deliberately delay the process.

Daryna, one of the protesters, said at the end of the protest on July 24, “Most likely, this is a bill that will be passed. The only way it could be rewritten and modified is, once again, through amendments in the second and third hearings. Which is why it’s important to continue. We haven’t finished yet. (Zelenskyy’s bill) is not a reason to stop public pressure.”

Dmytro Oliinyk, a veteran who came to the protests, had a poster: “I needed to survive to see this wonderful youth.” He said protests like this are exactly why he volunteered to fight against the Russian invasion — “for you to stand up for your rights.”

Update: This text covers the first three days of protests against the law. On July 25, Zelenskyy met with journalists on the press conference and said “there should have been dialogue” between the Parliament and society before the law #12414 adoption and noted he “respects public opinion.” The Verkhovna Rada’s chairman said the session is scheduled for July 31.

Gwara follows how the situation will develop — both in Parliament and on the streets in Kharkiv (but we’re a bit quicker on our Ukrainian version — only three of us cover news in English). Please, support our reporting by buying us a coffee or subscribing to our Patreon.

Second day in a row: Russian glide bomb attack injures 14 in Kharkiv, damages hospital (Photo)
Russia shifts to massive waves of drone strikes, overwhelming Ukrainian air defense with numbers, decoy tactics

The post Zelenskyy signed law that guts anti-corruption agencies’ independence. 19 miles away from the Russian border, Kharkiv protests against it appeared first on Gwara Media.

'There should have been a dialogue' — Zelensky on controversial Ukrainian law that sparked protests

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:30:09 +0100

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 adoption.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is spreading lies about Ukraine’s protests. Russia is taking note.

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 20:18:44 +0100

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 first night with a clear

Protests erupt in Ukraine as Zelenskyy signs corruption law rollback

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:39:23 +0100

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 news item – a legislative bill being adopted – that has now become a major headache for the Zelenskyy administration.

We hope you read us not just because we tell human stories, but because you trust our independent judgement about what’s important in the fight against corruption and authoritarianism. Subscribe now to support us in that effort!

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You might not like this story.

Yesterday my colleague Tanya and I participated in a rally opposing Zelenskyy’s signature on a controversial piece of legislation.

The bill, passed by the legislature and signed by Zelenskyy last night, would roll back the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies – a legacy of the Maidan Revolution and everything that has been fought for before and since.

To many around the world, Zelenskyy is a hero. And to be fair, his presidency has fallen during the most difficult times in Ukraine’s history.

But if anyone makes decisions that go against the interests of Ukrainians, common folks will take to the streets in protest — even against saints.

People protesting against the new law in front of the Presidential Office.

The law, which restricts the autonomy of anti-corruption government bodies that can prosecute top officials, is a major step backward for Ukrainians on their path toward European integration, a major priority for people in this country.

It’s a move that could also reduce foreign support which is critical to the fight against Russia.

That’s why thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets in Kyiv and other major cities, the largest wave of protests against the government since the full-scale invasion began.

This moment shows that the fight for freedom and democracy is not just a war against Russia. It’s resistance against anyone who threatens those values, even if it’s your own government.

Power belongs to the people, and the president and government are merely its executors.

After the paywall:

How Ukraine’s government managed to pass the new law and why it threatens Ukraine's future;
How the protests in Kyiv went;
Why corruption in Ukraine has always been commonplace and how Ukrainians have fought against it;
Why Zelenskyy will never be an untouchable, unimpeachable politician in Ukraine.

'Veto the law!' — Protests held across Ukraine after parliament passes bill weakening anti-corruption institutions

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 20:01:19 +0100

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 Office (SAPO).

Russian youth brainwashing programs in the West

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:03:00 +0100

Editor’s note:

Russians are not only trying to demoralize Ukrainians through constant shelling, but also to influence foreigners by spreading their narratives.

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The Russian Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. (Photo by William Glover Weiss)

Around the same time several Ukrainian families were learning their loved ones had been killed in a massive Russian aerial attack in late May, nearly a dozen American college students were gathered to watch a Kremlin propaganda film.

They weren't studying in Russia—they were actually in the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C.

Students from East Central University in Oklahoma were pictured smiling as they visited the American Russian Cultural Center, where they were shown the film ‘The Big Three – Leaders of the Second World War' by Kremlin-controlled state broadcaster Russia Today.

But not only is this Russian propaganda operation able to operate on U.S. soil freely – it even gets to do it tax free.

A State Department spokesperson told The Counteroffensive that the Russian Cultural Center in the American capital is an “annex of the Embassy of the Russian Federation,” which entitled it not only to stay open but to be exempted from real estate taxes.

Events like these are alarmingly common: While Vladimir Putin's army routinely kills Ukrainian civilians, Russia abuses its diplomatic status to operate its propaganda machine in democratic societies – and the United States is not the only example.

Russian House of Science and Culture, Friedrichstrasse, Mitte, Berlin. Photo by: Bildagentur-online/Schoening/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Russian House in Berlin has repeatedly tried to discredit Ukraine. In October 2022, this Russian House showed the film 'Holocaust: Threads of Memory,' which portrayed Ukrainians as Nazis and was produced by the Russian state broadcaster Russia Today (RT) – which is otherwise blocked in Germany.

Such events are attended by children and teenagers, according to the Russian House in Berlin’s social media posts.

Visit of students from the Netherlands to the Russian House in Berlin

Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian government agency which runs Russia Houses around the world, is under EU sanctions. But Germany is in no hurry to close this center down, as it would violate a joint agreement.

According to that deal, the Goethe-Institut, the German center of culture, operates in Moscow, and the Russian House in Berlin. In addition, the German federal government continues to pay property tax for the Russian cultural center: a total of about 70,000 euros.

"The agreement is binding on both contracting parties... There is no provision which would allow either party to unilaterally terminate the agreement," the German Foreign Ministry told The Counteroffensive.

The activities of the Russian House in Berlin have caused outrage among Ukrainian activists, who have held protests calling for the center’s closure.

Iryna Shulikina, a Ukrainian woman who has lived in Germany for over 10 years, has been running Vitsche, a Berlin-based NGO that amplifies Ukrainian voices, since 2022.

On June 25, she organized a demonstration against the Russian House in Berlin.

"While missiles rain down on Ukrainian cities, and torture and deportations persist, Germany is effectively subsidizing an instrument of Russian imperial policy," Shulikina told The Counteroffensive. “This is not a cultural center, but a propaganda platform that openly violates EU sanctions.”

Ukrainian activists rally for the closure of the Russian House in Berlin on June 25, 2025. Photo by Santiago Rodrigues

In 2023, German Green Party politician Volker Beck filed a complaint against the Russian House for spreading Russian propaganda.

But investigations initially launched against the diplomats of the Russian House were suspended due to Russia’s diplomatic status, the Berlin Prosecutor General's Office told The Counteroffensive.

At the same time, the prosecutor's office said it is investigating other possible violations of the Russian House in Berlin.

"The Public Prosecutor’s Office continues to investigate unknown individuals as well as the tenants of the Russian House. The alleged offenses concern violations of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act," the Berlin Prosecutor General's Office said.

The scale of global Russia Houses:

These Russian centers currently operate in about 71 countries, according to Rossotrudnichestvo, the organization that runs them, including Washington, D.C, New Delhi, Beijing, Tokyo.

According to Rossotrudnichestvo, Russian Houses in North Macedonia, Croatia, and Montenegro have completely ceased operations, while in Romania and Slovenia, they have suspended operations indefinitely. The Russian House in Azerbaijan has also ceased its work, and the center in Moldova is preparing for closure.

Despite being sanctioned by the EU in 2022, Rossotrudnichestvo continues to operate many of its centers, hosting various events to push Kremlin narratives among young Western students.

The Russian House in Paris, for example, sent four of its French visitors aged 15-17 to a state camp in Russia in the wake of the full-scale invasion.

The hidden goal behind such programs is to cultivate a sense of positivity towards Russia. After returning home from these exchange programs, young students are likely to echo pro-Russian narratives, including justifications for the war against Ukraine.

In this way, Russian Houses work quietly to lend legitimacy to Russia's invasion, even as more and more Ukrainian civilians are indiscriminately killed every day.

The Counteroffensive took a deep dive into Russian Houses’ propaganda activities and identified their directors, revealing that they are trained personnel acting as part of the Kremlin's general apparatus.

The Rossotrudnichestvo is a federal executive agency subordinate to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The head of Rossotrudnichestvo is Yevgeny Primakov Jr., the grandson of Russia’s Kyiv-born former Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov.

Primakov Sr. served as Director of Foreign Intelligence for half a decade in the 1990s. Like his grandfather, Primakov Jr. has shown strong loyalty to the Russian leader, acting as a campaign surrogate for Putin in 2018.

The purpose of the Russian Houses, according to Rossotrudnichestvo, is to "strengthen Russia's humanitarian influence in the world." In reality, these centers are a display of soft power, a strategy of influence through cultural, ideological and informational appeal rather than direct coercion.

Primakov said as much late last year:

"It is our honor to deliver information [abroad] about the special military operation [what Russia calls the invasion of Ukraine in 2022], its goals, objectives, what we want to achieve in Ukraine."

Despite the sanctions, Russian Houses in the EU have managed to stay open because in some countries, the center is part of a diplomatic mission, and in others, the center is operating under a joint agreement. The activities of the Goethe-Institut in Moscow and the Russian House in Berlin are classic examples of such agreement.

The Kremlin sinks its teeth into youth under the guise of cultural exchange

Russian Houses specifically target youth, though they also aim to reach other age groups.

The Russian House in Paris offers children courses in the Russian language, fine arts, gymnastics, and singing, which at first glance seems innocuous. But the list of songs rehearsed by the students’ choir includes, for example, ‘The Last Fight:’

This song glorifies the act of dying in war for Russia and was written by Russian poet Mikhail Nozhkin, who supported Putin's invasion and called the Ukrainian military "fascists":

One last time, tomorrow, we'll face hand-to-hand combat.
One last time, we'll get to serve Russia.
And it's not scary at all to die for her,

Though deep down, everyone still hopes to live through it!

Songs that visitors are invited to sing at the Russian House in Paris

"Such events, in particular, legitimize Russian aggression against Ukraine and hostility towards Western countries, emphasizing Russia's exceptionalism, which allows it to violate international norms," said Dmytro Zolotukhin, founder of the Institute of Post-Information Society, a Ukrainian NGO, engaged in sanctions policy against Russia.

A striking example of Russia’s soft power program is the ‘People of Artek’ program organized by the Russian House of Science and Culture in Paris.

This free, three-week trip to the Artek children’s camp in occupied Crimea was offered in 2024 to children aged 12-17.

Although references to this program have been removed from the pages of the Russian House in Paris, The Counteroffensive found archived versions of the announcement. Among the selected participants were 18 children from Australia, Germany, Turkey, and France.

The People of Artek program, whose participants were selected in Paris in the spring of 2024. Source: Russian House in Paris

The itinerary of this trip included a thematic ‘Day of Russia,’ a concert by Denis Maidanov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture. Teenagers also participated in the ‘Multinational Palette of Russia’ event, which promoted the ideas of ‘friendship between peoples.’

While ostensibly offering kids a fun vacation, the program effectively links them to Russia and spreads narratives favorable to the Kremlin.

"We are especially grateful that at Artek we were able to be part of a policy of peace and mutual understanding… Schools in Germany will hear about this," said one of the girls after visiting Artek in the summer of 2024, ten years after the invasion of Ukraine began.

"We are united by the Russian language, love for Russia, maybe even the Russian soul," said another visitor from France about his expectations for the camp.

These responses suggest that Russian propaganda is having the desired effect. The peninsula they visited was forcefully seized from Ukraine by Russian troops.

The students from East Central University in Oklahoma who visited the Russian Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. this past spring were shown a film which makes a series of dubious claims about Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and Western leaders of the time.

Visit of Oklahoma students to the Russian Cultural Center in Washington, DC in May 2025

Young people are also susceptible to influence through social media, where the same Russian Cultural Center in the United States publishes Russia Today videos justifying the occupation of Crimea and praising the 'defenders of the Donbas,' the Kremlin’s preferred term for Russian soldiers who kill Ukrainians.

A post by the Russian Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., justifying the Russian army's occupation of Crimea.

"Such information processing can help destabilize the political situation inside the host countries where Russian Houses operate," Zolotukhin told The Counteroffensive.

Thus, under the guise of 'culture,' the Kremlin is able to use soft power to advance its strategic interests and influence members of the younger generation – and at the expense of you, the taxpayer.

Editor’s note: Your subscription does more than just get you access to our publication – it also helps our team get the gear it needs.

This week we purchased collapsible beds, sleeping bags, ear plugs and eye masks for every member of our team so that they can sleep more securely at night in the bomb shelter. Upgrade to join The Counteroffensive now. Every bit helps!

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Sofia Konoplytska

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

GERMANY UNAWARE OF PATRIOT SHIPMENTS: Germany’s Defense Ministry denied that the shipment of Patriot systems to Ukraine has already begun, despite earlier claims by Trump. However, the delivery is expected to be addressed at the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting next week.

According to NATO’s Alexus Grynkewich, they are coordinating closely with Germany and have an order to act “as quickly as possible”.

UKRIANE CABINET RESHUFFLE: Ukraine’s Parliament has officially dismissed Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and his cabinet as part of an ongoing major government reshuffle. He is the longest-serving PM in the history of Ukraine, and will now take up the role of the new Defense Minister.

Yulia Svyrdylenko, who previously helped negotiate the mineral deal with the U.S., took his position. She formally served as the Minister of Economy and the First Deputy Prime Minister. Approval of other cabinet members by the parliament is anticipated now. This reshuffle is following the shifting dynamics in Ukraine’s relationship with the U.S.

UK, GERMANY TO SIGN A MAJOR SECURITY DEAL: Germany and the UK are expected to sign the most significant bilateral treaty since 1945 today.

The agreement will focus on “security and defense, trade and business”, according to German Chancellor Merz — amid the growing threat from Russia. The deal includes a mutual assistance clause, meaning that an attack on one would be seen as an attack on both – and also aspirational projects like collaboration on AI and a future rail link between the UK and Germany.

This is a part of the UK's Prime Minister Starmer’s effort to restore Britain’s influence in Europe after Brexit.

DOG OF WAR:

During her vacation, Mariana met this adorable dog with a Barbie tail. The owner was struggling to keep it from playing in the mud.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Liza

'Some are forged into poets during hostilities' — Medic, former POW, and poet on how war is shaping Ukraine's writers

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:27:47 +0100

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 Donbas.

Now, the volunteer, soldier, athlete, global activist, and former POW is being lauded once again – as a poet whose debut collection, Nazhyvo (Live), has captured audiences in Ukraine with its fervent writing, inspired by some of the war’s most brutal episodes.

Paievska’s collection is described by Meridian Czernowitz, the literary corporation that published her book earlier this year, as, “This is not just poetry. This is Mariupol in flames. This is captivity and torture. This is life on the edge and love despite everything. These texts didn’t ask for permission to exist. They are about survival against all odds."

Ukraine has seen a wave of new poetry since the start of the full-scale invasion, and, like Paievska, many of Ukraine’s modern poets are also soldiers who use the medium to grapple with the reality of Europe’s largest land war since 1945. Not all have survived, and some of Ukraine’s newest poetry works have been published posthumously.

“During war there is always a surge of poetry, or literature, or painting.”

Paievska began her activist work in 2013 as a volunteer street medic during the months of Euromaidan Protests, when riot police violently attacked pro-European protesters and ultimately killed more than 100 people.

When Russia invaded eastern Ukraine in 2014, Paievska began volunteering as a medic on the frontlines in Donbas, founding the famed all-female volunteer medical corps "Taira's Angels." She spent four years there, during which Taira's Angels saved hundreds of lives, before she joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Yuliia Paevska call sign “Taira” at the the farewell ceremony of the killed Ukrainian poet and serviceman Maksym Kryvtsov in Kyiv, on Jan. 11, 2024. (Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent)

From 2018 to 2020, Paievska headed a mobile hospital in Mariupol, before continuing her volunteer work.

When Russia began its siege of Mariupol, Paievska and her team frantically worked day and night while under attack to evacuate and save patients on the brink of death. She recorded her efforts on a bodycam, which she got to AP reporters a day before she was captured by Russian forces. The footage shook the world as a rare and stark record of the atrocities committed by Russia in Mariupol.

Paievska spent three months in Russian captivity, during which she was relentlessly beaten, tortured, and forced to appear in propaganda videos.

Since her release, she has continued serving her country in various roles, including as an advocate for prisoners of war, and today as an officer in the ‘Khartia’ brigade of the National Guard.

The Kyiv Independent caught up with Paievska on the sidelines of the Meridian Zaporizhzhia literary festival on June 29 to discuss how writing poetry has changed her outlook, and how the war is shaping Ukraine's modern-day writers.

Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Kyiv Independent: What did you learn about yourself or the war, through writing about your experiences?

Paievska: After captivity, after torture, poetry became one of the best therapies. If it weren't for poetry, I'm not sure at all that I would have 100% recovered. But this splash of new personal growth is thanks to poetry.

Poetry requires discipline, thinking. It's a very complicated process. You can't feel sorry for yourself and write poems. You have to concentrate, to enter a certain state. There's a special rhythm, similar to meditation. It is a kind of meditation.

The Kyiv Independent: What is unique in the experience of medics, compared with other roles in war? What attracted you to this kind of volunteering?

Paievska: I love helping people more than trying to kill them. That's my personal reason.

Doctors in war see everything. Things infantrymen don't see, things FPV pilots don't see. The doctor sees all this dirty work of the war. And doctors are usually very psychologically traumatized. Apart from physically.

Yuliia Paievska's new poetry collection "Nazhyvo (Live)" (center in blue) seen as attendee browses books by Ukrainian authors and poets during the Meridian Czernowitz literary festival in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on June 29, 2025. (Chris Jones / The Kyiv Independent)

The Kyiv Independent: What role does poetry and culture have during war?

Paievska: What else is this all for? If we don't have culture, what difference does it make? Culture is the soul of the nation. If there is no culture, then there is no nation.

If you take any country, during war there is always a surge of poetry, or literature, or painting.

There are a lot of girls and boys, both very young and not so young, at the front now. They write poems, good poems. Some are already poets, while some are forged into poets during hostilities, each time the heart confronts (the fact) that they may not survive.

And, unfortunately, we already have many dead poets.

The Kyiv Independent: Are there certain unique qualities in this new wave of writers, compared with other times?

Paievska: It is well known that war is the impetus for innovation. In science, culture, law-making.

Any war promotes new narratives, because war changes society a lot. Society is disintegrating, or vice versa. These things are related.

I can say that patriotic values, freedoms, and universal human values have come to the fore (in Ukraine).

The Kyiv Independent: In terms of narratives, the spread of Russian propaganda has also played a huge role in the war. Does literature play a role in fighting it?

Paievska: If the enemy uses missiles, we must also use missiles, or better missiles.

If the enemy uses literature, we must give stronger and better versions to block this propaganda.

“This splash of new personal growth is thanks to poetry.”

The Kyiv Independent: You wrote poetry in the past, before the war, but only privately. This new collection is the first time you're writing for the public. Why did you decide that you were now ready to publish your pieces?

Yuliia Paievska: First off, (famed Ukrainian author) Serhii Zhadan read my poems, and said that they should be published, that it was good poetry. I trust him. I sat down, wrote a certain amount, and published them.

Before that, my poems were also not bad, but in my mind, they were the type that everyone writes. I didn't think that there was anything too amazing.

As a perfectionist, I'm in the habit of thinking that if I share something, it should be something that has people thinking, "Wow," and not, "What is this?"

The Kyiv Independent: Can you speak a bit more about your writing process? Where are you when you write poetry, and how does it happen?

Paievska: To write, I have to know that I have some free time and won't have to run off anywhere. Usually, if I realize that I have thirty minutes or an hour, something starts forming in my head.

I just write it down, practically without editing, and then leave it. And somewhere after a day I'll revisit it, to see whether I like it or not.

I sometimes change something, a word, but in general, I write down completed poems straight away.

The Kyiv Independent: Many people came to today's literary festival specifically to hear you read. Has the positive reception to your new book surprised you at all?

Paievska: People understand how sincere the work is. And it brings them back. All Ukrainians are more or less psychologically traumatized because of shelling, because of losing relatives, because of injustice, because of Russia's unprovoked attack.

My poems on their condition resonate well. I say what they feel, I manage to put it in the form of poetry.

Note from the author:

Hi, I’m Andrea Januta, the author of this piece. Thank you for reading. As a writer living in Kyiv, I’m always trying to share stories not only about the country’s challenges, but also about the fabric of Ukrainian society that so many are fighting to preserve — from sports and religion, to bird watchers and literature. It’s meaningful but difficult work. If you’d like to support the Kyiv Independent’s ability to tell these stories from Ukraine, please consider supporting our work by becoming a member.

‘Not many events like this left’ — A Ukrainian literary festival in a city falsely claimed by Russia

When Russia illegally declared ownership in 2022 over all of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast – despite never fully capturing or controlling much of it — it only strengthened the case for holding a literary festival there, says Svyatoslav Pomerantsev, president of the international literary corporation Meridian Czernowitz. Hosting a cultural event in the

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

Serbian police crack down on protestors at mass anti-government rally in Belgrade

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 02:15:08 +0100

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 activists calling for an end to corruption and the 12-year rule of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Crowds in Belgrade on June 28 chanted “We want elections!” — a key demand of the movement that Vucic has consistently refused. His term ends in 2027, which is also the date of the next scheduled parliamentary elections.

Police officers in riot gear used tear gas, pepper spray, and stun grenades to forcibly dispersed crowds, according to multiple media outlets. Dozens of protestors were detained, though the police did not provide an exat number.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic claimed that demonstrators attacked the police.

Protestors reportedly threw eggs, plastic bottles, and other objects at riot officers blocking the crowd from entering a city park where Vucic supporters were staging a counterprotest. Vucic reportedly bused in groups of his own supporters from around the country ahead of the rally.

As protests engulf Serbia, President Vucic looks for support East and West

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 kilometers on March 1 from Belgrade to the southern city of Nis to

The Kyiv IndependentCamilla Bell-Davies

Vucic, a right-wing populist leader with authoritarian tendencies and warm ties with Russia, has repeatedly accused foreign states of inciting the protests in order to topple his government. He is provided no evidence to support these claims.

The current wave of protests in Serbia began in November, when a train station roof in the town of Novi Sad collapsed, killing 15. The disaster was blamed on government corruption.

While Vucic has alleged that Western powers are trying to trigger a “Ukrainian-style revolution in Serbia,” the Serbian protests are not markedly pro-Ukrainian or pro-Russian. Unlike mass demonstrations in Slovakia, where activists explicitly condemned the government’s Kremlin-friendly agenda, the Serbian movement is focused on Vucic’s corrupt leadership.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Serbia has attempted to navigate a delicate diplomatic path between Moscow and the West. It has positioned itself as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war and balanced its status as an EU candidate with its longstanding ties to Russia.

Vucic made his first official visit to Ukraine on June 11.

Ukraine’s new top prosecutor known for high-profile cases, seen as Zelensky loyalist

Loyalty to the incumbent administration has been the key requirement for prosecutor generals in Ukraine. Ruslan Kravchenko, who was appointed as prosecutor general on June 21, appears to be no exception. Previously he had been appointed as a military governor by President Volodymyr Zelensky and is seen as a presidential loyalist. Kravchenko became Ukraine’s top prosecutor after a lengthy hiatus during which the position of prosecutor general remained vacant. His predecessor, Andriy Kostin, r

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly strike 4 fighter jets in Russia

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 20:14:18 +0100

Key developments on June 27:

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly strike 4 fighter jets in Russia
North Korea deployed 20% of Kim’s elite ‘personal reserve’ to fight against Ukraine in Russia, Umerov says
Pro-Palestinian activists reportedly destroy military equipment intended for Ukraine
Zelensky signs decree to synchronize Russia sanctions with EU, G7
Russia’s short-range drone strikes cause over 3,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, UN reports

Ukrainian drones struck four Su-34 fighter jets at the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast overnight on June 27, Ukraine’s General Staff said.

The operation was carried out by the Special Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in cooperation with other military units, according to the General Staff.

Volgograd Oblast is located some 900 kilometers (560 miles) southeast of Moscow.

According to preliminary data, two Russian fighter jets were destroyed, and the other two were damaged. Russia uses such aircraft to bomb Ukraine, particularly to drop guided aerial bombs, the General Staff said.

The attack also caused a fire in the airfield’s technical and operational unit, a facility where combat aircraft are serviced and repaired, according to the General Staff.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.

As Russia intensifies aerial attacks on Ukraine and the civilian death toll climbs, Ukraine has stepped up its drone attacks on Russian territory. The recent surge in drone strikes aims to disrupt airport operations, overwhelm air defenses, and mount pressure against the Russian population.

Russia pulls its scientists out of Iranian nuclear plant, as Israeli strikes threaten decades of collaboration

Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have alarmed none more than Russia, the country that first brought nuclear power to Iran in defiance of Western objections. We’re “millimeters from catastrophe,” said Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on June 18 in response to a bombing campaign that Israel launched against Iran on June 13. Decades of conflict with the West have united Iran and Russia, despite a cultural gulf between the two nations that dwarfs the Caspian Sea that physically di

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

`North Korea deployed 20% of Kim’s elite ‘personal reserve’ to fight against Ukraine in Russia, Umerov says`

North Korea has already deployed around 11,000 elite troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, accounting for more than 20% of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s elite “personal reserve” force, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said during a June 26 press briefing.

“These are soldiers specially selected based on physical, psychological, and other criteria,” Umerov said. “These units have already suffered significant losses."

Umerov said intelligence indicates North Korea had considered sending additional forces to fight with Russia. However, according to Umerov, the move would further deplete its strategic reserves and increase risks to regime stability. There have been four known rotations of North Korean units deployed against Ukraine, according to Umerov.

According to a June 15 report from the United Kingdom’s defense intelligence, North Korea has likely sustained more than 6,000 casualties in Russia since the deployment of troops to Kursk Oblast in fall 2024.

U.K. intelligence attributed the high casualty rate to large, highly attritional dismounted assaults.

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Russia's growing military partnership with North Korea has raised concerns in Kyiv and among its allies. The two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2024. The treaty commits both countries to provide assistance if either is attacked.

Kim previously described the pact as having a "peaceful and defensive nature," framing it as a formal security guarantee between the longtime partners.

In practice, Umerov said, North Korea is bearing the military burden, while Russia has not upheld its reciprocal obligations, raising concerns within the North Korean regime.

"Russia's use of elite North Korean troops demonstrates not only a growing reliance on totalitarian regimes but also serious problems with its mobilization reserve," Umerov said. "Together with our partners, we are monitoring these threats and will respond accordingly."

Umerov added that Ukraine, working in coordination with its Western partners, is closely tracking the movement and deployment of North Korean units deployed to fight against Ukraine. He said Russia's dependence on foreign forces may signal critical shortages in its own recruitment and mobilization efforts.

According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service, North Korea is likely to send more troops to Russia over the summer. Pyongyang may also send up to 25,000 laborers to Russia to support drone production, according to the report.

The additional troop deployment would come on top of what Seoul estimates is already substantial support from North Korea, which includes the shipment of over 10 million artillery shells and ballistic missiles in exchange for economic and technical assistance from Moscow.

Tired of military aid delays, Ukraine has designed its own ballistic missile — and it’s already in mass-production

Ukraine announced on June 13 that its short-range Sapsan ballistic missile would go into mass production, a major development in Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to domestically produce the weapons it needs to fight Russia’s full-scale invasion. As Ukraine faces growing challenges in securing weapons from Western partners, and Russia continues launching

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

`Pro-Palestinian activists reportedly destroy military equipment intended for Ukraine`

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 equipment for Ukraine. The activists reportedly thought the equipment would be supplied to Israel.

The activists, who were wearing white overalls and masks, took part in the Stop Arming Israel campaign. The protests seek to pressure Belgian authorities to maintain the military embargo against Israel and impose sanctions on it.

The protesters, armed with hammers and grinders, first entered the company's offices, where they smashed computers, and then broke into the hangars, where they severely damaged some vehicles, Freddy Versluys, CEO of OIP Land Systems, said.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the company has supplied the Ukrainian army with about 260 armored vehicles. The damage caused by the activists' actions is estimated at $1.1 million, according to 7sur7.

"A further delivery has now been delayed by at least a month. That's all these Hamas sympathizers will have achieved with their action," Versluys said.

The company was reportedly targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters because Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense company, owns it.

Protesters believe that Elbit supplies 85% of the drones and most of the ground military equipment used by the Israel Defense Forces, 7sur7 reported.

Yet, the OIP Land Systems CEO claimed that his company has not produced defense systems for Israel for over 20 years.

OIP Land Systems has provided defense products to Ukraine on several occasions, including Leopard 1 tanks, which are manufactured at the Tournai plant.

`Zelensky signs decree to synchronize Russia sanctions with EU, G7`

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on June 27 to coordinate sanctions against Russia with international partners, particularly the European Union and the Group of Seven (G7), the President's Office said on its website.

A day earlier, EU member states' leaders gave their political consent to extend the sanctions previously imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine.

The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (CORPER) also extended sectoral sanctions against Russia for another six months on June 26, European Pravda reported, citing a diplomatic source. The sanctions include restrictions against entire sectors or industries of the Russian economy or areas of operation of Russian businesses.

Meanwhile, the participants did not approve the new 18th package of sanctions, which targeted Russia's energy and banking sectors, due to Slovakia's veto.

Zelensky's June 27 decree implements a decision by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council's (NSDC) to synchronize the sanctions against Russia with the EU and G7.

According to the document, sanctions approved by partner states must be submitted to the NSDC for consideration and approval no later than the 15th day after the partner state's decision comes into force.

The Cabinet of Ministers, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the National Bank of Ukraine must also ensure the implementation of sanctions approved by international partners in Ukraine.

After the 17th package of sanctions against Russia took effect on May 20, Ukraine's allies announced the following day that another round of restrictions was already in the works.

The push for tighter sanctions comes as Russia continues to reject ceasefire proposals and presses forward with military operations.

`Russia's short-range drone strikes cause over 3,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, UN reports`

Short-range drone attacks have become one of the deadliest threats to civilians in Ukraine’s front-line regions, killing at least 395 people and injuring 2,635 between February 2022 and April 2025, according to a new bulletin by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

The report, "Deadly Drones: Civilians at Risk from Short-Range Drones in Frontline Areas of Ukraine," highlights the growing use of first-person-view (FPV) drones by Russian forces and their devastating impact on the civilian population.

The bulletin documents attacks in which drone operators deliberately targeted civilians engaging in daily activities — driving private cars, riding bicycles, walking outdoors, or evacuating others in clearly marked ambulances.

"Although individually less destructive than artillery or missiles, the sheer scale and increasing frequency of short-range drone attacks have made them one of the deadliest weapons in Ukraine," said Danielle Bell, head of the mission.

"Over 3,000 civilian casualties — and the relentless frequency of these attacks — have not only caused immense human suffering but also instilled fear, severely disrupted daily life, and crippled access to essential services in several frontline communities."

The monitoring mission documented, verified, and analyzed 3,030 civilian casualties resulting from short-range drones between 24 February 2022 and 30 April 2025.

The researchers conducted site visits to very high-risk areas, including the southern city of Kherson, Zolochiv in Kharkiv Oblast, and other front-line locations. Investigators interviewed survivors and witnesses of drone attacks, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers to assess the full impact of these strikes on civilian life.

Ukraine's Kherson Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

Casualties surged in late 2023 and early 2024, with numbers suddenly doubling in July 2024. April 2025 marked the deadliest month on record, with 42 civilians killed and 283 injured. Drone strikes continued into May and June.

On 23 June, a 65-year-old driver was killed in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, when a drone struck a minibus. In Kharkiv region, a 58-year-old volunteer was killed on 22 May when a drone dropped a munition on a residential balcony. On 20 May, six civilians were injured when a drone hit a bus in Kherson Oblast.

The vast majority of casualties — 89% — occurred in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. The UN says these attacks violate international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and precaution, and may in some cases constitute war crimes.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

Pro-Palestinian activists reportedly destroy military equipment intended for Ukraine

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:03:17 +0100

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 equipment for Ukraine. The activists reportedly thought the equipment would be supplied to Israel.

The protesters, armed with hammers and grinders, first entered the company’s offices, where they smashed computers, and then broke into the hangars, where they severely damaged some vehicles, Freddy Versluys, CEO of OIP Land Systems, said.

“A further delivery has now been delayed by at least a month. That’s all these Hamas sympathizers will have achieved with their action,” Versluys said.

The company was reportedly targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters because Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense company, owns it.

Protesters believe that Elbit supplies 85% of the drones and most of the ground military equipment used by the Israel Defense Forces, 7sur7 reported.

Yet, the OIP Land Systems CEO claimed that his company has not produced defense systems for Israel for over 20 years.

OIP Land Systems has provided defense products to Ukraine on several occasions, including Leopard 1 tanks, which are manufactured at the Tournai plant.

With no new US aid packages on the horizon, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia?

The U.S. has not announced any military aid packages for Ukraine in almost five months, pushing Kyiv to seek new alternatives. But time is running out quickly as Russian troops slowly advance on the eastern front line and gear up for a new summer offensive. “While Ukraine’s dependence on

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Slag Heaps Have Eyes: From Secret Operative to Frontline Fighter

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:59:29 +0100

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 intelligence deep inside occupied territory. When the full-scale invasion began, he joined the ranks of the Ukrainian forces and has since fought without pause - from the defense of Kyiv to the grinding battle for Bakhmut and the incursion in Kursk.

In this special interview, Artem Karyakin traces the origins of the Russian occupation in Donbas, weighs the prospects for reintegration of lost regions, and recounts what the battle for Kursk truly looked like on the ground. To continue our efforts to document this war and the experiences and opinions of participants at this historic moment, we are publishing the full interview

1. Frontelligence Insight (hereafter FI): You are originally from Donbas and witnessed the unfolding of Russian aggression in the region. How exactly did it happen, and what were you doing in 2014?

Artem “Skhidnyi” Karyakin (hereafter - A): It’s important to note that the Russians began preparing for the seizure of Donbas well before 2014. This was especially evident to us—the residents of the region. For example, in my hometown of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov) in Luhansk Oblast, a certain “Don Cossack” organization appeared in the early 2000s. It consisted of marginal figures dressed in red Cossack hats and carrying whips. It looked strange, as our city had always been known for its mining industry and had no historical connection to the Don Cossacks.

This organization attracted people with chauvinistic views, fanatically devoted to the idea of reviving the USSR and uniting the "Slavic peoples." For instance, in 2012, a march commemorating the Ukrainian Insurgent Army was held in our city, in which I also participated. The march was disrupted when we were attacked by the same Don Cossack group, along with paid activists from the “Party of Regions.” Even back then, these “Cossacks” were confiscating our Ukrainian flags. That moment was very telling.

By 2014, the same “Cossacks” in red hats were seizing government buildings in our city - only now they were armed and operating under Russian flags. Many of them weren’t even born in our city - they came from the Russian Federation, as did some of those who helped them seize power by force in the spring of 2014.

Unidentified and armed combatants. Photo shared by Artem “Skhidnyi”

We — the pro-Ukrainian residents of the city — were organizing events in support of Ukrainian unity at that time. Our first event was a memorial rally honoring the “Heavenly Hundred” (Editor’s note: The "Heavenly Hundred" refers to those who were killed during the 2014 protests against the Yanukovych regime in Ukraine). That was in late February 2014. Later, we held car rallies for Ukrainian unity, events on the birthday of Taras Shevchenko, and actively distributed pro-Ukrainian leaflets and stickers around the city, and painted Ukrainian flags.

Pro-Ukrainian flyer titled "United Country" pinned to a public notice board, March 2014. Photo shared by Artem “Skhidnyi.”

All our activities in the spring of 2014 were dangerous, as there were already armed Russians and local pro-Russian militants in the city.

The point of no return came in late spring 2014, when two young guys — still in school — put up a Ukrainian flag on a slag heap in the center of town. They were fired upon with a handgun for doing so. After that, many pro-Ukrainian residents began leaving the city, as it had become clear that they could simply be killed for their love of Ukraine.

2. FI: What happened to the pro-Ukrainian activists? Are there still people who maintain a pro-Ukrainian stance under occupation?

A: I remained in my occupied city until the end of 2021, as did many others who loved Ukraine but, for obvious reasons, could not express it publicly. Today, the situation has worsened for those who support Ukraine in the Russian-occupied cities.

Pro-Ukrainian rally, spring 2014. Photo shared by Artem “Skhidnyi”

There are still many such people, but they are forced to live in fear, expecting to be arrested at any moment. Russian security services have dedicated significant resources to identifying and detaining pro-Ukrainian residents in the occupied territories. There are constant filtration procedures and ongoing inspections. Special attention is given to public sector workers and even to children. For example, in schools, there are mandatory checks of students’ mobile phones to look for subscriptions to Ukrainian media or messages expressing pro-Ukrainian views.

To love Ukraine under Russian occupation is already an act of courage.

Nevertheless, even today, a large number of true Ukrainians remain in the occupied territories: people who, risking their lives daily, help us in the fight against Russia by sharing intelligence, carrying out sabotage, and participating in other acts of resistance against the Russian army. This is true heroism and further proof that this land is rightfully Ukrainian.

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3. FI: You continued to support Ukraine even when your city was already under occupation. What exactly did your activities involve?

A: In July 2014, while already living under occupation, I created my first Twitter account. The goal was to shed light on the situation in the occupied territories from the perspective of a pro-Ukrainian resident who hadn’t left their home. At the time, neither people in Ukraine nor the rest of the world fully understood what was actually happening. Many believed that all the locals who had stayed supported Russia. I wanted to show the world that our city was occupied by Russia, and that there were still Ukrainians there who were not happy about it and were waiting for the Ukrainian army.

In addition to general updates, I also posted information about the locations of Russian troops in my city. These were public tweets, sometimes with maps marking where Russian military equipment was stationed. In the fall of 2014, I was contacted via direct message on Twitter by representatives of Ukrainian intelligence services as well as acquaintances from the Ukrainian army. They explained to me that it was better to share intelligence privately rather than posting it publicly on Twitter.

Since then, I began secretly passing on various types of information to the Ukrainian army and intelligence services - details about the movements, positions, and firing points of Russian forces in my city and surrounding occupied areas. Over the years, this also came to include information about factories and enterprises operating under Russian control, the socio-political climate under occupation, local sentiment, and data on collaborators - those who had joined the Russian side in combat or taken positions in the Russian-controlled security services.

4. FI: In 2021, you moved to Ukrainian-controlled territory, and the full-scale invasion began the following year. How did you join the Armed Forces, and what was your first battle?

A: From the very first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, I began looking for a unit where I could fight against Russia. The early days of the big war were chaotic—there was disorganization and confusion everywhere. I was living in Kyiv, and in one of the first days of March, I simply approached some guys with rifles and offered my help. That very same day, I was already standing night watch with Kalashnikov's hand-held machine gun in my hands.

It was one of the Territorial Defense Force units. We took up a defensive position on the outskirts of Kyiv, on the Bucha-Irpin side. In the summer of 2022, I joined the fighters of the 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces, where my friend was already serving and had invited me to join his group.

Artem in Bakhmut

My first combat deployment was in August 2022 in Bakhmut, which at that point was already under assault by Russian forces, including Wagner PMC fighters. Shortly after Bakhmut, we took part in the liberation and clearing of the city of Lyman, in Donetsk Oblast. For me and many of my fellow soldiers, it was our first experience liberating our native land - a moment we will remember forever.

5. FI: You’ve taken part in important operations - both in Ukraine and on Russian territory, specifically in the Kursk region. Did you notice any significant differences between combat operations in Ukraine and in Kursk?

A: The Kursk operation was unique in every sense and differed from my past experiences in Ukraine in many ways. It was in the Kursk region that I first encountered the concept of maneuver warfare, and I can say that, personally, combat along a clear front line is easier for me.

It was also in Kursk where we first faced FPV drones connected via fiber optics and a new Russian tactic—using specialized FPV drone teams to strike our logistics routes from as far as 10–15 km deep. This tactic is now widely used by Russian forces along nearly every front.

In this operation, we also faced the enemy’s best FPV crews, all concentrated in one relatively small sector. These teams had been withdrawn from other areas and redeployed to Kursk specifically.

Another major difference was that, for the first time, we were acting as a “foreign army” in populated areas. Each soldier had their own reaction to that: for some, it felt like justified revenge; others felt a strong pull back toward our own land and a kind of inner resistance to advancing on foreign soil.

I count myself among the former. For me, it was an act of rightful retribution and a way to shift the war onto the aggressor’s territory. Yet I constantly reminded myself that I didn’t want to behave like the Russians did in my hometown. On Russian territory, I acted very differently than they had in ours. To every civilian I encountered in the Kursk region, I explained why we were there, how it all began, and that we simply want to liberate our own cities - not seize theirs.

Artem next to the uniform of a Russian FSB warrant officer. Kursk Oblast.

The Kursk operation was very well planned and executed at the outset, but unfortunately was marred by a series of key mistakes and issues at various levels. These mistakes must be carefully analyzed so they are never repeated. I sincerely hope this experience proves useful in the future—it was unique in many respects.

Regardless, everyone who took part in that operation became part of history. We shattered the myth of the invincibility of a nuclear power and the so-called greatness of the Russian army. We drew significant enemy forces away, slowing their advance on our territory. And we were also the ones who fought against the armies of two different totalitarian states. The experience of facing North Korean forces is also something that sets this apart from the war in Ukraine—even though their tactics in Kursk didn’t differ much from what Wagner used in Bakhmut.

6. FI: Assuming that Russia eventually loses control over Donbas - how do you envision the process of reintegrating these territories? How deeply has Russian propaganda taken root there over the years?

A: The most important thing is to drive the Russians out of our land. And with Ukrainians, just like us, we’ll quickly find common ground.

The main issue with those who fell under the influence of Russian propaganda during the occupation is that they know very little about the rest of Ukraine. Many have never been to other regions and know nothing about them. Everything they do know about Ukraine comes from what they’ve seen on Russian TV channels.

Another problem is that Russia created conditions in which every second family in occupied Donbas has lost a relative in the war. This is a direct result of the forced mobilization of men from the occupied territories into the Russian army.

But you have to understand — Donbas, especially the part that’s been under occupation since 2014, is a region where people generally lack any strong civic engagement or passion. Their opinions and actions are shaped entirely by the environment they live in.

Artem Skhidnyi standing on a Russian flag.

If Ukraine returns to these territories, people will quickly adapt to new rules and new flags flying over their homes. And soon, they will realize that life under Ukraine is freer and more breathable. Without the presence of Russian troops, these people would never have fought for the Russian flag. I know them — I lived among them for most of my life.

Even now, many of them no longer see Russia as something positive. After living under the Russian flag long enough, they’ve come to realize that there’s little good there, and that the sacrifices they were forced to make for that flag were not worth it.

7. FI: When the war ends, what do you see your life looking like? Do you have any dreams or plans for peacetime?

A: The most important thing is for the war to end with our victory. We must preserve Ukraine and bring back our land and our people. I’m turning 28 this year, and I’ve spent 11 of those years living through war — it’s hard to imagine myself without it now.

But of course, I have a personal dream as well: to start a family of my own. During the years of occupation, I lost my parents and my grandmother, and since then, the feeling of loneliness has never left me. My dream is a family… my children, who will never know what war is.

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Artem “Skhidnyi” Karyakin, in an exclusive interview with Frontelligence Insight. You can follow him on the X platform for firsthand updates from the front.

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Russia still hasn't declared war on Ukraine, and doing so could spell Putin's demise, experts say

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:42:03 +0100

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 war on Ukraine.

In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin described what he believed was going to be a swift victory and the capture of Kyiv within days as a “special military operation."

Nearly three-and-a-half years later, the Kremlin is stuck with the term, caught in a quandary of its own making — waging by what any measure is a war, while being unable to call it one for fear of a domestic backlash.

“Putin has protected himself in this war by separating the direct effects of the war from the majority of the Russian population.”

A formal declaration of war would have far-reaching implications for the country's industry and economy, as well as allowing the Kremlin to launch a full mobilization.

But partial mobilization announced in September 2022 led to the only widespread protests against the war inside Russia, making clear to Putin that announcing anything more would cause him serious political problems.

"Putin has protected himself in this war by separating the direct effects of the war from the majority of the Russian population," Karolina Hird, Russia deputy team lead at the Institute for the Study of War, told the Kyiv Independent.

"But as soon as that starts to spill over and actually be felt by more of the Russian domestic population, that's when he gets into more trouble."

According to reports, there has recently been unrest within the Kremlin after Ukraine's audacious Operation Spiderweb, with hardliners reportedly pressuring Putin to make a formal war declaration that would permit true retaliation and escalation, and give the Russian government sweeping authority to shift the country fully onto a wartime footing.

But experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent say this is unlikely, arguing that for all intents and purposes, Russia's industry and economy are already on a wartime footing even if Kremlin officials deny this, and that Putin simply can't risk his hold on power by launching what would be a deeply unpopular mobilization.

Youths walk past a billboard promoting contract army service with an image of a serviceman and the slogan “Serving Russia is a real job” in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Sept. 29, 2022. (Olga Maltseva / AFP via Getty Images)

Russian citizens drafted during the partial mobilization are seen being dispatched to combat coordination areas after a military call-up for the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 10, 2022. (Stringer / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

`What would a Russian declaration of war mean?`

The two major factors that would come into play are the Russian economy and the Russian people.

A full war footing would be a complete pivot of the economy and its workers towards defense and the production of weapons, and allow for a full mobilization to conscript the necessary manpower to use them.

The Kremlin is projected to allocate 6.3% of its GDP to defense this year — the highest level since the Cold War — yet still far below what would typically indicate a country fully mobilized for war.

By contrast, Ukraine spent 34% of its GDP on defense last year, while British military spending surpassed 50% of GDP during the Second World War.

These same figures were cited by Russian Ambassador to the U.K. Andrey Kelin in an interview with CNN last week as evidence that Russia was in fact still fighting a "special military operation," and not a war.

Experts are not convinced.

"The Russian economy is already on a war footing, and the 6.5% of GDP spent on defense for 2025 is likely an underestimation," Federico Borsari, a defense expert at the D.C.-based Center for European Policy Analysis, told the Kyiv Independent.

"Defense production in key capability segments such as drones, missiles, and armored vehicles is at full steam, with up to three worker shifts per day."

Russia has drastically upped weapons production in recent months as it drains its stockpiles.

According to data from Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) shared with the Kyiv Independent earlier this month, production of ballistic missiles, for example, has increased by at least 66% over the past year.

Russian missile production per month. (The Kyiv Independent)

Hird agrees with Borsari's analysis, saying the massive boost in defense manufacturing is a sign that, despite Russia's claims that it isn't at war, its depleted stockpiles are a pretty clear sign they are.

"It's not like Russia has a secret reserve of weapons in the background that it can somehow kind of unlock and unleash on Ukraine," she said.

"Russia is already fighting an all-out war in Ukraine, so there's actually not much more that can be done on their side."

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin visits Uralvagonzavod, the country’s main tank factory in the Urals, in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, on Feb. 15, 2024. (Ramil Sitdikov / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

Destroyed Russian tanks lie in a field near the village of Bohorodychne in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Feb. 13, 2024. (Maxym Marusenko / NurPhoto via Getty Images)

`The manpower issue`

The one crucial area in which a declaration of all-out war against Ukraine could significantly boost Russia's ability to wage war is manpower.

Throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin has steered clear of a full mobilization, conscious of the domestic backlash it would create.

Instead, the Kremlin has simply paid people to fight, offering huge sign-up bonuses to encourage people to volunteer, a method which, up to now has managed to replenish the huge losses the army has incurred, but which many experts think is unsustainable.

"In terms of manpower, Russia still has a sizeable population pool it can draw from, at least in the near term, especially in peripheral regions," Borsari said.

"However, this pool may not be sufficient to sustain the current pace of losses, with thousands of casualties each week, beyond the first half of 2026."

With no end to the war in sight, that looming deadline will likely pose a huge dilemma for Putin — how to find enough men to fight, without losing his hold on power?

"They are aware of the massive risks involved and Putin is rather risk-aversive," Ryhor Nizhnikau, a Russia expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told the Kyiv Independent.

"Full mobilization is expected to have a destabilizing effect on Putin’s regime, the already ailing Russian economy, and it will certainly unbalance the current public consensus on the war."

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., on June 18, 2025. (Ken Cedeno / UPI / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

`The geopolitical aspect`

Declaring war on Ukraine would also have international ramifications for Putin, Shea said.

"He will no longer be able to pretend to (U.S. President Donald Trump and (U.S. Special Envoy Steve) Witkoff that he is interested primarily in a partial victory by taking only the Donetsk region and Crimea," he said.

"He also said in St Petersburg last week that Russia posed no threat to NATO and that NATO was rearming for nothing. But a formal Russian declaration of war will convey the entirely opposite message."

Putin insists the Russian economy is fine, but Kremlin officials say otherwise

In a rare public sign that all is not well in Russia, two high-ranking Moscow officials last week issued separate warnings about the state of the country’s economy. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina and Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov both highlighted that amid the Kremlin’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the tools Moscow once relied on to maintain wartime growth are nearly exhausted. Almost immediately, Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 20 dismissed the concerns, clai

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Trump gets king’s treatment at NATO summit while Ukraine sits on the sidelines

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:26:30 +0100

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 the news and the summit agenda focused on the new 5% defense spending target, Ukraine no longer took center stage.

This was chiefly because of one man: Trump has shown little appetite for ramping up military assistance for Ukraine, and there are growing fears he might disengage from the war altogether.

He has also ruffled the feathers of his NATO allies by publicly doubting the U.S. commitment to Article 5.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte set out to demonstrate that transatlantic unity remains strong — even if that meant appeasing Trump with flattery and deprioritizing potentially divisive topics like Ukraine.

This shift was underscored by the summit’s final statement, which offered little more than stale words of comfort to the war-torn country, even as Russia launched new large-scale attacks against its cities.

President Volodymyr Zelensky did not leave the summit empty-handed, however. He got his much-desired meeting with Trump, which seemed to have gone smoothly.

Rutte also sought to reassure Kyiv that support for Ukraine holds, stressing that allies have committed some 35 billion euros ($40 billion) in aid to Ukraine this year so far, about 10 billion euros more than in the first half of last year.

But it hasn’t dispelled the sense that an era is ending — one in which Ukraine’s struggle against Russia held an unquestioned place at the center of NATO’s agenda.

`Ukraine’s small victories`

The NATO summit wasn’t a complete failure for Ukraine. In fact, the most pessimistic rumors swirling around in the lead-up to the event did not come true.

Zelensky did, after all, receive an invitation to the summit, dispelling speculation that Ukraine would be left out due to opposition from the U.S. He also managed to have a face-to-face meeting with Trump for the first time since their brief talk in the Vatican in April, rectifying the missed opportunity at the G7 summit.

“Everybody understands that the attack against Ukraine is an attack against us as well. Ukraine belongs to Europe.”

Though details of the meeting are scarce, Trump left the talk uncharacteristically critical of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Responding to a journalist during a press conference, the U.S. president acknowledged it is “possible” Putin may have territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine – a rare admission for Trump, who always professed his trust in the Russian leader.

"I consider him (Putin) a person I think is misguided," Trump said.

"I think it’s a great time to end it (war). I’m going to speak to Vladimir Putin, see if we can get it ended," Trump added. "He (Zelensky) is fighting a brave battle, it's a tough battle."

President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump (R) meet during the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. (Zelenskiy / Official Telegram Account / Handout / Anadolu via Getty Images)

Trump also carefully signaled support for sending Ukraine additional missiles for Patriot air defense systems, though no concrete commitment was made. Asked about further air defense assistance by a Ukrainian journalist whose husband is a soldier fighting in Ukraine, Trump, in a rare show of sympathy toward Ukrainians, acknowledged her distress over Russia’s escalating aerial attacks.

"They (Ukraine) do want to have the anti-missile missiles, as they call them, the Patriots, and we're going to see if we can make some available," Trump said.

Other NATO leaders reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year.

“Everybody understands that the attack against Ukraine is an attack against us as well. Ukraine belongs to Europe,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhna told the Kyiv Independent during an interview at the summit.

Zelensky’s rhetoric was focused on pressuring Russia to accept a just peace and on raising more international funding for the Ukrainian defense industry.

Individual countries and other partners responded. The Netherlands and Norway pledged hundreds of millions to the Ukrainian defense industry, while the EU confirmed that its new, ambitious $175-billion SAFE defense spending program will be open to Kyiv.

But as the summit unfolded, it became increasingly clear that the spotlight is on Trump.

Putin insists the Russian economy is fine, but Kremlin officials say otherwise

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

`Charm offensive, aimed at Trump`

To say that The Hague summit took place at a precarious moment would be an understatement.

NATO is gripped by what is arguably its greatest existential crisis yet, and the most challenging security situation since the Cold War.tes

Since taking office, Trump has signaled plans to reduce military presence in Europe and cast doubt on his commitment to Article 5 – including just before his trip to the summit.

As Trump’s attention wanders away from Europe and Ukraine to the Israel-Iran conflict and other regions, Europeans are left to grapple with the fears that they might have to face Russian aggression on their own.

“Mr President, dear Donald, Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do. It makes us all safer.”

Perhaps that is why NATO leaders were so dead set on bringing Trump to the summit.

As the Kyiv Independent learned from a Ukrainian official, member countries pulled out all the stops to get Trump to attend, giving him a king’s treatment during the dinner and keeping the summit deliberately short.

Leading this charm offensive was the secretary general himself.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (L) speak to media at the start of the second day of the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)

NATO heads of state and government pose for an official photo on the second day of the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. (Omar Havana / Getty Images)

“Mr President, dear Donald, Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do. It makes us all safer,” Rutte wrote in a message to Trump ahead of the summit, which the U.S. president promptly published.

“Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win,” he continued, referring to an agreement to raise the defense spending benchmark to 5% of GDP in a style strikingly similar to Trump’s.

Asked by a journalist whether the revelation of this text was not embarrassing for him, Rutte only doubled down, jokingly referring to Trump as a “daddy” during a briefing.

The summit’s focus on defense spending was likely a deliberate offering to Trump, who has lambasted European allies as underpaying freeloaders. When Rutte managed to get a unanimous agreement on the new spending target despite protests from Spain, he had a big win to present to Trump.

"Your leadership on this has already produced $1 trillion in extra spending from European allies since 2016. And decisions today will produce trillions more for common defense,” Rutte told Trump during the summit.

Trump has not been alone in this criticism. NATO’s eastern members, who devote considerably more to defense than their western and southern partners, echoed the sentiment.

“I totally agree with President Trump… Europe must pay more, Europe must take more responsibility for its own defense,” Tsakhna said.

“Europe has been like an old, lazy cat who was just waiting for something bad to happen, and the U.S. would come and solve the problems.”

Rutte's strategy seemed to have paid off. Trump appeared in good spirits, praising the new defense pledge while enjoying a flurry of questions from journalists that, in the absolute majority, focused on recent U.S. strikes on Iran.

Trump also signed off on the final statement that reaffirmed commitment to Article 5, mollifying his earlier comments.

`Ukraine sidelined`

While the final communique of the NATO summit in Washington last year was 38 paragraphs long, with six devoted to support for Ukraine, this year’s joint declaration was a mere five paragraphs.

The document did name Russia as a threat to the Euro-Atlantic security and reaffirmed support for Kyiv, but stopped short of condemning Moscow, mentioning Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, or offering any concrete new assistance.

This did not come as a surprise. Already in the runup to the summit, Bloomberg reported that the joint communique would omit these topics to avert friction with the U.S. president, who has been averse to offending Russia.

Rutte used the summit to repeat the familiar pledge that Ukraine’s path toward NATO is “irreversible,” but it was obvious that Kyiv’s accession, openly opposed by Trump, would not see any development in the near future.

Even as Russia launched a brutal aerial attack against Dnipro during the summit, which killed 19 people and injured 300, NATO offered Ukraine little but words.

The aftermath of a Russian ballistic missile attack damaged a passenger train in Dnipro, Ukraine, on June 24, 2025. (Serhii Lysak / Telegram)

What Ukraine received at this year’s NATO summit was a far cry from the bold pledges made last year in Washington.

But the meeting passed without any visible friction between Trump and his Ukrainian and European partners, with Ukraine even grabbing a few modest wins.

In the era of Trump, that might be a success of itself.

Asami Terajima contributed to reporting.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Martin Fornusek. I hope you enjoyed this article. If you want to help us continue covering crucial events like the NATO summit in The Hague, please consider becoming our member.

Thank you very much.

Diplomacy or deal-making? Unpacking the U.S.-Belarus prisoner deal

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:20:08 +0100

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 Kellogg’s visit to Minsk on June 21 marked the highest-level diplomatic contact the isolated regime of Alexander Lukashenko had with the U.S. in years.

The trip was also marked by the freeing by the Lukashenko regime of 14 prisoners, including one of the most notable of Lukashenko’s political opponents — Siarhei Tsikhanouski.

With the released prisoners in the spotlight, both parties to the negotiations were vague regarding the results of the meeting. But members of the Belarusian opposition in exile and political analysts all agreed Lukashenko was seeking some form of international legitimacy, as well as sanctions relief.

“For Lukashenko, the visit is a fairly strong legitimizing step,” said Lesia Rudnik, the director of an exiled independent Belarusian think tank, the Center for New Ideas.

“I believe we’re at the beginning of a dialogue … but I think we’ll see a rather slow development of the situation.”

Lukashenko has been ostracized by the West over his support for Russia’s war against Ukraine and brutal suppression of freedoms in Belarus. His international contacts have been limited to China, Vietnam, Iran, and African states that have minimal trade turnover with Belarus, and, increasingly, local Russian officials. The only Western nations that have thus far broken the diplomatic freeze are Russia-sympathetic EU states Hungary and Slovakia.

As for the U.S., analysts suggest Washington could have been looking to deter deeper Belarusian involvement in the war, while also possibly securing a foreign policy win for Trump amid stalled peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

`Carefully choreographed breakthrough`

The trail to Kellogg’s top-level meeting in Minsk was blazed nearly a year ago under the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, with low-profile behind-the-scenes meetings and occasional prisoner releases.

The most tangible result of Kellogg’s mission was the sudden freeing of 14 prisoners, including Tsikhanouski, former RFE/RL journalist Ihar Karnei, and citizens of Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, who were released from prisons in Belarus and delivered to neighboring Lithuania. U.S. President Donald Trump marked the release with a celebratory post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“President Trump now has the power and opportunity to free all political prisoners in Belarus just like that. And I ask him to do so.”

Once seen as an unlikely candidate for early release, Tsikhanouski was freed after serving five years of a nearly 20-year sentence. Jailed ahead of Belarus’s 2020 presidential election, his arrest prompted his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, to run in his place. Despite election observers finding she had won the election, Lukashenko claimed victory, sparking mass protests in Belarus that lasted for months.

At a press conference in Vilnius following his release, Tsikhanouski appealed to Trump to help free other political prisoners in Belarus.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya holds a photo of her jailed husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski as other demonstrators display images of Belarusian opposition figures Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka during a protest in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, on March 8, 2024. (Petras Malukas / AFP via Getty Images)

“President Trump now has the power and opportunity to free all political prisoners in Belarus just like that. And I ask him to do so,” Tsikhanouski said.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who, since being forced into exile, has led the Belarusian opposition, hailed the releases, pledging to “continue to work closely with President Trump’s administration and with all our allies on both sides of the Atlantic to achieve the freedom of every political prisoner.”

European leaders, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, and others, also welcomed the U.S. diplomatic efforts and the freeing of the political prisoners.

Following four years of continuous, harsh repression, Lukashenko suddenly pardoned 18 political prisoners in July 2024, then continued to release small batches of political prisoners every month for half a year. Tsikhanouski said he had heard talk of his potential release in August 2024.

In February, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher W. Smith made an unannounced visit to Belarus, securing the release of a U.S. citizen and two Belarusian political prisoners.

John Coale, Kellogg’s deputy, during a low-profile visit to Minsk in May facilitated the release of dual U.S.-Belarusian citizen Yuras Ziankovich. The earlier contacts paved the way for Kellogg’s high-profile visit, accompanied by Smith and Coale.

The publicity surrounding the visit indicates that the parties “have reached a minimum level of mutual trust,” commented Valery Kavaleuski, a former Belarusian diplomat and ex-member of Tsikhanouskaya’s shadow cabinet. He is currently advocating for the release of political prisoners as the head of the Euro-Atlantic Affairs Agency.

`Restoring ties?`

One thing Belarusian officials did signal was that they expect more in return, including full restoration of bilateral ties and sanctions relief.

Belarus’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Valentin Rybakov, on state-owned Belarusian television after the Kellogg meeting, said that Minsk seeks to “normalize” bilateral relations with the U.S., which would entail the full resumption of embassy operations in both countries and exchanges of visits by officials.

Alexander Lukashenko (C) meets with U.S. presidential envoy Keith Kellogg and members of the American delegation in Minsk, Belarus, on June 21, 2025. (X/Keith Kellogg)

The U.S. withdrew its diplomats and shut down embassy operations in Minsk in February 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which involved the use by the Russian military of Belarusian territory. According to Kavaleuski, the reopening of the embassy lies within U.S. interests in observing and gathering information on the ground. Reopening at the Charge d'Affaires level, as opposed to the ambassadorial level, does not imply any formal recognition of Lukashenko’s legitimacy.

“Without Europe's participation, the ‘de-isolation’ of the Belarusian regime will not be as effective.”

On sanctions relief, Rybakov and Natallia Esismant, Lukashenko’s press secretary, noted that this had been among the priority topics of the discussion. The New York Times also reported that the matter was discussed during Khristopher Smith’s visit to Belarus in February.

“According to our information, Lukashenko is setting a condition for the lifting of the American sanctions on (potash producer) Belaruskali,” opposition activist and leader of the People’s Anti-Crisis Management initiative, Pavel Latushka, told the Kyiv Independent.

“The second is the financial sector, which enables financial payments,” he added. “The third is the Belavia (…) aircraft fleet, which includes (Lukashenko’s) planes.”

In 2019, before Belarus spiraled into political turmoil, potash, its top export, brought in approximately $2.9 billion in export revenues. After the EU and U.S. export restrictions were put in place, Belarus’s share of the global potash market dropped from 18% in 2021 to 8% in 2023, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute. Around 5% of the market was lost in the United States.

“But without Europe's participation, the ‘de-isolation’ of the Belarusian regime will not be as effective,” Rudnik from the Center for New Ideas told the Kyiv Independent, noting that while the U.S. can cancel its own sanctions, Washington would have to lobby for their relief in Europe.

Analysts agree that to restore the flow of this crucial export, Belarus needs to ease European sanctions and overcome opposition from Lithuania, home to Klaipeda seaport, formerly the chief transit hub for Belarusian potash.

Initially introduced in 2021 for human rights abuses, European sanctions on Belarusian potash were re-qualified as sanctions for Minsk’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine, making them impossible to cancel until the war ends, former diplomat Kavaleuski says, citing his recent exchanges in Brussels.

Belarus, in contrast, expects reciprocal steps and a "good-neighborly approach” after releasing citizens of Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, said Belarus’s KGB Chief Ivan Tsertsel on state-run media, in an apparent reference to European opposition to sanctions relief. Notably, no Lithuanian citizens were included in the release.

But the European Union has so far shown no inclination to reduce restrictions on Lukashenko. Quite the opposite: the 18th sanctions package, recently blocked by Hungary and Slovakia, proposes to ban all transactions with Belarusian banks, further tightening restrictions against Belarus.

"It’s Lukashenko who pushes Belarus closer to Russia because it’s comfortable for him."

And Lithuania, one of the EU member states with the strongest voice on the Belarusian issue, sees no grounds for reconsidering sanctions yet, according to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys. Aware of the potential for a veto by Hungary or Slovakia on Europe-wide sanctions, the Baltic state is developing legislation for national economic sanctions that would provide for the introduction of personal and sectoral restrictions.

While thankful for the release and hopeful for more good news, the Belarusian opposition is cautious about rewarding the regime too soon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L), and State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin (R) attend the Great Heritage – Common Future Forum in Volgograd, Russia, on April 29, 2025. (Contributor / Getty Images)

“Naturally, if the repression stops, and all the prisoners are released, it would open new possibilities, and one could talk about certain relief from the American sanctions,” Tsikhanouskaya’s advisor Viachorka says, adding that at this point, only 1.5% of the country’s 1,100 political prisoners have been released through U.S. mediation.

“There’s no trust in Lukashenko,” said exiled activist Latushka, who is known for his more hawkish approach to contacts with the Lukashenko regime.

“Over the 30 years of his rule, Lukashenko has repeatedly used this scheme of easing sanctions by making cosmetic concessions to the West.”

Latushka argues that sanctions should be eased only after the release of all political prisoners, a halt to repression, and the decriminalization of political life within the country. Even after that, restrictions should be suspended but not cancelled to ensure the possibility of swift reinstatement in case of backsliding by Minsk, he said.

But having released 14 prisoners, Belarusian KGB Chief Tsertsel reported that another 14 foreign and Belarusian citizens had been arrested in Belarus on charges of espionage and high treason in 2025 — in a sign the regime's "conveyor belt" of repression has far from slowed down.

`Washington's interest in Minsk`

Following his visit to Minsk, Kellogg shared that while his deputy John Coale led discussions on the release of prisoners, he had focused on the Russia-Ukraine War.

“We know Trump is, first and foremost, a dealmaker, and secondly, that success is important to him,” Rudnik said of the interest of the Trump administration in dealing with Belarus.

“And when this does not happen for a long time, especially when he promised so much in his election campaign, it becomes necessary to compensate for the lack of these victories with smaller victories, perhaps even a lot of them,” she said.

Observers interviewed by the Kyiv Independent do not believe Belarus could serve as a credible platform for the stalled Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations — an idea that has been floated by the Kremlin, but flatly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Belarus's complicity in the war.

U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2025. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)

While not having sent his troops into battle in Ukraine, Lukashenko let the Russian army use Belarusian territory to mount attacks on Ukraine at the start of the invasion. He also reoriented the Belarusian military-industrial complex to serve Russian defense contracts, according to a recent report by the Belarusian opposition group Belpol.

Aside from “scoring a win” easier than stopping Russia’s war, Washington may have warned Belarus against becoming more deeply engaged in the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine, or escalating tensions with the NATO and EU member states bordering Belarus, analysts suggest.

“Belarus is strategically placed on NATO’s eastern flank between Russia and western states,” Tsikhanouskaya’s advisor Viachorka says. “The less of a threat Belarus is, the less defense spending for America.”

Belarus is set to host the Zapad-2025 (West 2025) joint military drills with Russia in September. After the Russia-Belarus Union Resolve 2021 drills were used to disguise the buildup of Russian troops ahead of an all-out invasion, any joint drills in Belarus are now seen as a serious cause for concern among its neighbors.

In an apparent effort to assuage those fears, in May, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin announced the drills would involve fewer troops and would be held at a location further from the border.

The Kellogg visit, Latushka believes, also had the aim of determining whether Lukashenko is capable of altering his domestic or foreign policy, and the extent of the Kremlin’s influence over him.

Americanist and advisor to the Euro-Atlantic Affairs Agency Anton Penkovski told the Kyiv Independent that the Trump administration might be considering the possibilities for the “Finlandisation” of Belarus, a term that implies Minsk would loosen its military ties with Moscow without fully breaking off ties.

And while having nothing to lose in the event of negotiations failing, U.S. diplomats might also have been investigating Lukashenko’s ability to act independently and engage in separate negotiations in the event of Russia being weakened.

Indeed, Washington has a history of engaging with Minsk at times when tensions with Moscow heighten.

Viachorka, however, is not so sure.

“We often hear the message that we need to save Lukashenko from Russia, including from Belarusian propaganda,” he says. “But it’s Lukashenko who pushes Belarus closer to Russia because it’s comfortable for him.”

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Why Russian economy warnings might be the only thing out of Moscow you can actually believe

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

As Ukraine bleeds, Western opera welcomes back pro-Putin Russian singer Anna Netrebko

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 19:41:36 +0100

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 Opera House announced on June 23 that its 2025-2026 cinema season, which is screened across 1,500 cinemas around the world, will kick off in early October with a performance of “Tosca” starring Russian soprano opera singer Anna Netrebko.

Once a leading figure in the opera world, Netrebko saw her performances canceled after 2022, following a history of remarks where she praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and defended Russian imperialism.

Though she issued a statement condemning the full-scale invasion that year, Netrebko has stopped short of ever directly criticizing Putin, who granted her Russia’s highest artistic honor — the title of People’s Artist — in 2008.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, many Ukrainians have argued that Russian culture can’t be separated from the country’s history of imperialism — a worldview they say is deeply embedded in its literature, music and art, and continues to fuel its aggression toward Ukraine and beyond.

`What’s wrong with Netrebko`

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Metropolitan Opera in New York canceled a series of scheduled performances by Netrebko, reportedly expecting her to publicly denounce Putin.

In response, Netrebko filed a lawsuit in 2023 seeking at least $360,000 in damages and accusing the Met of defamation and breach of contract.

While she spoke out against the full-scale war in a statement from May 2022, Netrebko also declared “I love my homeland of Russia and only seek peace and unity through my art.”

Netrebko has repeatedly expressed views and took actions prior to 2022 that signaled admiration — even support — for the Russian authoritarian regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, conductor Valery Gergiev, and singer Anna Netrebko attend the opening of the new Mariinsky II Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 2, 2013. (Sasha Mordovets / Getty Images)

“I think she is always doing what benefits her career. Until 2022, being Putin’s ‘court soprano’ and a protege of conductor Valery Gergiev — another pillar of the Kremlin’s influence in the world, who was sanctioned by the government of Canada just few days ago — was very good for her,” Ukrainian classical pianist Pavlo Gintov, who lives and performs in the West, told the Kyiv Independent.

“Since 2022, Netrebko has been trying to balance two worlds: continuing her performances in the West while avoiding an open break with Putin’s regime. And, as you can see, so far she has been quite successful.”

After Russia’s invasion of Georgia, Netrebko told Russian state media in 2009, “I am always unambiguously for Russia,” dismissing international coverage of the war as “extremely negative” attacks on her country.

While Western cultural institutions rekindle ties with Russian artists, Ukrainian artists continue to be killed.

In a Newsweek profile from 2011, Netrebko laughed off rumors from the Russian tabloids claiming she had been Putin’s lover, adding “I’d love to have been” and that “he’s a very attractive man” with “strong, male energy.”

In 2014, Netrebko made a donation of one million rubles to an opera house in Russian-occupied Donetsk, claiming it was an act of solidarity for her fellow artists suffering from the war and that there was nothing political about it.

However, she was photographed alongside Oleg Tsaryov, a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician, at the event in St. Petersburg where she made the donation. Both were seen holding the flag of the Russian occupation forces in Donetsk.

Putin praised Netrebko's "life-affirming spirit" and "clear civic stance" in a public tribute marking her 50th birthday in 2021 that was published on the Kremlin's website.

“Only a photo with the bandits and their Moscow handlers could be a better illustration of the global disgrace of the Royal Opera House,” wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya on June 24 on X, formerly known as Twitter, referencing the notorious photo in response to the Royal Opera House’s lineup announcement.

Azerbaijani opera singer Yusif Eyvazov and Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko, perform on stage at the Thurn & Taxis Castle Festival in Regensburg, Germany, on July 23, 2022. (Isa Foltin / Getty Images)

People protest against opera singer Anna Netrebko's appearance at the Schlossfestspiele in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany, on July 22, 2022. (Ute Wessels / Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

`Larger trend`

Netrebko’s return to Western opera marks a tentative shift in the West’s cultural landscape, as institutions begin to welcome Russian artists back more than three years after their country’s full-scale war against Ukraine cast a long shadow over their global standing.

Among these cultural figures are those who support Putin outright, those who oppose the war, or those who are deliberately trying to blur the line between the two.

As Western institutions move toward reintegrating Russian cultural figures into their cultural programs, Moscow has intensified its military campaign against Ukraine, launching record numbers of drones and missiles with increasing frequency, causing greater casualties.

This thaw raises ethical questions about complicity and accountability, such as when Russian actor Yura Borisov’s 2024 Oscar nomination for best supporting actor in the film “Anora.”

Previously, Borisov starred in a Russian propaganda biopic about Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the AK-47, which was filmed in Russian-occupied Crimea and released in 2020.

Though Borisov’s name appeared on a 2022 statement by a Russian film actors’ union opposing the full-scale war, he didn’t mention it once during his major press tour for “Anora.”

(L-R) Russian actor Yura Borisov, Mikey Madison, and Mark Eydelshteyn speak onstage during the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California, U.S. on Feb. 23, 2025. (Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images)

Russian journalist Anastasia Trofimova also stirred outrage for her documentary “Russians at War,” which she claimed was meant to “humanize” Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine “beyond the fog of war.”

Ukrainians and their supporters sought to have the film removed from several international film festivals due to Trofimova’s previous involvement with Russian state media and the documentary’s attempt to dissociate Russian soldiers from war crimes committed in Ukraine. Despite these efforts, a number of screenings have taken place.

The film was screened at three festivals in Canada, and although it was pulled from a number of other international festivals over protests, it remained in competition at the Athens International Film Festival in 2024.

At the 2025 Photo London Festival, Russian fashion designer and photographer Gosha Rubchinsky presented his new photo book, “Victory Day,” which romanticizes Soviet army imagery that has been used to rally support amid Russians for the war against Ukraine.

While Western cultural institutions rekindle ties with Russian artists, Ukrainian artists continue to be killed — whether in Russia’s daily strikes on cities or while serving on the front line — underscoring the war’s unrelenting toll on Ukraine’s cultural life.

For many Ukrainians, the inclusion of Russian cultural figures in the West is extremely painful, Gintov said — an oversight that ignores the painful reality of a nation still fighting for its survival.

“All this is happening while Russian artists like Netrebko — who openly and vocally supported Putin’s policies for many years, including his invasion of Ukraine in 2014 — are gaining applause in Berlin and in London. Something is fundamentally wrong about it.”

Note from the author:

Hi there, it's Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading my latest article. On the same day I wrote this article, I also wrote another about my friend Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian author who was killed by Russia, posthumously winning a prestigious literary award. It's bitter and surreal to see the world begin to move on from caring about the ways Russian culture and Russian aggression are connected. Of course, this is not to say that every Russian artist is supportive of the war — but in Netrebko's case, there's a lot of past statements that raise troubling questions. If you like reading this sort of thing, please consider supporting us and becoming a member of the Kyiv Independent today.

‘Everyone says culture has nothing to do with it. It does’ — Ukrainian writer Volodymyr Rafeyenko on Russia’s war

Ukrainian author Volodymyr Rafeyenko never thought he would write a novel in Ukrainian. He was a native of Donetsk, an eastern Ukrainian city where he grew up speaking Russian and completed a degree in Russian philology. Early on in his career, he was the winner of some of Russia’s

The Kyiv IndependentLiliane Bivings

Trump could free all Belarus's political prisoners 'with a single word,' released oppositionist Tsikhanouski says

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 13:52:05 +0100

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 has the power and opportunity to free all political prisoners in Belarus with a single word. And I ask him to do so, to say that word,” Tsikhanouski said in Vilnius during his first press conference after the release.

Tsikhanouski, a popular blogger who planned to challenge Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, was arrested shortly before the vote and later sentenced to 18 years in prison on politically motivated charges.

The opposition leader and at least 13 other detainees were released from Belarusian prisons on June 21 after Lukashenko met U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, in Minsk.

Speaking at the press conference alongside his wife and opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Tsikhanouski affirmed that both of them “will continue to support Ukraine and call all of the perpetrators accountable."

Tsikhanouski confirmed that he used to do business both in Ukraine and in Russia but refuted allegations of pro-Russian sympathies, affirming his support for Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“I believe Crimea is Ukrainian. Zelensky has the hardest fate and a heavy load that no other president has. Zelensky is my hero,” Tsikhanouski said.

He also said that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya remains the leader of the Belarusian opposition, and he will not challenge that.

Tsikhanouskaya stepped in as the opposition candidate in 2020 after her husband’s arrest, but was forced into exile after Lukashenko declared victory in what was broadly seen as massive election fraud.

“Do you think that anybody who serves in prison automatically becomes a leader? We have 1,200 such leaders,” Tsikhanouski added, referring to the number of political prisoners who remain in prison under Lukashenko’s regime.

“Belarus can’t be free until the Putin regime collapses. If it wasn’t for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, we would not be sitting here; it would have been over (after the Belarus' popular protests against Lukashenko) in 2020-2021,” Tsikhanouski said.

Lukashenko, in power since 1994, is a close ally of Putin and has allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory for military operations against Ukraine.

The Belarusian dictator has maintained a tight grip over his country by electoral fraud, surveillance, and brutal crackdown on free press, civil society, and political opposition, prompting Western countries to impose sanctions on Belarus.

Russia ‘afraid to admit’ scale of losses, trying to hide by dumping soldiers’ bodies on Ukraine, Zelensky says

Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that at least 20 of the bodies Russia returned as Ukrainian were actually Russian soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Once firm, support for Ukraine among its neighbors wavers amid a populist surge

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:42:39 +0100

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 President-elect Karol Nawrocki’s election victory. Slovakia’s pro-Ukrainian government was ousted by Russian-friendly populists in the 2023 parliament elections, and Czechia may face a similar fate this year.

Pro-Western political forces have barely survived a pro-Russian takeover in Romania and Moldova, but the anti-Ukrainian parties remain powerful in both countries.

In contrast, the only actively pro-Russian government that has been in place since the start of the full-scale war, might soon lose an election of its own. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has exasperated Ukraine and Brussels with his obstinately pro-Kremlin stances, faces a realistic possibility of defeat next year.

Ukraine still has allies in the neighborhood. But when compared to 2022, the trend is clear — A steady erosion of solidarity among Ukraine’s partners in Central and Eastern Europe amid war fatigue, domestic concerns, and rising populism.

`Poland — from champion to cautious ally`

Unlike in many other countries, in Poland, a division between pro-Ukrainian and Ukraine-skeptic political forces cannot be neatly defined by party lines.

Case in point, President-elect Nawrocki is less sympathetic to Ukraine than his predecessor, Andrzej Duda, even though they both come from the same conservative camp centered around the Law and Justice (PiS) party.

The incoming Polish president is also taking a harder line on Ukraine than the centrist government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition. While the Tusk government has openly backed Kyiv’s NATO and EU aspirations, Nawrocki spoke out against both.

The historian-turned-president-elect has often employed historical grievances — namely, the World War II-era Volyn massacres — in his criticism, while denouncing Ukraine as “ungrateful” for Polish aid.

However, the vast majority of the Polish political spectrum, including the PiS, the current government, and Nawrocki, agrees that it is in Warsaw’s interest to continue supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Law and Justice party–backed then-presidential candidate, now President-elect Karol Nawrocki, attends the election night event in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

After all, it was the previous PiS government that helped millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the country at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, that sent tanks and MiG-29 fighter jets, and that turned eastern Poland into a key military aid hub for Ukraine.

The ties became strained later amid trade disputes, border blockades, and clashes over historical grievances, and did not disappear with the defeat of the PiS and Tusk’s victory in the 2023 elections.

Yet, Poland stands out — its fluctuating relationship with Ukraine doesn’t change the fact that in the country’s war with Russia, it is strongly on Kyiv’s side.

Ukraine is unlikely to lose Poland as its supporter, though Warsaw may not be the leading advocate for Ukrainian European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations it once was.

(Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

`Can Hungary shift course?`

As the region is sliding deeper into nationalist populism, Hungary may yet move in the opposite direction.

Peter Magyar, a renegade from Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, is taking Hungarian politics by storm. His Tisza party now leads polls, suggesting that Magyar has a good chance at dethroning Orban during the upcoming April 2026 parliamentary elections.

Orban has been in power in Hungary since 2010, with his tenure marked by clashes with the EU over human rights and the rule of law, warming relations with Russian and Chinese autocrats, and obstruction of military and political support for Kyiv.

Whether Magyar’s victory next year could bring change remains to be seen. The rising opposition leader visited Kyiv after a Russian attack on the Okhmatdyt hospital last July, but otherwise avoided making any clear commitments to Ukraine. And he has reasons to.

Peter Magyar holds a Hungarian flag during a protest in Budapest, Hungary, on March 15, 2025. (Janos Kummer/Getty Images)

“In order to win the elections, (Tisza) needs to win over voters from Fidesz, and, after 15 years of indoctrination, this will not be possible if Tisza takes a broadly pro-Ukrainian stance,” Csilla Fedinec, senior research fellow at HUN-REN Center for Social Sciences in Budapest, told the Kyiv Independent.

“In Hungary, the elections are free but definitely not fair.”

Dorka Takacsy, a research fellow at the Center for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy (CEID) and visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund, nevertheless says that Magyar might decide to support Ukraine to position himself as Orban's "polar opposite."

Magyar's victory is far from certain, however.

"There are insane disparities with regards not only in access to the media, but also finance-wise" between the "state party" Fidesz and the Tisza newcomers, Takacsy said, adding that "in Hungary, the elections are free but definitely not fair."

`Romania remains on Ukraine's side, but pro-Russian challenge grows`

Looking from Ukraine's perspective, Romania has avoided becoming "another Hungary" by the skin of its teeth, as numerous polls projected that anti-Ukraine and hard-right George Simion could win the presidential office this May.

Simion had strong chances, taking over the "sovereignist" banner from pro-Russian ultranationalist Calin Georgescu, who came in first in the annulled election last November but was barred from running again.

A far-right victory would have been a major upheaval for the key NATO member that was pivotal in helping Ukraine ship out its grain amid Black Sea blockades and provided a full Patriot air defense system.

Bucharest "will have a stable pro-EU, pro-NATO, and pro-Ukrainian force until the next parliamentary elections."

Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, a pro-EU centrist, defied expectations when he defeated Simion by a solid margin. This ensured "that Romania will stay on the pro-Western track," Sergiu Miscoiu, a political science professor at the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, told the Kyiv Independent.

Then-presidential candidate, now Romanian President Nicusor Dan and his partner Mirabela Gradinaru greet supporters after the first exit poll results on the day of the presidential election in Bucharest, Romania, on May 19, 2025. (Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images)

Romania's political woes are far from over, as Dan must now help broker a new government among pro-EU parties. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's pro-Ukrainian cabinet resigned after its candidate failed to advance past the first round of the presidential election.

If these negotiations are successful, "which is highly probable," Bucharest "will have a stable pro-EU, pro-NATO, and pro-Ukrainian force until the next parliamentary elections," Miscoiu added.

The specter of the massive right-wing, anti-establishment surge among Romanians persists, however.

Simion's party, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), went from 9% support in 2020 to 18% during last year's parliamentary vote, becoming the leading opposition force and the second-biggest party in the parliament. Its support only continues to surge, now hitting 38% in some surveys.

Such broad backing for a party whose leader has been banned entry to Ukraine due to what the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) called "systematic anti-Ukrainian activities" and who openly opposed military aid for Ukraine should be a worrying signal for Kyiv.

(Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

`Moldova's pro-EU path faces second challenge`

Just like in Romania, Moldova's pro-EU and pro-Ukrainian leadership has evaded defeat by Moscow-friendly opposition — but their fight is not over.

Moldova's small population, modest military, and limited economic capacity restrict its ability to play a major military role in the pro-Kyiv coalition. In spite of this, Chisinau has stood by Ukraine since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion and has become its partner on the path toward EU accession.

Pro-European President Maia Sandu won reelection in November 2024 by defeating Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor endorsed by pro-Russian ex-President Igor Dodon.

However, the simultaneous non-binding referendum on Moldova's EU aspirations showed only a razor-thin margin in support of the accession. Sandu cried foul, accusing Russia of an "unprecedented" interference in its favor.

Now, pro-Russian forces within the country are gearing up for another attempt to grab power, this time during the September parliamentary elections — a vote with potentially major ramifications in the semi-parliamentary republic.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu is pictured in Chisinau, Moldova, on April 2, 2025. (Kira Hofmann/Photothek for the German Federal Foreign Office via Getty Images)

Sandu's party, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), currently holds the majority, but faces a challenge from Dodon's Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS) and the Alternative, a political bloc co-founded by Stoianoglo.

"If Sandu's party loses majority in the parliament, Maia Sandu will be forced to cohabit with a parliament that is more powerful in terms" of approving the prime minister and the government, Miscoiu said.

In such a situation, Chisinau would not turn openly pro-Russian, the expert says. However, it would shift toward a "neutral" status that would allow the activation of various pro-Russian elements, some of which are currently banned in Moldova, and compromise the country's EU hopes, he added.

`Slovakia's U-turn under Fico, and what comes next`

Few European countries have seen such a radical foreign policy shift in recent years as Slovakia after the electoral victory of the populist, left-nationalist Robert Fico in the fall of 2023.

The nation that was one of the first to provide Ukraine with fighter jets — not to mention an S-300 air defense system, artillery, and more — now ranks alongside Orban's Hungary as the most Moscow-friendly government in the EU and NATO.

Fico's role as a disruptor has largely been about theatrics, from his meeting with Putin in Moscow last year to his appearance on Russian propagandist Olga Skabeyeva's channel and his presence at the Moscow Victory Day parades on May 9 — an event even Orban avoided.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (R) and President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik (L) arrive for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2025. (Contributor/Getty Images)

The Slovak leader has also clashed with Ukraine over the transit of Russian gas, halted military aid from (largely emptied out) Slovak military arsenals, and threatened to block the upcoming package of EU sanctions.

However, mass protests against Bratislava's pro-Moscow orientation and the dropping public support for coalition parties show that Fico's hold on power is far from secure.

Fico's foreign policy turn has also sparked criticism within the coalition. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, Fico's ally and founder of the co-ruling Hlas party, has rebuked the government for moving away from its Western partners and announced his visit to Kyiv.

Should Fico's grip on power continue to weaken, Slovakia's geopolitical course could change yet again.

`Czechia slipping away from Ukraine`

While not directly sharing borders with Ukraine, Czechia — lying less than 300 kilometers from the warring country — has been a significant player in both military and humanitarian assistance for Kyiv.

Since 2022, Czechia has provided shelter to some 400,000 Ukrainian refugees. Prague was also behind the international ammunition initiative, which provided Ukraine with 1.5 million high-caliber rounds in 2024 and an additional 400,000 as of the spring of 2025.

But the parties that oversaw these policies seem to have a slim chance of retaining the parliamentary majority in the upcoming October elections.

The populist ANO movement of billionaire and ex-Prime Minister Andrej Babis is leading Spolu — the center-right coalition that is the main force in the government — by some 10 percentage points, meaning Babis is very likely to return to power by the end of this year.

President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with Czech President Petr Pavel (L) in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 21, 2025. (The President’s Office)

In the runup to the vote, Babis has increasingly lambasted the government's support for Ukrainian refugees, arguing that it comes at the expense of Czech families. Babis's right-hand man, Karel Havlicek, even declared earlier this year that ANO would kill the ammunition initiative for Ukraine, though the party later muted this statement.

While ANO has largely tried to avoid the topic of Ukraine as a major topic, this now seems to change as Babis is fishing "in the anti-systemic waters," likely to counter the rise of the more radical and anti-Ukrainian SPD party, Pavel Havlicek (no relation), a research fellow at the Association for International Affairs in Prague, told the Kyiv Independent.

Paradoxically, the far-right SPD and the communist-led Stacilo! (Enough!) bloc appear to be ANO's most likely coalition partners. These radical groups "come with a very clear agenda undermining the course of Czech foreign policy," Havlicek said.

"At the same time, ANO has a weaker and less articulated position on most matters, which might further empower the smaller political actor(s) to take matters into their own hands, including taking over the Czech Foreign Ministry," he adds.

No matter the result of the parliamentary elections, Ukraine will continue to have a vocal advocate in President Petr Pavel – though presidential powers in Czechia are limited.

By mid-2025, support for Ukraine is showing signs of strain in Central and Eastern Europe. Yet, pro-Ukrainian forces have managed to score some surprising wins, showing that victory against the rising wave of pro-Russian populism is possible.

Ukraine war latest: 'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:09:22 +0100

Key developments on June 18:

‘Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first’ — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer
Ukraine kills collaborator tied to POW torture in occupied Berdiansk, intelligence source claims
Zelensky may reportedly skip NATO summit over uncertainty about Trump’s attendance
Ukraine dismisses Russia’s ‘absurd’ ceasefire condition for dismantling Western arms
Kellogg to meet Lukashenko in highest-ranking US visit to Belarus in years, Reuters reports

U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 18 that he had turned down Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to mediate the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

“I spoke to him yesterday, and, you know, he actually offered to help mediate. I said, do me a favor. Mediate your own,” Trump told reporters. “Let’s mediate Russia first, okay? I said, Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later."

Shortly after Trump’s statement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the U.S. president was speaking “figuratively” when referring to a conversation with Putin, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

“Life is so eventful these days that a retrospective covering several days is like looking back at yesterday,” Peskov added, implying there had been no such conversation on June 17.

Trump’s comments come just days after he had said he was “open” to the idea of Putin serving as a mediator between Israel and Iran, sparking criticism from U.S. allies. On June 15, Trump claimed Putin was “ready” and had discussed the possibility at length in a recent phone call.

Putin, whose country has been deepening military cooperation with Tehran, spoke separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 13. He condemned Israel’s air strikes on Iran and offered Russian mediation.

Those strikes, described by Israel as “preemptive,” involved 200 warplanes and 330 munitions targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. Iran responded with missile attacks on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, that killed at least five Ukrainian citizens on June 14.

Trump says Putin offered to mediate in the war between Israel and Iran.

Trump: “Do me a favor. Mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first. I said, Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.”

pic.twitter.com/2JOL6noPX3
— Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) June 18, 2025

Putin's offer of mediation has been dismissed by several Western leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia "cannot be a mediator," given its war against Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed that sentiment, saying on June 17 that Putin "cannot be trusted to mediate peace" while continuing to wage war on Ukrainian civilians.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on June 17 that Israel appeared unwilling to accept Moscow's mediation. Israel has not publicly commented on the offer.

Ukraine, which has been targeted by thousands of Iranian-made Shahed drones and missiles supplied to Russia, warned that Tehran is a "source of problems" both regionally and globally.

Despite Trump's latest rebuke of Putin's mediation ambitions, the U.S. president has continued to avoid placing additional sanctions on Moscow, even as the Kremlin refuses to agree to a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine.

For the first time, Australia sanctions Russian shadow fleet oil tankers

“Russia uses these vessels to circumvent international sanctions and sustain its illegal and immoral war against Ukraine,” Australia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

`Ukraine kills collaborator tied to POW torture in occupied Berdiansk, intelligence source claims`

During a targeted operation, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) killed Mykhailo Hrytsai, a senior collaborator with Russian occupation authorities in Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a HUR source told the Kyiv Independent on June 18.

According to the source, Hrytsai was directly involved in organizing repressions against the local Ukrainian population and establishing torture chambers for prisoners of war.

The collaborator was shot dead in the city using a silenced PM pistol, the source said.

Hrytsai served as the Russian-installed deputy mayor responsible for infrastructure, housing, utilities, and the energy sector. The source also said he facilitated the illegal seizure of municipal and state property in Berdiansk.

"There are still plenty of such targets — collaborators, accomplices of the enemy — in the occupied territories of Ukraine," the source said.

"We will definitely get to each and every one of them and put an end to their criminal activities by any means necessary: with or without a silencer, quietly or loudly, but always effectively."

A native of Poltava Oblast, Hrytsai had previously participated in Ukrainian political life. He was an assistant to a member of parliament and headed the Berdiansk branch of the Socialist Ukraine party before siding with Russian occupation forces.

Berdiansk, a port city on the Azov Sea, has been under Russian control since the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022. It remains a critical logistics hub for Russian forces, facilitating the transport of looted Ukrainian grain and other resources.

On Feb. 20, another targeted strike in Berdiansk killed Yevgeny Bogdanov, the deputy head of the Russian-installed administration, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.

‘Beyond cynical’ – Russian doctor carved ‘Glory to Russia’ scar on POW during operation, Ukraine says

After more than three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, each new revelation of cruel treatment of Ukrainians in Russian captivity hardly surprises anyone. But when a photo recently emerged online, showing a “Glory to Russia” scar on the body of a Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW), it sent shockwaves

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

`Zelensky may reportedly skip NATO summit over uncertainty about Trump's attendance`

President Volodymyr Zelensky may reconsider attending the NATO summit in The Hague, as questions remain over U.S. President Donald Trump's participation, the Guardian reported on June 17, citing unnamed Ukrainian officials.

According to the Guardian, some in Kyiv are unsure if Zelensky's presence at the June 24-25 summit would be worthwhile without a confirmed meeting with Trump, whom they had hoped to engage directly in efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into accepting a ceasefire.

Earlier, Zelensky had traveled to the G7 summit in Canada, hoping to meet one-on-one with Trump and push for stronger sanctions against Russia. Trump left the summit early, citing the crisis in the Middle East, and no bilateral meeting or joint G7 statement took place.

One official told the Guardian that Ukraine is in a "permanent hazard" of becoming a victim of "Trump's short attention span," adding that Russia has exploited this uncertainty by fresh aerial attacks. The source added that there had been "all sorts of promises for this summit," including U.S. arms.

The Russian attack on Ukraine that occurred during the G7 summit killed at least 24 civilians and injured 134 in Kyiv. Trump has not responded to the attack as of the day after.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reportedly said Trump had previously promised to attend the NATO gathering, though no official confirmation has been issued from Washington.

Despite the setback, Zelensky said the G7 meeting had concrete results for Ukraine. In a Telegram post on June 17, he thanked partners for increased military aid, new sanctions on Russia, and the decision to allocate frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

"It is important that our partners are ready not only to support our defense now, but also to rebuild Ukraine together after the war ends," he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a support package that includes 2 billion Canadian dollars ($1.5 billion) in military assistance and another $1.6 billion in reconstruction loans. The aid includes drones, armored vehicles, ammunition, and sanctions to disrupt Russia's energy revenues.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also unveiled new sanctions targeting Russia's military-industrial complex and 20 oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet."

Zelensky later told G7 leaders that "diplomacy is now in a state of crisis" and called on allies to press Trump to "use his real influence" to help end the war.

Ukraine has been invited to the NATO summit, and Zelensky previously called the invitation "important" during a June 2 press briefing. At the time, he did not confirm whether he would attend in person.

Ukraine won’t receive NATO invitation at The Hague summit, Lithuanian FM says

“This issue is certainly not on the NATO agenda and nobody has formulated an expectation that there will be an invitation in The Hague, nor have we heard that from the Ukrainians themselves,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said in comments quoted by the LRT broadcaster.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

`Ukraine dismisses Russia's 'absurd' ceasefire condition for dismantling Western arms`

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on June 18 brushed off Moscow's demands for Kyiv to destroy or dismantle Western-supplied weapons as a condition for a ceasefire, saying it shows disregard for U.S. peace efforts.

"Russian officials make new absurd demands almost every day. Total inadequacy," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on X.

"Moscow shows complete disregard for the United States' efforts to end the war."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko raised the demand in an interview with the state-run newspaper Izvestia earlier this week.

"All these surpluses must be destroyed. All international algorithms are known. They must be reduced, disposed of, and guaranteed," Grushko said.

The Kremlin has previously demanded a complete halt on Western military aid to Ukraine as a key condition for a truce. Kyiv and its European partners have rejected this, instead urging increased military assistance to the war-torn country.

The demand reflects Moscow's growing list of maximalist conditions presented in its so-called "peace memorandum" during negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2.

While the recent peace talks ended with an agreement on major prisoner exchanges and repatriation of fallen soldiers, they have failed to achieve a breakthrough in the peace talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who initially pledged to broker peace in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, has become increasingly disengaged in the effort. He has also been reluctant to apply pressure on Moscow to push it to a ceasefire deal despite repeatedly threatening additional sanctions.

‘He said he wasn’t going anywhere’ — Survivors search for missing following Russia’s deadliest attack on Kyiv this year

Sitting a few meters from the rubble of what used to be a nondescript nine-story residential building in Kyiv, Lilia rises to her feet every time another pile of debris is cleared from the site targeted by Russia during a mass overnight attack on June 17. “We are waiting (as

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

`Kellogg to meet Lukashenko in highest-ranking US visit to Belarus in years, Reuters reports`

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 talks to bring an end to Russia's war against Ukraine remain inconclusive, Reuters reported.

In February, U.S. Deputy Assistant State Secretary Christopher W. Smith visited Belarus alongside two other U.S. officials to conduct a prisoner swap in a similar unannounced visit.

Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and has been accused of staging fraudulent elections in Belarus. The leader declared a seventh consecutive presidential election victory in January.

Kellogg has given the impression that the meeting could help reinitiate largely unsuccessful peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, two sources told Reuters.

Lukashenko is seen as a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russia faces isolation in response to its full-scale war against Ukraine.

The White House has discussed ways to weaken Russia's influence on Minsk and bring Belarus closer to the United States, one of the sources said.

On Feb. 12, Smith drove to Belarus from Lithuania following a phone call with Lukashenko. The small U.S. delegation visited a border town where three political prisoners were transferred, including one U.S. citizen and two Belarusian citizens, the New York Times reported.

Lukashenko assured he was ready to decrease repression in Belarus, Smith said, adding that the U.S. wants Belarus to be less reliant on Russia.

Belarus has faced Western sanctions following a presidential election in 2020 that international observers condemned as fraudulent. The sham election garnered mass protests that rejected the results.

Minsk refused to invite a mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the country's Jan. 26 presidential election.

Belarus further isolated itself from the West as it supports Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

Note from the author:

Kellogg to meet Lukashenko in highest-ranking US visit to Belarus in years, Reuters reports

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 04:44:55 +0100

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 talks to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine remain inconclusive, Reuters reported.

In February, U.S. Deputy Assistant State Secretary Christopher W. Smith visited Belarus alongside two other U.S. officials to conduct a prisoner swap in a similar unannounced visit.

Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and has been accused of staging fraudulent elections in Belarus. The leader declared a seventh consecutive presidential election victory in January.

Kellogg has given the impression that the meeting could help reinitiate largely unsuccessful peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, two sources told Reuters.

Lukashenko is seen as a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russia faces isolation in response to its full-scale war against Ukraine.

The White House has discussed ways to weaken Russia’s influence on Minsk and bring Belarus closer to the United States, one of the sources said.

Lukashenko assured he was ready to decrease repression in Belarus, Smith said, adding that the U.S. wants Belarus to be less reliant on Russia.

Belarus has faced Western sanctions following a presidential election in 2020 that international observers condemned as fraudulent. The sham election garnered mass protests that rejected the results.

Minsk refused to invite a mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the country’s Jan. 26 presidential election.

Belarus further isolated itself from the West as it supports Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

‘He said he wasn’t going anywhere’ — Survivors search for missing following Russia’s deadliest attack on Kyiv this year

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Kyiv Pride march takes place, gathers international representatives, faces counterprotesters

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 20:24:43 +0100

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 represented, among others, by the Student Parliament of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and Ukraine Global Scholars,” Kyiv Pride said in a post to Facebook.

On June 7, a drone charity event for Kyiv Pride took place outside the Foreign Ministry building and was met with a nearby counterprotest.

The march was joined by representatives from the EU, Canada, the U.K., and various other countries, including France, Germany, and Spain.

The march was joined by the LGBT+ Military non-governmental organization (NGO) as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.

“Among the marchers was veteran Viktor Pylypenko, head of the NGO LGBT+ Military for Equal Rights. He drew public attention to the growing loss of military personnel and veterans who are dying at war — while their families remain unrecognized by law,” Kyiv Pride said in its statement.

The march raised 20,000 hryvnia for the Serhiy Sternenko Foundation to purchase drones for the military.

Representatives, including Canada’s ambassador to Ukraine, Natalka Cmoc, joined the event.

“Ambassadors, the Canadian embassy team, along with many diplomats, joined (the) Kyiv Pride march this morning,” Cmoc said.

The Kyiv Pride event was met with a nearby counterprotest.

“With regret, we must note that those who incite violence still have broader access to public space and freely walk through the central streets, while participants of Kyiv Pride March are surrounded by police and restricted in their route. We continue to witness the spread of hate speech,” Kyiv Pride said.

Kyiv Pride held a march in June 2024 for the first time since Russia began its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

‘Europe hasn’t decided what to do if US steps back’ — key takeaways from Zelensky’s closed-door briefing

“Both teams are working to ensure we meet,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 1 million, Putin faces an economic time bomb

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:35:56 +0100

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 change in tactics from Moscow as it gears up for more offensives this summer, and escalates drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

But behind the figure lies an economic time bomb that the Kremlin will find impossible to ignore.

"(Russian President) Vladimir Putin made a fundamental strategic mistake in deciding how to resource this war," George Barros, Russia team lead at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), told the Kyiv Independent.

“What Vladimir Putin has done is he has created a system in which he doesn’t use the monopoly of violence of the Russian state to coerce Russians to go fight and die in Ukraine, as the Soviet Union might have. What Putin has done is he’s created an alternative social contract where he pays you to go fight in Ukraine.

“That strategy can work if you’re planning on running a short war. It does not work if you are running a multi-year protracted war."

`Russia’s two armies`

Russia effectively has two armies — a conscript army, and a contract army.

Russia’s conscript army is the country’s standing armed forces that are required to defend Russia itself.

To maintain this force, the Kremlin conducts conscription twice a year, in spring and fall, requiring eligible men to serve for one year.

In the latest draft, Putin signed a decree on March 31 ordering the spring conscription of 160,000 men.

But crucially, conscripts by law are not allowed to be sent abroad to fight wars in foreign countries, something which is not only a legal contract, but a social contract that is deeply embedded in Russian society — civil society groups consisting of the mothers of conscripts are perhaps the only group of Russian citizens that Putin is still forced to respect and listen to.

This is where Russia’s contract army comes in.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, on May 28, 2025. (Contributor / Getty Images)

“When the full-scale invasion started, the Russians attacked Ukraine with what they call the contract servicemen, the professional military who have some experience, and (voluntarily) sign contracts for a fixed period of time,” Kateryna Stepanenko, Russia deputy team lead and analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), told the Kyiv Independent.

But Russia soon ran into a problem — the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Kremlin had envisioned a swift and easy victory over Ukraine, and the capture of Kyiv within a matter of days. This proved to be a disastrous miscalculation and instead, many of Russia’s most elite troops and modern equipment were obliterated by Ukrainian resistance.

As the war dragged on, and Russia’s losses mounted, Moscow needed to replenish its forces without drawing upon its conscript army and announcing a full mobilization to avoid unrest.

A partial mobilization announced in September 2022 led to the only widespread protests against the war inside Russia during the entire full-scale invasion, making clear to Putin that announcing anything more would cause him serious problems.

“The Russians realized that they were in a challenging political situation,” Stepanenko said.

The solution? Pay people to fight.

“It is the only way of recruitment for the war now because ideologically motivated recruits ended in spring-summer 2022 and partial mobilization of the fall 2022 created domestic political tensions and risks which were considered as unacceptable for the Kremlin in those circumstances,” Pavel Luzin, senior fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told the Kyiv Independent.

`The contract soldier’s price`

Russia’s mounting losses throughout the war created a double-edged problem — more and more replacements were needed, but attracting them to what was clearly such a high-risk endeavour necessitated increasing rewards.

The solution? Keep offering more and more money.

Sign up bonuses for joining the Russian army have ballooned over the course of the war. In July 2024, Putin ordered a doubling of the lump-sum payment offered to recruits in September 2022 to 400,000 rubles (over $5,000).

But this was just the base level payment — the Kremlin has placed recruitment quotas on Russian oblasts, meaning some have had to offer many times more than this in order to reach them.

“There are some oblasts in central Russia that are offering up to $40,000, 3 million rubles plus, just for a one-time sign-up bonus,” Barros said.

For context, the average Russian monthly wage in 2024 was $980, so a one-time sign up bonus of $40,000 is nearly four times higher than what the average worker can expect to make in a whole year.

But with such huge losses in Ukraine, the bill for the Kremlin is huge.

“They lose and recruit somewhere in the ballpark of 35,000 to 45,000 people per month, and perhaps they recruit a little bit north of that number,” Barros said.

More than 200,000 people have reported for service under partial mobilization in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 4, 2022. (Sefa Karacan / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Remains of Russian soldiers found in the Bakhmut battle zone, in Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on June 29, 2024. (Pablo Miranzo / Anadolu via Getty Images)

“At $40,000 a head just for the sign-up bonus, let alone salaries and other benefits and remittances if you’re killed or wounded, this is a very fast way to not be sustainable."

According to an analysis by economist Janis Kluge, Russia’s daily bill just for sign-up bonuses is $24 million.

The ballooning bills come at a time when Russia’s economy is already under huge strain from Western sanctions and falling oil and gas revenues.

“The implications for Russia are grave,” energy security analyst Wojciech Jakóbik wrote in an op-ed for the Kyiv Independent this week.

“Military spending has ballooned to 6.3% of GDP — its highest level since the Cold War — while the budget deficit continues to rise,” he added.

“To fund its war, the Kremlin is raiding reserves, raising taxes, and cutting social programs. Absent war spending, Russia might already be in recession."

`Could Russia’s economy collapse?`

Predictions about the imminent collapse of Russia’s economy have been made throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, yet so far it hasn’t crashed and burned as some expected.

But three years of sanctions are eroding the country’s fiscal stability, despite Moscow claiming otherwise.

Russian GDP growth has dropped precipitously this year as sanctions hamper its main sources of income — oil and gas revenue — and curb imports of components needed for its military-industrial complex.

According to Barros, making any predictions about whether or not the Russian economy is going to collapse is “supremely difficult to do,” but the signs for the Kremlin “don’t bode well."

“If you look at the current Russian economic indicators, for example their inflation rate, their overnight lending interest rates, Russian monetary constraints… government spending is out of control — it’s a very loose fiscal policy and so the economy is at risk of overheating,” he said.

“I don’t know to what extent the economy can continue to last."

Barros said one major thing to keep an eye on are the Russian banks that are taking on “tremendous amounts of debt” in order to finance the Russian economy and the Kremlin’s war machine in Ukraine.

“I suspect what will happen one day at the current rate is a Russian bank will have to default on its debt and that will trigger some sort of financial meltdown,” he said.

“I can’t name the time or the hour or the place, but it seems very much like Vladimir Putin today is writing checks that Vladimir Putin a year or two years from now will not be able to cash."

`Keeping up the pressure on the Russian economy`

Currently, Western sanctions against Russia are still in place and the EU has just announced its 18th package.

In the U.S., a bipartisan sanctions bill, introduced on April 1 by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Senate Democrat Richard Blumenthal, seeks to impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and raw materials.

This would deal another major blow to the Kremlin and its ability to wage war but U.S. President Donald Trump seems in little rush to hurry it through.

US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2025. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)

But the biggest factor in bringing down the Russian economy remains in the hands of Ukraine.

“We have to keep reminding ourselves that the key driver, the engine of Russia’s economic woes, is in fact its casualty rate and its losses on the battlefield in Ukraine,” Barros said.

“That is what is driving the need to recruit and replace 45,000 soldiers a month. That is what is destroying all the main battle tanks. That is what is actively destroying the Russians.

“And the minute the Ukrainians become less lethal, the minute that the Ukrainians do not impose those heavy losses on Russia at the same scale, then the economic picture becomes much better for the Kremlin."

Putin’s suspected daughter found working in anti-war galleries in Paris

Nastya Rodionova, a Russian writer and artist who has been based in Paris since 2022, had only met gallery manager Luiza Rozova in passing at events before she learned who the 22-year-old’s parents were. Described by a number of people as a “very nice and well-mannered girl,” Rozova is

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

'Ukrainians have been stripped of illusion of control' — Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai on Russia's war, cinema and reclaiming the narrative

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:14:50 +0100

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 says. “Who needed directors or screenwriters, then? At most, volunteers were needed, but hardly anyone involved in filmmaking."

The urgency of documenting the war soon became clear, but emotionally picking up a camera didn’t come easily. The 36-year-old filmmaker struggled with fear and doubt, knowing any shot she filmed could be her last.

“It felt scary that you’re filming, and these could be your last shots because now a missile will hit here. And that’s all that will be left of you."

Yet, she did return. In 2023, Gornostai began working on her first film following the start of the full-scale war.

Her latest documentary “Timestamp,” was screened at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival — making her the first Ukrainian director in nearly three decades to compete for the Golden Bear. The last was Kira Muratova’s “Three Stories” in 1997.

Gornostai attended the Berlinale only briefly, arriving just for the film’s screening on Feb. 20, days after giving birth to her son.

“Timestamp” follows students and teachers across different parts of Ukraine, including cities regularly pounded with Russian missiles and drones, showing what everyday school life looks like in the war-torn country.

The film is both intimate and unflinching, offering a glimpse into how kids endure the hardship of growing up under constant bombardment.

Gornostai dedicated the film to her younger brother Maksym, killed in action in 2023 while she was still filming.

On June 11, the movie premiered in Ukraine.

“It should be both fun and sad at the same time,” she told the Kyiv Independent days before the screening. “That’s what we hope for."

Author Yuri Andrukhovych on Ukrainian dissident art in Soviet times

In Soviet times, being a pro-Ukrainian artist was dangerous. The Soviet secret police were particularly brutal in Ukraine, given that it was a country with a long history of resistance to Russian rule. Still, new generations of artists remained committed to their culture in the face of widespread Russification. Among

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

`Childhood and war`

Themes of school and adolescence are in the spotlight of Gornostai’s work, with autobiographical and personal elements running through it.

Just over a month before Russia launched its all-out invasion, Gornostai’s debut feature film “Stop-Zemlia” premiered in Ukraine in January 2022. The movie earned recognition both at home and abroad, winning the Crystal Bear in the Berlinale Generation 14plus section, a category for movies that explore the life of children and teenagers.

A screenshot from “Timestamp” documentary, Gornostai’s latest film, that was screened at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. (Timestamp)

“Timestamp” has the same focus, yet different story, showing a new reality that Ukrainian education is facing — remote learning, damaged infrastructure, constant air raids, studying in the subway, and the psychological trauma of kids at war.

One of the most important scenes in the film for Gornostai is the funeral of the school principal in the town of Romny, Sumy Oblast, killed in a Russian drone strike on the local school in August 2023.

It’s the only moment in the film where Russia is directly accused of aggression against Ukraine, the phrase spoken by a priest.

“Because already, so much pain has touched nearly every person. Everyone has experienced some kind of loss — from their homes to their loved ones. Many have lost the most precious thing of all: life itself.”

"This school didn't live to see its hundredth anniversary, which would've been next year. It survived World War II, but it didn't survive this war," Gornostai says.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, around 3,500 educational institutions have been damaged, and around 400 completely destroyed, Deputy Education Minister Yevhen Kudriavets said in late February of 2024.

`Turning point`

The Euromaidan Revolution was a turning point for Ukraine — and for a new generation of filmmakers, including Kateryna Gornostai.

She was studying in Moscow at the time of the Maidan protests in 2013 but returned to Kyiv to document the unfolding events.

"We all started making documentaries that explored civil society," she says. "It was a moment of growth — personal and professional. You're filming real events but also thinking about how they'll come together as a story."

She made two documentaries during that time — "Maidan is everywhere" and "Euromaidan." Rough Cut, of which she was a co-author. While many turned their cameras toward the front lines of Russia's war in Ukraine's east that followed, Gornostai chose a different path.

"I'm very scared," she admits. "Even on Maidan, I couldn't stand between the Berkut (riot police) and the protesters like some of our colleagues. I stayed in the rear, and I remember thinking — there are stories here, too."

More than a decade later, she sees that moment as the foundation of a powerful wave of Ukrainian cinema.

"(The Euromaidan Revolution became) a separation from that post-Soviet, Eastern European blend — because it used to feel like our cinema was perceived as part of Russian cinema prior.

`Russian propaganda`

During the interview, Gornostai's tone sharpens when the conversation turns to Russia's cultural influence.

For decades, Moscow cast a long shadow over Ukrainian cinema. Even after Ukraine's independence, Russian money and distribution networks kept a grip on the country's film industry.

That influence didn't vanish with the invasion — it just evolved. Since the start of the war шт 2014 against Ukraine, Russia's film industry has shifted to propaganda.

A portrait of Kateryna Gornostai after the interview in Sens bookstore in Kyiv, Ukraine on June 2, 2025 (Elena Kalinichenko/The Kyiv Independent)

Yet, Russian films still screen at major international festivals, and Russian actors who support the war against Ukraine continue to win awards.

"Movies are just one small part of a much bigger (Russian) cultural push," Gornostai says.

"In fact, there is a huge campaign that has lasted for many, many decades, involving enormous financial resources, all aimed at creating an image (abroad). This is something that we (in Ukraine) have not done. And what we are trying to do now is to build some kind of postcolonial lens through which Ukraine should now be seen."

“Most of the films that have been screened somewhere weren’t made thanks to the circumstances in Ukraine, but rather in spite of them.”

Abroad, she says, fascination with Russian culture persists, while the understanding of Ukraine still lags behind.

"The fact that there are signs of genocide committed by Russia and that the Holodomor could have already been recognized as a genocide a century back — very few people know that abroad. But they do know the great Russian ballet, literature — all those things that were deliberately built up, promoted, and became part of a certain stereotype."

According to Gornostai, for a long time, there was a prevailing belief in Ukraine that the answer to Russian propaganda should be counter-propaganda. But she thinks that Ukraine should be creating high-quality cinema, not propaganda of its own.

"We simply need something completely different that will make us stand out and represent ourselves on the international stage. I think quality is very important now in this world," she adds.

Gornostai believes that the current crisis in Ukrainian cinema stems more from domestic policy than the war itself. Even before Russia’s full-scale invasion, government inaction had weakened the industry.

Debris from damaged buildings lies in the street and a destroyed billboard with Gornostai's movie "Stop-Zemlia" after shelling near Lukianivska metro station in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 14, 2022. (Oleksii Samsonov / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Following the invasion, funding for the State Film Agency was slashed. In 2025, only Hr 204.1 million ($4.9 million) is allocated, nearly 70% less than in 2024.

“Most of the films that have been screened somewhere weren’t made thanks to the circumstances in Ukraine, but rather in spite of them,” says Gornostai. “They were funded either by private money, individual initiatives, or through international grants, producers, or festival pitching awards that made production possible. Documentary filmmaking can survive in this way.”

A standout example is “20 Days in Mariupol” by director Mstyslav Chernov, which documented the Russian siege of the city in 2022 and won Ukraine’s first Oscar in 2024 for Best Documentary.

“This is a huge victory for the truth itself. It preserves and engraves the history of Mariupol and no one will be able to distort it anymore,” Gornostai says.

`Post-war script`

Gornostai's new feature film, "Antonivka," is expected to be released in 2027. Set in the aftermath of Ukraine's victory in the war, the film explores death.

"Even when this war ends, it won't truly be over," says Gornostai. "Because already, so much pain has touched nearly every person. Everyone has experienced some kind of loss — from their homes to their loved ones. Many have lost the most precious thing of all: life itself."

She believes that once the war ends, there will be a difficult period of collective reckoning — a time when people begin to process their grief. Her film, she says, is an attempt to open that conversation.

"There's this ephemeral law that time heals. It works very strangely. It doesn't really heal. That's not the whole phrase," Gornostai says. "Time simply passes, and it's as if layers of new experiences start to build up after that very significant moment in your life — for example, the death of someone close to you. These layers grow, and it's as if they gradually distance you from that moment."

"That's the subject I'm grappling with now — and it's a subject many others are facing too," she continues. "How do we grieve that kind of loss? How do we reflect on it? The film deals with many kinds of deaths, but at its core, one of its central elements is the acceptance of your own death — the one that awaits you."

One of the central figures in the film is an elderly man who lived through famine and war. As Gornostai speaks, she recalls her two grandfathers who passed away.

"Ukrainians have now been stripped of the illusion of control," the filmmaker says. "But still, I'd like to have the privilege of dying at a time when I know that my family will remain here, that people speaking the Ukrainian language will remain here, and that there is peace and life on this land. And that I am leaving it behind. Not dying in a moment of total turbulence and uncertainty about what will happen tomorrow — as if I'm leaving everyone in the middle of that."

"So this is another privilege: a privilege to die in a free country. And this is one of the motivations for making this film."

Wondering where to start with Dostoevsky? Try his Ukrainian contemporaries instead

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a growing debate has emerged over the cultural and political legacy of Russian literature — particularly the global reverence for classic Russian authors, which critics argue has long served to promote the imperial narratives embedded in their work. As

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Note from the author:

Hello there! This is Kateryna Denisova, the author of this piece. As Russia’s war against Ukraine grinds on, Ukrainian filmmakers like Kateryna Gornostai are capturing stories that reveal the reality on the ground.

I hope many people will watch these films and learn more about Ukrainian cinema and its directors through interviews like this one.

Your support helps make this work possible. Please consider contributing to sustain our reporting.

Kyiv Pride drone charity event takes place, faces counterprotest

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 03:32:17 +0100

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 Sternenko Foundation.

On April 19, a clash broke out between police and far-right protesters outside the Zhovten cinema in Kyiv, where the Sunny Bunny LGBTQ+ film festival took place.

“This is a cultural and educational charity event. Today we will have several educational lectures, during which we will collect money for drones,” Kyiv Pride organizers told local media.

Counterprotesters stood nearby, chanting anti-LGBTQ+ slogans as the Kyiv Pride charity event took place outside the Foreign Ministry building.

Kyiv Pride’s previously planned event was cancelled amid police pressure on the National Expo Center of Ukraine (VDNG), the event organizers said.

“This year, the police did everything they could to cancel our event. They even intimidated the management of VDNG — the National Expo Center of Ukraine… Unfortunately, under such pressure, VDNG made the decision to cancel our event,” Kyiv Pride said in a post to Facebook on June 6.

Public support for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine has grown in recent years, but the community continues to face frequent threats and violence, particularly from far-right groups. Events such as Pride marches and queer cultural festivals are often targeted by the far right.

A 2023 poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that over 70% of Ukrainians believe LGBTQ+ people should have the same rights as others.

Kyiv Pride held a march in June 2024 for the first time since Russia began its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Wondering where to start with Dostoevsky? Try his Ukrainian contemporaries instead

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

EU tariffs on Ukrainian goods return after 3 years of war, complicating Kyiv's path to European integration

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:53:40 +0100

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.

The end of tariff-free trade comes amid mounting opposition to Ukrainian exports — and Ukraine’s EU accession — from eastern European bloc members, including Poland and Hungary.

While a transitional agreement will govern trade to the end of 2025, negotiations between Brussels and Ukraine for a more favorable long-term agreement began on June 2, according to European Pravda.

The temporary arrangement from June 6 allows for more liberal trade than established under earlier rules. But tariffs will return in full starting in 2026 — unless talks in Brussels succeed in updating the pre-war framework.

The talks will test the EU’s ability to balance concerns from member states with Ukraine’s closer integration into the trading bloc.

Who is Nawrocki, Poland’s new president, and what could his narrow victory mean for Polish-Ukrainian relations?

In a closely contested presidential runoff, conservative historian Karol Nawrocki has been declared the winner of Poland’s 2025 presidential election, securing 50.89% of the vote against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski’s 49.11%. The result marks a significant shift in Polish politics, with consequences for both the domestic and

The Kyiv IndependentAleksander Palikot

`How wartime trade relief for Ukraine impacted EU states`

The so-called Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) were introduced in June 2022 shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They removed tariffs that applied to some Ukrainian agricultural goods under a 2016 trade agreement, including sugar, honey, wheat, and poultry.

Along with “solidarity lanes," which established alternative logistics routes, the 2022 trade measures facilitated the export of Ukrainian agricultural goods by land, bypassing Ukrainian ports blockaded by Russia in the Black Sea.

With maritime exports paralyzed, overland shipments to EU neighbors — especially to Poland, Romania, and Hungary — surged, provoking protests from local farmers who claimed Ukrainian goods were overwhelming markets and lowering prices.

Although Brussels initially intervened to curb Ukrainian imports, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary applied unilateral bans on some Ukrainian goods in September 2023, citing national security issues but defying EU trade rules.

The influx following the trade measures set to expire on June 6 has been touted as a sign of Ukraine’s incompatibility with the EU. The issue was on the campaign agenda in the recent Polish presidential election, with both candidates voicing concerns over Ukrainian agricultural imports.

According to Svitlana Taran, policy analyst at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, the 2022 trade measures were not the main driver of the surge.

“Politicians have accused ATMs as the primary reason for this situation, which is not the case,” she told the Kyiv Independent.

“This was an exceptional situation caused by the sudden collapse of Ukraine’s main export routes. The influx was not caused by the removal of tariffs, but by Russia’s invasion and blockade, and insufficient transport capacities. The suspension of tariffs was just one of the factors, and after Ukraine unblocked Black Sea channels, this situation was eased."

European imports of Ukrainian products whose tariffs were lifted did initially spike to an unprecedented level of over 900 million euros, but then quickly declined. Imports of these goods are now generally higher than they were before the full-scale invasion, but not at unprecedented levels.

“This example cannot be used to frighten EU farmers that it would be a normal situation if they open their markets to Ukrainian agriculture,” Taran added.

There is also little evidence that Ukrainian products affected prices in bordering countries.

“We looked at (prices) for sugar and found no evidence,” Stephan Cramon-Taubadel, chair of Agricultural Policy at the University of Gottingen, told the Kyiv Independent.

“I currently have some preliminary results that show slightly depressed local prices for wheat in eastern Polish regions bordering Ukraine in parts of 2023 and 2024, but it’s much less than it’s made out to be, and something that the EU could easily compensate."

Nevertheless, Brussels will not renew the ATMs following longstanding pressure from eastern European countries looking to appease the farmers' lobby.

In wartime Ukraine, a university grows — and reclaims a space once reserved for the corrupt

Once the playground of disgraced Ukrainian politicians, a golf club in Kyiv’s Soviet-era Obolon neighborhood is now set to become the new campus of the Kyiv School of Economics, which last month bought the site for $18 million as part of a $40 million investment — the largest private investment

The Kyiv IndependentLiliane Bivings

`More roadblocks on Ukraine’s European path`

The reversion to pre-war rules is a step back for Ukraine’s exporters.

The EU has become a closer trading partner for Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began. Over 60% of Ukraine’s exports now go to the EU, relative to about 40% before the war.

Reverting to the pre-war rules may pose challenges to Ukrainian exporters, who have adapted to trade with fewer tariffs.

“It’s a challenge, because it’s not something businesses were fully prepared for,” Veronika Movchan, academic director at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, told the Kyiv Independent.

“Many hoped that the measures would continue, at least to some extent. I expect that some businesses made decisions based on the existing regime."

The Ukrainian Agribusiness Club estimates that, in 2025, Ukraine will lose up to 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in foreign exchange earnings under the temporary measures, and 3.3 billion euros ($3.7 billion) next year if no agreement is reached.

But there may even be barriers to reverting back to the 2016 trading rules, given the fraught politics surrounding the bans currently imposed by Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

“It’s not even apparent that, when the free trade measures expire on Friday, these countries will lift the bans,” said Movchan.

“Some member states even imposed bans on goods that didn’t have any barriers before the war, such as sunflower seeds and rapeseed."

The episode highlights the potential for domestic politics within the EU and bilateral disputes to impede closer trade relations with Ukraine.

It also demonstrates the opportunities for Russia to attempt to derail this process.

“One thing we shouldn’t underestimate is presumably largely Russian propaganda,"
Cramon-Taubadel said.

“If we look at the channels from which some farmers are getting their information, there is much unsubstantiated fear-mongering claiming that imports from Ukraine are depressing prices."

Controversial Russian literature prize sparks debate on separating culture from war crimes

Launched to promote Russian literature on the global stage during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the new Dar (“Gift”) literary prize is already mired in controversy — and not just for its troubling timing. After Ukrainian author Maria Galina declined the award for her wartime chronicle of Odesa, attention shifted

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Slovak parliament urges government to oppose new Russia sanctions

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:42:02 +0100

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 resolution argues that the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have driven up energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and harmed Slovak industry.

The resolution calls on government ministers to “defend national economic interests” in international forums and resist further punitive measures targeting Moscow.

The motion was introduced by the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS) and passed with the support of 51 of the 76 lawmakers present.

All SNS deputies backed the measure, along with most members of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s left-wing Smer-SD party, several from the coalition partner Hlas-SD, and some independents.

Only one Hlas-SD lawmaker, Jan Ferencak, voted against the resolution; 23 others from the same party abstained. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote entirely.

While Fico’s Smer party has drawn criticism for its increasingly pro-Russian rhetoric, the SNS promotes a “pan-Slavic brotherhood” narrative that aligns closely with Kremlin talking points.

The resolution does not carry legal force but sends a political signal that could complicate Brussels' efforts to maintain consensus on sanctions.

EU foreign policy decisions, including sanctions, require unanimous approval by all member states. A Slovak veto could force concessions or delay enforcement in future rounds.

Since taking office in 2023, Fico has reversed Slovakia’s previous pro-Ukraine policy, ending military aid to Kyiv and questioning the value of EU sanctions on Russia.

The EU’s sanctions regime currently targets over 2,400 Russian individuals and entities involved in the war, as well as key sectors of the Russian economy, including energy, finance, defense, and technology.

Hiding in plain sight — how Russia’s cultural centers continue to operate in US, Europe despite espionage claims

In the video, Russian activist Anna Kiryakova reads from a book of poetry that glorifies her country’s war against Ukraine. The anthology’s title — “Poetry of the Russian Winter” — is written with the Latin Z in place of its Russian analog. The inclusion of that one letter aligns the

The Kyiv IndependentLinda Hourani

'Serious setback' for democracy — EU condemns Russia-style foreign agents law in Georgia

Sat, 31 May 2025 23:22:15 +0100

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 published on May 31, top EU officials Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos criticized the Georgian foreign agents law, which requires civil society organizations that receive international funding to register as “foreign agents.” The law officially came into effect on May 31.

The EU called the law a “serious setback for the country’s democracy” that “represents another aggressive action by the Georgian authorities to suppress dissent, restrict freedoms, and further shrink the space for activists, civil society, and independent media."

The ruling Georgian Dream party, which currently holds a parliamentary majority, passed the contentious law earlier in April 2025, alongside other “repressive measures [that] threaten the very survival of Georgia’s democratic foundations and the future of its citizens in a free and open society."

The statement also noted that Georgia’s “accession process has been de facto halted.” Georgia first received EU candidate status in December 2023, but its accession process has been hampered by growing authoritarianism in the country.

The EU reiterated its call for Georgian authorities to heeds their citizens' demands for democracy and a European future and urged the “release all unjustly detained journalists, activists, protesters, and political leaders."

“The EU is ready to consider the return of Georgia to the EU accession path if the authorities take credible steps to reverse democratic backsliding,” the statement emphasized. “The responsibility lies solely with the Georgian authorities."

Mass protests erupted in Georgia following the contentious parliamentary elections in October 2024, in which Georgian Dream maintained its majority amidst reports of ballot stuffing, intimidation, and other electoral irregularities. Protestors have also cited the foreign agents law as a source of discontent.

Georgia’s foreign agents law closely mirrors a similar law that was passed in Russia and weaponized by the Kremlin to clamp down on civil society. First introduced in 2012 and significantly expanded in 2022, Russia’s foreign agents law is yet another one of Moscow’s primary tools for suppressing criticism.

NATO officials reject Russian demand to halt expansion, media reports

According to NATO sources cited by Radio Liberty, the written pledge Moscow demands is unrealistic. “It’s not something they (Russia) can just get,” one diplomat said.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

'He was kidnapped' — Georgian opposition leader detained as ruling party continues crackdown on dissent

Fri, 30 May 2025 04:38:34 +0100

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 parliamentary committee probing former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s time in power.

The opposition leader was arrested just before he was scheduled to appear on a television show, Melia’s associates said.

“I do not know what his detention was connected with. In fact, he was kidnapped. They acted aggressively and without explanation,” Melia’s lawyer, Georgy Kondakhashvili, claimed.

The ruling “Georgian Dream” party has tightened its grip on power, passing a foreign agents law similar to Russia’s. Mass protests erupted in Georgia in 2023 and 2024 in response to moves by authorities, which have isolated the country from the West.

Many opposition figures have not recognized Georgia’s ruling party, following disputed parliamentary elections in December 2024.

Melia’s commission hearing was postponed from May 29 to May 30, he has refused to attend the proceeding thus far.

Kondakhashvili claims there are no legal grounds for Melia’s arrest and says the charges were likely fabricated to forcibly bring the opposition leader to the hearing he has boycotted.

Melia does not view the parliament and commission led by the “Georgian Dream” party as legitimate, and in late April, refused to pay a bail of 50,000 lari ($18,200), NewsGeorgia reported.

Georgia’s accession to the EU has been suspended due to the actions of the ruling authorities since the spring of 2024, the European Commission said in October.

Georgia applied for EU candidate status in March 2022, following Ukraine, which applied in February 2022.

‘No one has seen it yet’ — Zelensky slams Russia for stalling on ceasefire memorandum ahead of Istanbul talks

“The so-called memorandum they promised and claimed to be preparing for more than a week — no one has seen it,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

Detention, pressure, threats — US pastor in Ukraine tells the Kyiv Independent about his encounter with Russians

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:56:18 +0100

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 threats from the Russian military.

Only an intervention by the U.S. State Department saved him.

“On the morning of March 19, several military vehicles and a couple of civilian cars stopped outside our home. Around 15 Russian soldiers were in full gear, wearing balaclavas and carrying shields… They treated me like a Mexican drug lord. They jumped over the fence, went through neighboring yards, and entered from all sides at once,” Bodyu recalls in an in-depth interview for the Kyiv Independent’s new investigative documentary “No God But Theirs."

The pastor and his family were warned by the U.S. Embassy and given advice to leave Melitopol one month before the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine started. But Bodyu decided he could not abandon his Church.

During his detention, Russian special services repeatedly accused him of working for the CIA and demanded that he disclose his call sign and his “handler from Langley,” he says.

“It felt like being in a psychiatric ward — you’re an absolutely normal, healthy person, but they try to convince you that you’re a schizophrenic, you just don’t know it, and that soon you’ll realize you’re exactly where you should be,” Bodyu recalls.

Meanwhile, Russian soldiers threatened to kill him.

They took whatever they wanted. There are no laws; nothing functions in the occupied territories.

"The soldiers said: 'We have orders to shoot you. Now, we will question you. We know who you are, what you are. You're a CIA employee, a spy. You gave away our positions, our people died because of you. You led protests in the city, you're giving money to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, you lead the partisans here' — things like that," the pastor says.

After eight days, his time in detention was cut short.

Russia’s persecution of Ukrainian clergy is part of an organized genocidal campaign

In 1953, Polish-American lawyer Raphael Lemkin, the man who coined the term “genocide,” wrote a text titled Soviet Genocide in Ukraine. In it, Lemkin spoke not only about the Holodomor — the man-made famine organized in Ukraine by Stalin in 1932–1933 that claimed the lives of around 4 million people

The Kyiv IndependentDanylo Mokryk

"We had an interrogation (with an FSB operative) during the day, and in the evening, he comes in and says, 'Well, that's it, you're going home.' And I'm like, 'What do you mean? That's unexpected.' He says, 'It was unexpected for us too, believe me.' I ask, 'So who decided I should go home?' He says, 'They decided up top.' I say, 'What do you mean? God decided?' He says, 'No, Moscow decided to release you.'"

After his release, Bodyu and his family left Melitopol.

They are now living near Kyiv. In Melitopol, his Pentecostal Church "Word of Life" was officially banned by the Russian occupation authorities a day after Christmas — on Dec. 26, 2022. The Church's building is now occupied by a department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Russian authorities also confiscated all of Bodyu's businesses (he owned seven cafes and restaurants in Melitopol).

"I call them pirates. That's what they are — pirates. They took whatever they wanted. There are no laws; nothing functions in the occupied territories." Bodyu says.

In the investigative documentary "No God But Theirs," the Kyiv Independent's journalists also identified several officials implicated in the persecution of Ukrainian Christians in Melitopol.

Besides Dmytro Bodyu's Church, the Russian-occupation authorities also banned several other Churches — Melitopol's largest Protestant Church "New Generation," the Baptist Church "Grace" and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church subordinated to the Vatican.

They were stripped of all property, and their buildings now housed different Russian institutions.

‘A serious crisis’ — pro-Russian leader in Bosnia threatening peace in the Balkans

Wed, 28 May 2025 15:41:36 +0100

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 office.

But three months later, little has changed.

Dodik remains at the helm of Republika Srpska, one of two autonomous entities that make up the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Despite an international warrant for his arrest, Dodik has repeatedly visited one of his biggest backers, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, using those visits to fan the flames of ethnic separatism at home.

Dodik’s embrace of the Russian strongman emphasizes the Kremlin’s outsized role in destabilizing Bosnia and Herzegovina.

But it also reflects a local struggle: After years of growing tensions, Dodik is now in open confrontation with the central government and using Russia to bolster his position.

Experts say that risks dragging the country into the greatest crisis since it was torn apart by civil war and genocide in 1992-1995.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik (L) during a meeting on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 6, 2024. (Anton Vaganov / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

“The situation is tense and unpredictable,” said Nebojsa Vukanovic, a member of the political opposition in Republika Srpska.

Dodik’s office did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

`Moscow’s man in the Balkans`

This year alone, Dodik has already made two visits to Russia.

He first turned up in Moscow in March. Then, he returned on May 9, as Russia marked Victory Day.

In an interview with the Russian state-owned news agency TASS, he described Putin as a “person who understands perfectly well where the world is” and praised the invasion of Ukraine.

Though the trips were international, experts believe the motivation is domestic.

With roughly 1.2 million people, Republika Srpska comprises a third of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The vast majority of the region’s residents are ethnic Serbs.

Dodik was first elected the region’s prime minister in 1998. Since then, he has come to dominate its politics.

During that time, he has often relied on threats of secession to garner support among the region’s ethnic Serb majority, according to Aleksandar Savanovic, a political sciences professor at the University of Banja Luka, the regional capital.

Until 2022, such threats were “a good way to win elections without real plans to create Republika Srpska as an independent state,” he said.

Then, around the time when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dodik saw an opening to solidify Moscow’s support for his regime.

“Bosnians very well understand what’s happening in Ukraine because we went through the same thing in the 1990s.”

Savanovic suggests the Bosnian Serb leader believed the Kremlin would look favorably on a more brazen secessionist policy. “It was a good moment to protect his power,” he said.

Since then, Dodik has held multiple meetings with Putin and has become one of the Russian invasion’s most vocal supporters in Europe. Much to the chagrin of Western leaders, his comments regularly echo false Kremlin talking points – including the “extermination of the Russian population in Ukraine” and Ukraine’s “bombings” in the country’s eastern regions.

Ismet Fatih Cancar, a former advisor to the minister of security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and an expert on international security in the Balkans, emphasizes that similar ethnic allegations of repressions against Bosnia’s Serb population underpin Dodik’s secessionist aims.

Those claims date back to the 1990s, when Serb nationalists’ attempt to preserve an ethnically homogenous state fueled a civil war and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

But Cancar believes they are “completely out of reality.”

A Bosnian special forces soldier returns fire as Serbian snipers open fire on a rally in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on April 6, 1992. (Mike Persson / AFP via Getty Images)

Bosnians mourn over coffins of Srebrenica massacre victims during preparations for a mass burial in Potocari, near Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 10, 2010. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images)

“I think Bosnians very well understand what’s happening in Ukraine because we went through the same thing in the 1990s,” he said.

Dodik isn’t the only one who stands to gain from efforts to destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cancar thinks Russia would also benefit “from having another conflict that will divert attention from Ukraine.”

`Showdown in court`

Although separatist rhetoric is not new in Republika Srpska, the tipping point came in 2023, when Dodik supported the passage of a controversial measure to suspend the rulings of Bosnia’s Constitutional Court inside Republika Srpska.

That threatened to undermine the foundations of peace in the country.

Under the Dayton Accords, which ended the civil war in 1995, a high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina is tasked with overseeing the civilian implementation of the agreement. Since 2021, German politician Christian Schmidt has held that position.

Controversially, the high representative has the power to impose and annul laws.

On July 1, 2023, Schmidt did just that: He annulled the Republika Srpska judicial measure against the Constitutional Court and amended the criminal code to make defying the “constitutional order” a crime.

Dodik signed the measure Schmidt annulled into law anyway. Prosecutors filed an indictment against him the following month.

High Representative Christian Schmidt speaks in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on April 24, 2025. (Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu via Getty Images)

In February, following a lengthy trial, a court in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, found Dodik guilty of defying the high representative’s orders, sentencing him to one year in jail and banning him from office for six years.

On April 23, state police attempted to arrest Dodik, but were repelled by Republika Srpska police.

“This is a serious political and constitutional crisis,” the Office of the High Representative said in a statement to the Kyiv Independent. It considers the law and Dodik’s actions a “de facto coup d’etat” that threatens constitutional order and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s bid for EU membership.

Walking the streets of Banja Luka, it’s not difficult to understand the danger.

From spy rings to arson — Russia’s sabotage across Europe continues unpunished

Alongside Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has also ramped up its hybrid attacks across Europe. In 2024 alone, Russia could be behind around 100 “suspicious incidents” in Europe, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky claimed. Last month, the Dutch intelligence said that Moscow keeps stepping up its attacks

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

The city is filled with advertisements for Dodik’s political party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats. Billboards bear his image and push his narrative. One reads: “They tried me because they couldn’t put a million Serbs in the courtroom!”

Their effect is less clear.

"Putin is, in this logic of Serbian peoples, the biggest politician in the world."

According to Savanovic, Dodik’s defiance of the country’s peace mechanisms has actually alienated his supporters, many of whom do not want a return to the conflict of the 1990s.

“I don’t know a single person in Banja Luka who supports Mr. Dodik, even in his political party,” he said.

President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, arrives at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on May 8, 2025. (Alexandr Kryazhev/RIA Novosti/Pool/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“He expected more support from the people,” said Tanja Topic, a journalist and the head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in the city.

Internationally, the picture is hardly rosy. Even President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, usually a reliable ally, is currently distracted by his own domestic political crisis, Topic added. And Dodik’s gamble that U.S. President Donald Trump would adopt a more accommodating stance on his nationalistic policies has not paid off.

She believes that Dodik’s visits to Russia were an attempt to shore up support among his remaining allies and supporters.

“He used these opportunities to create a pro-Russia narrative in Republika Srpska,” Topic said. “Putin is, in this logic of Serbian peoples, the biggest politician in the world.”

Signs of support for Russia are common in Banja Luka. A stand selling T-shirts to tourists features one with Putin’s face alongside those displaying Serb nationalistic slogans. There is a Putin-themed restaurant in town, and Russia opened a branch of its embassy here in the summer of 2024.

In 2018, local officials announced that they would begin construction of a Russian cultural center.

On a recent visit to the planned site, construction was in full swing. At its center is an Orthodox Church covered in a web of scaffolding. The metal skeletons of two onion domes lay in the dust nearby. Officials recently said that the complex will be complete this summer.

`Dangerous territory`

Russia’s influence in the region may not be merely diplomatic and financial.

Last fall, reports that Moldova had uncovered a pro-Kremlin hybrid warfare operation shined a spotlight on Republika Srpska. Moldovan authorities said that Russia used camps in the region to train agitators to provoke instability in Moldova around its October presidential election.

Officials in Republika Srpska have denied the existence of such camps. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment or interviews with officials.

But the scandal emphasized the high stakes of Russian influence in Republika Srpska.

Members of the Night Wolves motorcycle club attend a pro-Russia rally in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on March 12, 2022. (Damir Sagolj/Getty Images)

Now, no one is sure how the current crisis may play out.

While few believe there will be a return to violence, experts told the Kyiv Independent that tensions can continue to escalate and small-scale conflict is possible.

Dodik, meanwhile, shows no sign of backing down. In March, he announced that Republika Srpska would form an independent border police force, a potential major escalation.

“If we accept this as a status quo, (Dodik) will take this as a form of support or silent acquiescence to what he’s done and will move on the offensive,” said Cancar, the international security expert.

That could mean the Republika Srpska’s slow integration into Serbia and restrictions on the movement of people, goods, and services along Bosnia and Herzegovina’s internal boundaries.

“And then at that point,” Cancar added, “all bets are off.”

Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Moscow’s claims of ‘root causes,’ unpacked

Mon, 26 May 2025 18:53:56 +0100

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 truce.

For months, the phrase “root causes” has become a go-to talking point repeated by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his deputies, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to justify their continued aggression.

“In (Russia’s) telling, they ascribe these root causes to an aggressive West,” said Robert Person, an expert on Russian foreign policy and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

“The most concrete thing that you’ll hear, when they’re talking about the root causes that they refer to, is the enlargement of NATO."

Russia has named the alleged threat from NATO in its attempts to justify its invasion of Ukraine, among other reasons, and has demanded that a peace agreement include a ban on Ukraine ever joining the alliance.

But Russia’s framing is a red herring, Person and other experts argue.

“What Putin is after in Ukraine and beyond is not just a rollback of the prospect of NATO membership. It’s not about securing Ukraine’s neutrality,” he said. “It’s really about turning Ukraine into a subservient vassal state with a puppet government that does his bidding."

The false narratives serve a useful purpose for Russia’s government, however, said Mercedes Sapuppo, assistant director in the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

“When Putin discusses the ‘root causes’ of his war, he is calling up a framework that he claims justifies Russia’s aggression in Ukraine by falsely placing blame on Ukraine,” said Sapuppo. “Putin and the Kremlin are using these narratives to frame Ukraine as the instigator of the Kremlin’s war."

Even U.S. President Donald Trump has bought into the idea, saying as recently as last month, “I think what caused the war to start was when (Ukraine) started talking about joining NATO."

`NATO: a ‘nonsensical’ explanation for the war`

Alongside NATO expansion, Russia has at times named additional reasons for its invasion — including propaganda claims of Nazi extremism, and protecting the status of Russian language speakers or the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church — but it has placed outsized emphasis on NATO.

In 2018, Ukraine enshrined its goal of NATO membership in its constitution and has since argued that membership in the security alliance is needed in the future to deter further Russian aggression.

Yet the idea that NATO is the root cause of this conflict is “nonsensical,” said Stephen Hall, assistant professor in Russian and post-Soviet politics at the University of Bath.

“It’s a narrative that’s pushed by the Kremlin to try and get so-called ‘useful idiots’ to play it up in the media and elsewhere."

One sign that Putin’s concerns go beyond NATO, notes Hall, is the limited resistance that Russia put up when Poland joined NATO in 1999 and when Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia followed in 2004 — four countries that share a border with Russia.

Military personnel take part in the “Defense Shield 23” multinational battle group exercises in Novo Selo, Bulgaria, on May 29, 2023. (Borislav Troshev / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Heads of state pose for a group photo during the NATO 75th anniversary celebratory event at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., U.S. on July 9, 2024. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)

“Then fast forward to when the state with the longest border (in NATO) with Russia, Finland, joins in 2023. There’s barely a peep from Moscow,” he added.

While NATO is relevant, it is only in highlighting to Putin that Ukraine is slipping away from Russian influence, Hall said. Additionally, if Ukraine were to make independent decisions based on the will of its people, it could send a signal to Russian citizens that democracy is a viable option for them, as well.

“That, obviously, is a problem for Putin’s autocracy, or any autocracy for that matter,” Hall said.

“It’s very clear that the root cause for him, really, is just Ukraine’s existence.”

Before Russia’s 2014 invasion, the idea of NATO membership was deeply unpopular with Ukrainian citizens, with only around 15 to 20% of Ukrainians supporting it at the time.

Since Russia’s invasion, however, support has skyrocketed. According to a poll last year by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 84% of Ukrainians would like to see their country join NATO.

Evidence that NATO is a smokescreen for Putin’s motivations is seen not just in how Putin treats other NATO members, but also how it has treated Ukraine for decades, Person of CFR said.

"For over twenty years, Putin has very aggressively been targeting Ukrainian sovereignty and Ukrainian democracy," Person said, citing Putin’s interference in Ukraine during the 2004 Orange Revolution as an example.

Russian soldiers in the area surrounding a Ukrainian military unit outside Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine on March 20, 2014. (Filippo Monteforte / AFP via Getty Images)

In the lead-up to the Orange Revolution, Putin heavily promoted pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych ahead of the 2004 presidential election, including visiting Ukraine to push his preferred candidate. His attempts to interfere with Ukraine’s politics prompted a backlash, helping to spark protests over a rigged election that resulted in Yanukovych’s defeat.

"Then in 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea, when they invaded the Donbas, membership in NATO was nowhere on the immediate agenda — for NATO or Ukraine. There was a constitutional provision at the time that prohibited it, and required neutrality," Person noted. "How does that somehow spark or cause the Russian invasion of 2014?"

`What this means for peace negotiations`

Sapuppo, of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, says understanding Putin’s motivation for the war is necessary for informing the West’s strategies for negotiations with the Russian leader.

"It’s very clear that the root cause for (Putin), really, is just Ukraine’s existence. This should make it clear to Western leaders that any agreements to end the war need to be very forward-looking when it comes to security guarantees," she said.

If Western leaders were to fall into the trap of focusing on NATO limitations, this would not only fail to address the true reasons for the invasion, but would also allow Russia to establish a revisionist history, she said.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on May 25, 2025. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)

But recognizing the underlying motives for Russia’s invasion also means recognizing that they are far more difficult to solve than a question of neutrality, Person added.

"You could draw lines on a map all day long. No line, unless it incorporates, at least all of Ukraine up to and including Kyiv and its government, is going to satisfy Putin’s demands," he said.

"At the end of the day, what Putin cannot tolerate is a sovereign Ukraine that chooses its own foreign policies and partnerships, its own economic relationships."

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EU to restore quotas on Ukrainian farm imports in June, Bloomberg reports

Fri, 23 May 2025 21:07:58 +0100

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 wartime support for Ukraine with growing domestic unrest from European farmers.

The quotas were eliminated at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Their reintroduction was approved by the European Commission on May 22. While no EU member voted against the new measure, several — including Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and Lithuania — abstained.

The decision comes after protests across Central and Eastern Europe, where farmers argued that the influx of lower-cost Ukrainian goods has depressed local prices and undermined their livelihoods.

Polish farmers and truckers in particular have staged repeated blockades at the Ukrainian border since 2023 to protest duty-free imports.

Agricultural exports are critical to Ukraine’s wartime economy, and EU market access has served as a lifeline following Russia’s 2022 invasion, which severely disrupted Black Sea shipping lanes.

In response, the EU introduced a duty- and quota-free regime in June 2022 to ease the flow of Ukrainian goods to global markets. The agreement has been extended twice, most recently until June 5.

The European Commission said the quotas are temporary and that talks are underway to revise the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), the broader legal framework governing bilateral trade.

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Polish jets intercept Russian bomber over Baltic Sea after 'dangerous' maneuvers

Fri, 23 May 2025 18:33:31 +0100

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 incident marks the latest in a series of Russian provocations near NATO territory. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Russian aircraft posed a threat to regional airspace safety.

“These maneuvers performed by the Russian Su-24 show that the actions were dangerous and intentional,” the minister said. He added that Polish pilots quickly detected, intercepted, and forced the bomber to withdraw from the area.

The encounter took place near the heavily militarized Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania.

Russian aircraft often fly from Kaliningrad without using transponders, failing to file flight plans, and not establishing contact with regional air traffic control — a pattern that NATO officials have long described as high-risk behavior.

“We are resistant to provocations, but we react appropriately, individually and collectively,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said, referring to NATO’s air policing measures.

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The intercepted aircraft, a Soviet-designed Su-24 bomber, is capable of carrying guided bombs and precision missiles and was developed for low-level penetration missions.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has scrambled fighter jets multiple times in response to missile and drone attacks near its border.

On several occasions, Russian projectiles have briefly entered Polish airspace, prompting strong protests from Warsaw and increased NATO monitoring in the region.

On Feb. 11, a Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft flew into Polish airspace over the Gdansk Bay for over a minute. Moscow blamed a navigational failure, though Polish officials have dismissed similar explanations in the past as implausible.

Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and hosts significant NATO infrastructure, has warned that Russian aerial provocations could trigger escalation if not contained.

Ukraine confirms strike on Russian factory making parts for Iskander ballistic missiles, glide bombs

Ukrainian drones attacked the Energy (Energia) plant in Yelets, Russian Telegram-channel Astra reported, citing locals. Videos on social media purported to show blasts and fires following the strikes.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Stripping Hungary's EU voting rights on agenda for May 27 meeting

Thu, 22 May 2025 22:27:31 +0100

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 since the European Parliament triggered Article 7 procedures against the country in 2018. Article 7 of the EU Treaty allows for the suspension of Council voting rights if a member state consistently breaches EU founding principles.

European ministers will discuss Hungary’s status at a meeting of the General Affairs Council on May 27, the Council said.

The hearing comes as the EU is looking for ways to override Budapest if it vetoes Ukraine’s accession to the bloc. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said on May 10 that Brussels has alternative plans in the event Hungary attempts to obstructs Ukraine’s candidacy.

“We have a plan B and a plan C. But our focus is plan A, the essence of which is to get everyone’s support,” Kallas told reporters.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU aid packages for Ukraine while opposing sanctions against Russia. Hungary’s ongoing obstruction of support for Ukraine has repeatedly triggered threats to withdraw the country’s voting rights.

The European Parliament has also continuously raised Article 7 concerns regarding Hungary’s “erosion of the rule of law.” Under the Orban government, Hungary has faced increasing criticism from international watchdogs for limiting press freedom and undermining democracy.

Mass protests broke out in Budapest on May 18 in response to a controversial bill that would grant the government sweeping powers to investigate, penalize, or even ban media outlets and non-governmental organizations receiving any foreign funding. The bill, proposed by a member of Orban’s ruling Fidesz party, is similar to Russia’s restrictive “foreign agents” law.

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The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

EU members preliminarily agree to launch 150-billion-euro defense fund, source says

Mon, 19 May 2025 12:57:47 +0100

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 decision was previously reported by the Financial Times and Bloomberg.

The move comes as Europe faces an increasingly challenging security environment, with Russia continuing to wage its war against Ukraine and U.S. security commitments to its European partners growing uncertain.

The new mechanism, proposed by the European Commission in March, will allow member states to borrow money from the EU to purchase weapons and military equipment. A formal approval is expected next week, Bloomberg’s source said.

Some non-EU countries will reportedly be able to participate in the program if their expenditures do not exceed 35% of the cost.

Despite agreement on the need to hike defense spending, several EU states have disagreed on whether these efforts should be coordinated with nations outside of the bloc, such as the U.K. or Turkey.

The U.K. and the EU concluded a new security pact on May 19, covering areas from maritime security to cyber threats, as London and Brussels seek to reset post-Brexit relations.

The 150-billion-euro fund was proposed as part of the European Commission’s ambitious ReArm Europe program, which would also allow member states to spend an additional 650 billion euros ($730 billion) on defense by loosening fiscal rules.

Some of the funds raised under the ReArm Europe program will be allocated to military support to Ukraine, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said in a media interview in May.

US allows Australia to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine despite private objections, media reports

Despite private protests, Washington eventually gave permission for Australia to begin shipping out the U.S.-made tanks to Ukraine, ABC reported.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Thousands protest in Hungary against Russia-style bill targeting media, NGOs

Mon, 19 May 2025 07:14:39 +0100

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 in Budapest, one of the largest in recent months, came after a member of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party introduced legislation that would grant the government sweeping powers to investigate, penalize, or even ban media outlets and non-governmental organizations receiving any foreign funding.

Protesters packed Kossuth Square outside Hungary’s parliament, denouncing the bill as an attack on civil society and democratic freedoms. Speakers at the rally described the legislation as an authoritarian move designed to silence dissent ahead of national elections next year.

“This bill is nothing more than a threat, a threat against people being able to express their opinions clearly and freely,” said Jakab Toth, one of the speakers. “If it doesn’t belong to all of us, if not all of us are free, then sovereignty is solely and exclusively the sovereignty of the government."

The proposed law would create a government blacklist of organizations receiving international support and allow intrusive surveillance, large fines, and operational bans. It would be enforced by the Sovereignty Protection Office, a state body established in 2023 that critics say targets independent voices under the guise of national security.

Orban and his allies have accused foreign actors, particularly the United States during previous administrations and Ukraine, of funding independent media and anti-corruption groups to undermine his government. Those organizations deny the claims, saying their work serves the public interest and adheres to professional standards.

Hungary has faced increasing criticism from international watchdogs for eroding press freedom and democratic checks under Orban’s 15-year rule. The new legislation, expected to pass in the Fidesz-dominated parliament, is seen by many as the most repressive yet.

In May 2024, a similar foreign agents bill was passed in the Georgian Parliament. The law, backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, mirrors repressive Russian legislation used to crack down on the Kremlin regime’s critics and NGOs in Russia with foreign ties of any kind.

Georgian Dream’s repressions against independent media and decisions to distance the country from the EU have prompted mass protests spanning months and violent crackdowns by the police in the country.

After spying scandal erupts, Orban accuses Ukraine of meddling, cooperating with Hungarian opposition

“Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv’s) EU membership,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

US allows Australia to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine despite private objections, media reports

Mon, 19 May 2025 07:02:32 +0100

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.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the upcoming delivery of the tanks when meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome on May 18. The exact date of their arrival is withheld for security reasons, ABC reported.

The Australian broadcaster reported back in April that the shipments of the retired tanks, which are meant to bolster Ukrainian forces as they resist Russian aggression, are delayed in part due to resistance from Washington.

These objections have not fully subsided, with at least one U.S. official questioning their usefulness on the Ukrainian battlefields, according to ABC. An undisclosed Australian defense official told the broadcaster that Canberra is uncertain whether Kyiv is even interested in the vehicles, as their weak roof makes them vulnerable to drones.

U.S. officials have also reportedly pointed to difficulties with their maintenance in the demanding conditions of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Despite the private protests, Washington eventually gave permission for Australia to begin shipping out the U.S.-made tanks to Ukraine, ABC reported.

Australia pledged to send Kyiv the 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks as part of a broader military aid package in October 2024. Ukraine previously received 31 Abrams tanks from the Biden administration in late 2023, though it is unclear how many are still operational as of 2025.

Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden, U.S. President Donald Trump has been reluctant to allocate additional military aid to Kyiv, aiming instead to broker a peace deal with Russia.

The effectiveness of Abrams tanks on the battlefield in Ukraine has been previously called into question by Western officials. The Associated Press (AP) reported in April 2024 that Ukrainian forces were pulling the tanks from the front lines due to the high risk of detection by Russian drones. The Ukrainian military denied the claim.

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call

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The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Three years into full-scale war, Eurovision still hasn’t solved its Russia problem

Fri, 16 May 2025 18:29:47 +0100

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 Ukraine — continues to cast a shadow over the event.

This year, entries from Estonia, Austria, Ireland, Armenia, and Georgia have come under scrutiny for their perceived ties to Russia or cultural influences linked to it.

The grand final of Eurovision 2025 will take place on May 17 in Basel, Switzerland, starting at 10 p.m. Kyiv time (2 p.m. EST). Ukraine’s representative, the band Ziferblat, has qualified for the final with their song “Bird of Pray.”

The Kyiv Independent takes a closer look at some of the most notable cases of Russia’s influence among this year’s contestants.

`Estonia`

Provocative Estonian representative Tommy Cash has stirred controversy over the Russian influences in his background and work.

Currently, Cash describes himself as being of mixed Russian, Estonian, Ukrainian, and Kazakh descent. However, in older footage, he simply stated that his parents were Russian.

He grew up in a predominantly Russian-speaking neighborhood in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, and Russian culture has played a major role in shaping his identity. Russian is his second language after Estonian, and post-Soviet aesthetics are a recurring theme in his art.

What has raised eyebrows among some Ukrainians is that his Eurovision music video for “Espresso Macchiato” involves both Russian and Ukrainian collaborators. The video’s director, Alina Pyazok, is a Russian native now based in Los Angeles who has publicly condemned the war. She initially posted an Instagram story listing the nationalities of the creative team, marked with Russian and Ukrainian flags — but later deleted it, apparently in response to backlash.

Tommy Cash, representing Estonia, performs during a rehearsal ahead of the semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 2025. (Harold Cunningham / Getty Images)

Cash has previously collaborated with the Russian band Little Big — known for their satirical style and for fleeing Russia after the full-scale invasion — releasing two joint music videos with them in 2015.

Rumors have also been circulating that Tommy Cash visited Russian-occupied Crimea in 2021. However, this claim remains unconfirmed. The artist’s representative denied the rumor, saying: “It is obvious that Tommy did nothing of the sort. With everything happening in the world right now, Russia is no longer of interest to Tommy.”

After the full-scale invasion began, Cash canceled his scheduled concerts in Kyiv, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. He has confirmed in both his music and interviews that he hopes to one day perform again in both Russia and Ukraine.

His public response to the war has been seen by some as vague. While he stated he condemns the war, he avoided naming Russia as the aggressor.

In a Facebook post in February 2022, he wrote: “It’s very hard to accept the current military actions, it’s all very sad! I am a strong opponent of any military aggression. I fully support the Ukrainian people and the people of Russia who do not support the invasion — it’s not their choice,” he wrote on Facebook. “This is an extremely sad situation, and I really hope that soon I will be able to return to these beautiful countries to perform my new music there.”

`Austria`

Austrian contestant JJ, currently ranked second by bookmakers, has sparked controversy by revealing in an interview with APA that he drew inspiration for his Eurovision song “Wasted Love” from Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko, among others.

Netrebko, who has longstanding ties to the Kremlin, has faced criticism for supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war in Ukraine since 2014.

Though she publicly condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 — a move widely seen as necessary to preserve her international opera career — she stopped short of directly condemning Putin.

JJ of Austria performs “Wasted Love” during a rehearsal for the semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, on May 14, 2025. (Jens Büttner / Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

Many Ukrainians still recall that in 2014, Netrebko was photographed at an event in St. Petersburg alongside pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Oleh Tsariov and the flag of Russian-occupied Donetsk. At the event, she donated one million rubles to an opera house in Donetsk, claiming it had “nothing to do with politics."

In 2012, Netrebko also supported Putin’s reelection, with her name officially listed among the campaign’s endorsers.

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale war, many of Netrebko’s concerts were canceled across Europe over her controversial political stance. However, some European opera houses have recently begun welcoming her back.

Netrebko now resides in Austria and performs at the Vienna State Opera, where JJ also performs.

JJ, who had followed Netrebko on Instagram and liked her posts until recently, no longer appears to be following her. Furthermore, Netrebko’s page seems to have been deactivated.

The Austrian contestant has remained silent on the controversy and his stance on the Russian war in Ukraine.

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`Armenia`

Armenia’s Eurovision contestant Parg has drawn criticism for maintaining close cultural ties with Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In June 2022, during the early months of the war, he performed in Volgograd and was shortlisted for the Ural Music Night festival in Yekaterinburg.

Between 2022 and 2024, he recorded and posted a few covers of songs by Russian artists active in the country. In July 2024, he also performed at the opening of a water park in Sochi.

Parg of Armenia performs the song “Survivor” during a rehearsal for the semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, on May 14, 2025. (Jens Büttner / Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

Born in Armenia, Parg moved to Russia with his parents as a child and lived there for most of his life. Although he returned to Armenia in 2022, he has continued to travel to Russia and perform there.

Parg hasn’t publicly commented on his performances in Russia during the full-scale war.

`Ireland`

Ireland will be represented at this year's Eurovision by Norwegian singer Emmy performing “Laika Party” — a song about the Soviet space dog who became the first living being launched into Earth orbit in 1957.

Laika, a stray from the streets of Moscow, was sent into space by the Soviet Union at a time when no technology existed to bring her back. Its survival was never expected. Initial Soviet reports falsely claimed Laika lived for several days, using its story to glorify the mission.

It was later revealed that the dog died within hours due to overheating and stress. Some believe its death could have been avoided if the mission hadn’t been rushed to showcase Cold War-era technological dominance.

Laika’s story is both a scientific milestone and a moral controversy that continues to raise ethical questions about animal testing. Meanwhile, “Laika Party” is a cheerful electro-dance song that frames Laika’s journey as a heroic sacrifice.

Norwegian singer Emmy, representing Ireland with the song “Laika Party,” performs during the rehearsal for the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, on May 14, 2025. (Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images)

The song was co-written by a Russian singer and songwriter, Larissa Tormey, who relocated to Ireland 25 years ago after getting married to an Irish man.

She met Emmy at a songwriting camp in Norway, where Emmy reportedly told her she had recently learned about Laika’s tragic fate at a family quiz and felt compelled to write a song “with a more cheerful ending, where the dog is dancing around the stars.”

“This topic was very close to me, because it’s part of Soviet history,” Tormey told the Russian propaganda outlet Komsomolskaya Pravda. “We wrote the song in two hours.”

It was Tormey who encouraged Emmy to submit the track to Ireland’s national selection. As the only Irish citizen among the songwriters, she made the entry eligible under contest rules.

Tormey has publicly opposed the war in Ukraine and took part in a fundraising concert for the Irish Red Cross to support Ukrainian aid efforts. At the same time, she has expressed sympathy for people in Russia, saying, “Ordinary Russian people have nothing to do with what is happening, and they are going to be victims of this as well.”

`Georgia`

The participation of Georgian representative Mariam Shengelia has sparked backlash both internationally and among many Georgians, with some even calling for her disqualification.

Shengelia openly supports Georgian Dream, the pro-Russian ruling party accused of seizing power through fraudulent elections. Thousands of Georgians continue nationwide protests as the party intensifies its crackdown on dissent.

Georgian Dream has increasingly distanced the country from the West by passing a controversial “foreign agents” law and adopting Kremlin-style policies. The party pushes to abandon European integration in favor of closer ties with Russia.

Mariam Shengelia of Georgia performs her song “Freedom” during a rehearsal for the semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, on May 14, 2025. (Jens Büttner / Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

Interestingly, Shengelia supported Ukraine in early 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion, but by 2024, her attitude shifted as she performed at a pro-Georgian Dream concert and campaigned for the party ahead of the elections, urging voters to keep the country "in peace."

Though her Eurovision song “Freedom” sounds like a patriotic ode to Georgia, Shengelia describes it as a message of peace. Peace was also a central theme in Georgian Dream’s campaign, which branded itself as a party that "says yes to peace, no to war," while clearly endorsing a pro-Russian stance.

In response to social media claims labeling her pro-Russian, Shengelia dismissed the criticism as “absurd” and the result of “disinformation.”

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The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

EU to hike tariffs on Ukrainian imports amid Poland's push, FT reports

Wed, 14 May 2025 07:56:27 +0100

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 bloc to adopt measures to protect European farmers, according to the news outlet.

The EU concluded a duty-free regime deal with Ukraine in 2022 to alleviate the Ukrainian economy amid the full-scale war with Russia and help the country ship out its goods, primarily agricultural products, to global markets.

This prompted protests among farmers across Europe, namely in Poland, who complained that the influx of cheaper Ukrainian grain, poultry, eggs, and other products is pushing down prices and damaging their businesses.

The Polish media reported in February that the EU does not plan to extend the preferential trade agreement framework in its current form past its June expiration date and is considering a new set of rules instead.

The subsequent transition period would significantly reduce the tariff-free quota for Ukrainian agricultural products, its key export commodity, the Financial Times reported.

The development comes as Polish truckers launched a brief blockade at one of Ukraine’s border crossings over what they see as unfair competition from Ukrainian carriers. It also comes shortly before Poland’s presidential election, with the leading right-wing candidate, Karol Nawrocki, adopting increasingly harsh rhetoric toward Kyiv.

Romania heads to historic presidential runoff as pro and anti-Ukraine candidate are neck-and-neck

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 poll by CURS gives Simion 52% and Dan 48%. Both are running on an anti-establishment platform in a country seeking change. Yet, with two drastically different views on the country’s future, whoever takes the presidency will have the chance to chan

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

Polish protesters end blockade at Ukraine's border after court ruling

Wed, 14 May 2025 07:14:15 +0100

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 Sawa’s decision to ban the rallies on May 8.

The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine’s State Border Guard’s statement.

Polish truckers started protests at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on May 12 at 4 p.m. local time.

The protesters limited truck passage through the largest cargo customs post on the Ukrainian-Polish border to one vehicle per hour in each direction.

Overnight on May 13, the Yahodyn customs post processed only eight trucks. Gasoline and gas tankers were allowed to pass along with other trucks, one truck per hour. Some trucks have been waiting in line for over a day, Ukraine’s State Border Guard said.

The organizers presented the latest protest as an effort to draw attention to the “plight of transport companies and the threat to thousands of jobs."

Over the past few years, Polish truckers, farmers, and other protesters have launched months-long blockades at the Polish-Ukrainian border, largely aimed against Ukrainian agricultural imports and the EU’s lifting of most duties on Ukrainian imports in 2022.

Romania heads to historic presidential runoff as populist and pro-EU candidate are neck-and-neck

Tue, 13 May 2025 17:17:35 +0100

Yet, another poll by CURS gives Simion 52% and Dan 48%.

Both are running on an anti-establishment platform in a country seeking change. Yet, with two drastically different views on the country’s future, whoever takes the presidency will have the chance to change Romania for years to come.

`The shocking vote`

After Russian-friendly nationalist Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), took the first round by storm with 41% of the votes on May 5, the government coalition formed by the mainstream National Liberal Party, the Social Democrat Party and the Hungarian minority UDMR — whose common candidate Crin Antonescu came third with 20% of the vote — dismantled.

The national currency, the leu, fell to a historic low when compared to the euro and dollar, despite the Romanian Central Bank’s billion-euro effort to stabilize the national currency.

Scoring a mere 21% of the votes, Dan’s chances to win the presidency seemed dim without an incredibly high mass mobilization of the electorate.

The first opinion poll made by Verified and published by Dan after the first round showed Simion winning with almost 55% of the votes in the runoff. The poll excluded Romania’s diaspora, which is backing Simion. There has also been a tendency for Simion voters to refuse to participate in polls.

Running as an independent and relying on private donations, Dan has gained the support of the liberal Save Romania Union (USR), the party he founded in 2016 but left next year over the question of LGBTQ+ rights.

Dan was opposed to giving same-sex partnerships the same rights as those of heterosexual couples.

For the runoff, Dan has also garnered the support of the National Liberal Party and the Hungarian minority party UDMR. The Social Democratic Party, Romania’s biggest political party, officially abstained from endorsing a candidate. Antonescu, who came third, dismissed both candidates.

Romanian presidential candidate Nicusor Dan after exit poll results are announced in Bucharest, Romania, on May 4, 2025. (Mihai Barbu / AFP via Getty Images)

Supporters of Romanian presidential candidate Nicusor Dan attend an electoral rally in Bucharest, Romania, on May 11, 2025. (Mihai Barbu / AFP via Getty Images)

“There is no precedent for this runoff,” political scientist Claudiu Craciun told the Kyiv Independent.

“In 2004, 2009, and 2014, we had candidates who took 40% of the votes in the first round of presidential elections, and then they lost in the runoff. But they were center-left candidates defeated by center-right candidates, from the two major parties representing those ideological positions. Now, historical parties are in decline, for the second time in a row, they cannot bring candidates into the runoff, which means that this is a systemic issue,” Craciun added.

“We have a new situation, with the candidates of two smaller parties, USR, on the relatively progressive neoliberal center, and AUR, on the ultra-conservative side. We can anticipate that towns and cities, wealthier, more educated people will vote for Dan, but it’s not clear how religious groups will vote, or how social democrats will be split,” he added.

In the first televised debate between Simion and Dan, which lasted over four hours on May 8, national security and Russia’s war against Ukraine were major topics. The relationship with Moldova, the cost of living crisis, the public health sector and foreign investment were also widely discussed.

“In the debate, Nicusor Dan showed a different facet, which took Simion by surprise: he was much more combative and managed to project the image of a leader more powerfully,” journalist Ioana Dogioiu told the Kyiv Independent.

“He was resilient and spontaneous — things that people said he’d lacked before. He managed to stick the financial crisis to Simion, to say that the chaos he created scared investors, and to show Simion’s duplicity by confronting him on his contradictory claims, which generate uncertainty and mistrust. But I’m not sure this is enough to create (additional) 3.5 million votes, which is how much Dan needs in order to win,” Dogioiu added.

Simion, who is the executive vice president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party, tried to appear more moderate and calm, repeatedly invoking the example of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, while also tying himself to the Trump administration.

Narrowly overcoming pro-Russian comeback, Moldovan President Sandu is facing tough term ahead

Moldovan President Maia Sandu begins her second term in office on Dec. 24 in unprecedented circumstances. Russian meddling in domestic affairs is widespread, and the Kremlin makes clear their position of not acknowledging Sandu as a legitimate president of her own country. Sandu also begins her term amid an energy crisis sparked by years of dependency on Russian gas. Meanwhile, the U.S. support for Ukraine is not a certainty under the new administration, leaving neighboring Moldova in a precar

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

`Dan and Simion on Ukraine`

In the debate, while Dan pleaded for further support of Ukraine, Simion, who is persona non grata in both Ukraine and Moldova, emulated banned Russian-linked Calin Georgescu, saying that Romania has to stay “neutral” and only spend money on itself rather than give military aid to its neighbor.

Dogioiu says Simion’s position on the war may garner some support, fueling old tensions between Romania and Ukraine, concerning Romanian minority rights. It can also give a voice to the frustrations with the market disruption caused by cheap Ukrainian grains passing through Romania since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Presidential candidate George Simion takes part in a talk organized by the Romanian Chamber of Commerce in Bucharest, Romania, on May 13, 2025. (Andrei Pungovschi / Getty Images)

Supporters of presidential candidate George Simion celebrate after exit poll results outside his campaign headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, on May 4, 2025. (Andrei Pungovschi / Getty Images)

But according to political scientist Cristian Preda, post-communist Romania has never had candidates openly supported by Russia until Georgescu and Simion.

On election day, Kremlin ideologist Alexandr Dugin said that Simion’s success “is Georgescu’s win” and “a chance” for Russia.

“If Simion wins, we may get the old, radical, extremist, anti-media Simion, or the new, runoff Simion, who is more pro-European, more moderate.”

"Romanians have mobilized before for smaller bets," Preda told the Kyiv Independent. "It wouldn't be bad for Ukraine and Moldova to provide more details about why Simion was made persona non grata now. This would clarify the situation even better. How do you elect a president who can't enter two such important neighboring countries?"

Further on, Preda argues that Simion is perceived as a candidate who will "prolong the electoral dispute" after Romanians have been exhausted from voting in five different elections — parliamentary, local, European, and two sets of presidential ones.

"Simion says he would organize a referendum to sack the members of the Constitutional Court who canceled the Nov. 24 presidential elections (citing malicious foreign influence), and organize snap elections," Preda said.

"We've never had snap elections. This gives a sense of instability."

`What happens if Simion wins?`

"If Simion wins, we may get the old, radical, extremist, anti-media Simion, or the new, runoff Simion, who is more pro-European, more moderate. Let's say he goes through a 'Melonization' process," Dogioiu said.

"It will take time to convince international markets that he is not a radical; will his party, AUR, also go through a 'Melonization' process? Even in the best-case scenario, it will take time to gain the trust of the markets," she added.

"He is trying to appeal to both radicalized Georgescu voters and to the more moderate electorate, which creates uncertainty but not panic."

In addition to the financial crisis and the potential loss of EU funds, a Simion victory would isolate Romania, Craciun said.

"He will play in the Fico-Orban field, building a pressure group within the EU. It's enough for him to delay initiatives, such as military aid to Ukraine, to become a malign actor."

Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romania’s far-right still aim to win

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 the Russian and the U.S. administrations, said this was a “direct hit against democracy.” Following the announcement on March 9, Georgescu’s supporters began setting the streets of Bucharest on fire and throwing bottles, stones, and firecrackers at the

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

Tusk slams foreign leaders attending Russia's Victory Day parade

Sat, 10 May 2025 03:50:06 +0100

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 Moscow and applauding President Putin, who says he will continue to cleanse Ukraine of Nazism, is a shame for everyone who is present there and pretends not to see the truth,” Tusk said.

Tusk, alongside leaders from France, Germany, and the U.K., will visit Kyiv on May 10 in a show of support for Ukraine. Many European leaders boycotted Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, but Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended.

Tusk denounced foreign leaders attending Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations despite Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are among the notable guests present at Putin’s request.

“Therefore, the presence at the victory parade of a country that bombs cities, hospitals, and daycares, and which has caused the deaths and injuries of over a million people over three years, is a shame,” Tusk told reporters alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Nancy, France.

Tusk, alongside Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are set to arrive in Kyiv on May 10 to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In protest of Russia’s “immortal regiment” and its Victory Day celebrations, demonstrators have been holding street performances since May 4, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on May 9.

“The series of actions took place under the name ‘Death Regiment,’ as the antithesis of Putin’s propaganda campaign, ‘Immortal Regiment,'” the source said.

Russia tries to use Victory Day celebrations as a historical justification for its ongoing war against Ukraine.

Lula da Silva’s visit to Russia is hypocritical, undermining everything he allegedly stands for

Putin has done in Russia everything that Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had been against in Brazil.

The Kyiv IndependentUria Fancelli

'Death regiment' counters Russia's Victory Day celebrations in many protests

Sat, 10 May 2025 02:28:50 +0100

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 9.

“The series of actions took place under the name ‘Death Regiment,’ as the antithesis of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s propaganda campaign, ‘Immortal Regiment,'” the source said.

Russia tries to use Victory Day celebrations as a historical justification for its ongoing war against Ukraine. The Kremlin invited foreign leaders to its Victory Day parade on May 9 as Moscow faces isolation from the West due to its ongoing war.

Russia’s Victory Day celebrations are marked with grand military parades and its “immortal regiment.” Putin has used the celebrations to fuel nationalism.

“For several days, starting from May 4, street performances were held in nine European countries and in Canada to remind humanity of the systemic war crimes of Putin’s Russia,” the source said.

Moscow often situates victory in World War II as a sole Russian achievement and not a multinational one, Jonathan Brunstedt, an assistant professor of history at Texas A&M University, focusing on nationalism and historical memory in the Soviet Union, said.

“As reported by representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora, the actions took place in (the U.K.), Germany, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, Albania, Ukraine, and Canada,” the source told the Kyiv Independent.

The counter performances will likely span from May 4 until Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, the source said.

“According to the participants of the performances, their goal is to remind the civilized world of the barbaric actions of Moscow, which for many years and decades has systematically violated international law,” the HUR source said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 3 that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow.

“They are responsible for your safety. We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates,” he added.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, a proponent of Putin, arrived in Moscow on May 9 to attend the Victory Day celebrations, despite Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, on April 15 warned European leaders against attending Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.

“What was also discussed very clearly, and said by different member states, is that any participation in the 9th May parades or celebrations in Moscow will not be taken lightly on the European side, considering that Russia is really waging a full-scale war in Europe,” she said.

Why Ukraine remains dependent on US Patriot missiles

A series of Russian ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities have killed dozens of civilians in recent weeks, shaking an already uneasy sense of safety for Ukrainians living far from the front lines. The Russian strikes are growing more lethal as foreign air defense aid to Ukraine has dwindled, particularly deliveries of Patriot missiles. Ukraine is left struggling to cover the shortfall. Ukraine’s ability to shoot down inbound Russian drones and cruise missiles has grown enormously since

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Media identifies over 1,500 foreign mercenaries from 48 countries Russia recruited for war in Ukraine

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:12:43 +0100

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 Vladimir Putin’s earlier claims that Russia had “no need” for foreign fighters, the data reveals widespread recruitment through official military selection points in Moscow.

Journalists obtained the names and nationalities of the mercenaries through a leaked database from the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System of Moscow.

According to the publication, these individuals passed through Moscow’s recruitment center between April 2023 and May 2024. Of the more than 1,500 foreigners processed, at least 1,300 have been identified by nationality.

Nepal tops the list, with at least 603 nationals joining the Russian army. The influx reportedly began in small groups in mid-2023, escalating to over 370 Nepalese recruits passing through the Moscow selection point in October alone.

Recruitment declined by the end of the year, reportedly following diplomatic protests from Nepal.

Other nationalities include citizens of Sri Lanka (64), China (51), India (43), Serbia (8), Cuba (8), and Latvia (4). From former Soviet states, recruits include citizens of Tajikistan (86), Uzbekistan and Belarus (71 each), Kyrgyzstan (64), Kazakhstan (59), Turkmenistan (19), and Moldova (12).

The total number of foreign fighters is likely far higher. On Feb. 11, CNN reported that up to 15,000 Nepalese citizens could have been recruited by Russia.

Ukrainian forces have also confirmed the presence of foreign fighters on the battlefield. In early April, two Chinese nationals were captured in Donetsk Oblast while fighting for Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky later said that “several hundred” Chinese nationals were taking part in the war on Russia’s side. One detainee reportedly paid a middleman 300,000 rubles (about $3,500) to enlist in exchange for Russian citizenship.

China has denied involvement, claiming it urges its citizens to avoid armed conflicts. Moscow has also used some 12,000 North Korean army troops dispatched by Pyongyang to counter the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Oblast.

‘Groundless accusations, political manipulations’ — China reacts to Ukraine summoning its envoy

A day earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun was invited to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to meet with Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Belarus Weekly: Poland reports attacks on border guards, one allegedly involving a Belarusian serviceman

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:44:13 +0100

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 Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin threatens Poland, Baltic states during a visit to Belarus.

Meanwhile, Russia has added 1,200 Belarusians to its wanted list since July, while Belarus brands jailed EU mission staffer as “terrorist."

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`Poland reports two attacks on border guards as migration crisis with Belarus intensifies`

Poland reported two attacks on Polish border guards by migrants over the weekend, with one incident involving a uniformed Belarusian officer throwing rocks at a Polish patrol.

Polish guards stopped 115 illegal border crossing attempts, between April 11 and 13, Polish authorities said.

Belarus initiated an artificial migration crisis at its borders with the EU in 2021 “in response” to a package of European sanctions. While Minsk denied Warsaw’s accusations of orchestrating a hybrid attack, Lukashenko claimed Belarus “would not stop” (illegal migrants) attempting to cross into the EU.

The migrants attacked a Polish border guard patrol near Mielnik, the village close to the border with Belarus. CCTV footage recorded a Belarusian soldier joining them in throwing rocks at the patrol, the spokesperson for Polish Interior Ministry Jacek Dobrzynski said on X.

Another attack occurred on April 12 near the village of Czeremcha, with one guard being struck on the face with stones twice. “The migrants are very aggressive when trying to cross the border,” the Border Guards department in the Podlasie region said in a statement, adding that the soldier's life and health were not threatened.

Poland’s Internal Minister Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed that Belarusian officers were involvement in direct provocations. Siemoniak characterized the actions as “unheard of.”

“If a certain line is crossed here, we will regard it as an attack by representatives of the Belarusian state on our border,” Siemoniak told Polish broadcaster TVP Info on April 14. “I understand that an employee of the Belarusian special services, probably instructing (the migrants), got carried away. However, we take this very seriously.”

According to Siemoniak, previously, Belarusian secret services kept well back from the border, delivering migrants to the area but not approaching the barrier themselves.

Heightened rates of irregular border crossing attempts have also been reported in Latvia, as 179 individuals have tried to cross the country's border from Belarus.

Data from EU member states’ border guards, collected by the independent Belarusian news outlet Pozirk, indicates a drastic increase in illegal border crossing attempts since the beginning of April, to 522 attempts — compared to 355 attempts for the entire first quarter of 2025.

`Lukashenko invites 150,000 Pakistani workers to Belarus amid labor shortages`

Following an official meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Minsk on April 11, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said he would invite up to 150,000 Pakistani guest-workers to Belarus.

Belarus’s role in Russia’s war against Ukraine and Lukashenko’s crackdown on mass public protests following the 2020 contested elections, have forced between 300,000 and half a million Belarusians to flee the country. This exodus, combined with downward-trending demographics, has left the country with severe labor shortages.

Lukashenko’s proposal to take in up to 150,000 Pakistani guest-workers to help address Belarus’s deepening labor crisis came amid an array of agreements reached between Sharif and Lukashenko at their Minsk meeting, ranging from military cooperation, to food security, and trade.

“We’re ready to receive (guest-workers) in Belarus and create the necessary conditions for them to work,” Lukashenko said. Accepting “100,000, maybe 120,000-150,000” guest-workers would ease the pressure on the labor market of Belarus, which has over 199,000 vacancies among a working population of roughly 4.1 million.

The outflow of political exiles from the country is compounding the twin problems of an aging population and a historically low birth rate, which dropped to 6.96 per 1,000 in 2023, comparable to wartime Ukraine’s six births per 1,000 people. Belarus, which had a population of 10 million at independence, has likely seen it drop below the officially reported 9.1 million. Leaked documents from the State Control Committee suggest that the actual population could be as few as 8.8 million.

However, Belarus is hardly an attractive destination for Pakistani workers compared to the job markets of the EU or even Russia, argues Lev Lvovskiy, the academic director of Belarus’s leading economic think-tank BEROC.

In 2024, the average monthly wage in Belarus amounted to approximately $647, significantly lower than in Europe and barely double Pakistan’s $294 average. Besides, Belarus is a monoethnic country that lacks the experience of assimilating distinct cultural and religious groups.

Meanwhile, RFE/RL political analyst Valer Karbalevich writes that “like many other projects of Lukashenko, (this) will probably end in failure. (…) Even if Pakistanis come to Belarus, they will most likely strive, by all means and without any hesitation, to move on to a better life – to Europe.”

The arrival of hundreds of thousands of Pakistani guest-workers might also ring alarm bells in neighboring EU states tackling weaponized migration on their borders with Belarus.

In response to European sanctions in 2021, the Belarusian regime created an artificial migration crisis at its borders with Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland — all EU member states. Belarus facilitated travel from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, including Pakistan, promising easy passage into the EU.

`Russian Intelligence Service chief threatens NATO nations during visit to Belarus`

The director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, threatened NATO states during an April 15 meeting with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, saying that Poland and the Baltic states would be the “first to suffer” if there were any “NATO aggression” against the Russia-Belarus Union State.

Speaking to journalists after meeting Lukashenko, Naryshkin described Poland and the Baltic states as “highly aggressive,” portraying their defensive measures as “saber rattling,” state-owned Belarusian news agency Belta reports.

“In the event of aggression by NATO against (Russia and Belarus), damage will be done, of course, to the entire NATO bloc, but to a greater extent, the first to suffer will be the bearers of such ideas among the political circles of Poland and the Baltic countries,” Naryshkin said.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, reiterating NATO’s defensive role, dismissed Naryshkin’s remarks as “Russian baloney disinformation, typical of the Soviet school of propaganda.”

Naryshkin’s visit comes amid preparations for Zapad 2025, large-scale Russia-Belarus military drills set to host up to 13,000 Russian troops in Belarus in September 2025. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, told Baltic news portal Delfi that the actual scale of Zapad exercises far exceeds the publicly declared scale.

Earlier in April, Belarus state-owned news agency Belta reported that three other military exercises — Interaction-2025 for the operational response forces, Echelon-2025 for logistical support, and Search-2025 for reconnaissance — are scheduled to be held in September in Belarus along with Zapad-2025, with a yet undisclosed number of additional troops to be involved.

The drills will occur under the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russia-led military alliance created to an extent as an alternative to NATO, but now weakened by internal rifts. Armenia froze its participation in 2024 as the bloc failed to support it in its conflict with Azerbaijan.

Amid rising regional security tensions, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland on March 18 withdrew from the Ottawa Convention, banning the use, production, and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines, citing “fundamentally deteriorated” security in the region.

The four states have also been developing a joint Baltic Defense Line on their borders with Russia and Belarus.

`1,200 more Belarusians added to Russia’s wanted list, media report`

Russia has added another 1,200 Belarusian citizens to its wanted list over the past five months, independent news outlet Mediazona Belarus reported on April 9.

Mediazona found that since July 2024, at least 100 Belarusians have been added to the Russian wanted list every month. The largest increase of almost 300 entries came in December 2024.

Currently, the database lists 4,700 Belarusians, including members of the exiled opposition, Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, journalists, and human rights activists. Included at Belarus’s request, those on the list are wanted in both countries.

Belarus and Russia are part of the Interstate Wanted Persons Treaty of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a Russia-led political alliance of former post-Soviet countries. In 2022 alone, Russia extradited 16 Belarusians accused of “extremism” — a charge widely used against political opponents of the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

International police organization Interpol has stopped executing politically motivated searches requested by Belarus. However, Belarusians in Russia and most CIS countries can be subject to extradition.

`Belarus brands jailed EU diplomatic mission staffer as ‘terrorist’`

Belarus’s KGB has added a former EU diplomatic staffer in Belarus, Mikalai Khilo, who has been sentenced to a four-year prison term, to the list of “individuals involved in terrorist operations.”

The updated list was published on April 9 on the KGB’s Telegram channel.

Khilo, a local staff member of the European Union’s diplomatic service, was arrested in December 2024 for “incitement of hatred and calls for actions harming Belarus’s national security” — charges frequently brought against Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s political opponents.

The EU’s External Action Service condemned the decision and reiterated calls for Khilo’s release. The Viasna Human Rights Center has also designated Khilo as a political prisoner.

Created in 2011 to fulfill Belarus’s international obligations in combating terrorism, the list of terrorists is now a tool to harass the regime’s political opponents in the aftermath of rigged 2020 presidential elections and resulting mass anti-government protests.

Currently, 580 of the 1,377 entries on the list are Belarusian citizens, including exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, political activist Pavel Latushka, and jailed protest leader Maria Kalesnikava.

The list also includes journalists, human rights advocates and even students.

Those listed as “terrorists” are not permitted to receive money transfers, which deprives them of a major source of support. And for exiled opponents of the regime, being on the list elevates the risk of regime persecution.

Nearly 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus. Several demonstrative rounds of pardons last year reportedly saw 258 of them set free, but the pardons stalled soon after the January presidential elections, and regime repression continues.

According to Belarusian opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya, 15-20 politically motivated detentions are reported daily in Belarus.

Our readers’ questions about the war, answered. Vol. 8

Editor’s note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share the questions they have about the war. Here’s what they asked and how we answered. Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Question: Is Ukraine formulating a plan to receive and house refugees from

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

Serbia forms new government, expels top pro-Russian figure amid EU pressure

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:00:34 +0100

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 ministers retained their posts.

The most notable shift was the removal of Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, a longtime pro-Russian figure who has served in the Serbian government since 2013.

In late March, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos publicly urged Serbian leaders not to include him in the new cabinet, saying, “Someone who behaves anti-European cannot lead Serbia to the European Union at the same time."

The commissioner’s remarks followed an interview in which Vulin thanked Russian security services for allegedly aiding Serbian authorities in suppressing student protests.

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Over the past decade, Vulin has held roles as defense minister, interior minister, and head of Serbia's Security and Information Agency, the main intelligence service.

Vulin is known for his outspoken opposition to EU integration and repeated visits to Moscow, where he voiced support for the Kremlin. In 2022, the U.S. sanctioned Vulin over corruption, international drug trafficking, and assisting "Russia's malign activities in the Balkans."

The official has repeatedly dismissed Serbia's EU bid, suggesting the country should instead join BRICS. He also accused Brussels of trying to overthrow Vucic following deadly protests triggered by the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people.

Serbia has officially been an EU candidate since 2012, but democratic backsliding, unresolved tensions over Kosovo, and close ties with Moscow have stalled its progress.

On April 16, Vucic confirmed plans to attend Russian President Vladimir Putin's May 9 Victory Parade in Moscow despite EU officials' warnings that the visit could further jeopardize Serbia's accession talks.

The annual parade is widely seen as a propaganda event highlighting Russia's military power.

Russia calls Ukraine ceasefire ‘unrealistic’ despite Trump’s peace efforts

“Under the current circumstances, it is simply unrealistic to talk about a (full) ceasefire at this stage,” Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

EU warns Serbia not to attend Russia's victory parade

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 04:52:57 +0100

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 and received candidate status in 2012. However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, has also maintained friendly ties with Russia and Putin.

Vucic is reported to attend the annual Moscow Victory Day Parade on May 9 and will contribute military assets to the parade, according to Russian state media.

In response, European officials have issued a warning to Vucic, indicating that his visit would violate EU membership criteria and potentially block Serbia’s accession process.

Several EU officials have commented on Vucic’s upcoming trip to Moscow, including Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of Estonia’s Foreign Ministry.

“We need to ensure that they understand that certain decisions come at a cost. The consequence is them not joining the European Union,” Vseviov said.

He also added that attendance at Russia’s Victory Day Parade is “an important litmus test. Basically what we look at is whether or not they are on our side or playing on the other team."

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, also commented that “any participation in the May 9 parades or celebrations in Moscow will not be taken lightly on the European side, considering that Russia is really waging a full-scale war in Europe."

Russian state media reported that Putin has invited the leaders of China, Israel, and Brazil to attend the May 9 celebrations in Moscow, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, is also confirmed to attend the parade in Moscow, despite EU warnings.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has invited senior EU leaders and officials to Kyiv on May 9 to counter Russia’s celebration.

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly strike another Russian missile brigade linked to Sumy attack

Key developments on April 16: * Ukrainian drones reportedly strike another Russian missile brigade linked to Sumy attack * North Korea earns over $20 billion aiding Russia’s war effort, report says * Kyiv doesn’t rule out North Korean participation in Russia’s assault on Sumy, Kharkiv oblasts *…

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Fico to vist Moscow May 9 despite EU warning

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:49:01 +0100

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 post published April 15.

Kallas earlier in the day urged European leaders to boycott the event in solidarity with Ukraine. Participation in the Moscow celebrations “will not be taken lightly on the European side, considering that Russia is really waging a full-scale war in Europe,” she said.

In his post, Fico addressed Kallas' warning directly and insisted he had the right to visit Moscow.

“Ms. Kallas, I would like to inform you that I am the legitimate Prime Minister of Slovakia — a sovereign country,” he wrote. “No one can tell me where I should or should not travel. I will go to Moscow to pay my respects to the thousands of Red Army soldiers who died liberating the Slovak Republic."

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government has reportedly invited a number of world leaders to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. In addition to EU member Slovakia and EU candidate Serbia, the Kremlin has invited leaders from China, India, and Brazil.

Russia has repeatedly used historical commemorations to justify its invasion of Ukraine, with Putin falsely claiming the war is an attempt to “denazify” the country.

Fico initially announced his plans to attend the May 9 parades in November 2024. A month later, Fico traveled to Moscow for a meeting with Putin, becoming the third EU leader to do so since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The meeting with Putin precipitated large-scale protests in Slovakia, with demonstrators denouncing Fico’s Kremlin-friendly policies. In addition to seeking warmer ties with Moscow, Fico has made comments justifying Russia’s invasion and has consistently opposed military aid to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government has invited senior EU leaders and officials to Kyiv on May 9 to counter Russia’s celebration.

Our readers’ questions about the war, answered. Vol. 8

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

Zelensky imposes sanctions on 4 pro-Russian politicians, businessmen

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 16:04:10 +0100

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 the list are Serhii Arbuzov, former head of Ukraine’s National Bank and former first deputy Prime Minister; Andriy Klyuyev, the once highly influential ex-head of Viktor Yanukovych’s presidential administration who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2015; Ukrainian businessman Viktor Polishchuk; and tycoon Alyona Shevtsova.

The sanctions freeze assets and impose additional financial restrictions on the four.

Arbuzov, who is believed to have fled Ukraine for Russia in 2015 and is wanted by Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office, briefly served as acting prime minister in 2014 amid the ongoing street protests, known as the EuroMaidan Revolution.

The U.S. sanctioned Klyuyev nearly a decade ago for his role in the government of pro-Russian ousted President Yanukovych.

U.S. prosecutors have said he was among the people who paid U.S. lobbyist and political consultant Paul Manafort, who was found guilty of bank fraud and filing false tax returns.

Klyuyev is also believed to be living in Russia.

Russian drone attack kills one, injures two in Kherson Oblast

On April 12, Russian forces attacked a civilian vehicle in the Dniprovskiy district, Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. The drone dropped explosives on the car, fatally wounding a 27-year-old man.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

The 280,000 Ukrainians at risk of U.S. deportation

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 14:02:55 +0100

Editor’s Note:

We turn two years old on April 25th! We’re making it a goal to have 100 new subscribers by that mark. Will you help us reach our milestone?

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Ganka Smirnova at the support rally for Ukraine, New York, 2024. Photo provided by Ganka

Ganka Smirnova fled the war to the United States in search of safety.

But now the country that was her place of refuge may soon tell her to leave.

The Trump administration is considering an order that could send her back to Ukraine — and a return to nightly explosions, routine airstrikes, and shattered homes.

"I have a place to return to, but many people don't," Ganka said. “And that's the worst thing.”

Subscribe now

Donald Trump said last month that he is weighing revoking the legal status of approximately a quarter million Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia. Reuters, citing four sources, the decision could come as soon as this month.

Just over a week ago, some Ukrainian citizens residing in the United States under a humanitarian program received letters from DHS informing them that their status had been revoked and that they had seven days to leave the country. The next day, a DHS spokesperson acknowledged that the notices had been sent in error and that the program remained active.

A letter stating that a person must leave the United States. Photo by Facebook/IA Newcomer Integration Community & Exchange

The refugees arrived under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program launched by the Biden administration, which allows Americans to sponsor a Ukrainian, provided they guarantee the refugee’s financial well-being. Most have found jobs, sent money to their families in Ukraine, and are building new lives.

Deportations would result not only in personal tragedies, but also broader consequences: for the American economy, which has received an influx of labor; for the relationship between Washington and Kyiv; and even for the future of the war, as the income earned by Ukrainian refugees is an essential resource for their families back home.

Worst of all is the uncertainty. Like small businesses unsure if tariffs are on or off, Ukrainians can hardly plan anything while a Trump-shaped guillotine towers over their American future.

As of January 2024, the United States had accepted the largest number of Ukrainian refugees among countries outside of Europe. About 280,000 Ukrainians have moved to the United States on the U4U program, according to the Ukraine Immigration Task Force, an NGO that helps Ukrainians resettle in the U.S.

The threats have unsettled many Ukrainian refugees in America. One of them is Ganka, who left Ukraine in the first year of the war.

On February 27, 2022, the first Russian military vehicles were spotted in the village of Makariv, where she was staying. The troops were trying to break through to Kyiv, which lay to the east. On March 2, the Ukrainians liberated the village and gained a foothold in it. However, Makariv was still under constant shelling.

"For two weeks we were in this [occupation] without electricity, without water, without food, where we had to survive, where there was bombing... and you just don't know what you're going to do tomorrow, whether you're going to wake up or not," Ganka recalled.

Despite the constant attacks, Ganka had delayed moving, because she did not want to leave Ukraine and her family at such a difficult time. In November 2022, Ganka came to New York on the Uniting for Ukraine program. A friend from Washington, D.C., helped Ganka get in.

Ganka Smirnova at the support rally for Ukraine, New York, 2024. Photo provided by Ganka

Americans were kind to Ganka when she arrived — everyone she met was very friendly. But the effects of living under occupation had taken their toll, and she struggled with her first days in the United States.

"New York is a very loud city, with many people. And that affected me. It triggered me [because of the noise she recalls from occupation]. It was terrible," Ganka told The Counteroffensive. "At first, I lost touch with reality here, because there is a war going on in Ukraine. People here seem to be living their quiet, peaceful, ordinary lives... I felt that it was all a kind of simulation, a game. And it was not real.”

More than once, Ganka considered buying a ticket back to Ukraine because her heart pulled her home. But she realized she could be helpful in America too. She began attending protests demanding more aid for Ukraine, raising money for the armed forces, and supporting other Ukrainians in the United States.

Rally in support of Ukraine, New York, 2022. Video provided by Ganka

The U4U program provided Ganka with a work permit, enabling her to secure a job as a model at an agency. There are no restrictions on specialties, allowing Ukrainians to work in any field. The program also provides monthly financial assistance, which includes a little over $200 for food and $90 in cash. “It's not a lot of money for New York, but it helps to pay for the phone, for example,” Ganka said.

At the end of January, Donald Trump signed the ‘Securing Our Borders’ executive order, instructing the Department of Homeland Security to halt all migrant programs established under the Biden administration.

He then indefinitely suspended the acceptance of new applications for U4U.

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while holding a document about immigration during a visit to the Livingston County Sheriff's Office on August 20, 2024 in Howell, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

In addition, 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans – as well as 70,000 Afghans fleeing the Taliban – have been threatened with deportation.

Trump himself has been unclear regarding where he stands on revoking the status of Ukrainian refugees.

"We're not looking to hurt anybody,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. "There were some people that think that's appropriate, and some people don't, and I'll be making the decision pretty soon."

If Trump signs an executive order, deportations would not begin immediately, due to martial law still being in effect in Ukraine, and it's possible that they could be offered alternatives on how to stay legally, said Yelyzaveta Mazur, an immigration lawyer at the Ukrainian law firm Prikhodko & Partners.

However, absent alternatives they will either have to leave or wait for an evacuation organized by the Ukrainian authorities. Individuals who do not leave the United States or apply for a new status might face fines or administrative penalties, depending on state laws, according to Mazur.

Ganka, who may be deported from New York, said that when she heard about the possible decision, she felt angry and upset: how can this happen when there is still a war in Ukraine?

"Where's the logic: he [Trump] wants to send Ukrainians home, and then he says he doesn't want to hurt them. And this ambivalence, it's a little bit confusing. It's a kind of chaos," Ganka said.

The return of deported Ukrainians could create several issues, particularly for those who have lost their homes or who come from occupied territories, Mazur said. Do they possess valid Ukrainian documents? Are they included in government registries, given that many left with non-biometric passports?

Another issue is housing. Will those whose homes were destroyed be able to get it? In Ukraine, the process of finding housing has been complicated, and those returning from the United States may also face scrutiny regarding the legality of their departure, particularly for men.

“The question is for those who left for help, to escape the war. Most of them are not from Kyiv or western Ukraine. If they are deported from the United States, they will need to apply for benefits, assistance from the state, and compensation for housing,” Mazur said.

Ukrainian refugees attend a job fair in the Brooklyn borough of New York on February 01, 2023. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Deporting a quarter of a million people could affect America's international reputation, which is already changing, Ganka said.

Even if such a decision is made, she is not afraid. Ironically, like those who would like to deport her, Ganka’s dream is that she can one day return to Ukraine.

"We are all living in a war, even if we are far away from it. It is impossible to forget it," she said. "I would like to return to a peaceful Ukraine with all our territories and people. I want many other Ukrainians to do the same and help rebuild Ukraine."

In this time of great uncertainty — and unstable American support — it means that the situation on the ground is very dangerous. Your contributions help us get the body armor, medical gear, and supplies we need to stay safe.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

TRUMP ENVOY: PARTITION UKRAINE LIKE POST-WWII BERLIN: Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's envoy to Ukraine, said that British/French troops could be stationed west of the Dnipro River as a "reassurance force," while Ukrainian forces were based east and north of the river.

The forces would act together as a deterrent to future Russian violations of the ceasefire, Kellogg envisioned, according to The Times. “You could almost make it look like what happened with Berlin after World War Two, when you had a Russian zone, a French zone, and a British zone, a US zone,” he said.

UKRAINE: TWITTER CONCEALING RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES: A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Twitter for applying the tag “sensitive content” to a post about Ukrainian children killed by Russia — arguing that it was tantamount to concealing war crimes.

"This isn’t preventing users from exposure to graphic content. This is sweeping Russian war crimes under the rug," said MOFA spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi. “This is shameful and must be reversed.”

TRUMP'S NEGOTIATOR WITKOFF MEETS PUTIN: Steve Witkoff flew to St. Petersburg for talks with Putin, and was photographed shaking hands with the dictator. No results from the meeting have been shared publicly, per Sky News.

… WHILE TRUMP URGES PUTIN: Meanwhile, Trump urged Putin to get serious about peace. "Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere [sic] DYING, thousands in a week, in a terrible and senseless war," wrote Trump on a Truth Social post. A top White House spokesperson said that Trump was getting frustrated with both the Ukrainians and the Russians.

"I think the president has been quite clear that he's been continually frustrated with both sides of this conflict and he wants to see this fighting end; he wants the war to end, and we believe we have leverage in negotiating a deal,” Karoline Leavitt said.

DOG OF WAR:

Today’s Dog of War is a husky with such beautiful eyes. She was waiting for her owners at the entrance to a store, and Nastia couldn't help but take her photo.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Tim

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Russia’s Interference in European Politics

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:38:05 +0100

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 invested in both far-right and far-left movements to destabilize European societies and institutions. Still, not all such parties are direct agents of the Kremlin. So, how deep does Russia’s influence on European politics truly run?

What do Europe’s political extremes stand for?

Across Europe, political parties whose agendas diverge from the EU’s prevailing course are gaining increasing influence. These parties advocate prioritizing national interests over EU-wide policies, restricting immigration, rejecting environmental regulations, and promoting traditional energy sources. While they often brand themselves as conservative, critics accuse them of radicalism—especially after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

One of the main points of criticism is these parties’ stance on military aid to Ukraine. They emphasize the need to bolster their own national security and defense, often arguing for a reduction in support to Kyiv. Some of their leaders maintain—or have maintained in the past—ties with Russian political circles. For instance, the 2023 electoral victory of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) was portrayed by Russian media as a win for the Kremlin, citing party leader Geert Wilders’ past expressions of support for Vladimir Putin. However, Wilders insists he is not an ally of Moscow and has acknowledged Russia as the aggressor, calling Putin a “horrible dictator.” While he no longer opposes financial aid to Ukraine, he remains against sending Dutch troops to the country.

Russia’s interference in European politics, however, is not a recent phenomenon. Between 2014 and 2022, the Kremlin spent over $300 million financing foreign political parties. As of 2023, more than 900 political parties and organizations—and some 1,300 influential individuals—across 19 European countries were promoting pro-Russian narratives. In addition, Russia conducts information campaigns in support of specific candidates—the most recent example being Romania—and works to stir up discord within European societies. Direct Russian involvement in European politics is not always easy to detect. Still, some political forces openly support Moscow. Unfortunately, even when these forces are in opposition, they can still influence European governments’ decisions on Ukraine. Below, we examine several examples.

GERMANY. The Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) party is well known for its pro-Russian rhetoric. An investigation by The Insider revealed that AfD members of parliament sabotaged arms deliveries to Ukraine, acting in the Kremlin’s interests. Vladimir Sergiyenko, an aide to a Bundestag MP, coordinated public statements with Russian handlers in exchange for payment. The AfD has also filed lawsuits seeking to block military assistance to Kyiv.

An investigation by Der Spiegel revealed links between AfD staffers and Russian security services. The Kremlin was found to have financed AfD Members of the European Parliament Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron. The Czech government also confirmed the scale of a Russian influence operation in which AfD played a key role. Moscow used the media platform Voice of Europe to spread pro-Russian narratives across Europe in the lead-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections. Through the same platform, Moscow funneled millions of euros to politicians promoting Russian propaganda. In response, the Czech government and the EU imposed sanctions on Voice of Europe and several individuals involved.

Today, AfD commands around 20% of the vote. While a significant number of people continue to protest against the party, it is nevertheless likely to remain a major influence over both German and EU politics.

SLOVAKIA. The Slovak parliament currently includes three openly pro-Russian parties: Direction – Social Democracy (Smer – sociálna demokracia, 23%), Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas – sociálna demokracia, 17.2%), and the Slovak National Party (Slovenská národná strana, 13.1%). The current prime minister—now serving his third term—Robert Fico, represents the first of these. Fico is planning to visit Russia on May 9 and, together with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been blocking EU assistance to Ukraine. He has repeatedly made pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian statements, calling sanctions against Moscow “pointless,” promising to veto Ukraine’s NATO membership bid, and dismissing the Ukrainian army’s fight to liberate occupied territories as “naive.” In 2024, he became one of the first European leaders to break Russia’s diplomatic isolation by traveling to Moscow—ostensibly to negotiate gas supplies.

The Voice party (Hlas) was founded in 2020 and is led by Peter Pellegrini—an ideological ally of Fico and the current president of Slovakia. In February 2020, ahead of Slovakia’s elections, Pellegrini received an invitation to visit Moscow, facilitated by Viktor Orbán. Investigative reports indicate that the Hungarian and Russian governments discussed possible ways to support Pellegrini.

The Slovak National Party (Slovenská národná strana), the oldest of the three (active since 1989), is led by Andrej Danko. Danko has stated that supporting Ukraine “doesn’t solve the problem, it only heightens tensions” and that Russia “is not an aggressor, but merely defending its interests.” He also claimed that Russians “entered this territory with the intention of helping their nation,” effectively justifying Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Danko headed a delegation of pro-Russian Slovak MPs who visited Moscow in January 2025. He described the opportunity to speak in the State Duma as “a once-in-a-lifetime honor.”

These statements—along with ongoing Russian propaganda—appear to have shaped public opinion in Slovakia. More than half of Slovaks blame either the West or Ukraine for the war, while only 40% see Russia as responsible—the lowest figure among countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

AUSTRIA. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), founded in 1985, has consistently opposed EU integration and support for Ukraine. Its leader, Herbert Kickl, has openly stated his intention to block Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, arguing that it poses a threat to European agriculture. FPÖ’s position closely mirrors the political stance of the Hungarian and Slovak governments. A vivid display of the party’s pro-Russian leanings came in March 2023, when Kickl’s MPs walked out of the Austrian parliament during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s video address in protest against Austria’s support for Ukraine.

FPÖ’s September 2024 election campaign was marked by strongly anti-European and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. One of the party’s key posters read “Stop the EU Madness” and depicted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, set against a backdrop of tanks and helicopters with the caption “Fueling the War.” Through this messaging, the party sought to foster voters’ negative attitudes toward the EU’s policy on Ukraine. Like Germany’s AfD, FPÖ also has financial ties to Russia. In 2019, FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache was caught discussing potential funding from a Russian oligarch in exchange for political favors once in power. Today, FPÖ leads in public opinion polls with 34% support.

BELGIUM. The New Flemish Alliance (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA) came in first in Belgium’s 2024 national elections, receiving 18% of the vote. The party’s platform includes the separation of Flanders from Wallonia—possibly explaining its receptiveness to Russian narratives about the “independence” of the so-called “DPR” and “LPR.” Party representatives served as observers at the so-called referendum in Crimea, as well as during the “elections” held in the self-proclaimed “DPR” and “LPR.” The Russian propaganda outlet Voice of Europe has published interviews with members of Vlaams Belang. In 2018, Filip Dewinter, a member of Vlaams Belang, took part in drafting a resolution to lift sanctions against Russia, which was to be submitted to the Belgian parliament. Such initiatives were not unique to Belgium. In the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), there were also discussions concerning a report by a Belgian MP on the potential lifting of sanctions against Russia. For example, in June 2019, PACE considered a resolution that could have weakened the Assembly’s sanctions mechanism and enabled the return of the Russian delegation. After 2022, representatives of Vlaams Belang were compelled to condemn the aggression—however, they still oppose sanctions against Russia.

In 2024, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) launched an investigation into Vlaams Belang over the possible embezzlement of EU funds. Nevertheless, by mid-2024, the party had the highest level of public support—23%. Slightly behind was the N-VA, with 22%. Both parties advocate for dividing Belgium into two states and oppose immigration, but N-VA supports providing both military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, setting it apart from Vlaams Belang.

FRANCE. The National Rally (Rassemblement National), founded in 1972, is currently led by Marine Le Pen, who succeeded her father as party leader. The party has close ties with Russia—for example, its 2014 election campaign was financed by a Russian bank (though, according to media reports, the loan was repaid in 2023). Le Pen’s connections to Russia are detailed in a report by the French parliament. The report states that Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev served as one of the intermediaries between the Kremlin and the French far-right and that the National Rally has regularly supported Putin’s policies: party members have visited Russia, Crimea, and Donbas, taken part in elections organized by Russia, and voted in the European Parliament against resolutions that were unfavorable to the Kremlin. In 2024, Marine Le Pen was forced to explain herself after receiving public support from Russia’s Foreign Ministry. In that year’s parliamentary elections, the National Rally received the largest share of the vote—37%—but a governing coalition between the left-wing Popular Front and Macron’s party prevented the far right from forming a government.

ITALY. The League (Lega), led by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, has long-standing ties with the Russian authorities. Salvini has repeatedly expressed support for the Russian president, whom he called “the best statesman on Earth” in 2019. On March 6, 2017, the League signed a five-year agreement with United Russia—which was automatically renewed in March 2022.

In 2018, representatives of this Italian party visited Moscow to negotiate a scheme for receiving $65 million from the Russian government. The negotiations involved Andrei Kharchenko—an officer of Russia’s FSB foreign intelligence service and a representative of the Fifth Service. This division played a key role in attempts to politically destabilize Ukraine, particularly during the Euromaidan. An investigation by The Insider revealed that Kharchenko also met with Iranian officials.

Since the start of the full-scale war, the leader of the League has continued to spread Russian propaganda regarding the war against Ukraine.

ROMANIA. Călin Georgescu, leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor, AUR) and a candidate in the most recent presidential election, was detained for his involvement with an organization exhibiting fascist traits and for promoting individuals responsible for genocide or war crimes. He is also facing charges of falsifying statements about the sources of his campaign funding, along with other electoral offenses. Georgescu had previously claimed that his campaign was entirely free of charge and not financed by any external sources. However, there are suspicions that Russia may have funded it through intermediaries.

In addition, Georgescu met with Russian ideologue Aleksandr Dugin, which raised further questions about his political connections. As part of the investigation, law enforcement carried out 47 searches involving individuals close to Georgescu, including his partner, who, according to police, maintains contacts with high-ranking Russian officials.

Romania is a clear example of how a country’s institutions can respond to an external threat and defend the constitutional order—without hiding behind appeals to “the will of the people.” Let’s now take a look at how other countries are protecting themselves from foreign influence over their domestic politics.

Regulating foreign funding of political parties

Out of 181 countries worldwide, only 52—including Germany, Belgium, and Austria—allow foreign donations to political parties. However, such bans or permissions may vary in extent. For example, 16 OECD countries prohibit all foreign donations. In contrast, others may permit certain types—such as contributions from individuals or non-governmental organizations—while banning donations from legal entities or foreign states. EU countries often allow parties to receive funding from foreign individuals or parties registered within the EU. This aligns with the recommendations of the Venice Commission from 2006, which generally advised banning foreign funding of political parties.

In recent years, many countries have introduced bans on foreign funding of political parties or made existing bans more stringent. Violations of funding rules—particularly the receipt of money from foreign donors—are typically punishable by fines, imprisonment, suspension of party activities, loss of public funding, or even deregistration.

A 2021 report by the European Parliament acknowledges the problem and recommends that EU member state governments take additional measures to counter hostile political influence. However, it also notes that proving foreign influence over a political party is quite difficult, as funding can be concealed—through proxies, cryptocurrencies, or even cash. Therefore, despite investigations by journalists or data from NGOs, proving the receipt of foreign funds and applying relevant legislation to violators remains a significant challenge.

At the same time, the fact that even openly pro-Russian positions do not reduce some politicians’ approval ratings—as in the cases of Orbán or Fico—suggests that the reasons behind the democratic world’s rightward shift are more fundamental. We recommend reading our series of analyses on the causes and consequences of populism’s rise: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Conclusions

Two key conclusions can be drawn from the above. To start with, right-wing sentiment is on the rise in Europe. The third-largest faction in the European Parliament—Patriots for Europe, with 84 out of 720 members—includes representatives of many of the parties mentioned above, with the exception of those from Slovakia. The growth of such sentiment is partly driven by real challenges, such as the significant influx of migrants into the EU. In some cases, migrants do not integrate into the societies where they reside, leading to the formation of ghettos and a rise in crime.

However, the ties between far-right parties and Russia show that Moscow is deliberately supporting these forces and amplifying related narratives in order to destabilize European societies. Among other things, such chaos and internal disruption reduce political and military support for Ukraine. And if pro-Russian forces come to power, that support could disappear altogether.

At the same time, the rise to power of far-right or populist forces would have negative consequences for European countries themselves since the simplistic solutions these parties offer to complex challenges do not work in practice. In the current context—where Russia is waging war against Europe—European intelligence services must devote far more attention to political actors who promote Kremlin-aligned narratives or benefit from Russian support. Relevant legislation should also be made stricter. At the same time, it is essential to conduct an honest dialogue with voters about the problems facing modern Europe and realistic ways to address them.

Photo: depositphotos.com/ua/

Mineral diplomacy or modern-day extortion in Ukraine?

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:20:00 +0100

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 significant amount of its mineral wealth or face the prospect of future Russian intervention without American support.

The proposed “agreement” has been met with skepticism from mining experts, pushback from Kyiv, and even a counteroffer from the Kremlin. Staggeringly, this “very big deal” appears to have ignored the ambitions of the Ukrainian people altogether — and yet it has been met with bipartisan acclaim in the U.S.

Instead of creating an economic bond that would hold the two nations together, this mineral deal will be a fiasco for both Americans and Ukrainians. A deal made through coercion, rather than equitable negotiation with community consultation, will not only worsen Ukraine’s humanitarian emergency and long-term development efforts; it will also fail to strengthen America’s mineral supply chain.

Trump is correct that the U.S. will need critical minerals — including lithium, graphite, and rare earths — which will power the energy and security technology of the future. But through Oxfam’s decades of work in mining communities, we know firsthand that deals shaped without community consent are destined to fail. When people are unable to shape how (or if) mining proceeds in their backyards, companies and governments bear the cost of protests, work stoppages, and lawsuits.

Even in the best circumstances, mining deals routinely fall apart. In conflict zones like Ukraine, all bets are off. Mining is capital-intensive and often dangerous work. Land disputes are common, and even well-designed projects can undermine human rights activists, host communities, Indigenous groups, and local small-scale miners. Moreover, profits are by no means guaranteed, especially not in the short term: only 30%of Ukraine’s critical minerals are in operational mines. For the remainder, it will take an average of 18 years before production is possible.

Perhaps, given these constraints, the latest — “bigger, better” — version of Trump’s mineral deal encompasses other natural resources, including oil and gas. Still, the underlying problems will likely remain: a lack of consultation, let alone consent, and gun-barrel diplomacy is no way to secure a supply chain or recoup costs.

“Should the U.S. relationship with Ukraine veer toward “mineral colonialism” — shaped by subservience, arrogance, and domination without consideration for the Ukrainian people — neither side will win.”

Erik Prince, the military contractor and shadow adviser to Trump, proposed funding the war in Afghanistan through mining, which amounted to nothing. The Kremlin experimented with a mining-for-fighting model with the Wagner Group, which was disavowed after a coup attempt in Russia. In Ukraine, any unchecked rush to extract minerals without safeguards is all but certain to fail; worse, it is sure to exacerbate corruption and social conflict, further undermining the profitability of the private sector and the accountability of the state to its people. In short, it would demolish the foundations for a stable, prosperous Ukraine.

A drag-line excavator mines rare earth materials in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine, on Feb. 25, 2025. (Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images)

There is a better way forward.

First, the U.S. and Ukrainian governments should be realistic about the short-term benefits of mining cooperation and appreciate that developing Ukraine’s natural resources is a years-long endeavor. It will not create the kind of short-term bond that Ukraine requires for its security. Rather, with an estimated $524 billion recovery bill, these resources would be better utilized as part of a long-term domestic fund for reconstruction and redevelopment. The Ukrainian government should reject any slapdash wealth transfer that might undermine its people’s immediate humanitarian needs and future political and economic success.

Second, the U.S. government should focus on building out a resilient mineral supply chain, which includes ensuring that local communities have a real say in whether and how mining projects move forward and investing in a more business-friendly environment. The mining industry itself, which has taken recent steps to improve its social performance and human rights commitments, should advocate for more rational policies in conflict-affected countries like Ukraine and reject this administration’s gutting of anti-corruption measures globally.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, policymakers should pursue a just and sustainable peace that recognizes Ukraine’s territorial integrity and ensures the safety of the Ukrainian people.

This latest round of “mineral diplomacy” reflects a new geopolitical reality that will be shaped by what lies beneath. Diplomacy, however, requires respect, engagement, and tact. Should the U.S. relationship with Ukraine veer toward “mineral colonialism” — shaped by subservience, arrogance, and domination without consideration for the Ukrainian people — neither side will win.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Georgian Parliament passes updated foreign agents law

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:04:13 +0100

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 include individuals, with noncompliance punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Based on the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the Georgian version includes a set of restrictive changes to the country’s broadcasting law.

FARA, originally enacted in the U.S. in 1938 to counter Nazi and Soviet ideology, requires foreign lobbyists to disclose their ties and funding sources. The law has rarely been enforced—only a handful of cases have led to criminal charges in recent decades.

Georgian opposition leaders argued that the Georgian Dream party’s use of FARA as a model is misleading, as the U.S. law is narrowly applied and not used to target NGOs or media, unlike the Georgian version.

Approved by 86 MPs, the Georgian law targets both organizations and individuals who receive foreign funding and fail to register with the Justice Ministry.

The legislation includes criminal penalties for noncompliance, which lawmakers say are meant to prevent evasion and ensure the public knows how foreign money is used.

Several NGOs have begun re-registering in countries like Estonia to avoid falling under the law’s jurisdiction.

The bill has drawn sharp criticism from Georgian opposition parties and U.S. and EU officials, who believe this bill will be used as a tool to further suppress civil society and independent media.

Originally, the first version of the foreign agents bill was passed in May 2024, in its third and final reading. The law, backed by Georgian Dream, mirrors repressive Russian legislation used to crack down on the Kremlin regime’s critics and NGOs in Russia with foreign ties of any kind.

Georgian Dream’s repressions against independent media and decisions to distance the country from the EU have prompted mass protests spanning months and violent crackdowns by the police.

Armenia refuses to finance Russian-led CSTO security alliance budget

Armenia has refused to pay its contributions to the budget of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for the past year, the country’s Foreign Ministry said on March 31, after suspending its participation in the military alliance in August 2024.

The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

Belgian film festival cancels screening of 'Russians at War' documentary after Ukraine's appeal

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 08:26:12 +0100

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 director Anastasia Trofimova’s documentary has faced criticism for what many perceive as an attempt to whitewash Russian soldiers involved in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The embassy appealed to the Belgian federal government, the Flemish government, the local authorities of Leuven, the management of the Docville festival, and the Catholic University of Leuven to cancel the screening of the film.

The movie portrays Russian soldiers in Ukraine as ordinary people, never shows or mentions the war crimes committed by them in Ukraine, and subtly questions the truthfulness of Ukrainian testimonies of them.

Earlier in her career, Trofimova worked for Russia Today (RT), a Kremlin-backed propaganda outlet.

The movie’s past screenings have sparked protests in Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands.

‘Outright propaganda’ — Dutch university to screen ‘Russians at War’ and host panel with controversial director

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Moldova expels 3 Russian diplomats for aiding fugitive MP's escape to Transnistria

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:59:10 +0100

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 years in prison for illegally financing the banned pro-Russian Shor Party, escaped to Russian-controlled Transnistria with help from Russian diplomats, according to Moldovan media Newsmaker.

Transnistria is a Russian-occupied breakaway region of Moldova that Moscow invaded in the early 1990s under the pretext of protecting the Russian population.

The Moldovan Information and Security Service confirmed that Nesterovschi, convicted on March 19 for corruption, fled to Transnistria with Moscow’s assistance.

The Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov and delivered a formal expulsion notice for three embassy employees. Russian state media TASS quoted Ozerov dismissing the accusations as “groundless and unsubstantiated."

The pro-Russian Shor Party, led by fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, has been accused of spreading Kremlin-backed narratives and attempting to destabilize Moldova through protests against its pro-European government.

In a related case, Evghenia Gutul, governor of Moldova’s Gagauzia region and a key Shor Party figure, was detained at Chisinau Airport on March 25 while attempting to leave the country.

Moldova’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office alleges she funneled Russian funds into the country while serving as the party’s secretary. Gutul, elected in July 2023, has maintained ties with Moscow, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Russia in March 2024.

Chisinau has actively countered Russian influence, expelling dozens of Russian diplomats and embassy staff in July 2023 over espionage concerns.

Tensions escalated further after Chisinau said that Russian drones repeatedly violated Moldovan airspace during attacks on Ukraine, with some of the drones crashing on Moldovan territory.

Belarusian exiled opposition's chairwoman Melnikava reported missing

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 13:25:08 +0100

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 and are working to establish her whereabouts in cooperation with the council and foreign governments.

The Coordination Council is a body of the Belarusian opposition-in-exile established by opposition leader and presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in August 2020 after the state-backed electoral fraud and a crackdown on subsequent protests.

“We hope for the best, but we understand that representatives of Belarusian democratic forces remain priority targets of security services of the Belarusian and Russian regimes,” the council said on Telegram.

The Polish Interior Ministry said Melnikava had been outside Poland for many weeks. Independent outlet Nasha Niva reported that the speaker flew to the U.K. without informing anyone of her plans.

The speaker’s duties will be temporarily carried out by Deputy Speaker Stasia Hlinnik.

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, recently inaugurated into his seventh term in presidential office after holding power since 1994, has solidified his rule through sham elections and mass repression of independent media, civil society, and political opposition.

The Belarusian secret police, the KGB, is believed to be closely monitoring opposition members who have fled abroad. Lukashenko’s agents are also suspected of being behind the murders of Belarusian activist Vital Shyshou in 2021 and journalist Pavel Sharamet in 2016 in Kyiv.

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'Outright propaganda' — Dutch university to screen 'Russians at War' and host panel with controversial director

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:46:58 +0100

Canadian-Russian director Anastasia Trofimova’s documentary has been criticized for what many perceive as an attempt to whitewash Russian soldiers involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine, sparking protests against its past screenings in Canada and Australia.

Leiden University in the Hague will screen the film on March 26 as part of its Fireside Peace Chats, an initiative of a Leiden University College staff member in collaboration with “several external partners."

It will be followed by a panel discussion with Trofimova and academic staff members.

Ukraine’s Embassy in the Netherlands on March 25 published a statement calling for the screening to be canceled.

It said the film is “whitewashing Russian soldiers and absolving them of responsibility for murder, rape, torture, looting, forced deportation of children, and destruction of Ukrainian cities."

"‘Russians at War’ documentary is a piece of Russian outright propaganda that intentionally distorts the reality of the ongoing genocidal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, thereby misleading viewers and promoting (the) toxic narratives of (the) Kremlin,” it added.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in October 2024 began investigating Trofimova, the film’s director, on charges of justifying and recognizing the legitimacy of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and illegally crossing Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders when filming in the Russian-occupied territories.

Student groups who spoke to the Kyiv Independent also expressed outrage at the screening, saying the film “misrepresents the reality of Russia’s war against Ukraine, downplays Russian war crimes, and silences Ukrainian voices,” and that the event should be canceled.

“We are deeply outraged that Leiden University, a leading academic institution in the Netherlands, is providing a platform (for the film),” Anna Mamedova, a Leiden University alumna, and co-founder of the ABBA Student Association, a group that represents students from Ukraine as well as several Baltic and Eastern European countries.

(L-R) Roland Schlimme, Sally Blake, Anastasia Trofimova, Cornelia Principe, and Philippe Levasseur attend the “Russians At War” photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino in Venice, Italy, on Sep. 5, 2024. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Leiden University has so far refused to cancel the event, arguing it is a “a bastion of freedom” and “a fervent advocate of open, critical debate where different opinions and convictions are engaged with.”

“It has chosen to overlook the fact that this film was produced in illegally occupied Ukrainian territories without authorization, violating international law.”

"We choose to engage with extremely difficult topics rather than closing our eyes, in order to better understand humanity and the world. We will provide a critical context to this film, where there is room for debate, discussion, and criticism," the university said on March 25.

Mamedova said the ABBA Organisation had contacted the university expressing its concerns.

"It has chosen to overlook the fact that this film was produced in illegally occupied Ukrainian territories without authorization, violating international law. It is particularly shameful that this occurs in The Hague — the City of Peace and Justice," Mamedova said.

In response, the university acknowledged "the immense suffering" caused by Russian aggression and assured that it takes academic integrity seriously, Mamedova said.

ABBA is organizing a protest in response to the film screening in front of the university building 30 minutes before it starts and a combat casualty care workshop featuring Ukrainian combat medic Anastasia Mutsey, which will also take place at Leiden University at the time the screening begins.

Protests against the film's screening were held in several countries, including Canada and Australia.

Earlier in her career, Trofimova worked for Russia Today (RT), a Kremlin-backed propaganda outlet.

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Moldova detains regional leader accused of taking money from Russia

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:25:30 +0100

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 the illegal financing case of the banned pro-Russian Shor Party. Moldova’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had completed its evidence collection.

Moldovan authorities allege that she systematically brought funds from Russia into Moldova while serving as the party’s secretary, working with an organized criminal group.

Gutul, elected governor of Gagauzia in July 2023 as a Shor Party candidate, has maintained ties with Moscow. She traveled to Russia in March 2024, where she met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June.

Investigators also accuse Gutul of helping to organize anti-government protests in Chisinau in the fall of 2022. She denies the charges, calling them politically motivated.

Russia condemned the actions of the Moldovan authorities, accusing Chisinau of disregarding “the principles of political pluralism and democracy,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Human rights groups have accused Russia of systematically repressing civil society, political opposition, and free press at home.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Gutul on June 12, 2023, for her ties to pro-Russian oligarch and politician Ilan Shor, who fled Moldova in 2019 and has been accused of attempting to destabilize the country.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu, a pro-European leader, has refused to approve Gutul as a member of the government, citing accusations of vote-buying.

Gagauzia is an autonomous territory in southern Moldova that partly borders Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast. It has traditionally favored closer relations with Russia while opposing EU integration.

Chisinau has actively countered Russian influence, expelling dozens of Russian diplomats and embassy staff in July 2023 over espionage concerns.

Tensions escalated further after Chisinau said that Russian drones repeatedly violated Moldovan airspace during air raids on Ukraine, with some of the drones crashing on Moldovan territory.

‘There is talk of Nord Stream’ — Lavrov eyes Russia-US energy cooperation

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The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Lukashenko 'inaugurated' after extending his rule in 'sham' elections

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:18:28 +0100

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, Lukashenko said that Belarus “has its own standards for holding elections, which can become an international benchmark."

The Belarusian Election Commission claimed that Lukashenko “won” 86.82% of the vote on Jan. 26, followed by regime-approved and little-known candidates like Sergey Syrankov with 3.21% or Oleg Gaidukevich with 2.02%.

In power since 1994, Lukashenko’s dictatorial rule has been marked by a harsh crackdown on political opposition, free media, and civil society.

In his speech, the dictator claimed that Belarus ensures everyone’s opportunity to express their opinion but “will not allow freedom of speech to be used as a club to destroy our own country."

A day before the inauguration, 10 Belarusian human rights groups denounced the January presidential elections and Lukashenko’s continued hold on power.

The latest vote was “held in a deep human rights crisis, in an atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, the opposition, and all dissenters,” the statement read.

In 2020, Lukashenko also declared himself the winner despite independent pollsters saying that his opponent, independent candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, won the most votes. The election fraud sparked mass protests, which were followed by a violent crackdown and mass arrests.

Lukashenko has been a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, allowing Moscow’s forces to use Belarus as a launching ground for the invasion of Kyiv and missile attacks in 2022.

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Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:00:19 +0100

Who is Sergey Beseda, Russian spy handler leading talks with US?

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:12:01 +0100

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 deeply involved in Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine from the very beginning.

He is thought to have played one of the key roles in keeping Russian President Vladimir Putin informed about the situation in Ukraine ahead of the full-scale invasion.

Based on the intelligence provided by the 5th Service, the Russian authorities were confident that the Russian army would not meet serious resistance in Ukraine, the Russian investigative outlet IStories reported early in the all-out war.

The data provided by Beseda’s 5th Service turned out to be inaccurate in many ways.

Soon after, Beseda allegedly faced backlash but wasn’t written off. Last summer, he resigned from his post and now serves as an advisor to FSB Head Aleksandr Bortnikov.

The Russian delegation is also spearheaded by Grigory Karasin, 75, a Russian senator and career diplomat who is a staunch supporter of Moscow’s all-out war against Ukraine.

Both officials are under Western sanctions.

The talks in Riyadh have reportedly focused on Washington’s push for a possible ceasefire, including one at sea.

Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov described Beseda as “a very problematic person for Ukraine.”

When asked who among Russian generals is the most dangerous for the country, Budanov was undecided but said that Beseda “has always brought problems to Ukraine.”

“He is a very problematic person. He has done a lot of evil for Ukraine. It is fine, time will sort everything out,” Budanov said in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda in the fall of 2023.

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`Who’s Sergey Beseda?`

Beseda has been a career intelligence officer for most of his life, beginning his work in the FSB predecessor — Soviet KGB.

He led the 5th Service for 15 years, taking office in 2009 and being ousted in 2024.

Beseda’s name made headlines in 2014. He was present in Kyiv from Feb. 20 to 21, during the bloodiest days of the EuroMaidan Revolution. Between Feb. 18 and 20, around 100 protestors were gunned down, and hundreds were injured by law enforcement loyal to pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said that Beseda was based at the SBU training ground.

“Russia’s military involvement essentially started not in Crimea, but with the events on Maidan (Independence Square), by the interference of Russian generals in the events in Ukraine,” Nalyvaichenko said.

Riot police arrest protesters during clashes in the central of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 22, 2014. (Oleksandr Ratushniak / AFP via Getty Images)

According to Nalyvaichenko, Beseda was commanding Ukraine’s law enforcement during their attack on protestors.

Facing outrage in Ukraine, the FSB admitted in 2014 that Beseda was in Kyiv during the revolution, claiming that he was sent to determine the “level of protection” of the Russian Embassy in Ukraine and “other Russian institutions” in the city.

Last year, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office concluded that the murders were carried out by Ukrainian law enforcement officers under the orders of Ukrainian authorities and Russia’s guidance.

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation charged FSB’s Chief Bortnikov and other 20 top officials of Russian special services with the obstruction of protests during the revolution.

In his memoir, former U.S. Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan wrote that Beseda was also involved in talks on a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia in 2021.

`In charge of Ukraine`

FSB’s 5th Service, led by Beseda for years, is officially in charge of the agency’s relations with foreign partners and gathering information in former Soviet republics, including Ukraine.

The Washington Post (WP), citing its sources, reported in 2022 that the FSB “has spent decades spying on Ukraine,” trying to infiltrate its institutions, bribing officials, and preventing any shift towards the West.

There were reports that Beseda had been arrested after the failed swift conquest of Ukraine, but Moscow did not officially confirm this information. Russian journalist Andrey Soldatov claimed that he was charged with embezzling funds allocated for subversion in Ukraine.

According to Budanov, Beseda was “suspended” from his duties for some time but was soon back on track.

Budanov said that as of the fall of 2023, the FSB general was actively involved in operations against Ukraine.

“He continues to work and is a very serious enemy of our state,” he said.

After the first round of the U.S.-Russia talks, the Washington Post outlined a draft document prepared by a Moscow think tank that worked closely with the 5th Service.

The document reportedly laid out Russia’s maximalist demands for ending the war, including a buffer zone in northeastern Ukraine along the borders with Bryansk and Belgorod oblasts and a demilitarized zone in southern Ukraine.

The document, drafted in February, further calls for “the complete dismantling” of Ukraine’s current government and says that peace is unlikely before 2026.

It is unclear what — if any — role this document plays in the Kremlin’s decision-making.

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Russian technical team at Saudi Arabia negotiations led by chief ideologue of Ukraine invasion

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:09:05 +0100

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 expected to pave the way for the resumption of shipping route.

What has particularly drawn experts' and media's interest is the appointment of Sergei Beseda as the head of the Russian negotiation team. Beseda, the former head of the Fifth Service of the Federal Security Service, continues to serve as an advisor to the director of the FSB. In essence, Beseda is a chief ideologue of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His department compiled analytical reports that gave Vladimir Putin the confidence that Kyiv could be occupied within three days, Russian soldiers would be welcomed with flowers, and President Volodymyr Zelensky would either be killed, flee, or live in exile. "The feeling that their path would be strewn with flowers was the FSB's assessment," a Western security official told The Washington Post.

They were so sure they would soon control Kyiv's government that they spent the last days before the war setting up safe houses for their operatives in the city.

According to The Washington Post, for decades, the Fifth Service spied in Ukraine, aiming to dominate governmental institutions, bribe officials, and prevent Ukraine's closer alignment with the West. After the initial days of the invasion, the service's leadership fell out of grace: Beseda and his deputies were placed under house arrest.

There were even reports of his detention in Lefortovo prison. The reasons cited were misappropriation of funds for operations in Ukraine and failed intelligence work.

Despite rumors of Beseda's dismissal, pro-Kremlin outlets maintained that he continued in his role, participating in various events. Thus, Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov's comment confirming Beseda's presence at talks indirectly marked the first acknowledgment of his removal from the Fifth Service, which he led since 2009, purportedly due to reaching the service's age limit of 70, and reassignment as a consultant to FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov. Russian media speculate this role change may indicate that Putin still trusts him. It's also noted that in February 2014, during the Maidan protests in Kyiv, Beseda met with the fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych and, since July of that year, has faced sanctions from the U.S., EU, Canada, UK, Australia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. In October 2023, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov described Beseda as a "very problematic figure" for Ukraine.

Many Russian Helicopters Destroyed. Talks in Ryadh. Many People Arrested During Protests in Turkey

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:01:29 +0100

Istanbul police assault Russia's RT correspondent, cameraman during protest coverage, outlet claims

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 10:48:41 +0100

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 off, had their gas masks smashed, then tear gas was sprayed in their direction,” the outlet’s Telegram channel claimed, publishing footage of the incident.

RT is widely regarded as a key propaganda tool of the Russian government, spreading disinformation and pro-Kremlin narratives under the guise of independent journalism.

Many countries have restricted or banned RT due to its role in justifying Moscow’s aggression and manipulating global audiences.

The incident occurred amid large-scale protests in Istanbul following the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and potential presidential candidate.

Imamoglu faces charges of corruption and alleged links to terrorist organizations, accusations he and his supporters claim are politically motivated.

His detention has triggered widespread demonstrations across Turkey, with thousands defying government bans to protest in Istanbul and other cities.

US-Russia talks begin in Saudi Arabia, Russian media reports

The meeting, which comes only a day after talks between the U.S. and Ukraine, is expected to focus on a possible ceasefire in the Black Sea and a broader truce.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Ukraine’s HIV patients face crisis: Trump aid halt

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 14:02:02 +0100

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 to support this unique coverage? Upgrade today!

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Valeriia Rachynska has been living with HIV for the last 15 years of her life. Photo: Valeriia Rachynska

Valeriia feels the familiar tendrils of fear through her body as she walks into the hospital for her routine checkup.

Her HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence – one jar of pills means another month of life-saving medication. But today, the doctor slid just three blister packs across the counter instead of the usual six jars.

Stocks are dwindling. No one can tell her when, or if, more will come.

About 120,000 HIV-positive people are facing the same crisis across Ukraine. Since Trump took office in January, he has cut American foreign aid, which was key for Ukraine to obtain supplies for HIV treatment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. government is also considering cutting domestic HIV prevention programs, which threatens to undo twenty years of efforts to fight the virus.

It's not just about aid - it's about a global health crisis caused by politics. Without prevention and treatment, new infections will increase, people will die, and the impact will be felt far beyond Ukraine, demonstrating how decisions in Washington can jeopardize public health around the world.

“Every time I go to bed, I am grateful I have these pills. Thanks to them, I have lived today and will live tomorrow. And usually, I know that I will live another six months or a year of my life, so I have medicine. But now it's only three months. And it scares me,” Valeriia said.

Valeriia Rachynska, 48, has been living with HIV for 15 years. She discovered it when a doctor suggested she and her husband take an HIV test amid a months-long illness of her husband that had remained undiagnosed for several months.

Both tests were positive.

HIV cannot be cured, but it is possible to reduce the viral load in the body so as to effectively eliminate the chances for transmission and minimize any symptoms. With a carefully planned cocktail of drugs, an HIV-positive patient can contain the condition.

As of this year, there were 336.1 HIV-positive patients per 100,000 people in Ukraine. Meanwhile in the United States, this figure is 388 per 100,000 in 2022.

Source: European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, WHO and Statista.

For the past decades, international NGOs have been sending supplies to treat HIV to Ukraine, as Kyiv’s economy does not have the capacity to produce its own. A few years before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s government assigned a portion of its state budget to begin producing the medicine locally.

However, following Russia’s attack in 2022, NGOs considered it too risky to continue sending supplies to Ukraine.

There was a risk that about 120,000 HIV-positive Ukrainians would be left without medication at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Yevheniia Rudenka, head of procurement at the ‘100% Life’ charity organization, said.

Suppliers did not want to risk going to Ukraine, she added.

“Back then [in 2022], at the most critical moments, they [doctors] would only give us medicine for a month. I know there were cases when doctors were forced to give out medicines for only two weeks because if they gave them for a month, someone would not have them tomorrow,” Valeriia said.

Through USAID, the United States stepped up its efforts to provide treatment in Ukraine, Rudenka said.

“The situation was critical then, but the United States came to the rescue,” Yevheniia said. “And thanks to this, this catastrophic pause did not happen in 2022. The support also continued in 2023 and 2024,” she said.

People hold empty packages of medications as they are lined up in a symbolic queue for HIV treatment during a protest outside the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv on July 1, 2015. Photo credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

When Valeriia was diagnosed with HIV, Ukraine was forced to ration its antiretroviral medications due to a lack of ability. Supplies were prioritized for those in a more advanced and critical stage.

Doctors monitor a patient's CD4 cell counts, which show how healthy your immune system is. Since Valeria's count was within the normal range at the beginning of her diagnosis, she was not provided any medication.

Yet, at the end of 2010, the year she was diagnosed with HIV, her CD4 count dropped sharply to just 147. Healthy adults will have a measurement anywhere from 500 to 1,500.

She should have started treatment immediately after being diagnosed with the condition, she said.

“It was clear that I should have started treatment even before the tests. I felt sick all the time and lost 10% of my weight. I also had herpes that wouldn't go away and several other problems. It seemed to be nothing serious, but I was sick all over,” Valeriia said.

After her CD4 count dropped, Valeriia began treatment, taking five pills in the morning and six in the evening. In two months, her symptoms had disappeared. As the years went by, HIV treatment became more sophisticated, requiring patients to only need one pill a day to contain the symptoms.

Yet, treatment is only effective if it's not interrupted, and medications are taken consistently.

A view of a destroyed hospital building after a Russian drone attack on March 19, 2025, in Krasnopillia, Sumy Oblast. A view of a destroyed hospital building after a Russian drone attack on March 19, 2025, in Krasnopillia, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine.

In January, Trump decided to suspend all international support for 90 days. The American government was expected to deliver $20 million worth of medicine to Ukraine in 2025, Yevheniia said.

“Currently, deliveries of 16 million [dollars] worth of goods have been suspended, and the remaining four million are in the process of delivery,” Yevheniia added.

The World Health Organization said this month that Trump’s decision to pause U.S. foreign aid will also affect HIV treatments in Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria.

At the moment, HIV patients in Ukraine can use any of the 21 available HIV medications. Kyiv has stock for most of them for just six months, Yevheniia said.

If Ukrainians do not find alternative funding sources to resume supplies, the situation could become critical for well over 100,000, experts warn.

“People who make such decisions must realize their full responsibility. This may not just let the epidemic that we have been fighting for the last 20 years get out of control. It can lead to death. And this is not an empty word. Specific people will die, some very quickly, and some very slowly,” Valeriia said.

Now, Valeriia is hoping the crisis will be solved before the fall, and that she will be able to receive her usual six jars of pills the next time she goes to the doctor.

“I used to know I had another six months or a year to live, but now I realize that my life is limited to three months,” Valeriia said.

NEWS OF THE DAY:

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

UKRAINE MAY HOLD PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: A decision regarding elections in Ukraine has already allegedly been made, and they will take place, U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff said in an interview with Tucker Carlson. He emphasized that Russia does not recognize Zelenskyy as the legitimate president, which is why the Kremlin "can't sign any kind of treaty with him." According to the Constitution of Ukraine, any elections are not lawful during martial law.

Meanwhile, Witkoff stated that he does not consider Putin to be a "bad person." During his second visit to Russia, Putin allegedly ordered a portrait of Trump from a leading Russian artist and asked to have it delivered to him.

"He [Putin] told me a story, Tucker, about how when the president [Trump] was shot, he went to his local church, met with his priest, and prayed for the president—not because he could become the president of the United States, but because he has a friendship with him and he was praying for his friend," Witkoff recounted.

VOA SUES TRUMP: Journalists from Voice of America and their unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, Reuters reported. They claim that the closure of news agencies violates the Constitution, infringing workers' right to freedom of speech.

Voice of America became the latest victim of the Trump administration’s large-scale campaign to reduce the federal government, which allegedly spends taxpayer money in ways that do not align with U.S. interests. As a result, a week ago, agency employees were sent on administrative leave. This could mean the de facto closure of Voice of America.

RUSSIA MAY RETURN TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES: The International Olympic Committee is considering allowing Russians back into the Olympic Games, according to a newly elected IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, in an interview with Sky News. She is against banning athletes from participating in competitions due to conflicts.

Russian and Belarusian athletes participated in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris despite Ukraine's protests. However, they competed under a neutral flag, and their participation was individual, not representing their countries.

CAT OF CONFLICT

Today's cat of conflict is Simba, who took over Mariana's workspace for a peaceful lunch nap, preventing her from working on her next story for The Counteroffensive.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana

Who is behind pro-Russian ‘Stop Zelensky’ demonstrations in Europe?

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 21:15:14 +0100

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 deliveries to Ukraine and the removal of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The event was part of an international campaign that stages small protests in several countries to advocate for elections in Ukraine, its organizers wrote on Facebook. Martial law imposed in Ukraine at the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion prohibits the country from holding elections.

The Dutch community page that called on people to participate in the protest claimed the event was “coordinated by Ukrainian refugees.” Strangely enough, it appears there were no Ukrainians at the gathering.

Of the eight demonstrators who showed up in Amsterdam, five were Dutch and two were Russian. The identity of one remains unverified by the Kyiv Independent.

Without attracting much attention on the streets, participants quietly unfolded their placards bearing blunt and provocative messages: “Ukraine is evil for Dutch taxpayers” and “Zelensky! Stop killing your people!” Another read “Sponsoring Kiev is sponsoring terrorism against Ukrainians,” using the Russian spelling for Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv.

No Ukrainian flags were seen at the protest, despite the organizers’ claim that Ukrainians had coordinated the event. The only country flag present was Russian, with the words “Peace with Russia” written on it.

Protesters took turns posing with different posters. The messages on the posters warned of war between NATO and Russia, calling for a Ukraine without Zelensky, blaming Zelensky for Russia’s full-scale invasion, and demanding the end of “forced mobilization” in Ukraine.

While a small event, the gathering was part of a larger anti-Ukraine movement posing as a peace initiative that has been ongoing for over two years.

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`Network of Dutch Russians`

After the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a group of Dutch activists took to the streets in response to what they perceived as the establishment and media inciting warmongering and hatred toward Russia. Since February 2023, the group, which operates under the name “Vredesdemonstratie” meaning “Peace Demonstration” in Dutch, has been holding monthly protests.

At these events, demonstrators advocate for ending military aid for Ukraine — who they blame for the war along with NATO — and making peace with Russia. Their banners usually feature phrases such as “No weapons for peace” or “Peace with Russia” in both Dutch and English.

The foreign military aid, including assistance from the Netherlands, which the group so passionately opposes, has been critical to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself from Russia’s invasion.

Demonstrators hold placards in a photo-op protest aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian government at Dam Square in Amsterdam on Feb. 16, 2025. (Kyiv Independent)

A Russian immigrant holds Russia’s flag with the words “Peace with Russia” on it in a photo-op protest at Dam Square in Amsterdam on Feb. 16, 2025. (Kyiv Independent)

Among individual countries, the Netherlands ranks fifth in total military aid, contributing 5.88 billion euros between Jan. 24, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2024, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks aid to Ukraine.

Although they present themselves as a movement of “pacifist idealists,” members of Peace Demonstration make their demands solely of Ukraine and its supporters, and never of Russia.

The reason for this approach becomes clear as soon as one looks at the composition of the participants: many of the most active protesters at these rallies are Dutch Russians — migrants of Russian origin who settled in the Netherlands long ago. Some have lived in the Netherlands for over 20 years.

The group’s demonstrations often feature Russian flags and sometimes include cultural performances, such as singing traditional songs, dancing, and wearing traditional attire.

Natalia Vorontsova holds a Russian flag, while another Russian, Elnara Muermans, sings and plays the accordion during the Peace Demonstration at Dam Square in Amsterdam on March 31, 2024. (Screenshot / Potkaars-live)

Despite their clear ties to Russian culture, the protesters never identify as being members of the Russian diaspora. It appears that they purposefully keep the origin of the protests blurry, trying to pass the events as Dutch or Ukrainian.

Among those posing with a Russian flag in a recent photo-op protest was Natalia Vorontsova, also known as Nata Heezen. As a co-organizer, she is a key figure in nearly every Peace Demonstration event.

Originally from Russia’s southwestern city of Voronezh, Vorontsova has lived in the Netherlands for over 20 years. She works as a nurse in mental health care.

Alongside fellow activists Nikita Ananjev and Elena Plotnikova, she has been lobbying for Russian interests in the Netherlands since 2014, the year when Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimea and the eastern part of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Campaigning in the Netherlands

In 2016, Vorontsova joined a campaign organized by the Dutch Socialist Party that brought together a group of Russians and Ukrainians with pro-Russian views to advocate against Ukraine’s European integration in a Dutch referendum.

Despite a low turnout of 32.2%, Dutch voters rejected the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The vote was non-binding and did not overturn the agreement, which had already been ratified by the other 27 EU member states.

Alongside Vorontsova, two other prominent campaigners were Nikita Ananjev — a Russian who formerly chaired the Russian Student Association in the Netherlands — and Elena Plotnikova, who describes herself on X as a “Russian from Donetsk,” a Ukrainian city that has been under occupation since 2014.

Three years later, in 2019, all three were involved in another organization — the Dutch branch of the Global Rights of Peaceful People (GRPP) international platform, which has advocated for Russian-controlled forces in eastern Ukraine. Ananjev is introduced in one of the platform’s videos as the president of the Dutch Committee of GRPP, while Plotnikova managed the organization’s email correspondence. The GRPP is deregistered from the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. It is not known why its registration was canceled.

GRPP organized a press conference aimed at discrediting an official investigation conducted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine. According to the JIT’s conclusions, Russia’s military delivered a Buk missile fired by Russian-controlled militants in July 2014, killing all 298 people on board, including 196 Dutch citizens.

At the press conference, where Vorontsova served as host, a documentary by a former Russia Today journalist Yana Yerlashova and a Dutch blogger Max van der Werff was presented. The film seeks to discredit the official MH17 investigation and deny Russia’s responsibility for the plane’s downing.

The film’s creators are best known for their involvement with Bonanza Media, a project widely regarded as part of the Kremlin’s disinformation efforts.

A joint investigation by Bellingcat and The Insider revealed evidence that Bonanza Media coordinated with Russia’s military intelligence service (known by its Russian acronym GRU) to downplay Russia’s involvement in the MH17 downing. Investigators also discovered that Plotnikova was involved with Bonanza Media.

Natalia Vorontsova holding Russian rubles, in an undated photo. (Vredesdemonstratie)

Today, it appears, Vorontsova’s main focus is solely on co-organizing Peace Demonstration events in the Netherlands where she’s one of the key faces and voices heard.

She maintains close ties with Russian state media, including TASS and RIA Novosti, whose correspondents often attend the demonstrations and interview Vorontsova for their articles. The published materials are later reshared by Vorontsova in the online groups for protest participants. While their demonstrations attract little attention from the Dutch media, they receive extensive coverage in Russia, making them seem like a large-scale movement.

Meanwhile, Plotnikova remains active primarily on social media and within the Peace Demonstration community. In 2023, she delivered a speech at one of the demonstrations.

Embracing conspiratorial narratives about “NATO missiles killing civilians,” Vorontsova’s demonstrations attract individuals from both far-left and far-right populist circles, united by their pro-Russian sentiment. The pool of guest speakers ranges from communists in anti-fascist movements to MPs from the Dutch far-right party Forum for Democracy (FvD).

An investigation by the Dutch newspaper NRC found that Vorontsova may have received funding for her activities from Volunteers of Victory — a Russian government-funded organization that glorifies Russian military patriotism during World War II and supports Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Despite Volunteers of Victory being sanctioned by the EU, its Dutch branch Victory Team 75 Netherlands remains active by operating unofficially and avoiding formal registration.

In a conversation with the Kyiv Independent, Vorontsova denied any involvement with the Dutch branch of Volunteers of Victory, stating that she had only worn a cap with the organization’s logo that she received as a gift, but had no connection to the group. She also emphasized that she is an independent activist, acts on her own, and is not financially supported by anyone. According to Vorontsova, she finances the demonstrations with donations from supporters.

Another participant of the February photo shoot in Amsterdam, Iolanta DuCroix, also known as Klimaite Bardash, appears in several photos on the Instagram page of the local branch of Volunteers of Victory. A Russian-born resident of the Netherlands, DuCroix assisted Vorontsova in holding a Russian flag during the photo shoot.

Another participant, Nikita Ananjev, is also a prominent figure in the Russian Volunteers of Victory movement. Known as a coordinator of the Dutch branch, he seems to be present at nearly every one of the organization’s events. He was also a representative of the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots in the Netherlands, an organization that works closely with the Russian embassy.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ananjev openly expressed pro-Putin views. On his page on Vkontakte — a Russian social media platform — he reposted an image stating: “Kyiv will either be Russian or deserted. And we’re fine with it being deserted too."

When asked about her cooperation with Ananjev, given his active involvement with organizations affiliated with Russia, Vorontsova told the Kyiv Independent that she has not seen Ananjev in years nor collaborated with him on any activities since they were both part of the Dutch branch of the International Platform Global Rights of Peaceful People (GRPP).

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`A Ukrainian defector and a Soviet-era emigrant`

Although Peace Demonstration’s messaging appears to reflect Russian interests, its members claim that Ukrainians are also among their representatives.

After analyzing dozens of participants in the group’s demonstrations, the Kyiv Independent found only one Ukrainian who actually spoke in person at their protests. The group’s website and social media present the supposed Ukrainian representative as “Elena from Kiev,” using the Russian spelling for both her name and Ukraine’s capital.

“Elena from Kiev” speaks at the Peace Demonstration at Dam Square in Amsterdam on Jul. 30, 2023. (Screenshot / Vredesdemonstratie)

In reality, “Elena from Kiev” has not lived in Ukraine since the 1990s, having spent several years in Afghanistan before settling in the Netherlands, according to an interview she gave to AlternatiefTV in August 2023. Her experience of Ukraine is limited to the Soviet era.

Like other participants in the rallies, Elena’s views, as she expressed them in the interview with Alternatief TV, align with a line of Kremlin propaganda that insists Ukrainians and Russians are “the same people.” This view is widely rejected in Ukraine. A 2022 poll found that 91% of Ukrainians do not consider Russia and Ukraine to be “one people.”

Two other Ukrainians appeared at the demonstrations via video message, supposedly from Russia. One of them, Dmitry Vasilets, is a pro-Kremlin propaganda blogger. In 2024, he was sentenced in absentia by a Ukrainian court to five years in prison for justifying Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as advocating for a violent overthrow of the government.

Vasilet’s criminal record dates back to 2017 when he was convicted of facilitating the broadcast of a Russian propaganda channel in Russian-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine. He spent two years in a pre-trial detention center in Ukraine.

Dmitry Vasilets speaks at the Peace Demonstration at Dam Square in Amsterdam via a video message on Aug. 27, 2023. (Screenshot / Vredesdemonstratie)

According to Ukrainian law enforcement, eleven days before Russia’s full-scale invasion, he fled Ukraine for Egypt and later settled in Moscow, where he declared himself the secretary of the so-called “Representative Office of the Ukrainian People” — a body not recognized by Ukraine.

At Vorontsova’s demonstrations, Vasilets appears on the LED screen, calling himself a leader of the Ukrainian party Derzhava in exile. However, Derzhava was banned in Ukraine in 2022 due to its ties to Russia and was so unpopular that it never gained parliamentary representation. During its only attempt to get into parliament in 2006 as part of the “State-Labor Union” bloc, it earned just 0.14% of the vote.

Moreover, the Peace Demonstration group also claimed to have Ukrainian independent press at one of their press conferences but did not specify which outlet. The Kyiv Independent found only one non-Dutch media platform covering the event — Vasilets’ pro-Russian Telegram channel, Mriya.

The biography of the second Ukrainian, who participated virtually in events organized by Peace Demonstrations in the Netherlands, is no less vivid and far from Ukraine.

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`Yanukovych era fugitives`

Judging by the social media posts of Peace Demonstration the international pro-Russian photo shoots appear to be coordinated by another Moscow-based organization, the Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine.

Its spokesperson, Leonid Ilderkin, is mentioned in posts related to a previous international pro-Russian campaign that features almost identical scripted messages promoting anti-NATO and anti-Zelensky messages.

Ilderkin appeared in a video message for Peace Demonstrations as a so-called “Ukrainian opposition figure in exile.” In the video, he blames the U.S. and Europe for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A native of Dnipro, Ukraine, Ilderkin was previously an activist in the pro-Russian communist organization Borotba, meaning “struggle” in Ukrainian. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, Borotba members supported the occupation of eastern Ukraine, with some even taking up arms on the Russian side. After fleeing Ukraine that same year, the group now operates from Russia and recently participated in an event titled the International Anti-fascist Forum in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast.

Leonid Ilderkin speaks in a video blog on the YouTube channel “‘Hotbed of Propaganda,” published on Aug. 28, 2023. (Screenshot / Hotbed of Propaganda)

According to documents obtained by the independent Russian anti-corruption project Dossier Center, Russia’s military intelligence agency (known by its Russian acronym GRU) attempted to use organizations linked to Ilderkin to coordinate with the European radical left and recruit individuals for protests and acts of sabotage. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify this information.

The Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine, which has been given a platform by Dutch demonstrations, consists of pro-Russian fugitives.

Among them is Mykola Azarov, Ukraine’s former prime minister under Kremlin-backed President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted following the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014. Azarov participated in a meeting organized by the Union of Political Emigrants in late 2016.

`Russian demonstration network in Europe`

Although the Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine has little media presence and minimal influence on social media, it supports other pro-Russian demonstrations beyond the Netherlands.

For instance, a so-called “Ukrainian political prisoner” from the union addressed pro-Russian demonstrators in the U.K. online from Moscow in August 2024. The “political prisoner” in the video address is the Union’s chairwoman, Larisa Shesler. She is wanted by Ukrainian law enforcement for “undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.”

Shesler, a Ukrainian, played a key role in undermining pro-European protests in the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv in 2013-2014. She coordinated the local anti-protest movement and organized pro-Russian rallies before eventually fleeing to Russia.

The Kyiv Independent found out and verified that she had obtained Russian citizenship.

Shesler’s video message to the British pro-Russian demonstrations was picked up and promoted by Theo Russell from the U.K.-based International Ukraine Anti-Fascist Solidarity movement. Russell, a British activist, is also involved in the Dutch organization Peace Demonstration, having spoken at events and frequently posted in community groups.

Meanwhile, the YouTube channel Chega Serna English, which has been sharing videos of “Ukrainian political prisoners,” posts footage from pro-Russian rallies in cities like Washington, D.C., Sacramento, Paris, and notably Amsterdam.

The footage reveals a recurring pattern — consistent messaging, tone, and symbols, including Soviet and Russian flags. A unifying theme runs through these rallies: a push to end military aid to Ukraine, a critical lifeline for its defense. This mirrors what was seen in Amsterdam.

Russian influence in Europe remains strong, backed by a vast network of pro-Kremlin actors, some of whom are hiding behind Ukrainian names.

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Note from the author:

Hi, I’m Linda Hourani, the author of this story. Thanks for reading!

I hope this piece serves as a reminder that, in times when Russian disinformation is strong, it is crucial to stay critical and not be misled. If you’d like to help us produce investigative reports like this, please consider supporting our work.

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko signs security treaty, pulling Belarus further into Russia’s orbit

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:06:52 +0100

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 exile.

Latvia restricts movement at last open border crossing with Belarus amid migration
concerns.

Japanese citizen sentenced to seven years in Belarus on trumped up charges of spying.

Poland and the Baltic states seek to withdraw from the anti-personnel mine ban treaty.

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`Lukashenko, Putin meet in Moscow, enact Union State security treaty`

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko made a three-day state visit to Moscow that ended on March 15 – his first official visit abroad following his so-called "re-election” in January. The visit also occurred before the Belarusian autocrat was officially inaugurated as the country’s head of state.

Following talks, Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted the Union State treaty, which the sides have dubbed as “security guarantees.” Signed on Dec. 6, 2024, and ratified in late February, the treaty expands Russia’s military presence in Belarus in exchange for the Kremlin opening its “nuclear umbrella” over Belarus.

The treaty is widely seen as ceding Belarus’s sovereignty over its defense and foreign policy. Since using Moscow’s support to crush mass protests triggered by election fraud in 2020, Lukashenko has been largely cut off from the West, and has increasingly relied on Moscow to keep him in power and to support Belarus’s sanctioned economy.

Now, deeply dependent on Russia, Belarus is providing logistical and military support for Moscow’s war against Ukraine. At least 287 Belarusian enterprises supply the Russian war machine, according to Belarusian democratic leader in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Addressing the Russian Federation Council, Lukashenko said there had been an erosion of Belarusian sovereignty, adding that Belarus would not formally merge with Russia in the near future.

“If we were to burst through this open door, we would ruin everything we have done. It is necessary to go calmly, step by step,” Lukashenko said.

Following his speech, Moscow approved an agreement to delay Belarus’s repayment of nearly $800 million in debts. Belarus’s total debts to Russia stand at $8 billion.

RFE/RL journalist and political analyst Yury Drakakhrust described the highly controlled yet officially still independent Belarus as an example of the Kremlin’s desired model for relations with post-Soviet countries — including Ukraine.

The Russian and Belarusian dictators also signed an agreement granting rights to Russian and Belarusian citizens permanently residing in each other’s territories to vote in local elections, further deepening the integration processes between the two states.

Another agreement signed during Lukashenko’s visit was dedicated to the mutual protection of citizens “unjustly persecuted by foreign states or international justice bodies.” The document contains a pledge “to jointly combat the negative trend of the politicization of international legal cooperation in criminal matters.”

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian human rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023 over their involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine. The threat of an ICC warrant is also hanging over Lukashenko after Lithuania referred a case against him to the court in September 2024. Human rights groups such as Reporters Without Borders and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus have also submitted evidence on the regime’s alleged crimes.

Like Russia, Belarus has abused Interpol’s Red Notice mechanism, using it to hunt down the regime’s political opponents abroad.

Polish right takes hard line on Ukraine ahead of presidential vote

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 key partners, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign…

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

`Trump’s defunding of RFE/RL deals another blow to Belarusian media in exile`

Addressing the Russian Federation Council, Lukashenko said there had been an erosion of Belarusian sovereignty, adding that Belarus would not formally merge with Russia in the near future.

“If we were to burst through this open door, we would ruin everything we have done. It is necessary to go calmly, step by step,” Lukashenko said.

Following his speech, Moscow approved an agreement to delay Belarus’s repayment of nearly $800 million in debts. Belarus’s total debts to Russia stand at $8 billion.

Like Russia, Belarus has abused Interpol’s Red Notice mechanism, using it to hunt down the regime’s political opponents abroad.

`Trump’s defunding of RFE/RL deals another blow to Belarusian media in exile`

Seventy years of U.S.-backed broadcasts promoting democracy worldwide may come to an end after U.S. President Donald Trump on March 14 signed an executive order eliminating seven federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees RFE/RL and Voice of America (VoA).

For Belarus media in exile, the order serves another major blow to the independent press, which have been outlawed in Belarus and forced into exile. An earlier USAID funding cut in January affected around two-thirds of Belarusian outlets, with about 20% pushed to the brink of closure, according to the independent Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ).

Trump’s executive order put 1,300 VoA employees on administrative leave and terminated the U.S. Congress-authorized grant for RFE/RL. In response, on March 19, RFE/RL filed a lawsuit against USAGM and its officials to block the funding halt. So far, the Belarusian service of RFE/RL continues to operate, although some freelancers have been let go.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said that canceling the organization’s funding “would be a massive gift to America’s enemies.” Propagandists in Russia, meanwhile, celebrated the decision.

RFE/RL launched its coverage in Belarusian in 1954. Unlike in Ukraine or Russia, the Belarusian service of RFE/RL was never permitted to open an official bureau in Belarus and was never granted FM broadcasting rights. In December 2021, the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko officially deemed the Belarusian service to be an “extremist organization.”

The independent journalism fostered at the Belarusian service of RFE/RL kickstarted the development of the media industry in Belarus — the service’s first correspondent on the territory of the then Soviet Belarus, Ales Lipai, later founded the first independent Belarusian news agency, BelaPAN.

Beyond being among the few Belarusian-language media, Radio Liberty is the last outlet preserving pre-Soviet spelling and grammar norms, which were later altered to make written Belarusian more similar to Russian. The shutdown of Belarusian Radio Liberty would eliminate this norm from public use.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said losing RFE/RL and VoA would be a “grave mistake,” calling them “symbols of the free world.”

Former RFE/RL journalists Ihar Karnei and Ihar Losik remain behind bars in Belarus, serving sentences of more than three and 15 years, respectively. Another Belarusian correspondent, Andrei Kuznechyk, was recently freed in a U.S.-brokered prisoner release. Belarusian propaganda aired interviews with the prisoners in an attempt to undermine Radio Liberty’s coverage of the 2020 anti-government protests in Belarus.

Since strangling popular protests against the rigged 2020 presidential elections, the Lukashenko regime has raided and shut down independent outlets, blocked websites, and jailed 41 journalists and media workers. Thirty-three media workers have been labeled extremists, and 12 have been declared to be “terrorists.” Donating to or advertising with one of the 38 banned media is punishable by up to five years in prison.

About 400 media workers have fled Belarus, relying on foreign grants to keep their newsrooms operating in exile.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said EU foreign ministers discussed the functioning of RFE/RL at a meeting in Brussels on March 17. The bloc cannot automatically fund Radio Free Europe, she said, adding that the EU will look into potential options.

Ten European countries backed the proposal to fund RFE/RL, Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvorak announced on March 18. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky did not rule out that the European Union might buy Radio Free Europe from the United States.

EU approves over $2 billion in economic support for Moldova

The Reform and Growth Facility, which includes 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in low-interest loans and 385 million euros ($420 million) in grants, will cover the period of 2025-2027 and is part of the EU’s long-term Moldova Growth Plan.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

`Latvia restricts movement on sole remaining border crossing with Belarus`

The Latvian government, seeking to prevent the inflow of illegal migrants into the country from Belarus, on March 19 limited traffic across the country's only remaining border crossing with Belarus for motorized vehicles.

Similar measures extend to the two checkpoints on the Latvian-Russian border.

Belarus orchestrated an artificial migration crisis in 2021 by channeling flows of nearly 8,000 irregular migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to Belarus's borders with the EU. The crisis was reignited with the Kremlin's backing in 2022, prompting Poland and the Baltic states to declare it a "hybrid attack" aimed at destabilizing the region.

Latvia's decision prohibits pedestrians and bicycles from crossing the border at Patarnieki-Hryharouschyna, the last operating border post between Latvia and Belarus, for six months. According to Border Guard Chief Guntis Puyats, the possibility of a full shutdown is not ruled out if the irregular migration flow again becomes critical.

The Latvian State Border Guard requested that the government approve the partial closure on March 17, following a nine-hour halt of operations at the checkpoint due to the threat of irregular migration.

According to Puyats, border officers decided to block all traffic movement on the border after they noticed about 30 migrants, predominantly men aged between 20 and 35, with no visas or residence permits, who were seeking to cross the border.

"We understand that this is an instrumentalization of migration," the border guard chief said on air on Latvian TV3.

The Belarusian State Border Committee said that the temporary traffic block had been caused by "a group of Africans traveling to the European Union with valid documents," without specifying whether the foreigners actually had visas to enter the EU.

Latvia's State Border Guard has stopped 254 illegal border crossing attempts from Belarusian territory since the beginning of 2025. In 2024, according to border guards data aggregated by the independent news outlet Pozirk, there were around 30,000 border crossing attempts — 14% less than in 2023 — with 85% of the attempts occurring on the Polish-Belarusian border. Since the onset of the artificial migration crisis, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland have built physical barriers along their land borders with Belarus and shut down several border crossings.

The Latvian government is actively discouraging its citizens from traveling to Belarus. Two proposals were submitted to parliament in February to prohibit travel companies from organizing trips to Russia and Belarus and to ban passenger transportation with each of the two countries.

`Japanese citizen sentenced to 7 years on politically motivated charges in Belarus`

After subjecting Japanese citizen Masatoshi Nakanishi to trial on alleged “undercover activities,” a Belarusian court sentenced him to seven years of imprisonment, the maximum term for the offense, the Belarusian Prosecutor General’s Press Office reported on March 17.

A key Russian ally, Belarus has intensified the persecution of foreign nationals since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Viasna Human Rights Center. At least 19 foreigners have been tried and sentenced in Belarus for “undercover activities” — a vaguely defined act of “cooperation” with a wide range of foreign or international entities.

The court convicted Nakanishi for allegedly taking over 9,000 photos of civilian and military infrastructure, including military and railway facilities. Belarusian authorities also claimed Nakanishi traveled to the Ukrainian border. The court imposed the maximum possible prison sentence and a fine of around $6,500.

According to a documentary aired on Belarusian state-run TV, Nakanishi lives in Homiel, a regional center near Belarus’s border with Ukraine, and was officially employed as a Japanese language instructor at the local university. The first news of his arrest was published in September 2024, although he was actually arrested in July 2024.

Jailed foreign nationals are often used as bargaining chips by the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In August 2024, Belarus released a German citizen, Rico Krieger, who had been subjected to a swift trial and sentenced to capital punishment on charges including “undercover activities.” Lukashenko “pardoned” Krieger and released him as part of a historic East-West prisoner swap in August 2024, assisting Moscow in returning the Russian killer Vadim Krasikov from prison in Germany.

In 2022, Swiss-Belarusian dual national Natallia Hersche was released after a year-and-a-half in a Belarusian prison following “intense efforts” by Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Swiss newspaper Der Bund linked the appointment of a Swiss ambassador to Belarus in February 2022 to the freeing of Hersche.

Belarus still holds around 1,200 political prisoners, at least 36 of them foreigners, under a range of politically motivated charges.

Estonian citizen Alan Royo was prosecuted for slandering Lukashenko and founding an extremist formation, while Latvian citizen Jurijs Ganins was charged on March 13 with discrediting Belarus, calling for sanctions, and insulting Lukashenko.

`Poland, Baltics to withdraw from anti-personnel mine treaty`

The defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, the EU member states bordering Belarus and Russia, have unanimously recommended that their countries withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning the use of anti-personnel mines.

The ministers reasoned that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its ongoing threats to the Euro-Atlantic community had fundamentally changed the security situation in the region since the ratification of the Ottawa Convention.

“With this decision, we are sending a clear message: our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to defend our territory and freedom,” reads a statement published by Poland’s Ministry of National Defense.

Despite withdrawing from the convention, the countries say they would uphold their commitments to international humanitarian law, including protecting civilians during armed conflict.

The decision still requires approval by the countries’ parliaments.

While all EU member states have ratified the treaty, Russia and the United States have not. Neither was Russia a signatory of the convention banning cluster munitions, a weapon widely used in the Russia-Ukraine war. Lithuania voted to withdraw from the convention banning the use of cluster munitions earlier in March.

The move to withdraw from the anti-personnel mine ban treaty signals a shift in the front-line NATO states’ defense policies in the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Both the Kremlin and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko and his military officials have in recent years repeatedly used hostile rhetoric in relation to NATO member-states.

Poland, Baltics to withdraw from anti-personnel mine ban treaty

The defense ministers of the four nations argued that the security situation in the region has “fundamentally deteriorated” and that military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have “significantly increased.”

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Mass Protests Erupted in Turkey 🇹🇷 after Istanbul Mayor Has Been Detained

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:30:32 +0100

EU considers cutting Ukrainian sugar imports after price drop, Reuters reports

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:42:41 +0100

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 agricultural markets to Ukraine for free to support the country after Russia’s invasion began, but farmer protests in multiple countries have since forced the bloc to scale back.

According to Ukraine’s agriculture ministry, agricultural products accounted for 59% of Ukraine’s total exports in 2024, providing vital support to the war-torn country’s economy.

Reuters reports that EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen told French farm union leaders and industry representatives at the Paris farm show in February that he intends to reduce Ukraine’s sugar imports to levels “well below” current volumes.

Hansen also aims to limit other imports from Ukraine, such as grains, according to two unnamed trade sources cited by Reuters.

European sugar prices fell by more than 30% last year, according to the latest EU data, though white sugar futures have rebounded in the past two months due to weakening production outlooks in major producing countries, including India.

After the EU abolished duties on Ukrainian agricultural products in 2022, Ukrainian sugar imports reached 400,000 tons in the 2022/23 season and over 500,000 tons in 2023/24 — far exceeding the pre-war quota of 20,000 tons.

Following protests from European farmers, the EU reinstated a Ukrainian sugar import quota of 262,650 tons in July 2023.

According to Ukraine’s sugar union Ukrtsukor, cited by Reuters, the EU halted sugar imports from Ukraine after the first part of the quota was exhausted, forcing Ukraine to redirect sugar shipments to other countries, with Turkey becoming the main destination.

The second part of the quota, allowing 109,440 tons of Ukrainian sugar, opened in January, but Ukraine has exported little so far.

Agricultural trade between Ukraine and the EU reached $17 billion in 2024, with the EU remaining Ukraine’s largest trading partner.

Ukraine Business Roundup — McDonald’s and DOGE in Ukraine

The following is the March 18, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. I’ve always wanted an excuse to talk to this newsletter audience about McDonald’s in Ukraine and

The Kyiv IndependentLiliane Bivings

Ukrainian author Oksana Zabuzhko on why Ukrainians ‘don’t have to respect Pushkin’

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:47:19 +0100

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 the same time, within Ukraine itself, a resurgence of national identity that began in 2014 has been accelerated by the full-scale war. Ukrainians en masse are reclaiming and reconnecting with their heritage, immersing themselves in a culture that Russia has spent centuries trying to suppress.

Oksana Zabuzhko, one of Ukraine’s most prominent authors, has been at the forefront of the country’s cultural revival since its independence in 1991. Her novel “Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex” is regarded as one of the most significant works of independent Ukraine and her books have been translated into multiple foreign languages.

In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, Zabuzhko discussed why Ukrainians should not feel obligated to respect Russian literature, the rightful place of classic Ukrainian female authors in the global literary canon, the challenge of self-censorship during wartime, and why it’s wrong to share a stage with Russian authors while the war continues.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Kyiv Independent: During the past three years of the full-scale war we’ve seen an increasing amount of global attention directed at Ukraine and Ukrainian culture. But what does the West still not understand about Ukraine?

Oksana Zabuzhko: Well, I wouldn’t place all the blame on the West. A significant share of it does lie there, but I don’t see it as my role to act like some kind of global teacher. Honestly, I hate that role, even though I often find myself having to play it.

There are still many things about Ukraine that Ukrainians themselves have yet to fully understand. We’re still in the process of self-discovery — learning about our own history, and identity. Right now is a particularly interesting time, with this major tectonic shift happening. For the first time since 1945, Europe is being forced to confront its security system on its own. In a way, (U.S. President Donald) Trump and his administration served as a wake-up call for Europe, and suddenly, we’re seeing all these fascinating discussions — both Ukrainian and international — taking place in Kyiv.

For years, Ukraine was seen as an axis between East and West — between Poland and Russia — interpreted through frameworks like Samuel Huntington’s “clash of civilizations” or other similar narratives, which, frankly, I consider nonsense. But now, we’re witnessing a shift: Ukraine is becoming an axis that runs North-South. I call this project “Mazepa’s Europe,” after (Ukrainian) Hetman (Ivan) Mazepa, who once envisioned it. His vision ultimately failed in the early 18th century, but it was rooted in an older, historically significant route — the path from the Varangians to the Greeks, which has long played a vital role in both Ukrainian and European history.

This idea of an “Intermarium” — linking the Baltic and Black Seas — is not a hierarchical model where great powers dictate terms to smaller nations. Instead, it’s a democratic Intermarium, where states and nations collaborate as equals, forming temporary alliances and working together on their own terms. It stands in stark contrast to the old model of power, where decisions about smaller nations’ fates were made over their heads by the so-called great powers — like in Yalta (in 1945).

It’s a different approach — very European, I would say. It’s deeply anti-superpower, anti-imperial, and at the same time, unmistakably Ukrainian. After all, we have always existed along this historic route from the Varangians to the Greeks.

Mazepa’s project is something generations of Ukrainians were never taught in school. Our heavily Russified, colonial education system conditioned people to believe that Mazepa was a villain simply because he defied Peter I. (Russian poet Alexander) Pushkin wrote that he was a traitor, and so we were taught to respect Pushkin. But we don’t have to.

This is part of the broader decolonization process — learning about ourselves from a long-term perspective, whether across three centuries or even a millennium. There’s still so much we have yet to share with the world, and many new textbooks are still waiting to be written. It’s an exciting subject.

Oksana Zabuzhko, author and poet, attends the 30th Lviv BookForum on Oct. 7, 2023, in Lviv, Ukraine. (Les Kasyanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: Building on this idea, I have to say that I recently read Olha Kobylianska’s short story “Valse mélancolique” (1898) for the first time, and as a foreigner, I was struck by the strong tradition of feminist thought in Ukrainian literature. The line, “We shall live not as mothers or wives, but as women,” has stayed with me ever since. It seems to me that if the world were more familiar with Ukraine’s classic female writers, they would rightfully earn their place in the global literary canon.

Oksana Zabuzhko: Thank you so much — I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you just said. It’s something I’ve been emphasizing for years: we still need to “sell” this idea to the West, to convince Western audiences — however loosely we define them — that without Olha Kobylianska, and even more so Lesia Ukrainka, the landscape of European literature is incomplete.

(Ukrainian writer) Lesia Ukrainka was, in many ways, half a century ahead of her time compared to her Western European female contemporaries. That’s an undeniable truth. What makes Ukrainian culture particularly unique in gender terms? Perhaps it has to do with Ukraine’s long history as a frontier. Here’s a simple way to put it: we never burned our witches. Of course, there were practices like trial by water — drowning women to determine if their souls were pure — but the ancient pagan tradition of strong, wise women endured in Ukraine far longer than in most of Europe. Even in the 20th century, every village still had a healer or “witch” who cured people.

But it’s not just about the survival of pagan traditions. Ukrainian folk culture has always had a powerful female voice. Early 19th-century ethnographers were surprised to discover that two-thirds of Ukrainian folk songs were told from a female perspective — something highly unusual at the time. These songs weren’t just lyrics; they chronicled the entire arc of a woman’s life.

More importantly, Ukrainian women historically had legal rights that were rare in Europe. They could own property and pass it down through the female line — a practice known as “materyzna.” This inheritance, whether money, land, or real estate, was untouchable by husbands and meant to be passed from mother to daughter. Compare that to the impact of the Reformation on women’s rights in Western Europe, and it’s easy to see why Ukraine has such strong female and even feminist voices.

Lesia Ukrainka and other Ukrainian feminists of the time didn’t just advocate for women’s rights; they saw the legal and social restrictions placed on women in European culture as entirely artificial and absurd. Just read her letters — they should be translated into every European language. She was, in a way, the blogger of her time, writing five or six letters a day while traveling. Because of her tuberculosis, she spent much of her life in sanatoriums across Europe. Her letters form an intellectual diary of the Belle Époque, particularly the decade before World War I. And unlike many of her contemporaries, she had a chilling premonition that this beautiful world was on the brink of collapse.

Her perspective is deeply European, unmistakably Ukrainian, and distinctly female — something that is still missing from the broader European literary canon. And it’s absolutely fascinating.

The Kyiv Independent: Would you say that there are any major taboos that exist in Ukrainian literature today?

Oksana Zabuzhko: That’s a difficult question — a really difficult one. I wouldn’t say we’re fully ready to discuss how exactly the war has affected our writing.

In terms of genre, yes, there’s already some discussion. Poetry, for instance, always survives — it’s the art of quick reaction. Essays, too. This is a strong time for poetry and essays. But when it comes to longer forms, like the novel, it’s much more complicated. And speaking of taboos, there’s something I think it’s time to acknowledge.

One of the biggest challenges for a writer in a country at war is that you lose many privileges — but perhaps the most profound loss is the ability to freely criticize your own country. It’s a form of self-censorship, and it’s a real problem for free thought, for imagination, for writing itself. When your country is under attack — when someone is trying to erase it from existence — you start to think in terms of security above all else. Criticizing your country suddenly feels like siding with the enemy, with those who want to destroy it.

And then you realize that being able to openly critique your own country is a privilege. A privilege that disappears in wartime. Because now, you feel mobilized. You feel a duty to strengthen your country, to contribute to its resilience. Anything that exposes its weaknesses can be twisted, weaponized by those who seek to annihilate it.

That, I would say, is what makes me most uncomfortable in my own writing right now — this imposed self-censorship. But that’s war. That’s war.

The Kyiv Independent: Right now in the West, we have a troubling situation where people are eager to humanize Russia, including Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. They seek a kind of normalization. Perhaps you heard of the documentary, “Russians at War,” in which soldiers are portrayed as simple, helpless men. I know Ukrainian authors don’t particularly want to be diplomats; they want to write. But how do we confront this moving forward?

Oksana Zabuzhko: There are, of course, different shades of propaganda, and “Russians at War” — a documentary that many of my Western friends didn’t even recognize as propaganda — was a shocking example of their naivety. A simple question: Do you really think a filmmaker with a camera would be allowed to move freely among Russian soldiers without permission from someone higher up?

When I asked this, the response was always the same: “Oh, really? I didn’t think about that.” This lack of awareness is alarming. The war is at their doorstep too, yet they fail to ask the most basic questions. When they see Russian soldiers being filmed by an allegedly independent filmmaker, the first thing they should ask is: How did this filmmaker get access? Of course, it was approved and paid for from the top. This is all part of Russia’s soft power and propaganda — this push for normalization is a key part of their cultural strategy.

So what can Ukrainians do? Just yesterday, I was discussing this with my agent, who is arranging interviews for me at the Leipzig Book Fair. A journalist asked if I would consider a public dialogue with a Russian writer — someone respected, someone who has written a book against the war, not just a statement or an open letter. And this, too, exposes an important distinction: a writer’s stance on war is not just what they say in interviews. It’s what they put in their books. If a writer has spent years romanticizing the Russian Empire, glorifying (Soviet dictator Joseph) Stalin, or celebrating its imperial past, how can they now claim to be against the war? It’s as absurd as imagining a so-called “anti-fascist” German writer in the 1930s praising (Holocaust architect Heinrich) Himmler’s leadership while condemning (Nazi leader Adolf) Hitler in interviews.

The reality is, I might have a drink with one of these so-called “anti-war” Russian writers in a bar — some of them I’ve known for years — but I won’t share a stage with them in public discussion. And here’s why: in three years of this full-scale war — the largest in Europe since World War II — there has been no collective Russian action against it. Yes, many Russians fled abroad. Yes, some join Ukrainian protests in Berlin or other cities. But have they organized their own protests against Russia’s war? Have they released any collective statement against it? No. Not one.

But when you put them next to us, when you invite them to share the stage with Ukrainians, you legitimize them. You try to place them in the same category of suffering, as if their situation is comparable to ours. And I’m sorry, but it’s not. Not until they take a real stand. So yes, I might have a private conversation with them, but a public discussion? No way. Not until after our victory.

Note from the author:

Hey there, it’s Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading my latest interview. Oksana Zabuzhko is truly a living legend, one of the greatest figures of contemporary Ukrainian culture, and I was so thrilled to not only finally meet one of my literary heroes but share our conversation with you. Now more than ever it is important to support Ukrainian culture, as Russia seeks to dismantle it. If you like reading this sort of thing, please consider becoming a member of the Kyiv Independent.

Historian Marci Shore: Putin’s obsession with denazification is ‘Freudian projection’

The return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to political life has raised uncomfortable questions about the future, not only within the U.S. but also on the global stage. This is particularly true for countries like Ukraine, which relies on U.S. aid as it’s locked in a

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Attack on Russian Strategic Military Airfield. New F-16s in Ukraine. Mass Protests in Turkey

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:00:58 +0100

Polish right takes hard line on Ukraine ahead of presidential vote

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:24:07 +0100

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 key partners, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy shift has already thrown the pro-Ukraine coalition into disarray.

Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, a progressive mayor of Warsaw backed by the key ruling party, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform, remains a clear favorite, polling at around 35%. He faces two opponents from the right, both of whom stand a chance to advance to the runoff scheduled for June 1.

The conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which led the government from 2015 to 2023 and has an ally in incumbent President Andrzej Duda, has tapped relatively unknown historian Karol Nawrocki as its candidate in the upcoming elections.

Polling at 24%, Nawrocki is only about five percentage points ahead of Slawomir Mentzen, one of the leaders of the far-right Confederation coalition.

Both men have made headlines by public spats with Ukrainian officials and denounced Kyiv as ungrateful for the support Warsaw has provided. Their popularity potentially signals a growing acceptance of anti-Ukraine sentiments in Poland as Russia’s full-scale war entered its fourth year.

The unresolved historical grievances and constant economic disputes between Kyiv and Warsaw have forced even pro-Ukrainian politicians to tread carefully when it comes to dealings with Ukraine.

‘Talk about an invasion is everywhere’ — How Lithuania is preparing for war with Russia

Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, repeated and escalating warnings of the potential for a wider war have only raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be next in the crosshairs of the Kremlin. Talk about a potential Russian invasion is “very common at parties, gatherings,…

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Liberal Trzaskowski has made it clear that “military support for Ukraine is in Poland’s national interest” as “Ukrainians are fighting for our (Poland’s) freedom."

“But we need a sincere conversation about how we see the future of our relations, a sincere conversation about how Ukrainians should take our sensitivity to historical issues seriously, a sincere conversation about how negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU will be very difficult and, unfortunately, will last for many years,” he then added.

`Karol Nawrocki`

Nawrocki, 42, is a historian who heads the Institute of National Remembrance, a state agency that studies the crimes committed during World War II and Poland’s communist era.

This professional background seems to have shaped his political views, which are marked by clear anti-communism and distaste for Russian expansionism.

The conservative politician, who is on Russia’s wanted list over the demolition of Soviet memorials in Poland, recently suggested cutting diplomatic ties with Moscow, as “maintaining diplomatic ties with a barbaric state is not good for Poland."

But that doesn’t mean the historian-turned-politician is pro-Ukraine.

While pledging that Polish support for Kyiv will continue if he is elected, Nawrocki signaled he wants to see more gratitude for the assistance provided to both Ukrainian front-line soldiers and refugees.

Nawrocki also declared that Ukraine would not be able to enter NATO or the EU without resolving the issue of the Volyn massacres — a sentiment shared by many Polish politicians across the aisle.

Karol Nawrocki during the convention in Krakow, Poland, on Nov. 24, 2024. The largest Polish opposition party Law and Justice nominated Nawrocki for president. (Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / Getty Images)

“Today, I do not see Ukraine in either structure, neither in the European Union nor in NATO, until those important civilizational issues are resolved," Nawrocki said in January in reference to the World War II-era massacre of Poles by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in the present-day Volyn Oblast of Ukraine.

The Volyn massacres, which saw tens of thousands of Poles living in Nazi-occupied Volyn killed and thousands of Ukrainians killed in reprisal attacks in 1943-1944, remain the most contentious topic in Polish-Ukrainian relations.

“Unfortunately, Ukraine has been playing the role of a ‘scapegoat’ for Polish politicians for quite some time now, a trend that began during the 2023 parliamentary campaign.”

When Tusk hailed a joint breakthrough in efforts to exhume Polish victims in modern-day Ukraine, Nawrocki dismissed the announcement as an "unnecessary trick."

Some of Nawrocki's sharpest comments were aimed personally at President Volodymyr Zelensky.

When nearly all European politicians — including Tusk — rushed to support Zelensky after his heated Oval Office exchange with Trump, Nawrocki, as well as the rest of PiS, backed the U.S. president instead.

Nawrocki even said that the subsequent pause on U.S. military support was the "result of President Zelensky's lack of gratitude and lack of ability to conduct international policy."

This bellicose rhetoric may seem at odds with PiS, whose past government led the charge in providing Ukraine with arms and other support during the full-scale war. But as the elections are coming near and the Ukraine fatigue is setting in, the conservative party may be shifting gears.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda after commemorating the victims of the Volyn Massacre in Lutsk, Ukraine, on July 9, 2023. (Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"I suspect these are his (Nawrocki's) original views that were muted at the beginning because of the party policy, but now, because they are fighting for the same part of the electorate (as the far-right), he was 'let loose,'" Polish political scientist Pawel Borkowski told the Kyiv Independent.

Nawrocki's main opponent for second place, and thus a potential contender to face Trzaskowski in the runoff, is far-right Mentzen. His Confederation and PiS are likely to battle over rural voters and agrarian workers in the upcoming vote.

Farmers, who fear competition from their Ukrainian counterparts, represent a vocal part of the electorate, as their numerous protests and border blockades have demonstrated.

"Unfortunately, Ukraine has been playing the role of a 'scapegoat' for Polish politicians for quite some time now, a trend that began during the 2023 parliamentary campaign," Yevhen Mahda, executive director of the Institute of World Policy in Kyiv, told the Kyiv Independent.

Surveys reveal that the Polish public has grown more skeptical toward Ukraine and, specifically, Ukrainian refugees when compared to 2022.

According to a February poll commissioned by the Mieroszewski Center, 49% of Poles favored continued military support for Ukraine, yet only 40% supported assistance for refugees.

"The motive that Ukraine is not grateful enough is very present" in Polish society, said Aleksandra Kusztal, a political scientist at the Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, in comments for the Kyiv Independent.

"Some elements (which) are typical for the Russian propaganda, Russian disinformation, are becoming more and more popular," such as the supposed negative impact of Ukrainians on Poland's social and healthcare system, she added.

50% of Poles oppose Ukraine’s EU, NATO membership until Volyn issue resolved, poll shows

Half of Poles believe Ukraine should not join NATO or the EU until the issue of exhuming Volyn massacre victims is resolved, according to a new poll published on Jan. 30.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

`Slawomir Mentzen`

A devout libertarian who voiced support for Polish exit from the EU, 38-year-old entrepreneur and tax advisor Mentzen has become one of Poland's most popular far-right politicians.

His apt use of the TikTok social network and public campaigning make it conceivable that he, not Nawrocki, will face Trzaskowski in the second round.

The Confederation, co-chaired by Mentzen, has long been seen as the only relevant force in Polish politics that could be described as openly hostile toward Ukraine.

During the parliamentary elections in 2023, during which the far-right significantly underperformed, Confederation said that Ukraine should pay for all assistance provided by Poland — an argument eerily echoing those coming from today's Washington.

However, emulating far-right populists across Europe, the Confederation has sought to purge its most controversial elements. Two of the most overtly pro-Russian figures, Janusz Korwin-Mikke and antisemite Grzegorz Braun, have been suspended or expelled from the coalition.

Slawomir Mentzen, co-leader of the Confederation alliance, tosses fake money to supporters during a campaign rally in Szczecin, Poland, on Sept. 16, 2023. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

Mentzen himself has formally denounced Russian aggression and has largely shaped his Ukraine rhetoric along more transactional lines.

"Yes, it is profitable for us for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, which is why Poles help Ukraine," Mentzen told Polsat. "Not out of sympathy, but because it is simply profitable for us."

"We send weapons to Ukraine, we send money, we send social benefits, we provide medical treatment for free in Poland to Ukrainians who do not even have medical insurance, while Poles have to pay, and in return we receive slander, they insult us and show absolutely no gratitude."

He also said that the West must reach some kind of an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as "there is no force on the horizon that will drive Putin out of Ukraine."

In some cases, Mentzen does not hesitate to push further. One episode that caught the attention of both Polish and Ukrainian media was his public spat with Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi.

After visiting the western Ukrainian city on Feb. 24, Mentzen published a video near the monument to Stepan Bandera, calling the late Ukrainian nationalist a "terrorist" and accused Ukraine of "worshipping criminals."

Bandera, assassinated by the KGB in 1959, led the radical wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and organized the assassination of Polish Interior Minister Bronislaw Pieracki.

Sadovyi lashed out against Mentzen, calling him a "pro-Russian politician with a Polish passport." Mentzen then named Lviv, which was part of Poland in the interwar period, a "culturally Polish city," a statement with explosive connotations during the ongoing Russian occupation of one-fifth of Ukraine.

Experts largely agree that this was a public stunt rather than a serious attempt at territorial revisionism, a topic with almost non-existent appeal in Polish politics.

"It was a pure provocation," Kusztal commented, calling Mentzen's campaign nevertheless "very strongly connected with Russian propaganda."

Kusztal presented Mentzen's anti-Ukraine rhetoric as "something quite new in his political biography." The expert suggested it could be a tactic to steal voters from Braun, who announced his own candidacy.

According to Borkowski, Mentzen wanted to strengthen his appeal across the various right-wing groups that make up the Confederation.

"Slawomir Mentzen's conflict with Andrii Sadovyi was staged and election-driven," Mahda concurred. "However, this does not negate the fact that historical policy plays a much greater role in public discourse in Poland than it does in Ukraine."

Who is to gain more from a ceasefire — Russia or Ukraine?

U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 17 that he expects to hold a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal that Moscow has yet to agree to. Russia has declined to immediately accept the 30-day ceasefire proposal, with the

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Martin Fornusek.

I hope you enjoyed this article. If you want to help us provide you with more in-depth pieces on Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression, European politics, and more, please consider joining the Kyiv Independent community.

Thank you very much.

Vucic vows to 'protect' Serbia from repeat of Ukraine's EuroMaidan

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:45:38 +0100

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 comments followed a massive rally in Belgrade on March 15, culminating months of near-daily protests against corruption and misgovernance, posing the most significant challenge to Vucic’s 13-year rule.

Vucic accused protest organizers of spreading misinformation, including claims that authorities had shut down the internet and used sonic cannons against demonstrators.

“Then they came up with a story about a sonic cannon… but the army does not have such weapons,” Vucic said in a video address published on social media, insisting that what was shown was an anti-drone rifle, not a crowd-control device.

Vucic compared the accusations to those made against ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during the EuroMaidan protests, which saw over 100 demonstrators killed before Yanukovych fled to Russia in 2014.

“That’s how they started talking here: ‘Vucic, you shot at your own people,'” the Serbian president said. “There were no wounded; nothing happened to anyone, but they have to come up with something."

The protests erupted in November following the deadly collapse of a newly reconstructed train station roof in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people. The reconstruction, financed with Chinese and state funds, was widely viewed as corrupt.

Student-led demonstrations quickly grew into broader anti-government protests, demanding accountability and an end to corruption. Vucic, who maintains close ties with Moscow, has frequently used Kremlin-style rhetoric to discredit protests.

The Serbian opposition, along with student activists, has accused authorities of deploying a sound cannon against demonstrators during a silent vigil for the Novi Sad victims, with footage of people fleeing after a loud blast circulating on social media.

The Serbian president vowed an investigation into what he called “brutal fabrications and lies” and warned that those responsible would be prosecuted.

Rubio asked Hungary not to block EU sanctions, Politico reports

Budapest had initially planned to veto the sanctions renewal, citing U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the possibility of a shift in U.S. policy toward Russia.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Georgia sentences ex-President Saakashvili to additional 4.5 years over illegal border crossing

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:55:36 +0100

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 issued last week on large-scale state funds embezzlement charges, adding up to almost 12 additional years in prison for Saakashvili.

The border crossing case concerns Saakashvili’s secret return from Ukraine to Georgia on Sept. 29, 2021, despite being wanted by Georgian authorities. He was arrested on Oct. 1, 2021.

Four others were charged in separate proceedings over Saakashvili’s illegal entry and released on bail.

Saakashvili, who served as Georgia’s president from 2004-2007 and to 2008-2013, sought to align the country with the West but lost elections to the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party years after a defeat in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

A longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saakashvili has accused billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream, of orchestrating his prosecution on Moscow’s orders.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled last May that there were no grounds to believe that Saakashvili’s criminal proceedings were unfair.

Since Georgia follows the principle of sentence absorption, Saakashvili’s earliest release date would be October 2030, considering his time in custody.

Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship and previously served as the governor of Odesa Oblast, has faced worsening health conditions during his custody.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February 2023 that the “Georgian government is killing” Saakashvili after images surfaced showing his significant weight loss.

The ruling follows mass protests in Tbilisi over Georgia’s disputed October elections, which saw the Kremlin-friendly Georgian Dream party retain power.

The crisis deepened after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia’s EU integration could be delayed until 2028.

Russia open to civilian observers in Ukraine under possible peace deal

“A peace treaty may provide for unarmed observers in Ukraine, a civilian mission to monitor the implementation of certain aspects of the agreement, or guarantee mechanisms,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Ukraine’s surprising obsession with sushi

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 14:02:19 +0100

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 that Ukrainians are huge fans of sushi?

Support us in discovering even more immersive stories with deep human interest and learning about Ukraine as more than just a country at war.

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A version of this story first appeared in Bon Appétit.

The national food of Ukraine isn’t borscht. It’s sushi. In particular, it’s the Philadelphia roll.

Make this controversial observation to any Ukrainian you meet, and you’ll be met with a knowing chuckle.

When people ask me the most surprising thing I’ve learned in three years of war, they expect that I’ll talk about drone warfare, or the eerie feeling of an air raid shelter during a missile attack.

But when I first came to Ukraine, the thing that stuck out to me the most was the fact that you could find a sushi restaurant in pretty much every corner of the country.

In large cities and small villages – even close to the frontlines! – you can find the Japanese dish, with a Ukrainian twist.

Subscribe now

Blade, left, poses in a sushi restaurant after an interview, along with a fellow Ukrainian drone pilot.

Meet Blade, who goes by that callsign while working as a Ukrainian drone pilot. At his request, we’re withholding his real name for security purposes.

Blade recounts how one of his sushi cravings unfurled during a brief moment of calm while stationed in the south of Ukraine during the first year of the country’s war with Russia.

"The enemy was very close,” he said.

The drone pilot and his team were just beyond the front lines, regrouping in the war-ravaged village of Bashtanka.

A map of Bashtanka, which at the time of Blade’s story was near the frontlines of fighting in the south of Ukraine.

At the time, only a few thousand civilians remained, but during a lull, Blade walked into a cafe in search of sustenance and matter of factly asked, “What is on the sushi menu?"

Moments later, he was snacking on unagi – Japanese eel.

The cultural moment he shared during an interview that happened to take place in another sushi restaurant—this time in Kramatorsk, itself a frontline city that is a major logistics hub for fighting in east Ukraine.

Almost everywhere in Ukraine, sushi rolls are part of the diet of hungry troops. In fact, if you walk into a restaurant in Ukraine at random, there’s a very good chance it will serve sushi.

Google Maps backs this up. Zero in on Kyiv or almost any part of Ukraine and search for sushi, and you’ll likely be able to find a cafe or restaurant to satiate your fix.

Five thousand pieces of sushi, arranged to look like the flag of Ukraine, available for sale in the Dnipro region. The initiative was done so that proceeds could support the Ukrainian military. (Mykola Myakshykov / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Over the last twenty years, as the fight for an independent and democratic Ukraine has progressed, first through deadly protests, and now the ongoing war against Russian oppression, sushi has become a staple food.

“Sushi was probably one of the first properly foreign dishes that came to Ukraine [after the restoration of independence],” said Yaroslav Druziuk, the former editor-in-chief of The Village Ukraine, a Ukrainian culture and politics publication. “[At that time] sushi is the easiest way to feel like you're eating something exotic and fascinating… Want to impress your girlfriend? Set up a date in a sushi restaurant.”

The rise in sushi’s popularity is intertwined with a Ukrainian trend towards eating what America and the rest of the West eats—a cosmopolitan way of looking at the world absent of Russian influence.

According to Google search trends, the most sought after takeaway food in Ukraine is sushi. In Russia, it is kebab.

Olha Nasonova, restaurant consultant in Kyiv and co-founder of the National Restaurant Association of Ukraine

Olha Nasonova, a restaurant consultant and co-founder of the National Restaurant Association of Ukraine, says that cold appetizers are “very popular” in Ukraine—sliced vegetables, sliced sausage, mushrooms — “and in some way, sushi replaced these cold appetizers because many people, even now, put sushi on the table instead. They can eat sushi first, then have a hot dish, and then dessert. And basically, this has become…a common practice for many families.”

I’ve asked countless Ukrainians why sushi is so popular here. It’s so entrenched at this point that most don’t give it any thought. “It’s just delicious!” is the most common reply.

But there are also subtle ways in which Ukrainian sushi history is intertwined with its politics.

Sushiya, now a common Ukrainian sushi chain, established its first store in 2006. Several years later, it opened a branch overlooking Kyiv’s Independence Square, or Maidan. The square is integral to the Ukrainian story.

In 2014, this is where protesters demanded the resignation of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and closer integration with the European Union. No doubt during frigid winter days, some pro-democracy protesters huddled in the Sushiya to stay warm and in the process ordered a few rolls. Today, Sushiya has 21 restaurants in five cities across Ukraine.

Following the successful Maidan Revolution, one way Ukrainian chefs and customers expressed themselves was freeing their palates of rigid culinary bonds.

“Ukrainian [sushi restaurants], especially the places that opened up after 2014, they had more freedom to make experiments,” Druziuk said.

A sushi restaurant shows damage caused by a shock wave after a missile strike carried by Russian troops against a shopping mall in the Podilskyi district of Kyiv. (Photo by Yuliia Ovsiannikova / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

In taste and texture, most sushi is about as far from traditional Ukrainian food as you can get. Ukrainian cuisine typically emphasizes foods like varenyky and borscht and buckwheat—and there’s often a hefty serving of smetana, a sort of sour cream, but as happens in nearly every cultural food mashup in societies around the world, Ukrainians added a personal twist on their sushi-eating habits.

"In post-Soviet Union countries, it was quite typical to have a mixture of milk and fish products, fish with mayonnaise in a salad, stuff like that," says Ukrainian chef Serhii Khehai, who manages a high-end Kyiv sushi counter called Shima.

At a sushi restaurant in Odesa, different sets are named after the Bayraktar drone, Javelin missile, and the Ukrainian military.

And these combinations have found their way into Ukrainian sushi menus. “I’ve personally tried various adaptations of sushi, like sushi with mashed potatoes and herring, or rolls with beetroot and salmon, for example,” says Nasonova.

The experimentation led itself naturally to sushi paired with cream cheese, or mayonnaise, or other types of cream sauces – a departure from the subtle flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine.

The country’s favorite type of sushi, by far, is the Philadelphia Roll – the sushi characterized by cream cheese paired with raw or cooked fish.

Sushiya has no less than 34 versions of the Philadelphia Roll on its menu, such as the 'Philadelphia Grilled Greens with Salmon Well Done,' which features salmon stewed in soy sauce, cream cheese,and cheddar cheese, topped with some onion crumble; or a version with mussels, tomato, crab mix, avocado, shaved tuna and cream cheese.

“A Japanese person who eats sushi as an everyday food would be surprised by the variety of our menu… we’re not afraid to surprise, adding something of our own,” said Artem Mykhailenko, a Sushiya employee at the Independence Square location.

Ukrainian sushi chef Igor Besukh, 23 years old, prepares one of his creations at the WOKA restaurant in Kramatorsk, on July 15, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

Getting fresh raw fish into the country has been a challenge in a period of wartime, when all flights are grounded. Ukraine’s only nearby major body of water is the Black Sea, where ongoing military operations are underway.

But restaurateurs have found a way to meet demand, despite the regular power outages, drone attacks, and missile strikes across the country.

Over time, Khehai has been able to source salmon from Scotland, and other fish from countries like Spain, using road transport to get it across the border from Poland into Ukraine.

He orders his fish to arrive by Tuesday evening—chilled, never frozen. The sushi counter's freshest fish is served on Wednesday.

“It is quite interesting because it is the only available exotic food at the moment. One could say that people in Ukraine are getting poorer, and they really want something unusual, something exotic, something that differs from their usual diet,” said Nasonova. “And sushi has taken on this role. Sushi is not just food, it is a celebration.”

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Tim Mak x Felicity Spector talk about Ukrainian food!

NEWS OF THE DAY

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

G7 PRESSURES RUSSIA WITH SANCTIONS TO FORCE CEASEFIRE: The US and other G7 countries have warned Russia that they will expand sanctions and use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire, The Financial Times reported. Sanctions may include oil price caps. Additionally, Marco Rubio made it clear that territorial concessions should be made not only by Kyiv but also by Moscow.

This week, after a meeting of American and Ukrainian negotiating teams, Kyiv proposed signing a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire that would apply on land, in the air, and at sea. However, Russia signaled its unwillingness to do this immediately.

U.S. MAY IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON RUSSIAN ENTRY: The United States is preparing new restrictions on the entry of citizens from 43 countries, including Russians and Belarusians, according to The New York Times. The proposal includes three levels of restrictions: red, orange, and green.

Russia and Belarus are in the orange category, which involves strict restrictions on visa issuance, though it does not mean a suspension. Wealthy businessmen from Belarus and Russia may still be allowed to enter the United States, but immigrant and tourist visas for citizens of these countries could be blocked. Additionally, citizens from these countries must undergo a personal interview to obtain a visa.

UKRAINE IS ALMOST OUT OF MISSILES FOR AIR DEFENSE: Kyiv has urgently requested that Italy and France provide additional missiles for its Samp-T air defense batteries, as its available stockpile is nearly depleted, according to Corriere della Sera. Ukraine has reportedly been asking the governments for 50 missiles for several weeks, but they have been slow to respond. Italy has already exhausted its stockpile, leaving only an untouchable reserve.

Samp-T systems have not always performed well during massive Russian attacks, unlike the American Patriot systems. However, due to the U.S.'s unstable arms supplies, Kyiv seeks to bolster its defense capabilities by any means necessary.

UKRAINIAN CHILDREN SEARCH THREATENED DUE TO MUSK: Elon Musk's DOGE has stopped funding a Yale University team that was helping to track down children deported to Russia, The Telegraph reported. They were gathering information from open sources about abducted children and passing it on to Ukraine. In cooperation with the Bring Kids Back UA campaign, launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the team found hundreds of Ukrainian children.

CAT OF CONFLICT

Today we have a cat of conflict who was accompanying a woman to raise money for the animal shelter near a metro station. It was a cold evening, resembling the last days of winter, but the cat was resting peacefully, wrapped in the fabric and warmed by the woman’s arms.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana

Belarus Weekly: Belarus drops out of top 20 global arms exporters list

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:13:43 +0100

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 shortages.

UN experts urge Belarus to end the incommunicado detention of political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski, after two years of him being hidden from the public eye.

Belarus drops out of the top 20 global arms exporters, SIPRI report finds.

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`Russia proposes to build drone factory in Belarus`

Russia has proposed to build a drone factory in Belarus capable of producing 100,000 drones every year, the press office of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko reported on March 6.

Deputy Head of the Russia Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin made the offer during a meeting with Lukashenko at a military exhibition in Minsk, the press office said. The drones will reportedly be built using Russian licenses.

“It’s very important that Belarus has its own (drone) production facilities, which would strengthen both its economy and national security,” Oreshkin said.

“We’re ready to build the plant. We guarantee: you wouldn’t be able to build it in Russia the way you could build it here,“ Lukashenko said in response.

The announcement does not specify whether the plant will produce military drones. Yury Kozarenko, a member of the Russian delegation, said that drone production in Belarus could contribute billions to Belarus’s GDP, as drones are also used in agriculture, logistics, and education.

A staunch Kremlin ally, Lukashenko has repeatedly claimed that Belarus needs to prepare for war and adapt to modern warfare. The Belarusian Defense Ministry reported on Nov. 15, 2024, that it was developing military drones domestically. By the end of 2025, the Belarusian military is expected to have “a wide range of combat drones,” including a 30-kilometer range “Chekan-V” and “Peacemaker” with a reported 10 kilogram warhead and a 100 kilometer range, according to the Head of Application and Development of the Unmanned Aerial Systems department of the Belarusian army, Mikhail Bransky.

Currently, Russia uses around 100 to 200 Iranian-developed Shahed-type kamikaze drones in its daily attacks on Ukraine, Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), said on March 3. Russia plans to increase the number of drones and sites from which drones will be launched, he added.

Since July 2024, Russian drones have crossed into Belarusian airspace with increasing frequency. Some of them have crashed in the vicinity of residential areas, although so far without causing casualties.

Minsk has never publicly objected to Moscow over these incursions, and local authorities tend to conceal incidents and provide no comment.

`Lukashenko appoints government before official ‘inauguration’`

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, not yet officially inaugurated as president following the Jan. 26 sham presidential elections, has appointed a new government, naming Alexander Turchin as the country’s new prime minister.

Lukashenko began his seventh consecutive term as president amid widespread repressions and in an atmosphere of fear, human rights activists report. The Belarusian autocrat maintained his grip on power by brutally suppressing nationwide protests that engulfed the country following fraudulent 2020 presidential elections.

Turchin, the new prime minister, was appointed on March 10, after previously serving as head of the Minsk regional executive committee. He is under EU, U.K., Swiss and Norwegian sanctions over the suppression of mass protests in 2020.

Following the appointment, Turchin told reporters that Belarus would not see any “significant course correction,” adding that his approach would be one of “evolution without revolutions.”

His predecessor, Raman Halouchanka, was transferred to the position of head of the Belarusian National Bank. While announcing the appointment, Lukashenko called for the bank and the government to “find common ground” in terms of financing the economy.

Analysts say the appointment of Halouchanka will weaken the bank’s monetary policy, as the former prime minister lacks a background in finance.

Lukashenko has previously ordered government interventions in the economy, and was forced to subsidize struggling state-owned enterprises.

Inflation risks are mounting, according to Beroc, the country’s leading independent economic think tank. In 2024, inflation was reined in to 5.2% with the help of heavy government regulation of consumer goods pricing. If the restrictions were to be relaxed, inflation would accelerate to 6-8%, experts believe.

Lukashenko presented the official appointments as the advent of a “new generation” in Belarusian leadership. However, the government consists largely of the same ministers, except for Uladzimir Karanik, formerly the chairman of one of the Regional Executive Committees, who was appointed deputy prime minister, and Kiryl Zalesky, the former head of the High-Tech Park information technology development initiative, who became minister of informatization.

Political analysts do not foresee any real changes, saying that in general, the appointments were an “old system masquerading as new.”

`Belarus cracks down on unemployed amid labor shortages`

Belarusian authorities are attempting to remedy the country’s current labor shortages by targeting the unemployed with a special tax, independent Belarusian media have reported.

Belarus in 2015 adopted a Soviet-style decree requiring working-age citizens without formal employment or income to pay an annual fee of about $200. Dubbed “the tax on parasitism,” the measure sparked mass protests and was suspended in 2017. It came into effect again three years later, replacing the direct tax with the obligation to pay the full cost of household utilities, which are typically subsidized by the government. Currently, the rate is five times higher for those considered “parasites.”

In February 2025, Belarus’s Interior Minister Ivan Kubarkov announced raids against “deadbeats” — the working-age citizens who have not been officially employed for a long time, have no declared income, and don’t pay taxes. The announcement followed Lukashenko’s claim on Jan. 21 that it was necessary to bring more unemployed people back into the labor market.

Throughout the first weeks of March, Belarusians in Minsk were summoned en masse to the employment administration and questioned regarding their sources of income. The exiled Belarusian news outlet Nasha Niva reported that summons were delivered even to those who had left the country decades ago.

Belarus is grappling with a serious labor shortages: the state jobs database currently lists 188,700 vacant postings, a significant amount for a nation of 9.5 million with an estimated 4-4.5 million workforce. Healthcare alone faces a shortfall of 10,000 workers. Up to 57% of employers in Belarus reported experiencing a shortages of staff, according to the independent research center rabota.by. The Eurasian Development Bank foresees further wage increases in 2025, fueled by competition over scarce labor.

The natural aging of the population in Belarus is being exacerbated by the mass emigration of the most economically and politically active population, the economic think tank Beroc reports. By various accounts, between 300,000 and 500,000 Belarusians have left the country since 2020, after that year’s fraudulent elections triggered massive protests and a subsequent crackdown on public protests.

At the same time, former political prisoners are not being offered jobs, and workers are being dismissed for supporting an opposition candidate in 2020. On March 3, Lukashenko reiterated his demand that people who participated in protests should not be hired, slamming them as “the enemies of the state.”

`UN experts demand to end incommunicado regime on 2nd anniversary of Tsikhanouski’s ‘enforced disappearance’`

Sixteen United Nations human rights experts issued a statement on March 7 demanding that the Belarusian authorities disclose the fate and whereabouts of former presidential candidate and political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski.

The jailed activist, who sought to challenge Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential elections, has been held incommunicado for the past two years.

Among Belarus’s 1,200 political prisoners, nine leaders of the 2020 pro-democracy movement remain fully isolated from the outside world in what’s known as an incommunicado regime. The human rights community considers the regime to be a form of enforced disappearance that amounts to torture.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joins a march protesting Belarusian elections on Jan. 26, 2025 in Warsaw, Poland. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The UN experts, including Chair-Rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances Gabriella Citroni, Special Rapporteur on Belarus Nils Muižnieks, along with other experts, urged Belarus to enable contact to be restored with Tsikhanouski and other opposition leaders, such as Mikalai Statkevich, Viktar Babaryka, Maria Kalesnikava and Maksim Znak.

“The enforced disappearance of Mr. Tsikhanouski and others is a blatant violation of international law,” the experts said.

“These actions seek to silence political opposition and instill fear.”

While acknowledging that there had been releases of political prisoners in Belarus recently, the experts noted that these had been selective and came with conditions to cooperate with law enforcement and propaganda.

Blogger and entrepreneur Siarhei Tsikhanouski is serving a nineteen-and-a-half year term in prison. Arrested in May 2020, two months before the election, he was charged with obstructing the public’s electoral rights, organizing riots, and inciting hatred.

While in prison he was given an additional 18-month sentence for allegedly disobeying the penal colony administration. His lawyers and family have not received any information about him since March 2023.

`Belarus drops out of top 20 global arms exporters, SIPRI report finds`

Belarus has dropped out of the world’s top-20 arms exporters, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published on March 10.

Shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus quickly became a major arms exporter, ranking 11th globally. Between 1999 and 2006, the country reportedly earned an estimated $1 billion by selling off the arsenal it inherited from the collapsed empire, prompting the U.S. Congress to pass a motion, which required annual reporting on Belarusian arms exports.

Belarus had remained in the 20th position since 2019 despite a 37% decline in exports. Meanwhile, its arms imports, coming exclusively from Russia, grew by a third. In recent years, Serbia, Vietnam, and Uganda have been the top buyers of Belarusian weapons.

Belarusian arms deals have drawn scrutiny, with multiple media investigations conducted into Lukashenko’s close circle of businessmen, Alexander Zingman and Oleg Vodchits, for facilitating arms sales to African countries.

On March 7, the head of the military government of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, was in Minsk to discuss arms supplies, the exiled Myanmar Mizzima News Media reported.

Belarus backed Russia in its aggression against Ukraine but has abstained from sending its troops to the battlefield. Experts attribute Lukashenko’s reluctance to an overwhelming anti-war consensus domestically, which might cause massive unrest in Belarus while not providing much help to Russia on the front line.

Belarus will not merge with Russia in the near future, Lukashenko says

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:15:29 +0100

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 we have done. It is necessary to go calmly, step by step,” Lukashenko said.

In early January, independent Russian media Meduza reported, citing sources close to the Kremlin, that Putin may revisit plans to formally absorb Belarus once the war against Ukraine is resolved.

Despite his claim of maintaining relations with a range og global actors including China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the EU, Lukashenko said that Minsk will “always side with Moscow."

“It can’t be otherwise. Belarus will never leave Russia alone, just as Russia will never leave Belarus,” he added, highlighting what he described as “open fraternal relations” between the two countries.

Lukashenko’s visit to Russia marks his first trip since securing a seventh presidential term in an election widely denounced as a sham. On March 13, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Following their talks, Lukashenko and Putin signed a joint statement pledging to expand bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

Belarus has been largely cut off from the West following Lukashenko's violent crackdown on mass protests in 2020 against fraudulent election results.

Since then, his regime has further curtailed political freedoms and deepened its alignment with Moscow, providing logistical and military support for Russia's war against Ukraine.

Even before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin reportedly had devised a plan for the "creeping annexation" of Belarus by 2030.

The plan outlined steps for "harmonizing" Russian and Belarusian laws, "coordinated foreign and defense policy," and economic integration based on Russian interests.

President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Feb. 14 that Russia is once again building up troops in Belarus, possibly in preparation for large-scale operations against NATO countries.

Putin sent ‘additional signals’ to Trump on ceasefire proposal, Kremlin says

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin late in the evening on March 13, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

ECHR rules Ukraine failed to prevent, investigate violence in Odesa in 2014

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:40:54 +0100

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 applications filed by 28 individuals — 25 relatives of the victims and three survivors — between 2016 and 2018.

Forty-eight people died in the violence that erupted between the two camps on May 2, 2014. A group of pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-EuroMaidan rally but retreated to the Trade Unions House after the ensuing violence.

Forty-two of the EuroMaidan opponents died after the building caught fire as the two groups began throwing petrol bombs. Two pro-Ukrainian activists were also killed after suffering gunshot wounds.

The ruling noted “authorities’ failure to do everything that could reasonably be expected of them to prevent the violence in Odesa on 2 May 2014, to stop that violence after its outbreak, to ensure timely rescue measures for people trapped in the fire, and to institute and conduct an effective investigation into the events."

The ECHR noted that Russian propaganda helped to instigate the clashes but acknowledged the applicants' complaints that Ukraine failed to prevent the violence and adequately investigate it. The Ukrainian state was ordered to pay out compensations.

The plaintiffs included relatives of victims from both camps, all of whom accused the Ukrainian state of inaction.

Russian propaganda has heavily employed the violent episode in Odesa to vilify the EuroMaidan Revolution and falsely paint the movement as pro-Nazi and extremist.

The EuroMaidan Revolution began in November 2013 when people gathered at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kyiv’s central square, to protest pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign the long-awaited Association Agreement with the European Union.

Law enforcement officers, namely Berkut riot police, used violence to suppress the protests, including lethal force. More than 100 people were killed during the revolution, which culminated in Yanukovych fleeing to Russia.

“The Court noted that distortion of the events in Odesa had eventually become a tool of Russian propaganda in respect of the war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine since February 2022,” the ECHR’s ruling said.

“Enhanced transparency in the related investigative work by the Ukrainian authorities might have helped to prevent or counteract that propaganda effectively."

The court noted that the investigation should have been “carried out by an organ entirely independent from the police.” At the same time, the ECHR dismissed allegations that the authorities were not impartial when investigating the deaths of EuroMaidan opponents and supporters.

EuroMaidan Revolution

The EuroMaidan Revolution is often credited with being the single most consequential event in Ukraine’s modern history. After pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych took power in 2010, the political and business landscape in Ukraine was gradually deteriorating. In November 2013, Yanukovych refuse…

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Sobolieva

Slovakia’s protests prove the fight for Europe isn’t over

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:42:06 +0100

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 from the European Union and its transatlantic allies.

Their fears are well-founded. Since autumn 2023, a coalition of nationalist, EU-skeptic, and pro-Russian parties has held power in Bratislava. While Fico’s left-wing Smer party pushes pro-Russian rhetoric, the Slovak National Party (SNS) promotes a “pan-Slavic brotherhood” with Moscow. The result is the same: under Fico, Slovakia is moving in a direction similar to Viktor Orbán’s Hungary.

Fico’s government has demonstrated a clear alignment with Moscow. In September 2024, he falsely claimed that Nazi troops were fighting in Ukraine. He was also the first prime minister of an EU member state to grant an interview to the Russian state television channel Rossiya 1.

In October 2024, Ľuboš Blaha, a European Parliament member of Fico’s Smer, traveled to Moscow to “apologize to the Russians for EU sanctions,” provocatively stating, “fascism and war come from the West, while freedom and peace come from the East.”

Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in December 2024, and he had already accepted Putin’s invitation to travel to Moscow in May 2025. In January 2025, a delegation from SNS also visited Moscow, where party chairman Andrej Danko called Putin “a very reasonable and pragmatic leader.”

Concerned about the government’s pro-Russian stance, the liberal opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) proposed enshrining Slovakia’s EU membership in the constitution. The response from Fico’s camp was both surprising and alarming: Tibor Gašpar, a former police chief indicted for criminal activity and now a Smer politician, suggested that Slovakia should consider leaving the EU if its rules were to change. Even President Peter Pellegrini, from the coalition partner Hlas, distanced himself from Gašpar’s remarks.

While a Slovak exit from the EU may still seem unlikely, many citizens are deeply unsettled by the government’s direction. This frustration has fueled mass protests, where demonstrators wave Ukrainian flags and rally under the slogan “Peace for Ukraine.”

Fico, however, has responded with conspiracy theories. When his government faced a no-confidence vote in January 2025 — after losing several MPs and potentially its parliamentary majority — he called for a closed session, claiming Slovakia’s intelligence service (led by the son of Tibor Gašpar) had warned him of an attempted coup.

According to Fico, NGOs active in Ukraine and Georgia were plotting to overthrow him — a claim with no evidence, but one that echoed the rhetoric of Viktor Orbán in Hungary. Around the same time, Orbán himself visited Bratislava, further strengthening ties between the two leaders. In the end, Fico managed to block the no-confidence vote, despite his government’s fragile majority.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Oct. 1, 2023. (Vladimir Simicek/AFP via Getty Images)

Fico’s Orbán-like approach extends beyond foreign policy into domestic affairs. Ironically, Fico — who pursued anti-Hungarian minority policies in his first term (2006–2010) — has now become a close ally of Orbán. Even Slovakia’s Hungarian minority party aligns with Fico’s anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian stance.

Like Orbán, Fico has worked to weaken democratic checks and balances — amending criminal law in his interests, restructuring public media to silence critical journalists, and allowing SNS’s nationalist culture minister to wage a political war against artists (theater and museum directors have been dismissed and replaced with loyalists).

Despite these troubling developments, Slovakia under Fico remains freer and more pluralistic than Orbán’s Hungary. The key difference is stability: Orbán has ruled since 2010 with a strong parliamentary majority, whereas Fico’s coalition is fragile and divided. Some MPs from his smaller coalition partners, SNS and Hlas, have already left the government, though they have not yet voted against him.

Fico’s pro-Russian stance has so far been more of a rhetorical tool for domestic politics. Unlike Orbán, he ultimately did not block the EU’s decision on Ukraine in early March, as he hopes the European Union will secure gas supplies for Slovakia.

Fico’s pragmatism can also be explained by the fact that a fully pro-Russian foreign policy and a boycott strategy at the European level would not even be entirely supported within his own coalition — particularly by the Hlas party of President Peter Pellegrini. At the same time, the issue of Ukraine — again in contrast to Hungary — is a key mobilising force for the Slovak opposition. While the Hungarian opposition avoids open and direct confrontation with Orbán on this matter out of opportunism, tens of thousands of people take to the streets in Slovakia to demonstrate in support of Ukraine and against Fico’s pro-Russian policies.

Political instability and mounting public resistance continue to pressure Fico. On the streets of Slovak cities, the Ukrainian flag has become a symbol of pro-European commitment for many. They are not “foreign agents,” as Fico claims, but decent citizens of Slovakia who want to avoid the Orbánization of their country.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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US set to abandon partners again as history repeats in Ukraine

Paris in January 1973. Doha in February 2000. Saudi Arabia in February 2025 — all peacemaking summits with the same aroma and feel. But there are key differences before we assume the stage is simply being set for another American episode of “cut and run.” After years of promising never to

The Kyiv IndependentEerik Kross

Georgia's ex-President Saakashvili sentenced to 9 more years in prison on embezzlement charges

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:15:34 +0100

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 reported on March 12.

Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili found Saakashvili guilty of misappropriating 9 million lari (about $5.4 million at the time) from the state budget between May 2009 and February 2013 for personal expenses, including luxury hotels, cosmetic procedures, and designer clothing.

Teimuraz Janashia, former head of the Special Guard Service, was also convicted in the case and fined 300,000 Georgian lari ($108,000) for abuse of office. Both men denied the charges, calling the trial politically motivated.

Saakashvili, Georgia’s president between 2004-2007 and 2008-2013, sought to take his country on a pro-Western path but lost elections to the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party a few years after the defeat in the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.

The politician was detained upon returning to Georgia in 2021 and is currently serving six years in prison on charges of ordering the beating of opposition lawmaker Valery Gelashvili in 2005. He was also given a three-year sentence for abuse of power charges for pardoning four police officers convicted of murder in 2008.

The former president, a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has accused oligrach Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, of orchestrating his prosecution on Moscow’s orders.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on May 23 that there were no grounds to believe that Saakashvili’s criminal proceedings were unfair.

In February 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Georgian government was “killing” Saakashvili after photos surfaced showing his deteriorating health and significant weight loss. Saakashvili holds Ukrainian citizenship and served as the governor of Odesa Oblast between 2015 and 2016.

The ruling follows mass protests in Tbilisi over the disputed October election results, which saw the Kremlin-friendly Georgian Dream party retain power.

Since the election, a number of Western countries have imposed sanctions on Georgia over the perceived democratic backsliding.

The political crisis deepened after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia’s EU integration could be delayed until 2028.

Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romania’s far-right still aim to win

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romania's far-right still aim to win

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 22:22:50 +0100

Georgescu, who is openly supported by the Russian and the U.S. administrations, said this was a “direct hit against democracy."

Following the announcement on March 9, Georgescu’s supporters began setting the streets of Bucharest on fire and throwing bottles, stones, and firecrackers at the police. Riot police used tear gas in response.

In November 2024, the relatively unknown Georgescu surprisingly won the first round of the vote. The result was promptly annulled, citing foreign interference in the election process. In connection to the case, Romania expelled the Russian military attache and his deputy for breaching diplomatic rules of conduct.

Now, the Central Electoral Bureau cited technical irregularities in Georgescu’s application, as well as the Constitutional Court’s decisions to cancel the previous round of voting and ban another Russian-backed candidate, Diana Sosoaca.

Supporters of far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu wave the Romanian flag as they face Romanian gendarmes during a protest near the Central Electoral Bureau in Bucharest on March 9, 2025, after the electoral bureau rejected Georgescu’s candidacy for the re-run of last year’s annulled presidential election. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images)

Georgescu said he would appeal, and the Constitutional Court will have the final say on his expulsion from the race.

“The decision was inevitable for the health of democracy, but this democracy will need deep repairs after elections in May,” journalist Magda Gradinaru told Kyiv Independent.

“Romania’s secret services failed in the final goal of preventing this crisis and they will need to be reformed (as well),” she added.

“It is to be seen who will capitalize on Georgescu’s electoral ban and to what extent social tensions can morph into violent social movements,” said Gradinaru.

“This was a short-term solution, but the extremist populist platform remains, as does Russian pressure, social resentment, and tension. So this may just be the beginning of a crisis that Romania will have to manage in a complicated geopolitical context,” she added.

‘We’re ready’ — Ukraine heads into US peace talks with everything at stake

Kyiv officials will meet their Washington counterparts in Jeddah on March 11 for talks which will impact the future of diplomatic relations between the two countries and likely the future of the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian side hopes the meeting would help mend ties with the White House and

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

`Far-right uprising`

The leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, George Simion, said on Sunday evening that “those who organized the ‘coup’ should be skinned alive in the public square."

He called on people to take part in protests in support of Georgescu.

On Monday morning, Simion claimed his words were a “metaphor,” and he asked supporters to protest peacefully. Georgescu appeared publicly, holding hands with Simion and Anamaria Gavrila, the leader of another Romanian far-right project, Party of Young People (POT).

The leader of the far-right party AUR, George Simion (right) shakes hands with former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu (left) during an anti-government rally on March 1, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. (Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images)

Georgescu was expelled from AUR in 2022 after being briefly investigated for declarations in support of Romania’s World War II fascist leaders. Now, Georgescu relies on AUR and POT for support.

In the December parliamentary elections, AUR secured second place with 18% of the vote, while POT gained 6.5%. Both remained in opposition.

“If Simion runs for president, some of the tension created by Georgescu’s ban will be eliminated,” analyst Oana Popescu Zamfir told Kyiv Independent.

Romanian protesters take part in an anti-government rally on March 1, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian candidate who won the first round of last year’s election that was subsequently cancelled, was questioned by prosecutors earlier this week about the financing of his campaign. (Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images)

According to her, Simion’s recent radical statements are meant to incentivize Georgescu’s supporters to vote for him. “It’s important for Georgescu to explicitly support Simion,” Popescu Zamfir said.

Other candidates Georgescu’s electorate may vote for, according to Popescu Zamfir, include former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, former acting President Crin Antonescu, or businessman and politician Gigi Becali.

“If Simion does not run, whoever wins the election will have less legitimacy,” Popescu Zamfir said.

`Russian attempt to dismantle institutions`

The ongoing political crisis began last year with Russian meddling in Romania’s elections and the subsequent rise of far-right politicians and their parties.

While not making it into the top five according to most opinion polls, Georgescu suddenly took first place following a two-week viral TikTok campaign that involved working with local influencers. The campaign was artificially boosted, with over 66,000 fake TikTok accounts later banned by the platform.

Georgescu has been actively promoting conspiracy theories and has been vocally supporting Russia. He called Ukraine a “fictional state” and claimed that the eventual partition of its territories is “inevitable” in an interview published on Jan. 29.

The media also found evidence of Georgescu’s links to paramilitary and fascist leaders, such as mercenary Horatiu Potra, who manages a group of soldiers in Congo.

On Dec. 8, when the presidential runoff was scheduled to take place, Potra and 20 other people were detained by the police as they were driving to Bucharest carrying weapons and cash.

On Feb. 26, the Romanian Prosecutor General’s Office charged Georgescu with “incitement to actions against the constitutional order” and other crimes in a six-count indictment. The charges also included lying about campaign funding and initiating a fascist organization.

According to law enforcement, Georgescu used over 1 million euros of undeclared funds and has been involved in neo-legionarism, a Romanian neo-fascist movement that draws its ideology from the country’s Iron Guard militant group active in the run-up to World War II.

Georgescu denied any wrongdoing.

Supporters of presidential candidate Calin Georgescu cheer outside the Central Electoral Bureau on March 7, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. (Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images)

On the same day, the Romanian police found dozens of guns, grenades, 25 kilograms of gold, $3.3 million, and 700,000 Romanian Leu ($152,500) in cash in the homes of Potra and his associates.

On March 5, Russian military attache Victor Makovskiy and his deputy, Evgeny Ignatiev, were expelled from Romania. The move was connected to Georgescu’s campaign.

The next day, six people were arrested for allegedly being part of a military organization attempting to overthrow the government with help from Russia.

“These six people are just the visible tip (of the iceberg),” analyst Armand Gosu told Kyiv Independent. “This is the first time Romania openly accuses the Russian Federation of a plot against its state sovereignty."

“They (Russians) can wait years, even decades, that’s why it’s necessary for the Romanian state to neutralize this (entire) network,” Gosu said.

According to Popescu Zamfir, “if eliminating the entire network is not possible, at least beheading these groups would avoid further existential threats."

The rise in disinformation and buildup of far-right groups was missed by the government agency set to protect the country from malicious activity from abroad — its intelligence.

Independent journalist Victor Ilie from the local investigative project Snoop published a series of articles showing how Kremlin-linked creative agencies based in London pump millions of euros to create and promote conspiracy and far-right content in the Romanian digital space.

“While Romanians have been mistrustful of Russia, what confuses a part of the Romanian public now is that the U.S., which was considered the country’s main partner, embraced the Russians, and that Georgescu claims that he is not pro-Russian, but pro-American, pro-Trump,” Gosu said.

“It’s very hard to explain that the Americans are not what they once were,” he added. “Now Romania is seen as the EU’s weak link that can easily be broken."

Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer — and it worked

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

`A glimmer of hope`

However, swift action against Georgescu and his associates showed that Romanian authorities were still eager to fight back.

The crisis had also catapulted some new faces that are now set to challenge the far-right at the ballot, among them acting President Ilie Bolojan and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who are gaining popularity.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Romania s acting President Ilie Bolojan at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris on Feb. 19, 2025, after a meeting with seven European countries, focused on Ukraine. (Photo by Magali Cohen/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

“Acting President Ilie Bolojan has done some damage control — organizing press conferences, which journalists missed, meeting up European leaders in a period when Romania seemed to be quarantined, transmitting key messages — has given the feeling that there is a clear political direction for the country and it has been a good move,” said Gosu.

"(Bolojan and Dan) can re-legitimize institutions and the democratic process,” said Gradinaru.

Lukashenko appoints Alexander Turchin as Belarus's new PM

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:48:29 +0100

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 key government positions, including chief of staff of the Council of Ministers in 2016 and first deputy prime minister in 2018-2019.

After his appointment, Turchin told reporters that Belarus would not see any “significant course correction,” adding that his approach would be one of “evolution without revolutions."

Turchin is replacing Roman Golovchenko, who has held the office of prime minister since June 2020 and was now appointed head of the National Bank. Lukashenko presented the personnel changes as the advent of a “new generation” in Belarusian leadership.

Lukashenko, in power since 1994 and widely regarded as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close ally, has faced repeated accusations of election fraud.

His self-declared victory in the 2020 presidential election, widely denounced as illegitimate, triggered mass protests in Minsk that were brutally suppressed with Moscow’s backing.

Since then, over 8,000 people have been detained for political reasons, according to the Belarusian human rights group Viasna.

On Jan. 26, Lukashenko claimed a seventh term in office in another election widely condemned as neither free nor fair.

Though Belarus has not directly participated in Russia’s war against Ukraine, it has allowed the Kremlin to use its territory as a staging ground for military operations.

Russia’s arms exports plunge by 47% since full-scale invasion’s start, SIPRI reports

The decline is attributed to Russia prioritizing weapons production for its own military, the impact of Western sanctions, and increased pressure from the U.S. and its allies on countries purchasing Russian arms, the report said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

'Slovakia is Europe' — thousands of protestors take to the streets against Fico's pro-Kremlin agenda

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 04:29:04 +0100

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 traitor, declaring that “Slovakia is Europe.”

Fico’s government has faced criticism for its perceived alignment with Russian interests, and his administration has repeatedly criticized Western aid to Ukraine.

Demonstrators accused Fico of distancing from the European Union, and for strengthening ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Robert Fico chose Putin, Slovakia chooses Europe,” the protest organizers said.

Protesters also condemned remarks by Fico’s chief advisor, Erik Kalinak, who recently suggested that Russia’s defeat of Ukraine would give Slovakia a “reliable neighbor.”

Numerous large-scale protests have occurred in Slovakia in the past few months following Fico’s remarks and visit in Dec. 2024 with Putin in Moscow. In Jan. 2025 hundreds of thousands of protestors took to the streets, chanting similar slogans including “Enough of Fico.”

As protests engulf Serbia, President Vucic looks for support East and West

The Kyiv IndependentCamilla Bell-Davies

Belarus Weekly: Belarus, Russia ratify security pact, expanding nuclear umbrella, military integration

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:36:49 +0100

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 President Vladimir Putin to Minsk for peace talks.

Belarus criminalizes sharing information on military movements and expands in absentia prosecution of exiled opponents.

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Local media reported that a stray drone crashed into power lines in Belarus, causing outages in Mazyr.

Belarus hits record low in the Freedom House report, ranking 192-194 out of 207 globally.

`Belarus, Russia ratify Union State security pact, providing for nuclear umbrella, military bases`

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko have concluded the ratification of the Union State security guarantees, expanding Russia’s nuclear umbrella over Belarus and deepening the military integration of the two countries.

The Union State security pact was signed on Dec. 6, stipulating that Russian nuclear weapons can be used against an aggressor state — even ones that don’t have nuclear weapons themselves.

Putin signed the law ratifying the agreement on Feb. 28, after speedy consideration in Russia’s State Duma in February. Belarus’s Lukashenko signed the ratification law on March 4, his press office reported. The pact will enter into force after the sides exchange ratification documents.

The security pact signing comes on the same day the Russian parliament ratified another agreement postponing Belarus’s repayment of about $800 million in Russian state loans. Opposition politician Pavel Latushka, formerly an official in the Belarusian foreign ministry, linked the two ratifications.

“Lukashenko got himself into debt with Russia, and now he’s paying with the country’s national sovereignty,” Latushka said.

Beyond expanding the Russian “nuclear umbrella” to cover Belarus, Article 5 of the agreement provides for the establishment of Russian military bases and stationing of Russian troops on the territory of Belarus “to prevent and repel acts of aggression.”

However, the implementation of this provision would require a separate agreement between Minsk and Moscow. Russia has been pushing to establish an air base in Belarus since 2015.

The treaty also obliges the parties to “support” each other in the event of a threat to their constitutional orders — allowing each to potentially intervene to suppress public protests in either of the two countries.

The Union State security agreement lasts for ten years and is automatically extended, unless one of the parties declares its intention to withdraw six months in advance.

According to NATO estimates, Belarus hosted up to 30,000 Russian troops in the buildup to the Russian attack on Kyiv in February-March 2022, in the pretense that they were taking part in the “Union Determination-2022” military drills. Following Russian forces’ withdrawal from the northern front, the number of Russian troops in Belarus gradually fell, with just about 2,000 soldiers now being left, according to the Belarusian Hajun monitoring project.

In September 2025, Belarus is to host up to 13,000 troops for the Zapad-2025 (West-2025) exercises. The Russian-Belarusian plans to hold the exercises have sparked concern among Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian troops’ logistics in Kursk Oblast destroyed, they face risk of encirclement, sources say

A Ukrainian soldier fighting in Kursk Oblast described the situation in the Russian region as “critical,” warning that Ukrainian troops in the region face the threat of encirclement. He added that Ukrainian soldiers based in the region would like to withdraw.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

`Lukashenko claims readiness to host Trump, Zelensky, Putin for talks in Minsk`

Minsk is prepared to host the leaders of the United States, Ukraine, and Russia for talks on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, Lukashenko, a staunch Moscow ally, said in an interview on March 4.

Lukashenko’s remarks came shortly after the United States imposed an immediate freeze on military aid to Ukraine, in a move the White House claimed was meant to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into entering peace negotiations.

In an interview with U.S. Internet media personality Mario Nawfal, Lukashenko reiterated his praise for U.S. President Donald Trump, and said he was willing to help achieve his goal of brokering peace between Kyiv and Moscow.

“It’s only 200 kilometers from the Belarusian border to Kyiv – half an hour by plane,” Lukashenko told Nawfal.

"You are welcome to come. We will sit down here. We’ll come to an agreement quietly, without noise, without shouting. So tell Trump: I’m waiting for him here, along with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and Zelensky. We’ll sit down and calmly negotiate. If you want to make a deal.”

The Kremlin has already backed the proposal. “This issue has not been raised or discussed in any way. But, of course, Minsk is the best place for us. It is our main ally, so it is the best place for negotiations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

In the early days of Russia’s all-out invasion, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were held in Belarus but were later moved to Istanbul.

Minsk has repeatedly attempted to get a seat at the negotiating table, at the same time requiring “security guarantees” for itself.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi said, “Belarusian officials have the right to claim a fair hearing in the process of bringing the aggressor and his accomplices to international legal responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.”

Belarus previously hosted talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014 and 2015, which led to the signing of the Minsk Agreements.

The agreements were meant to stop Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine, but both of the documents were ultimately violated by Russia. Two days before launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin declared that the Minsk Agreements “no longer existed.”

Lukashenko has been trying to make himself noticed by Trump, rushing to congratulate him on winning the U.S. presidential elections even before the results were confirmed, and promising to nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Following the failure of the rare earth metals deal with Ukraine on Feb. 28, Lukashenko ordered his ministers to look into the issue of mining rare earth metals in Belarus.

Trump’s increasing support for Russia leaves Zelensky with fewer options to secure U.S. backing

As Washington continues to pressure Kyiv intro submission, President Volodymyr Zelensky stands at a painful crossroads — agree to U.S. demands or chart a course without Washington, pinning Ukraine’s hopes for survival on Europe alone. Neither option seems reassuring for Ukraine. U.S. President Don…

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

`Belarus criminalizes spreading information on movement of military units, broadens grounds for repression of exiled opposition`

Updates to the criminal code in Belarus have introduced prison sentences of up to three years for the “unauthorized sharing of information” about the deployment of military units and their movement within the country, Human Rights watchdog Viasna reported on Feb. 28.

The changes to the code also broaden the category of offenses that can be subject to in absentia prosecution.

Since Russia unleashed its all-out invasion of Ukraine, Belarusians have been reporting the movement of Russian troops, and sharing footage and information on Russian troop locations with independent media and open-source intelligence projects. Ninety-three Belarusians have been sentenced on “extremism” charges for doing so.

The updated criminal code, which entered into effect on March 2, essentially outlaws sharing any form of content featuring the military in Belarus during wartime, emergencies, or counter-terrorist operations — unless the authorities have already shared such information.

Violations are punishable by up to three years of imprisonment, or six years, if premeditated and committed by a group, and causing significant damage, the amended code reads.

The updated criminal code also introduces the new status of “a president who ceased to fulfill his duties” and criminalizes violence, threats, and libel against him. According to the current constitution, the incumbent, Alexander Lukashenko, can be “re-elected” once more and rule until 2035.

Although there are no apparent signs of an impending transition of power, the Belarusian authorities have established an extra-governmental body — the All-Belarus People’s Assembly, which is headed by Lukashenko — to which the dictator could “retire” after leaving the presidency, while still wielding considerable influence.

`Drone crashes into high-voltage power lines in Belarus, causing local blackout`

A stray Russian attack drone crashed into high-voltage power grid lines at a thermal power plant on Feb. 27, causing the most significant damage by a drone in Belarus so far, Flagshtok, a local news outlet in the Homiel region, has reported.

Russian drone incursions into the Belarusian airspace have risen sharply since July 2024. At least 395 drones were recorded flying over the country in the second half of the year, and this year 94 were spotted in January alone. The Belarusian authorities don’t comment on the incidents, and never publicly objected to them with their ally – Moscow.

On the morning of Feb. 27, residents of Mazyr, Homiel Oblast, about 45 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, were cut off from heating and hot water supplies. Local state energy company Homielenergo attributed the problem to a breakdown in the rather old heat supply system, without elaborating on the cause. Heating and hot water supplies were restored after a full day of repair work.

According to Flagshtok’s sources, the drone crashed into the high-voltage lines of a thermal power plant, triggering its automatic protection system, which led to a full shutdown of the plant, which is located south of the Mazyr Oil Refinery — a strategic object reportedly protected by Belarusian air defenses. Restarting the plant caused a fault in the piping system.

On the same night, another drone crashed and set fire to a farm building in Ziabrauka, a village next to a military airfield in the Homiel Oblast. Residents reported the sound of gunfire and a blast at around 4 a.m.

`Belarus given its lowest ever ranking in Freedom in the World report`

Belarus ranked 192-194th out of 207 countries and territories worldwide on the level of political and civil liberties, according to global human rights watchdog Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report, which was published on Feb. 26.

The Freedom in the World report, first published in 1973, tracks the condition of political rights and civil liberties around the globe. According to its authors, global freedom declined in 2024 for the 19th consecutive year, and Belarus received some of the “worst aggregate scores” for political rights and civil liberties.

The country scored just seven points out of 100, sharing its position with Azerbaijan and Myanmar.

Hundreds of Belarus opposition supporters take part in a march in Warsaw, Poland on Jan. 25, 2025. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The report also notes Minsk’s role in the indoctrination of Ukrainian children forcibly deported from the occupied territories. According to the recent estimates by Belarusian opposition People’s Anti-Crisis Management initiative, up to 3,500 Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied Ukrainian territories were transported to Belarus.

Belarus is also one of the most repressive countries for lawyers. Over the past four years, up to 27% of Belarusian lawyers were disbarred or lost their licenses after representing political prisoners in courts, U.S. government-funded broadcaster RFE/RL reported, citing the International Observatory of Lawyers.

As protests engulf Serbia, President Vucic looks for support East and West

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 19:49:58 +0100

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 kilometers on March 1 from Belgrade to the southern city of Nis to rally support for an anti-corruption protest that took aim at the ruling party.

Serbia’s Russia-friendly President Aleksandar Vucic has often used a Kremlin playbook to discredit the protests that occasionally rise in a country balancing between Russia and the West.

Such a balancing act has been increasingly difficult to maintain.

Nis, the country’s third largest city home to 250,000, has long been President Vucic’s core voting stronghold along other cities and towns further away from the capital. Yet, residents who greeted the arriving protesters said they were tired of their ruling party and wanted to listen to what young people have to say.

The Serbian protests began in November after a train station roof in the town of Novi Sad collapsed, killing 15 people. This roof had been hastily reconstructed in 2024 with Chinese and state funds and a procurement procedure widely viewed as corrupt. Students took to the streets, demanding accountability and justice for the victims.

They used a bloody hand symbol to highlight how corruption in Serbia cost lives. Vucic had been actively blaming the upheaval on the West, saying that foreign forces have been attempting to spark a “Ukrainian-style revolution in Serbia."

The protestors, however, aren’t pro-Ukrainian or anti-Russian, and are united primarily by their opposition to the current government rather than broader ideological takes.

“We really feel like we can change something this time.”

Protests in Serbia have gone on for over 100 days in 60 different settlements. Students, farmers and businesses continue to strike in support. Universities, some of which are now closed, are used as base-camps for democratic decision-making among the students.

Alexander, a student who took part in daily marches, said the protesters remain hopeful. "We really feel like we can change something this time," he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attends a press conference with Turkey's president in Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct. 11, 2024. (Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images)

The movement follows a pattern. Students announce a mass rally in a Serbian city, then walk to that location for days. Along the way they talk to locals to gather support for the movement.

A taxi driver in Nis on March 1 said his views had changed since seeing the protestors in the flesh, rather than on state TV where they are routinely denigrated.

"In the Balkans, children are always taught to listen to their elders. But now we are listening to them. They are teaching us to stand up for our rights," he said.

Regardless of Trump’s Ukraine peace deal, war with West is ‘foundational to Putin’s rule,’ experts say

With every day of the new White House administration that passes, the chances of Russia being brought in from the cold on the international stage after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine appear to be increasing. U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing Kremlin charm campaign has seen Ukraine and Europ…

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

`Serbia's changing image`

The pro-democracy movement is changing Serbia's image. Protesters seek respect for the rule of law, a free press and, fair elections, and an end to widespread corruption.

So far, the protests have prompted Vucic to publicly oust Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Transport Minister Darko Glisic, both of whom remain in their place as they await a vote in parliament.

Arrests of several company heads and policemen in what Vucic has called a "fierce fight against corruption" had also taken place.

Protestors, however, show a deep skepticism towards Vucic's proposed anti-corruption measures which are widely seen to be a last ditch attempt to cling to power.

Students interviewed by the Kyiv Independent expressed deep frustration with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), blaming it for the country's lack of media freedom, rigged elections, and neglect of public services and civil liberties.

Andjela, 22, a student protestor, said, "The whole ruling party should resign. They've shown they are unfit to run the country. We haven't had free elections in my lifetime. It's unsafe here, incomes are low, prices are high, and criminals go unpunished, including the thugs who beat up students."

A woman holds a placard reading "Smells like corruption spirit" during a demonstration in Belgrade, Serbia, on Jan. 24, 2025. (Andrej Isakovic / AFP / Getty Images)

People gather during a demonstration in Nis, Serbia, on March 1, 2025, during a national rally organized by students. (Andrej Isakovic / AFP / Getty Images)

The latest election, in 2023, was seen as being widely rigged, with 50,000 voters from the Republika Srpska, a ethnic Serbian enclave of Bosnia, were bussed to Belgrade to sway the vote.

Mass protests followed, but they led to no change.

A year later, a new protest movement was built on years of unresolved discontent.

In the aftermath of the Kosovo War of 1999, a mass student-led movement called OTPOR brought down the country's autocrat, Slobodan Milosevic.

Srecko Mihailović, a veteran protester of the OTPOR movement, said that he's been on marches for 30 years and hopes he won't be doing it to the grave. "We've had the same president for 10 years, this is not normal," he said.

"But we need to show that Serbia isn't Vucic."

The Czech weapons giant replacing the Kalashnikov in Ukraine’s army

The Russian-made Kalashnikov still prevails as the main small arm in Ukraine’s military. A Czech weapons giant is setting up shop in Ukraine’s factories to change that. The Prague-domiciled conglomerate, Colt CZ, has set up assembly of its Bren 2 assault rifles inside Ukraine under the name “Sich”

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

`Autocrats playbook`

Vucic's response to the protests has been chaotic.

The president claimed, without evidence, that outside forces are behind the protests and has accused the West of trying to incite a revolution. At the same time, Vucic had told EU leaders that "Putinists" are trying to stir up trouble to deepen the country's ties with Russia.

On Jan. 20, Serbian police detained 14 foreign nationals at an NGO summit in Belgrade.

Such tactics have been used by the ruling party since 2012. State tabloids bully critics of the government, illegally publish their personal data online, and incite violence against those who oppose the government.

Authorities have also been linked to hooligan groups that stir up trouble during protests to justify police action. A similar tactic was used during the 2013-14 EuroMaidan Revolution in Ukraine, when the pro-Kremlin government employed thugs to fight with protesters, coining the term Titushky.

Tractors and protesters block the Bridge of Freedom during an anti-government demonstration in Novi Sad, Serbia, on Feb. 1, 2025. (Oliver Bunic / Bloomberg / Getty Images)

Demonstrators and students gather in front of Serbia's Constitutional Court in Belgrade on Jan. 12, 2025, demanding accountability for the Novi Sad railway station tragedy. (Tadija Anastasjevic / AFP / Getty Images)

Andjela, who took part in protests, noted that this year's protesters are alert for provocateurs.

A protester was beaten up, while other students were rammed with cars and hospitalized, she said.

"We are careful in case it escalates and more of our students end up in the hospital," Andjela added.

`A delicate balance`

At present, there doesn't seem to be a solution to the political crisis.

Student protesters know their government's playbook well, so they tread carefully. They appeal to patriotism and wave only Serbian flags to avoid appearing influenced by outsiders.

So far, the careful approach has united support across societal sectors, including the rural population, who were once Vucic's core base. Farmers brought tractors to protect students, blocking key Belgrade bridges.

"This time we don't fear the government. They should fear us."

The rallies have also gained international support from students in the U.S., Austria, Croatia, and vocal celebrity support from tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and Madonna.

The countrywide solidarity has reduced citizens' fears of government-sponsored attacks, threats to family members, and job losses, which previously weakened protests in 2012, 2020, and 2023.

Boris, an engineering student taking part in protests, said, "This time we don't fear the government. They should fear us."

The question remains what would follow were the government to call a snap election to ease the crisis.

Boris said that he would like to see an interim government of "democracy experts and professionals" in place who could create the conditions for fair, free elections.

At present, students do not have a plan to back a political candidate. They have distanced themselves from opposition parties as they view them as part of the system they are up against.

Up until now, the official opposition had been fragmented and cautious.

Opposition party members "have nothing to do with the organization" and support the protests "as civilians only," said lawmaker Borko Stefanovic, deputy president of the Party of Freedom and Justice. "The regime could misuse this, saying the opposition is behind the protests. But the students lead."

A fight broke out between opposition and ruling party members in the Serbian National Assembly over the Novi Sad train station tragedy in Belgrade, Serbia, on Nov. 25, 2024. (Filip Stevanovic / Anadolu / Getty Images)

On March 4, some unconventional action was taken in parliament. Lawmaker Radomir Lazovic of the Green-Left front voiced support for the protestors and launched fireworks in the Serbian parliament, which hospitalized three people.

A brawl ensued between opposition and ruling party members.

"A clear message was sent that we do not accept the institutional violence of the Serbian Progressive Party, which has been carried out for years. The only agenda item at the Serbian parliament sitting can be the fulfillment of students' demands," Lazovic said.

Yet, a new election might not be the solution the protestors are hoping for.

"No elections would work under current conditions and without a free press. Vucic would steal and rig another election," Stefanovic said.

Trump’s alignment with Russia derails Europe’s push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine

European countries have intensified talks on sending peacekeepers to Ukraine to monitor and enforce a possible ceasefire. But the potential deployment of European peacekeepers to Ukraine faces a lot of challenges and uncertainties. There is no unity among European countries on the issue, with some…

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

`Euroscepticism`

The countrywide support for change in Serbia, however, doesn't mean those on the street agree on policy and their country's alignment.

Though EU leaders expressed admiration and support, the absence of EU flags in the crowd is deliberate. Potestors see their cause as a local concern they must deal with within-country.

An IPSOS poll in December 2024 revealed that only 46% of Serbs would support EU membership in a referendum.

Many protesters feel the EU and U.S. leaders have emboldened Vucic following years of hostilities in the region. Many also dislike the West for their handling of the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s.

The EU has worked with Vucic on ammunition exports, with $800 million in Serbian ammunition ending up in Ukraine through Western intermediaries. In July 2024, the Serbian government granted the EU access to its large lithium reserves. This also sparked thousands of Serbs to come out in protest, citing environmental concerns.

Vucic has also gained favor with U.S. President Donald Trump by allowing his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to build a hotel in central Belgrade on top of a war memorial.

Residents of Belgrade viewed the proposal with hostility.

`Emotional and economic ties to Russia`

Anti-Western sentiments have long united Serbia with Russia, even though the Serbian population continues to migrate west for education and work. This connection dates back to the 19th century when the Russian Empire helped secure Serbia's independence from the Ottoman Empire. It was also bolstered by a common religion and church ties.

Today, the bond is fuelled by anger over NATO's 1999 bombing of Belgrade to end President Milosevic's war against Kosovo. Serbia, backed by Russia, still claims Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.

Serbia maintains a broad conservative, Orthodox streak with strong anti-LGBTQ+ views. Many Serbs see Western nations as too "liberal." In contrast, many who came of age during the 1990s view Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a strong leader" pushing back against the West.

A 2023 poll by the Henry Jackson Society showed that over 61% of Serbs reported no change in their positive views on Russia since the start of the all-out war in Ukraine, and 21.7% said their support for Russia has increased.

T-shirts picturing Russian President Vladimir Putin and the letter Z are for sale in Belgrade, Serbia, on March 31, 2022. (Pierre Crom / Getty Images)

Pro-Russian displays are common in Belgrade.

Z t-shirts and Putin mugs are sold in central markets. Serbian and Russian flags and "Zajedno (together)" signs are widespread. Since 2022, mercenaries from far-right groups have been traveling to Russia to fight against Ukraine.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has welcomed up to 300,000 Russians fleeing the war.

When these Russians share anti-Putin views, it can prompt strong reactions from the locals. Nino, who owns a cigar lounge in Belgrade, said, "God has given us the gift of these liberal Russians. We'll show them the true path and send them back home, more Russian than ever!"

But attitudes in the capital, Belgrade, have shifted as an influx of wealthy Russian IT-workers has slowly undermined the imagined 'Slavic Orthodox brotherhood." Many Belgraders now resent recent Russian immigrants for not integrating, driving up housing prices and gentrifying the city with expensive shops and restaurants packed by foreigners.

Students protesting in the streets say neither the EU nor Russia will do anything to help them. While many still express emotional ties to Russian culture, they say they do not wish to live in a Putin-style political system.

Why doesn’t NATO open its doors to Ukraine?

NATO membership for Ukraine is becoming increasingly elusive. The previous U.S. administration silently opposed extending a NATO invitation to Ukraine. The current U.S. administration has made its opposition public. “You can forget about (NATO membership). That’s probably the reason the whole thin…

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Families of Ukrainian POWs rally outside US Embassy, demand 'all-for-all' exchange before peace deal

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:36:09 +0100

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.

The protest comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a swift peace deal with Russia that foresees concessions from Kyiv, but not the aggressor state that invaded Ukraine in 2014 and escalated the war in 2022, killing tens of thousands of civilians.

Protesters demanded an “all-for-all” prisoner exchange before any peace deal with Russia is signed, Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne reported.

Russia and Ukraine have conducted multiple swaps throughout the full-scale war, most recently on Feb. 5, when Ukraine secured the return of 150 POWs.

Kyiv has pushed for an all-for-all prisoner exchange since 2024, but Moscow has refused the proposal.

Ukraine does not disclose the exact number of its soldiers held in Russian captivity. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Moscow holds over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians.

Additionally, Russia has forcibly deported more than 19,500 Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus, or occupied territories.

Relatives and friends of Ukrainian prisoners of war hold placards during a demonstration in front of the US embassy to bring attention to the fate of Ukrainian POWs in Kyiv on March 6, 2025. (Genya SAVILOV / Getty Images)

Earlier on March 5, the day of Trump’s address to Congress, a pro-Ukrainian rally was held in Washington near the Capitol.

According to Euronews, the demostrators in Washington protested against Trump’s recent statements on Ukraine and his decision to suspend military aid to Kyiv.

The protests come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Kyiv following the contentious Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The talks, originally intended to finalize a U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal, ended in a public dispute, leading to the cancellation of the agreement.

Since then, Trump has cut U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, while some U.S. officials and Republican lawmakers have intensified criticism of Zelensky, with some suggesting he should resign.

Trump admin plans to revoke legal status of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees, Reuters reports

The plan predates U.S. President Donald Trump’s public spat with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 28 and is part of broader efforts to revoke the legal status of more than 1.8 million people staying in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, Reuters reported.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Mass Protests, Criminal Charges, and Russia’s Influence: Romania’s Political Meltdown!

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:01:06 +0100

Vance’s Ski Resort Visit Sparks Protests After Controversial Meeting

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 23:00:28 +0100

Kyiv, not Kiev — How Ukrainians reclaimed their capital

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 12:24:55 +0100

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 correctly into English as Kyiv.

In fact, until recently, the names of almost all Ukrainian places and people were transliterated according to their Russian versions.

After gaining independence in 1991, Ukrainians lobbied the international community to adopt native transliterations when speaking and writing about Ukrainian cities.

Their efforts were largely ignored for several decades as Ukraine struggled to shake its reputation as a former part of Russia. The needle began to move slightly in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine’s east and annexed Crimea.

With the outset of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the world seemed to get the message. Most major news outlets, academic publications, and government bodies now refer to Ukrainian place names by their Ukrainian transliterations. There are still some hold-outs, however, most notably among media outlets that often parrot Kremlin narratives.

The Russian spelling and pronunciation of Kyiv throughout the ages was no accident. While the name gets its origin from an empire that predates Russia, a series of policies by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union that sought to Russify Ukraine and the Ukrainian language distorted its roots.

`Where does the name Kyiv come from?`

Kyiv, located on the Dnipro River, was officially founded in 482 A.D., although archeological evidence suggests there has been a settlement on the site for about 2,000 years.

Various theories about its founding exist — with the founders being said to be Goths, Huns, and Turks, among others — but the most popular legend credits four royal siblings of an Eastern Slavic tribe with establishing the city in the 5th century.

Kyiv is thus said to be named after the eldest sibling, Kyi, similar to how the mythical Romulus inspired the name Rome.

In the 9th century, Kyiv became the capital and cultural center of Kyivan Rus, a medieval state spanning eastern and northern Europe, from which modern Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus all trace their origins.

During the “Golden Age” of Kyivan Rus, Kyiv emerged as a political, cultural, and religious center, with landmarks like Saint Sophia’s Cathedral and the Pechersk Lavra monastery complex reflecting its importance and prosperity.

View from The Bell Tower of Saint-Sophia Сathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 23, 2024. (Oleh Tymoshenko / The Kyiv Independent)

Moscow, founded at the tail end of Kyivan rule in 1147 A.D., is more than 600 years younger than Kyiv. Over the eight centuries that followed the breakup of Kyivan Rus, Kyiv was controlled by the Mongols, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, the Russian Empire, and lastly the Soviet Union before becoming the capital of independent Ukraine.

Both the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union drew their national identity from the legacy of Kyivan Rus. Authors of Russian history and the Russian state, including President Vladimir Putin, have envisioned their control over the city as a prerequisite for reuniting a long-lost empire.

This imperial preoccupation also underpins current Russian narratives; in Putin’s view, Kyiv is the mother city of a great Slavic kingdom that is destined to be reunified.

`Why ‘Kiev’?`

Under the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, Russian cities, including Saint Petersburg and Moscow, dictated official language policies.

In Soviet times, Moscow required all 15 member republics of the Soviet Union to adopt Russian as their official language. The result was that over the last century, Westerners came to know Ukrainian cities by their official Russian-language transliterations: Kiev as opposed to Kyiv, Kharkov as opposed to Kharkiv, Lvov as opposed to Lviv, and Odessa as opposed to Odesa.

This lack of international awareness and recognition of the languages and cultures of individual Soviet member states meant “Russian” became a commonplace blanket term for all things Soviet.

This legacy carried on past the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Many foreign governments and media outlets continued to refer to Ukrainian cities by their Russian transliterations, bolstered by and contributing to the widespread stereotypes that “everyone in Ukraine speaks Russian” and the factually incorrect “Ukraine is a former part of Russia.”

After the 2014 EuroMaidan revolution and Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and invasion of Donbas, more institutions in the West began acknowledging Ukraine’s political and linguistic sovereignty.

People participated in the Euromaidan protests at Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, 2014. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

By 2019, many diplomatic missions and English-language news outlets had switched to using Ukrainian spellings of Ukrainian proper names out of respect for the country.

Social media has also played a pivotal role in encouraging foreigners to switch to using Ukrainian names.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the #ReformUA campaign in the late 2010s, with hashtags such as #KyivNotKiev, #LvivNotLvov, and #KharkivNotKharkov. The effort also discouraged referring to Ukraine as “the Ukraine” — which insinuates that it is a region in a larger nation, rather than an individual state in its own right.

Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 brought global attention to Ukraine and its capital city, prompting widespread adoption of “Ukrainian” spellings — or rather, since Ukrainian uses a Cyrillic alphabet, Latin alphabet transliterations that better reflect the Ukrainian pronunciation of names.

The origins of ‘Slava Ukraini’

In early March 2023, a video surfaced online showing the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. The unarmed soldier’s last words were “Slava Ukraini” – a Ukrainian national salute that means “Glory to Ukraine” – before he was shot multiple times and collapsed to his death. Ukrainian officials…

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

The Art of Distraction: How Trump's Crypto Reserve Masks the Impact of DOGE's Budget Cuts

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 20:48:30 +0100

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 bolster the nation’s financial standing, mirrors strategies where leaders offer superficial concessions to placate followers, only to destroy their livelihood with the other hand, thereby tightening their grip on authority.

On March 2, 2025, President Trump announced the inclusion of five digital assets—Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA)—into the newly formed U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve. This declaration led to immediate surges in the market values of these cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin rising by approximately 8% to $90,828, and Ether increasing by 8.3% to $2,409.

While this move appears to support the burgeoning cryptocurrency industry, it is essential to scrutinize the broader context. Concurrently, the administration has endorsed aggressive measures under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, aiming to slash federal spending. These cuts have resulted in mass layoffs and the dismantling of several federal agencies, actions that have sparked public outrage and protests across the country.

The juxtaposition of promoting a crypto reserve while enacting severe budgetary cuts is striking. This dual approach can be likened to the manipulative techniques of cult leaders who provide followers with perceived benefits to gain trust and compliance, only to withdraw support to reinforce dependence and control. By offering the allure of a national cryptocurrency reserve, the administration may be seeking to distract from or justify the detrimental impacts of its austerity measures.

The backlash from these policies has been palpable. Republican lawmakers have faced intense criticism during town hall meetings, with constituents expressing anger over the abrupt layoffs and the overarching influence of Musk in governmental affairs. Some GOP members have even advised the administration to adopt a more compassionate approach, acknowledging the growing public discontent.

Moreover, the administration’s actions have raised alarms about the erosion of democratic principles. The unilateral decisions to restructure or eliminate federal agencies without adequate legislative oversight or public discourse undermine the foundational checks and balances of governance. Such maneuvers echo the coercive strategies of authoritative regimes, where power is consolidated through a combination of appeasement and suppression.

In analyzing the administration’s recent initiatives, it becomes evident that the establishment of the Crypto Strategic Reserve serves as a double-edged sword. While it ostensibly supports innovation and economic growth, it also functions as a tool to placate dissent and divert attention from policies that may harm the public interest. This pattern of offering with one hand while taking away with the other is a classic tactic to maintain control and suppress opposition.

As citizens and policymakers, it is crucial to remain vigilant and critically assess such strategies. Championing technological advancement should not come at the expense of transparency, accountability, and the well-being of the populace. Recognizing and challenging these manipulative tactics is essential to preserving the integrity of our democratic institutions and ensuring that progress benefits all members of society.

For a in depth analysis on this now legal scam read the serie of posts from Nathan Tankus on

A Scam Built Atop an Accounting Gimmick Wrapped in Bullshit: Why Visiting Fort Knox Is Not About Selling Gold but is About Buying Bitcoin

Putin congratulates winner of 'election' in occupied Abkhazia

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 16:37:03 +0100

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 that the friendly, allied Russian-Abkhazian relations will continue to strengthen for the benefit of our brotherly nations,” Putin’s message goes on to read.

Abkhazia, an occupied region internationally recognized as part of Georgia, has been under de facto Russian control since the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.

Aslan Bzhania, the former leader of Abkhazia, submitted his resignation on Nov. 19 in a bid to quell mounting unrest over a proposed investment deal with Russia. The agreement, which would allow Russian citizens to purchase property in Abkhazia, fueled fears of deeper Russian entrenchment in the territory and was subsequently scrapped.

Gunba, the winner of the presidential “election,” is considered to be a pro-Kremlin politician.

Freedom House, a U.S.-based NGO advocating for democracy and political freedom, said that Abkhazia’s legal framework “does not support fully democratic elections,” but noted that “incumbent officials remain vulnerable to defeat at the polls."

When local council members gathered in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia last week to discuss new measures promoting Russian investment, a group of protestors rose to meet them. The proposed legislation, which would have legalized Russian investment and land ownership in the occupied region…

The Kyiv IndependentKatie Marie Davies

Pro-Russian European politicians openly support Trump after clash with Zelensky

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 13:13:13 +0100

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 thanked Trump in his post on X.

“Today President Trump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest,” Orban said.

Orban, widely seen as the EU’s most pro-Russian leader, has consistently opposed military aid for Ukraine and maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze wished Trump “endurance and courage in this difficult struggle” on Facebook on March 1.

Zelensky, Trump get into heated argument while speaking with journalists in Oval Office

President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump held a 45-minute-long press briefing in the Oval Office that ended in a heated argument about American aid to Ukraine.

The Kyiv IndependentOleksiy Sorokin

“President Trump and his peace efforts were condemned one after another by the people responsible for unleashing a bloody war and the cold-blooded killing of Ukraine and thousands of Ukrainians,” his statement said.

Kobakhidze sparked a political crisis by announcing the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession process until at least 2028 after the elections last October. Protests erupted in Tbilisi against the ruling Georgian Dream party, accused of democratic backsliding and dragging Georgia into the Kremlin’s orbit.

Tino Chrupalla, one of the leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, said on X that peace in Ukraine should be achieved even without Zelensky’s participation.

“President Trump is cancelling talks with President Zelensky because he is not ready for peace. Peace must still be achieved, even without the beggarly President Zelensky,” Chrupalla wrote.

“Since the EU and Germany cannot act as mediators, the US and Russia must come to an agreement,” he added

Earlier, AfD showed support for Russian politics and has been mired in scandal after reports of its affiliations with neo-Nazi groups.

The statements come as many democratic European leaders expressed their support for Zelensky, who has reportedly landed in London for a summit of European leaders on March 2.

Editorial: A president just disrespected America in the Oval Office. It wasn’t Zelensky

It’s time to say it plainly. America’s leadership has switched sides in the war. The American people have not, and they should speak up. In the past several weeks, the U.S. leadership has demonstrated explicit hostility towards Ukraine and aligned its rhetoric and policy with Russia. The

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

Thousands rally across Europe, Canada ahead of 3rd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 22:32:19 +0100

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 Prague, Paris, and Brussels.

Czech President Petr Pavel addressed rally-goers in Prague, emphasizing his country’s support for Ukraine.

“From what happened, I think it is quite clear who is the aggressor, who violated international law, and who is the victim, whose side we should stand on,” Pavel said. “And if we allow (international law) to be compromised, if we reward the aggressor, then sooner or later it will affect us too."

Thousands also took to the streets of Brussels' and Paris' city center to mark the third anniversary. In Paris, participants unfurled a 262-meter flag in an effort to mark solidarity with Ukrainians.

Amid the start of the fourth year to Russia’s full-scale war, European allies have grown increasingly concerned over Kyiv’s role in upcoming peace talks between Russia and the United States to end the war.

European leaders have scrambled to deliver military support to Ukraine as the U.S., under the Trump administration, races to make a deal with Moscow.

Trump has said he wants Europe to play a greater role in supporting Ukraine’s financial and defense needs, but his administration has sent mixed signals as to whether Europeans are welcome in the negotiations process.

Thousands of Ukrainian Canadians also attended a protest against Russian aggression in Toronto, Canada, in a rally attended by the Kyiv Independent.

Canadian Members of Parliament speak during protests held in Toronto, Canada on Feb. 23, 2025, ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Dmytro Basmat/The Kyiv Independent)

Thousands of protestors rally in Toronto, Canada on Feb. 23 ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Dmytro Basmat/The Kyiv Independent)

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s former Finance Minister, who is running to replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attended the rally and touted the country’s support for Ukraine.

“In this fight, we are on the side of democracy versus dictatorship,” Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, said during the rally. “We are on the side of rule and order, and not bullies."

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Feb. 18 that Canada is interested in partaking in conversations about security guarantees for Ukraine.

EU preparing military aid package for Kyiv worth $20.9 billion, Bloomberg reports

The additional military support would supply Kyiv with air defense systems, artillery ammunition, long-range missiles, and drones.

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

Could tomorrow's vote see the 'Orbanization' of Germany?

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:59:10 +0100

Editor’s Note: We are living in dangerous times.

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Kiril Demchenko in Balassagyarmat town in Hungary, February 2025

Kiril Demchenko has lived in Hungary for four years, so he knows how a country changes when its authorities flirt with the Kremlin, as Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban has done.

Kiril says after the start of the full-scale invasion, Hungarians began to treat Ukrainians badly, especially older people who see Russia as an ally, not an aggressor.

“I saw a situation where a man in his 50s heard a girl speaking Ukrainian in a store and hit her – just because she was Ukrainian,” he told The Counteroffensive.

Could Germany be set to turn against Ukraine too?

The country will elect a new parliament on Sunday Feb. 23, and polling suggests the pro-Russian, far-right AfD party could gain record support.

Elections in Germany could change the balance of power in Europe by determining the direction of the continent's politics. If the pro-Russian far-right AfD gains significant support, it will threaten EU unity, weaken support for Ukraine, and open up more opportunities for Kremlin influence.

Germany risks repeating the path of Hungary, which has already become a pro-Russian center in the EU, which could change the fate of Ukraine and the future of European security.

Election campaign billboards on a snow-covered field show German Chancellor and SPD Olaf Scholz and CDU/CSU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz on February 18, 2025 near Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Kiril is 25 years old and from the Dnipro region in Eastern Ukraine. In 2021, he and his friends decided to move abroad for a better life. At first, they considered Poland, but felt that finding a job there would be too challenging, due to the many Ukrainians who had already done the same.

He finally decided on Hungary, with which Ukraine has a visa-free regime, because his friend's sister had moved there six months earlier. Kirill lives near Budapest, the Hungarian capital, in Balassagyarmat town, and has found a job. But Hungary is not the country of his dreams.

"I thought I was going to Europe, that there would be progress, that everything would be good, but when I arrived, I felt that there was such stagnation, that people were living in some kind of past... There were old houses everywhere, and I had to go to Budapest to buy food [the city where he lives does not have a wide selection of goods]," Kiril said.

Under Viktor Orban's leadership, Hungary is gravitating toward Russia, combining conservatism with authoritarianism in a process called ‘Orbanization.’

Orban has concentrated power around himself, blocked EU sanctions, and slowed military aid to Ukraine. Despite the status of parliamentary democracy, he makes key decisions alone. He has also promoted Russian narratives around the war in Ukraine: he maintains close ties with the Kremlin, and meets regularly with Putin.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 5, 2024. (Photo by VALERY SHARIFULIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Kiril says that Hungary suffers from inflation and low wages, partly due to the prime minister's policy of rapprochement with Russia.

"Hungarians are complaining about this... They don't like Orban. Hungary is dependent on Russian oil and gas, and while other countries were looking for alternatives to get rid of Russian influence, Orban was signing supply contracts," Kiril said.

If a far-right party wins influence in Germany, they could forge closer ties with Russia. In the recent Germany campaigns, security and Ukraine have been drawn to the center of the election debate.

Friedrich Merz and his conservative CDU/CSU bloc lead in the polls with 29% and have the best chance of forming a coalition.

The conservative bloc supports EU unity, and NATO. Their leader, Friedrich Merz, a long-time opponent of Angela Merkel, pursues right-wing economic policies, but actively supports Ukraine, in particular calling for the use of long-range Taurus missiles against Russia.

At the same time, the right-wing populist pro-Russian Alternative for Germany is polling a record almost 21%.

AfD’s policies include leaving the EU, restoring Nord Stream 2, decreasing aid to Ukraine, and lifting sanctions against Russia – changing Germany's foreign policy to repair relations with Russia. The party is regularly criticized for its ties to Russian special services and support for pro-Russian rhetoric.

In a recent debate, Merz called out AfD Alice Weidel:

"You say we are not considered neutral by Russia. No, because we are not neutral! We are on Ukraine's side. We are defending the values we share. Your words this evening only confirm for me that I will do absolutely everything to prevent you from ever taking political responsibility in this country."

The AfD could increase isolationist sentiment in Germany and the EU, reduce military and financial aid to Ukraine, create a split between Eastern and Western Europe, and strengthen pro-Russian voices, according to Ihor Todorov, a professor at Uzhhorod National University in western Ukraine.

The Social Democratic Party of Germany, who have been polling 15%, and the Greens, who are predicted to get around 13% of the vote, could be key players in coalition negotiations. The SPD has been cautious about military aid to Ukraine, while the Greens remain strong advocates of support, pushing for more weapons and a tougher stance on Russia.

Latest German opinion polls, February 20th, 2025

The question for Germans looks likely to be whether Merz will form a coalition with the left of the far right. Although the far right will almost certainly not win outright, it is likely to have its best result for the first time since World War II.

The AfD is known for its radical populist rhetoric. They actively oppose LGBT people and illegal immigration, calling for harsh measures such as closing borders and deporting migrants.

Alice Weidel, AfD parliamentary group leader takes part in the "Quadrell" of the TV discussion on the federal election campaign in the studio on February 16, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Kay Nietfeld-Pool/Getty Images)

Investigations by The Insider and Der Spiegel confirmed that the Kremlin financed the AfD party through pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Sergienko, who acted as an intermediary. The journalists found out that the AfD not only received cash from Moscow but also coordinated its initiatives and speeches with Russian curators. One such project was a lawsuit filed by the party with the German Constitutional Court to block military aid to Ukraine.

In addition to funding, Russia is using anti-war movements in Germany to weaken support for Ukraine by spreading disinformation, messages about "peace talks," and the “futility” of military aid.

Anti-war poster in Düsseldorf, February 2025. Photo by Tim Mak

Among the most vocal supporters of Alternative for Germany is Russian far-right political philosopher Alexander Dugin, an ideologue of Russian imperialism, sometimes called “Putin’s brain” in international media.

Alexander Dugin supported the AfD on Twitter

Elon Musk, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, is also a supporter of the AfD, openly praising them in the media, calling them the “last spark of hope” for Germany in a newspaper article.

"The AfD's unabashed populism contributes to its popularity, especially in the eastern German states, which are poorer than western Germany. Sometimes you can hear notes of nostalgia: everything was fine when the Soviet Union was there... In addition, their popularity is growing because of Angela Merkel's government's less-than-successful migration policy," Todorov said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with Friedrich Merz, Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union party and Leader of the CDU/CSU, during the meeting on December 9, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images )

The main question of the election is whether Merz will be able to win by a large margin and prevent the far right from gaining more than 20%. Roland Frodenstein, director of the Brussels Freedom Hub, said a coalition with the Greens would maintain a tough stance on Ukraine and Russia.

Kiril, a Ukrainian who watched Hungary as it descended into pro-Russian rhetoric and action, warns of the fateful consequences that will occur if Germany follows a similar path.

“If they choose a pro-Russian party, I don't even know what will happen... It will probably be worse... I'm afraid that then Russia might not stop at Ukraine and go to Europe,” warned Kiril.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

U.S. MAY CUT STARLINK FOR KYIV’S TROOPS: The U.S. could block Ukraine’s access to Starlink amid its refusal to accept a deal over minerals, Reuters reported. The issue was again brought to the table when the U.S. envoy on Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg visited Zelenskyy this Thursday. Starlink is a vital element for Kyiv’s defense since it provides a stable internet connection and communications to the frontline.

Meanwhile, the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation Andrii Kovalenko reassured that nobody plans to cut off Starlink’s connection to Ukraine. Besides, the Ukrainian military has “other alternatives.”

ZELENSKYY MAY SIGN MINERAL DEAL TODAY: The U.S. and Ukraine could reach an agreement on a deal that would cede rare earth mineral rights to Washington today, according to the Wall Street Journal. Trump considers it compensation for the U.S. military aid provided to Ukraine, even though it does not offer any security guarantees for Kyiv. Kellogg has reportedly built trust with Zelenskyy and played a significant role in finalizing the deal during his visit to Kyiv.

At the same time, Zelenskiy is not ready to sign the deal on rare earth minerals, according to Sky News. The draft agreement allegedly does not reflect a partnership in the deal. Instead, it contains only unilateral commitments by Kyiv.

U.S. PROPOSES NOT TO CALL RUSSIA AGGRESSOR IN UN RESOLUTION: The United States has drafted a UN resolution on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that has no mention of Ukraine's territorial integrity or criticism of Moscow's actions, AFP reported. It mourns "the tragic loss of life in the Russia-Ukraine conflict" and "urges a swift end to the conflict and continues to call for a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia."

EU TO DELIVER €20 BILLION OF MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE: Europe is preparing a new package of additional military aid worth about €20 billion, which is expected to be agreed upon on the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. Europe is rushing to provide Ukraine with the necessary assistance and security guarantees because of Trump's initiative to achieve a quick peace on unfavorable terms for Kyiv.

The package includes artillery ammunition, air defense systems, deep-precision missiles, drones and other weapons. However, approval may be delayed due to possible blocking by Hungary and elections in Germany.

TAIWAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES 3% GDP ON DEFENSE: President Lai Ching-te said that in the face of Communist China’s threats toward the island nation, his government would seek to spend at least three percent of GDP on military spending.

Taiwan also seeks to establish itself as a critical part of the “democratic supply chain,” especially as it comes to semiconductors. The project comes as world trade is beginning to bifurcate more towards a democratic chain and an autocratic one. Lai made these comments to kick off the Halifax security forum in Taipei this past week.

DOG OF WAR

Today’s dog of war is Mariana’s traveling companion, who was sitting calmly when Mariana visited her parents. The dog didn’t bark even once — just curiously observing other train passengers and breathtaking scenery from the window.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana

A beginner's guide to elections in Ukraine (also suitable for US presidents)

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:36:49 +0100

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 day after similar remarks made at the White House, in which Trump falsely claimed Zelensky had a “4% approval rating,” and suggested Ukraine should hold elections despite Russia’s ongoing war in the country.

Speaking a few hours after U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia for the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Trump also falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war, and said Moscow wants “to do something” to “stop the savage barbarianism."

The talks in Saudi Arabia were conducted without Ukraine, prompting Zelensky to reiterate on Feb. 18 that “you can’t make a decision on how to end the war in Ukraine without Ukraine."

“They want a seat at the table, but you could say … wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have a say,” Trump said on Feb. 18, adding: “It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election."

“That’s not a Russian thing, that’s something coming from me, from other countries,” he insisted.

`Which other countries are saying that Ukraine should hold elections?`

Russia does.

In comments made while the talks in Saudi Arabia were underway, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is ready for talks with Zelensky, but “legal aspects related to his legitimacy” must be considered.

It’s far from the first time that Moscow officials have questioned the legitimacy of Zelensky, which has been a line of attack for almost a year now.

A vendor stands by traditional Russian Matryoshka dolls featuring Russian leaders at a gift shop in Moscow, Russia, on March 11, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov / AFP via Getty Images)

The false claim is based on the premise that Zelensky’s first term in office was originally meant to end on May 20, 2024.

But Russia’s full-scale invasion and the subsequent declaration of martial law in Ukraine has meant elections have been impossible to hold and his term has been extended, something constitutional lawyers say is allowed under Ukrainian law.

Russia has widely repeated the claim in an attempt to discredit the Ukrainian government, but what’s different this time around is the U.S. President appears happy to go along with it.

US-Russia talks are ‘the last warning for Europe,’ Gabrielius Landsbergis says

Storm clouds are intensifying in Europe as Ukraine approaches the fourth year of the full-scale war with Russia. Initial hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump’s new administration might adopt the “peace through strength” approach towards Moscow are beginning to unravel in light of recent statement…

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

`How popular is Zelensky?`

According to Trump, there’s something akin to a constitutional crisis in Ukraine right now, with the country being run by a hugely unpopular “dictator."

“We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have essentially martial law in Ukraine, where the leader in Ukraine — I mean, I hate to say it, but he’s down at 4% approval rating,” he said on Feb. 18.

Trump’s comments contain two notable inaccuracies.

Firstly, Ukraine is under actual martial law due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. As mentioned above, Ukrainian law requires the suspension of elections which can only be lifted once the war is over.

Crucially, the terms of any peace deal — which the U.S. and Russia are currently discussing without Ukraine — will be essential for creating conditions under which elections can be held.

Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of parliament’s Defense Committee and of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s ruling party, said on Feb. 17 that he “does not think martial law can be lifted” on just the basis of a ceasefire without “the threats going away.”

A ceasefire “does not mean that Russia has withdrawn its troops from occupied territories or its means of attack that can strike Ukraine,” Venislavskyi said.

“Given Putin’s mental state, I think we can expect any possible developments. Therefore, without guarantees that this will lead to a lasting peace, I do not think martial law can be lifted,” he added.

Around 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky as of February, marking an increase of five percentage points since December.

Secondly, it's not clear where Trump got his information about Zelensky's "4% approval rating," a wildly inaccurate figure.

A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published on Feb. 19 found around 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky as of February, marking an increase of five percentage points since December.

The poll was carried out on Feb. 4-9, according to the pollster, but was published on the day after Trump’s claims.

According to the latest poll from Reuters published Feb. 19, Trump's own approval rating currently stands at 44%.

According to latest poll from the Levada Center, a Russian independent polling organization, Putin's approval in January was 87%, though Russia is a country where standing at an anti-war rally with a blank piece of paper can land one in jail, and has a leader who has been in power for 24 years, longer than many infamous dictators.

Zelensky himself on Feb. 19 did not hold back when he stated where he believed Trump had got the 4% figure from.

"We saw this disinformation. We understand it comes from Russia," he said during a press conference in Kyiv.

https://kyivindependent.com/british-volunteer-who-lost-arm-and-leg-evacuating-ukrainian-civilians-russia-is-the-enemy-how-can-you-not-see-it/

`What would elections in Ukraine look like?`

When Ukraine eventually does hold elections, it is expected to face multiple challenges to make a vote safe, equal, uninterrupted, and provide a secret ballot, as is required by Ukrainian law.

Russia's constant targeting of Ukrainian population centers across the country in bomb, missile and drone attacks, makes providing a "safe" voting experience impossible while the war is ongoing, not to mention the challenge of arranging voting facilities for soldiers serving on the front lines.

Demobilization is possible only after the end of martial law. Olha Aivazovska, head of the election watchdog Opora, said this process should begin at the stage of signing a peace agreement and its ratification.

"Then martial law is lifted and a fully-fledged, democratic, transparent electoral process begins," she told the Kyiv Independent.

If the war ends and martial law is lifted, Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) will announce the start of the election campaign.

According to Ukrainian law, starting from that moment, 90 days should pass before presidential elections are to be held, 54 to 60 days before the parliamentary elections, and 50 days before local elections.

A man casts his ballot at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 21, 2019 (Sergii Kharchenko / NurPhoto via Getty Images)

However, preparations for the post-war elections are expected to take even longer due to extraordinary circumstances caused by Russia's full-scale invasion.

According to United Nations (UN) figures, over 6 million Ukrainians left the country as a result of Russia's war and are currently abroad. Another 3.6 million are internally displaced.

With around 18% of Ukraine's territories occupied by Russia, "millions more" remain in the Russian-occupied territories, according to Zelensky.

Another problem is the locations where a vote will be held. Electoral infrastructure, such as schools, has been destroyed in many areas of Ukraine-controlled territory due to Russian attacks.

Aivazovska said that it could take up to a year to restore the electoral infrastructure and adopt a separate law to hold the post-war elections following the ceasefire.

Who started the war in Ukraine?

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 18 that Ukraine “should have never started” the war.

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

`Who would be the main contenders?`

Any list of potential candidates is purely speculative at this stage, but several well-known politicians, military officers, and volunteers could realistically be in the running.

Volodymyr Zelensky

While on the campaign trail, Zelenksy promised to be a one-term president. But when asked during recent interviews whether he is planning to run for another five years in the office, he did not rule out this possibility.

"It depends on how this war ends. Basically, it depends on people first and foremost, and of course on my family," he told American podcaster Lex Friedman last month.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi

Former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi has never announced the launch of a political career and dodged questions about a possible presidential run.

Yet some experts see him as a potential main opponent to Zelensky. Last February, he topped a Ukrainian poll with a trust rating of 94%, higher than Zelensky.

Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and now Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdomin Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 5, 2025. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Appointed commander-in-chief in the summer of 2021, Zaluzhnyi gained popularity among both the military and the broader population due to his role in leading the military resistance against Russia.

He was dismissed in February 2024 following months of speculation about a rift in Ukraine's leadership. Soon after, the president appointed Zaluzhnyi as Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K.

Yulia Tymoshenko

The leader of the Batkivshchyna party is a veteran politician who appears to have started preparing for the elections.

Tymoshenko served twice as Ukraine’s prime minister. In 2011, she was jailed by her main political opponent, pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. She was freed three years later after Yanukovych was ousted by the EuroMaidan Revolution.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko speaks during an exclusive interview on the latest developments of Russian attacks on Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 7, 2022. (Emin Sansar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

She has been re-elected to parliament twice since then. Labeled as a populist, Tymoshenko used to oppose such notable steps for Ukraine as land sale reform or the legalization of medical cannabis.

Petro Poroshenko

Poroshenko launched his political career in the 1990s. He was a prominent figure during the two Ukrainian revolutions in 2004 and 2014. He held a number of top positions in Ukraine’s government, including economy minister under Yanukovych's rule.

After Yanukovych's overthrow, Poroshenko was elected Ukraine’s fifth president. He served one term from 2014 until 2019, facing Russia’s invasion of Crimea and Donbas.

Poroshenko pushed for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and NATO, however, his tenure was marred by corruption scandals.

Former President Petro Poroshenko attends the European People's Party (EPP) annual congress in Bucharest, Romania, on March 6, 2024. (Andreea Campeanu/Getty Images)

For years, the ex-president was listed among the wealthiest people in Ukraine owning the Roshen confectionery and a number of other businesses. In 2019, he transferred his business assets to his son Oleksiy Poroshenko.

Zelensky dealt a decisive defeat to Poroshenko in the 2019 election, but the rivalry between the two continued. Shortly before the full-scale invasion, in December 2021, the former president was charged with high treason for what the prosecution said was aiding Russian-controlled militants in the occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast.

This month, Zelensky imposed indefinite sanctions on Poroshenko, freezing all his assets. The charges of treason were cited as one of the official reasons for this move. Poroshenko has denied wrongdoing.

Ukrainians react to Trump’s shocking accusation about the war

U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest comments about Ukraine are raising eyebrows — and spreading misinformation. He claimed that Ukraine was the one who started Russia’s war, said that Ukraine had been “blown to smithereens,” and claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has a 4% approval…

The Kyiv IndependentMasha Lavrova

Yuriy Boyko

Boyko, a parliamentary member since 2007 and former deputy prime minister under Yanukovych, has a long history in Moscow-aligned political factions.

His joint political project with Viktor Medvedchuk, a former pro-Russian lawmaker accused of high treason, Opposition Platform — For Life, secured second place in the 2019 parliamentary elections. The party was banned in 2022 soon after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Lawmaker Yuriy Boyko talks to the press after the morning extraordinary session of Ukraine's parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. (Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Boyko advocated for Ukraine's "neutrality and non-alignment" and for granting the Russian language the status of the state language, proposals that echo Putin's ultimatums.

As the all-out war progressed, the politician tried to rebrand himself, but in December 2024 he posted a TikTok video repeating long-standing Russian propaganda points. This was met with public outrage and sparked speculations that he is doing groundwork for the post-war presidential and parliamentary run.

Despite being embroiled in a number of high-profile corruption probes, Boyko was never charged.

Vitali Klitschko

A former world boxing champion, Vitali Klitschko, launched his political career in the 2000s. He was one of the key figures during the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014 and formed a political project with Poroshenko afterward.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stands near military trucks at the City State Administration in Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 26, 2023. (Oleksii Samsonov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

In 2014, Klitschko became mayor of Kyiv and has since been re-elected twice. Despite his popularity abroad, he faces criticism in Ukraine for his handling of the capital. Klitschko has had a long-standing conflict with Zelensky. He claims ongoing pressure from government authorities.

Before the full-scale war, some reports in Ukrainian media alleged that his younger brother Wladimir Klitschko, also a former boxing star, could follow his brother’s footsteps and enter politics. When asked about it in 2021, he neither confirmed nor denied it.

Serhii Prytula

Longtime TV presenter and comedian Serhii Prytula entered politics in 2019, joining the newly created Holos party led by Ukrainian rockstar Sviatoslav Vakarchuk.

Prytula ran for parliament and mayor of Kyiv but failed to succeed. Due to party infighting, he left Holos in 2021. Shortly before Russia began its full-scale war, Prytula announced plans to launch his own party, which failed to materialize.

Ukrainian public and political figure Serhiy Prytula, who leads crowdfunding campaigns to buy equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces, gives an interview in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sep. 15, 2023. (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Now Prytula devotes himself to volunteering and raising funds for the military. Over almost three years of full-scale war, his charity, one of the largest in Ukraine, has raised more than Hr 7 billion ($168 million) for the army, he said.

Kyrylo Budanov

Budanov was appointed as the military intelligence (HUR) head in August 2020, becoming the youngest spy chief in Ukraine’s history.

The spy chief became a household name in Ukraine amid Russia’s war, while his agency is seen as one of the most competent institutions in the country, conducting multiple operations within Russia and the Ukrainian territories.

Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) head, during the 'Ukraine. Year 2024' forum in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2024. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Such support for the military intelligence and its chief led to speculations about his possible dismissal. Both Budanov and Zelensky denied these rumors.

The spy chief evaded answering questions about a potential political career.

Ukraine war latest: Trump calls Zelensky ‘dictator,’ warns of Ukraine’s demise without elections

Key developments on Feb. 19: * Trump calls Zelensky ‘dictator,’ warns of Ukraine’s demise without elections * Reported drone strike against Russian oil refinery in Samara Oblast causes fire * Ukraine refutes Putin’s claims of Russian offensive from Kursk Oblast * North Korean troops in Russia r…

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Senior US diplomat visits Belarus, three political prisoners released, NYT reports

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 22:25:50 +0100

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 isolation from the West.

Belarus has been cut off from the West following Lukashenko’s crackdown on the 2020 mass protests in response to what the West denounced as fraudulent election results. Since then, Belarusian authorities have increasingly suppressed political freedoms and have become complacent in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The meeting comes as the U.S. seeks to negotiate a deal with Belarusian authorities. In exchange for the release of an undefined number of political prisoners, the U.S. is willing to ease sanctions on Belarusian banks and potash, the New York Times (NYT) reported on Feb. 15, citing unnamed officials in contact with Smith on Feb. 13.

Belarus is a major producer of potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer.

Revealing the meeting, Smith said during a briefing on Feb. 13 that it was the goal of U.S. officials to secure freedom for more political prisoners.

Alena Movshuk, a Belarusian activist, and Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist for Radio Free Europe were released, Franak Viacorka, Senior Advisor to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya said.

Smith drove to Belarus from Lithuania, following a phone call with Lukashenko. The small U.S. delegation visited a border town where three political prisoners were transferred, including one U.S. citizen, and two Belarusian citizens.

The Belarusian leader assured Smith he was ready to decrease repression in Belarus, Smith said, adding that the U.S. wants Belarus to be less reliant on Russia.

Lukashenko was handed a seventh consecutive term as President of Belarus on Jan. 26, in an election that has been internationally denounced as a sham.

Minsk refused to invite a mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the country’s Jan. 26 presidential election.

‘Crazy’ Putin could attack NATO in 2026, Russia building up troops in Belarus, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia plans to deploy 15 divisions, totaling 100,000 to 150,000 troops, primarily in Belarus.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

JD Vance's Munich speech met with shock, bewilderment, and 'almost no applause'

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 23:15:18 +0100

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 entirely on how to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vance said what he fears most isn’t authoritarian states but Europe’s “threat from within."

“The threat I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor. It is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values.,” he said.

Vance went on to admonish Europe for not paying enough attention to “uncontrolled migration” and for what he described as the “retreat” of free speech.

He argued that Europe should not “just talk about democratic values” but “live them,” adding the continent could not “force people what to think, what to believe."

Vance said these efforts included restrictions on “misinformation,” which he described as a “Soviet-era” word, and laws against abortion protests that he said unfairly silenced Christians.

Speaking a little over a week before the German elections, the vice president called on European nations to drop their opposition to far-right parties such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which Berlin suspects of extremism.

“If you are afraid of your own people, there is nothing America can do for you,” he said, adding: “You cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail."

The speech stunned those in attendance — Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko said in a post on X the speech amounted to " the total humiliation of all European leaders."

“There was almost no applause,” he added in another post.

US Vice President Vance just spoke. The only thing that can be said about Vance’s speech was the total humiliation of all European leaders. People in the room are shocked.
— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) February 14, 2025

For most of Vance's speech, the European leaders and bureaucrats looked at each other, and there was almost no applause.
— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) February 14, 2025

"It's a strange style," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told the Kyiv Independent at the conference, adding: "Of course, he attracted a lot of attention, but (there were) no substantial messages. Not on Ukraine, not on Gaza."

Kubilius added that he was "not surprised" at the speech, adding it was now a question of how Europe reacted to it.

"And my reaction is quite simple — keep calm and carry on," he said.

"...the U.S. vice president decided to openly downplay a very tangible Russian threat in front of an audience comprising people from countries that suffered decades of brutal Soviet occupation..."

Federico Borsari, a resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told the Kyiv Independent that Vance's comments "risk creating a fracture between the U.S. and Europe at a time when unity at all levels is essential to counter Russia."

"Rather than using the prestigious MSC’s stage to promote the image of the new U.S. administration in front of European leaders... the U.S. vice president decided to openly downplay a very tangible Russian threat in front of an audience comprising people from countries that suffered decades of brutal Soviet occupation and directly criticize European countries and their governments... for their alleged attack on democracy and freedom of speech," Borsari noted.

The expert also highlighted that Vance's comments were promptly praised by members of the far-right AfD.

Elsewhere, social media was awash with criticism of the speech — Gideon Rachman, the chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times (FT), described it as "shocking hypocrisy."

Shocking hypocrisy from Vance - lecturing Europe on democracy when he serves as vice president to a man who attempted a coup in the US
— Gideon Rachman (@gideonrachman) February 14, 2025

Carl Bildt, co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the speech was "significantly worse than expected."

The #MSC2025 speech by 🇺🇸 VP Vance was significantly worse than expected. At best it was totally irrelevant to European or global security concerns. At worst it was blatant interference in the 🇩🇪 election campaign in favor of far-right AfD. pic.twitter.com/4IKknWhoR8
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) February 14, 2025

Speaking at the conference after Vance's speech, Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius tackled the vice president's comments about the AfD head-on.

"Democracy does not mean that a vociferous minority can decide what truth is… democracy must be able to defend itself against extremists," he said.

German Defense Minister Pistorius reacts to Vance's speech: "This is not acceptable." pic.twitter.com/LdVuLC6PbU
— AlexandruC4 (@AlexandruC4) February 14, 2025

Vance later met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, also attended the meeting.

"Our teams will continue to work on the document (on critical minerals). We have addressed many of the key issues and look forward to welcoming General Kellogg to Ukraine for further discussions and a deeper assessment of the situation on the ground," Zelensky wrote.

"We are ready to move towards real and guaranteed peace as quickly as possible. We sincerely appreciate President Trump's determination to help stop the war and provide Ukraine with justice and security guarantees," Zelensky added.

I wonder if JD Vance is planning to lecture his boss’s buddy Vladimir Putin on democracy and free speech. 🤔
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) February 14, 2025

Vance's speech came at the end of a tumultuous week for U.S.-Europe relations and the future of the war in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his top officials on Feb. 12 appeared to undermine Ukraine’s leverage in peace talks, renewing fears that his plans for a quick resolution could amount to a victory for Russia.

Editorial: America is folding. Europe, will you step up?

The U.S. administration is ready to hand Russia a win in its brutal war against Ukraine. That’s the only conclusion we can make after following the news this week. If anyone held onto hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump would be tough on Russia’s Vladimir Putin,

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

Trump announced he had held phone calls with both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, saying peace negotiations would start "immediately" and a ceasefire is in the "not too distant future."

Earlier in the day, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said "returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective," and that NATO membership for Ukraine is not an option.

JD Vance says Putin isn't Europe's biggest threat less than 24 hours after Putin hits Chernobyl with a drone. You can't make this stuff up.
— Devin Duke (@sirDukeDevin) February 14, 2025

European leaders — suddenly left out of discussions after nearly three years of close involvement with the U.S. on Ukraine-related issues under President Joe Biden’s administration — scrambled to react to Trump’s comments.

Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said on the same day: "Why are we giving (Russia) everything they want, even before negotiations have started? … If there is an agreement made behind our backs, it simply will not work."

A ‘very bloody war:’ What is the death toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine?

After holding a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 12, U.S. President Donald Trump once again claimed the “horrible, very bloody war” in Ukraine had cost “millions” of lives. It’s not the first time Trump has claimed that such numbers of people have been killed

The Kyiv IndependentElsa Court

NATO member turning pro-Russia? Inside Slovakia’s political turmoil

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:40:49 +0100

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 aid to Ukraine and opposing EU sanctions against the Kremlin. As Fico meets with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and cracks down on opposition voices at home, protests are erupting across the country. Tens of thousands of Slovaks have taken to the streets, fearing that their democracy is at risk.

Ukrainian Security Service colonel arrested for alleged espionage for Russia's FSB

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:18:00 +0100

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 Anti-Terrorist Center on Wednesday, February 12, without naming the suspect. Nonetheless, Ukrainian media outlets have identified him as Kozyura.

Kozyura has been leading the SBU's Anti-Terrorist Directorate since 2016. Telegraf published a photograph from one meeting that matches footage of the detention. His identity has also been confirmed by UNIAN and Ukrayinska Pravda.

Further mentions of Kozyura were discovered in the Telegram channel of Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko. In August 2024, Klitschko met with him and handed over drones purchased with the capital's budget. Photos from that encounter align with the ones released by the SBU.

Media reports indicate that other details about Kozyura remain sparse in public archives.

The SBU stated it has documented 14 instances of the arrested individual's illegal activities. According to the investigation, Kozyura was reportedly recruited by Russia in 2018 in Vienna and later used an undercover apartment in Kyiv for communication with an FSB handler.

The suspect allegedly disclosed crucial details concerning Ukrainian troop deployments, the state of critical infrastructure, outcomes of Russian missile strikes, and even intel on high-ranked officials.

Adding a personal twist, it appears his family supported Russian aggression, and knew about their kin’s treasonous liaisons, SBU officials disclosed. Authorities may soon charge them over the justification of Russia's aggressive actions.

SBU findings suggest the betrayal dates back to 2018 when the senior officer was flipped by FSB agents in Vienna. Initially lying dormant, he reconnected with Russian handlers towards the end of 2024. By this time, SBU operatives were monitoring his every move.

SBU detailed a chilling account of FSB orchestration, using a Ukrainian mediator for secure courier roles. This operative previously fled to Russia following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity and is notable for activities ranging from supporting the "Antimaidan" to transferring funds for paid protests, the agency elaborated. He too faces treason charges.

Patterned under cloak and dagger subterfuges, FSB officer Yuriy Shatalov allegedly directed spy activities through secure Kyiv-based locations using high-tech communication gadgets.

The sophisticated sting, codenamed "Rat," signifies a triumph of covert and overt investigative techniques.

In a sophisticated sting, codenamed "Rat," the Ukrainian secret service agents monitored the suspect meticulously.

"In neutralizing this saboteur, we achieved a historic victory," said SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk. "He not only had extensive access and expertise but his potential threat amid ongoing conflicts warrants utmost significance. The operation was conducted under my oversight as I constantly reported key updates to President Volodymyr Zelensky."

Moreover, through this compromised channel, SBU fed Russian intelligence streams a plethora of misleading data, disrupting their strategic calculus.

Charged under Article 111 for high treason, the detained official is headed for potential life imprisonment with asset confiscation.

Kharkiv residents protest construction of café near 1931 historic building (in photos)

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 20:59:00 +0100

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.

The watchdog organization for public procurement, the Kharkiv anti-corruption center, and Lyuk, Kharkiv's local media, organized a demonstration, stating that the construction of a café on Skovorody St., 79, is unlawful.

Gwara Media has been to the protest.

The dormitory, a modernist, constructivist building, is a local historic site.

“I think that we have to respect, value this heritage. Protect it and remember our history because people without history don’t have a future. Especially now, during [Russia’s] full-scale aggression against Ukrainian people,” said Andrii, a protester.

Kateryna Kublytska, an architect, said that the construction violates the law because it’s too close to the dormitory, which, as a historic site, has to have a “secure radius” of 25 meters around it.

The head of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, Yevhen Sokol, is also against the construction.

The construction of the café on Skovorody St. started in 2023 by the owners of a gastropub called Zori but stopped after public pressure and the involvement of the Department of Inspection of Kharkiv City Council.

According to the city council, currently, the developer has all necessary documents from the previous owner of construction on the area of 400m2, and that the documentation is currently being checked through by lawyers.

The “Giant” was damaged during World War II and restored after 1949.

Cover photo: Protest against construction of the café in front of historic building called "Giant" in the Kharkiv center / Hnat Holyk, Gwara Media

“What happened here is terrible.” Russian drone strike on Kharkiv damages at least 100 stores of Barabashovo, one of biggest markets in Europe (photos)

The post Kharkiv residents protest construction of café near 1931 historic building (in photos) appeared first on Gwara Media.

'Negotiations are dictated on the battlefield' — Polish envoy on Russia-Ukraine war

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:58:27 +0100

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 that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine represented an existential threat to the region and Europe as a whole.

Poland has sent tanks, fighter jets, artillery, and more to boost Ukrainian defenders fighting Russian forces, while the country has opened its doors to nearly 2 million Ukrainian refugees since 2022.

Yet Poland’s support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia has also been marked by tensions, sparked both by historical grievances and modern political and economic factors.

The ongoing dispute centered on the World War II-era Volyn massacres by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army of Poles living in what is today western Ukraine and subsequent reprisals. And economic disputes, such as protests by Polish farmers against Ukrainian grain, further complicate ties as Kyiv seeks entry to the EU and the single European market.

The Kyiv Independent sat down with Poland’s charge d’affaires in Kyiv, Piotr Lukasiewicz, on Jan. 29 to discuss why Poland stands out among Ukraine’s partners, how to approach the most painful chapters of the shared Polish-Ukrainian history, and why it may be too early to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent: Since the outbreak of the first invasion, Poland has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine. How has Poland been irreplaceable as an ally?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: Four hundred tanks, several hundred APCs (armored personnel carriers), including the modern ones, artillery, spare parts, hundreds of tons of ammunition, thousands of tons of humanitarian and other equipment, military and civilian.

The Kyiv Independent: How can we reconcile the fact that Ukraine and Poland have been close allies but also had many heated disputes, even emotional exchanges between Polish and Ukrainian leaders, during the war?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: Since we are neighbors, we have our good times and bad times. And such close nations have these ebbs and flows of relations and attitudes.

The strategic message from us is that we are here to support Ukraine rather than go back to political and historical discussions from the past. Of course, they are very important to the identity of Ukrainians and Poles. And they have to be somehow resolved, which is happening. The resolution of these disputes is happening as we speak, and I’m happy to report progress on both sides, progress in terms of attitude.

People are expecting some form of breakthrough, some form of symbolic act of reconciliation. But these very rarely happen between the nations of Europe. It is a period of reconciliation, rather than an act of reconciliation. It is progress that we call the European Union.

Polish farmers with tractors and vehicles block roads during a demonstration against the import of Ukrainian grain in Sulechow, Poland, on Feb. 20, 2024. (Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: Are you worried that these underlying issues, such as historical and economic disputes, could undermine Poland’s military and security support for Ukraine or, as you call it, this strategic interest?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: When historians and specialists gather in Lviv, Kyiv, Warsaw, and Krakow, when Polish leaders come to Ukraine, or Ukrainian leaders go to Poland, and even touch upon the question of history and the troubles from the past, almost in the same sentence they say that if we argue, if we have this heated discussion that prevents us from doing something more, the only one who benefits is Russia.

Russia is using its hybrid, information, and malicious influence, both here in Ukraine and Poland, to use this debate to its own benefit. If we turn it into something political, only Russia would benefit.

We can always argue about this place or another place, about this number of people killed here, the number of people killed there. This is a matter for serious discussion, and it’s happening.

The Kyiv Independent: Just to clarify, we’re talking about Volyn massacres and the victims' exhumations (in Ukraine).

Piotr Lukasiewicz: We are talking about the victims, yes.

The Kyiv Independent: You spoke against politicizing the Volyn massacres. How would you respond to voices in Ukraine who say that Poland itself is politicizing the issue by linking it to Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU? Several politicians have said that Ukraine will not be able to join the EU unless the Volyn issue is settled.

Piotr Lukasiewicz: So there are narratives on both sides. But there are facts on the ground that are moving this process towards a good resolution. What else can I say? Of course, I won’t comment on this politician or another to say whether (what they have said) is true or not.

The second thing is that EU accession talks are not conditioned on individual bilateral relations between countries with the candidate states. This applies not only to Ukraine but also to Moldova, the western Balkans, and others. It is merit-based.

The European Union is a collection of national interests. So, we are conducting these negotiations with Ukraine with our national interests in mind. But it’s very important to understand — for Ukrainians especially — that the process is not a Polish-Ukrainian one. It’s a process (involving) all member states.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda commemorate the victims of the Volyn Massacre in the Ukrainian city of Lutsk on July 9, 2023. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)

The Kyiv Independent: There are still many historical topics that are viewed very differently in Poland and Ukraine, such as Stepan Bandera, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, or its commander, Roman Shukhevych. Do you expect that these topics will continue to strain Polish-Ukrainian relations and hinder Ukraine’s effort to join the EU?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: As is mentioned in many books, including (Timothy) Snyder’s Bloodlands, Polish and Ukrainian history is full of blood, tragedy, and crimes committed against each other.

You mentioned names that sound tragic in Polish history and our understanding of our identity. We are not going to pay respect to these names, but we can’t really influence what Ukrainians think. We are not going to choose heroes for neighboring nations.

“Russia is not threatening only Ukraine, or only Polish independence, or Latvian, Lithuanian, or Estonian independence. They are collectively threatening Europe as a whole rather than our own particular, individual identity.”

But it's very important for me and the Polish people, Polish historians, and Polish politicians that what is happening now, in the last 12 years of the Ukrainian struggle against the Russian empire, is that these times are producing greater, better, more suitable heroes for Ukrainian identity.

If you look at our embassy here in Kyiv, you will notice the pictures of Ukrainian soldiers with Polish roots. These are Poles living here in Ukraine who resisted the Russian invasion during the last 12 years.

For me, these are true heroes. I can relate to, and understand them. I'm Polish, they were Polish-Ukrainian. I'm not advising Ukrainians to build their history only on them. But their examples, their beautiful faces, which are shown at our embassy… there you can say: "These are the heroes that we can build our friendly relations upon."

These are the people who are fighting for modern Ukraine, not for Ukraine as it was 100 or 70 years ago. They are future-oriented heroes rather than heroes who wrote many, many ugly things in the past.

If Ukrainian society is trying to understand or is searching for a national example in history, it should also look at what happened between Poles and Germans, between French and Germans, and between many nations and how they reconciled. This was based on European values of reconciliation — European Union values. This should be future-oriented rather than expressing the sole identity of a particular nation.

Russia is not threatening only Ukraine, or only Polish independence, or Latvian, Lithuanian, or Estonian independence. They are collectively threatening Europe as a whole rather than our own particular, individual identity.

The Kyiv Independent: Poland took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU this January with the promise to help Ukraine speed up the accession process. What steps can Poland take in this regard?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: First, you should remember that the presidency of the EU Council is not what it used to be. It is a management rather than a leadership position.

But what we can do is that we can speed up the discussion. For instance, the opening of so-called clusters or chapters of negotiations is a process of three or four steps — accepting the screening report, issuing the benchmarks, and then starting negotiations.

So there are three or four steps that we can speed up during these six months, to maintain the Ukrainian agenda at the highest possible level, conduct very professional, merit-based, but still fast negotiations. And we are seeing great will from the Ukrainian side to speed up this process.

We are working to achieve the unanimity of the votes among the representatives of the member states in Brussels. And we are quite optimistic in delivering this first chapter, the so-called fundamentals, in the next two or three months.

Second, Poland had its own history of accession. We are very similar to Ukraine in terms of size, demographics, and type of economy. During our presidency, we want to share the best experiences, practices, and lessons learned by Polish negotiators.

The Kyiv Independent: What do you see as the main obstacles to Ukraine's EU accession efforts?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: It's the particular interests of the member states that can be driven by individual interests rather than strategic interests in mind. The strategic interest of the EU as a whole is Ukraine as a free and democratic member in, hopefully, the best and fastest possible way.

The Kyiv Independent: But looking from the perspective of Poland specifically, are you, for example, worried about accepting Ukraine into a single European market? We saw the mass protests and border blockades that came as a result of Ukrainian agricultural imports.

Piotr Lukasiewicz: You are asking about Poland's particular interest, which I'm trying to put into a different perspective. It's a collective negotiation of all member states rather than just Poland and Ukraine.

When we were entering the European market, we had this period of delay in particular sectors of the economy. In the first period of our membership, the farmers were paid both by the EU and our government. I remember very well the Polish lessons, a kind of disillusionment when several member states in 2000, 2002, and 2003 were voicing the same thing you asked — how the Polish accession to Europe would change the agricultural market further west in France or Spain?

Every nation has its own agricultural or economic interests. This is the experience we should pass on to Ukrainians so they can understand how they have to adapt to the common market, and how they have to change their structure, transportation policy, and agricultural infrastructure.

What we are trying to do for Ukraine is help them understand that it's not Poland that is particularly blocking something. It's a collection of the national interests of other member states as well.

We also have to adapt to this changing market. But the Polish example is that since we joined the European market with all the obstacles I mentioned, our GDP has grown almost by 300%. After 20 years, we are three times richer than we were when we entered.

This is an example that Ukrainians should consider. It is not a threat to them or to us. It's rather a question of adapting to new economic realities.

The Kyiv Independent: With the start of the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump, there are expectations that Europe should take greater responsibility for helping Ukraine resist Russian aggression and for ensuring the security of Europe as a whole. What role can Poland, as one of the most powerful militaries on the continent, play in this regard?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: I'm in a very privileged position among the ambassadors here in Kyiv to say that we are actually answering the calls to spend much more on defense. Everywhere you go, Poland is being given as an example of how to spend, what to spend, and how much to spend on defense.

Of course, we cannot sit back and say: "Okay, we achieved 5% (of GDP on defense spending), we are done." So we are calling on other nations that are lagging behind with this expenditure.

Secondly, given the importance of the Polish geographical position vis-a-vis Ukraine, we notice a much greater interest from our Central European and Nordic allies to gather around the example of Poland and the necessity to work together. I'm talking about these northern formats organized by the Polish government this year. The second format is the so-called Weimar Plus with France, Germany, and Poland being the core. And plus several other nations, the so-called big European five.

The Kyiv Independent: One hotly debated subject recently was the possibility of deploying European peacekeepers to monitor a potential ceasefire deal in Ukraine. What is Poland's position toward this idea?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: A very clear position.

There is no description of such a mission. There is no definition of such a mission. If there is a ceasefire, hopefully with the best Ukrainian position, then we will talk about a future peacekeeping contingent or not.

It very much depends on what will be achieved on the front lines. We are focusing right now not on discussing possible scenarios of the future, but rather on how to support Ukraine here and now.

Soldiers carry flags of NATO and flags of the Republic of Poland during a military parade on Polish Armed Forces Day in Warsaw, Poland on Aug. 15, 2024. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: How would you describe a successful and strong ceasefire deal?

Piotr Lukasiewicz: A ceasefire can take many forms. Over the past 12 years, we have observed how the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine looked, how it was immediately broken by Russia after the first phase of the war in 2014, and how Russia committed itself to gradually invading more and more.

It is a rather baseless discussion right now about what (the ceasefire) would look like. What we have now is a heroic defense of Ukraine with the capabilities they have, which we are trying to strengthen.

It is the basic knowledge that peace negotiations should be conducted from a position of strength. And we are helping Ukraine to achieve the best achievable position in these future talks.

The second thing is that we cannot adopt the kind of mental position that Russia is enforcing something. We should be speaking from a position of strength — we are 10 times bigger in the sense of military, economy, and many advantages Europe has over Russia. It is us who should be imposing our conditions on Russia and imposing our threats on the Russian economy.

The Kyiv Independent: What should be non-negotiable in possible talks with Russia? For example, Russia recently declared that it will insist on barring Ukraine from entering NATO.

Piotr Lukasiewicz: The negotiations are dictated by the battlefield. This is war, not a political process. And the war changes a lot on a monthly basis. So we should not talk about the politics of how we should communicate with Russia, but rather achieve a reality on the ground that would serve political and diplomatic messages, with Ukraine being a leader or an actor in it.

Putin wants… to have one partner, one of the big global powers, so he can be again seen as a global leader. And we are in the same basket with the Ukrainians, the Czechs, the Germans, and others being talked over our heads, about our agency, existence, and well-being.

So, the basic condition for us, as for many Europeans, is strengthening Ukraine and then being part of the scenario or architecture in the future.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Martin Fornusek. I hope you enjoyed this interview.

Our team strives to bring you the most interesting discussions with politicians, experts, and other important voices with insights on Ukraine's history, politics, and its resistance against Russian aggression.

We wouldn't be able to do so without the support of readers like you. To help us continue in this work, please consider becoming a member of the Kyiv Independent's community.

Thank you very much.

Coal crisis sparks protests in Russia's Kuzbass region

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:00:53 +0100

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 economic decline. For the first time, residents have taken to the streets, openly addressing President Putin in a call for answers, according to the news outlet Agentsvo.

This past Sunday, dozens of Kemerovo residents gathered, frustrated by the stark decline in coal quality offered under regional subsidies. Previously, they had access to high-grade coal, but now they are left with ineffective dust that neither burns nor provides heat. Quality coal is being exported to China, leaving Russia with only low-grade remnants.

"Our high-grade coal was taken; we're left with earth that burns without providing heat. We'd freeze! Why is the governor silent? Why is the area left without coal?" declared one protester in a video address to Putin.

The coal crisis in Russia is a result of not only Western sanctions but also China's recent decision to impose tariffs on Russian coal. Amid plummeting global fuel prices, revenue for coal companies has dropped 20%, wiping out profits. As a result, leading firms are abandoning quality coal production, forcing people to either freeze or heat with an unusable coal-dust mix.

Sanctions from the U.S., EU, and UK have dealt a severe blow to the sector. Since spring 2024, major coal companies, including SUEK, Kuzbassrazrezugol, and Russian Coal, are facing restrictions. This has led to overflowing coal depots and shutting operations, leaving hundreds of thousands of miners out of work.

Governor Ilya Seredyuk attempts to defend the situation, citing "challenges" in the coal industry, but residents are fed up with deception. Authorities announced in January that subsidized coal would now be of lower quality. Protests have made it clear that Russians are no longer willing to silently endure economic devastation and blatant government theft.

"The coal companies cannot continue to offer discounts; otherwise, they can't pay wages or taxes," acknowledged the governor. But this answer does not satisfy the residents. They demand accountability for those responsible for impoverishing Kuzbass.

Previously, Russian residents tried to address the issue online, signing a Change.org petition, but now they're taking their grievances to the streets. This marks one of the first open protests against the economic fallout of the war, and if the crisis deepens, such demonstrations could spread across Russia. As the Kremlin pours trillions into the war, ordinary Russians shiver and plead for help from a government that has long betrayed them.

Georgian parliament votes to terminate mandates of 49 opposition MPs

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:17:33 +0100

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 election.

The vote effectively brings the total number of Georgian parliamentarians down to 89 of the 150 elected in the disputed parliamentary elections — all of which now sit under the Georgian Dream party banner.

Although 49 elected MPs formally requested to resign their mandates in protests, a further 12 opposition MPs from the “For Georgia” party have refused to attend parliamentary sessions.

The October election, which was widely disputed by the opposition and international observers, re-elected the Russian-friendly Georgian Dream party. The ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, has drawn criticism for steering Georgia closer to Russia while hindering its EU accession.

Following the election, mass protests erupted in Tbilisi over the results, as well as amid a political crisis sparked by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement that Georgia’s EU integration could be delayed until 2028.

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, Salome Zourabichvili, said she would vacate the presidential palace but stressed she remains the only legitimate head of state, pledging to continue the struggle against the ruling party.

Since the election, a number of Western countries have imposed sanctions on Georgia over the perceived democratic backsliding. On Jan. 27, the European Union suspended parts of its visa facilitation agreement with Georgia.

Multiple Georgian opposition leaders arrested as pro-EU demonstrators block highway in Tbilisi

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.

The Kyiv IndependentSonya Bandouil

Explainer: Ukraine’s EuroMaidan was not a coup, despite Russian disinfo pushed by Musk

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:20:52 +0100

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 post on X which parroted Russian disinformation, claiming without evidence that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had once been involved in toppling the Ukrainian government.

Musk, who is leading an initiative for President Donald Trump to slash government spending, has repeatedly discredited the agency in recent days and is pushing for its shutdown.

Research over the years has revealed that Russian propagandists have worked hard to spread the false narrative of a “coup” in Ukraine since 2014. With Musk taking a prominent position in the U.S. government, they now appear to have a sympathetic ear in the halls of American power.

What Russian disinformation and its promotors ignore is clear evidence that the Euromaidan Revolution was organized spontaneously by Ukrainians in a grassroots fashion.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country and walks of life came together to spend three months in freezing temperatures to protest the undemocratic actions of their president and government.

Rather than being violently or illegally forced out, as the term coup used by Musk and propagandists would suggest, Ukraine’s then-president Viktor Yanukovych voluntarily fled the country to Russia after ordering his police forces to open fire on and kill civilian protestors. The subsequent transfer of power was carried out democratically through free and fair elections.

Ukrainian riot police on Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2014. (Oleksii Furman/Getty Images)

A protester stands behind barricades during clashes with police in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, 2014. (Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images)

The Russian government also has a clear incentive to invalidate a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s democratic history as it represents a shift away from Russian influence.

Here’s what actually happened, and how the Kremlin has worked to obfuscate the truth.

`What was EuroMaidan?`

Before the EuroMaidan protests began on Nov. 21, 2013, the Ukrainian government was preparing to sign an agreement that would integrate Ukraine more closely with the EU. Yanukovych had run on a platform of improving relations with the union when he was elected in 2010.

Caving to economic pressure from Russia, Yanukovych suddenly abandoned these plans in favor of closer ties with Moscow.

Hundreds of peaceful protesters gathered in Kyiv’s Independence Square — known as Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Ukrainian — in response to Yanukovych’s decision.

An initial violent crackdown by Ukraine’s riot police on Nov. 30, 2013, only fueled the protesters, who swelled in number to hundreds of thousands over the ensuing weeks. Protests spread to oblasts across the country, particularly among students and young people, and many made their way to Kyiv to join the protests happening in the country’s capital.

Protesters clash with government forces at barricades on Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2014. (Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

As the protests continued, their demands expanded beyond European integration, and became a stand against corruption, injustice, and human rights violations, including the violent efforts by Ukrainian police to repress peaceful protests.

In January 2014, to shut down the protests, Yanukovych and the parliament implemented laws restricting freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which were deemed “dictatorship laws” in much of Ukraine and widely denounced around the world as anti-democratic.

The protests lasted until that February, when Yanukovych ordered snipers of the Berkut special forces to open fire on protesters, killing over 100 people who are remembered as the “Heavenly Hundred.” Yanukovych fled to Russia in the immediate aftermath, and a parliament majority democratically voted to remove Yanukovych from office, calling for an early election that international observers declared free and fair.

After Yanukovych left, a raid on his home revealed a staggering level of corruption.

Ukrainian then-President Viktor Yanukovych in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 17, 2010. (Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images)

A photographer who was on the Maidan with protesters recalled to the Kyiv Independent on the tenth anniversary of the protests being injured by a rubber bullet while photographing snipers shooting at unarmed protesters.

“I understood that I was defending my rights, that I was standing for what they wanted to take away from me,” he said.

`Why do some claim that the U.S. was responsible?`

Russia seized on the events almost immediately, attempting to paint the EuroMaidan protests as a coup backed by the U.S.

In Dec. 2013, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said in a speech at a conference organized by the non-governmental organization U.S.-Ukraine Foundation that the U.S. had invested over $5 billion in Ukraine since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991 to “ensure a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine.” She praised the EuroMaidan movement in the same speech.

Those comments — and the U.S.’s role in coups in other countries in the past — have been used by propagandists to claim that Washington funded the EuroMaidan protests.

Despite attempts to portray it otherwise, the $5 billion spent in Ukraine was unrelated to the protests. The funds went to supporting fair elections, funding anti-corruption efforts, and developing the country’s energy infrastructure over the years.

People attend a prayer service for victims killed during clashes between anti-government protesters and police in Independence Square, Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, 2014. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Protesters set off fireworks during demonstrations in Independence Square, Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2014. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Nuland later clarified in April 2014: “We certainly didn’t spend any money supporting the Maidan. That was a spontaneous movement, which is a far cry from what we are concerned Russia is up to now in eastern Ukraine.” At the time of her speech, Russia had already illegally invaded and annexed Crimea and was sending troops to eastern Ukraine.

Around the same time, a hacked phone call between Nuland and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt was posted on YouTube.

In the recording, Nuland and Pyatt discuss goals for Ukraine’s political future and their efforts to steer Ukrainian opposition political figures toward various positions in a new post-revolution government.

While the leak was embarrassing for the Americans and revealed the U.S. was seeking more involvement in Ukraine’s political future than it publicly let on, the contents of the call do not support Russian claims that the U.S. was involved in backing a coup.

Timothy Snyder, a professor of history at Yale University specializing in the history of Central and Eastern Europe, said a few weeks after the leak: “What that telephone conversation showed was that the Americans were, A, not up to date about what was happening in Ukraine and, B, unable to influence events happening in Ukraine.” Many of the scenarios the Americans were hoping for in the call did not end up happening, he noted.

“Imagine just how much evidence the Russians have of what the U.S. was doing in Ukraine, given that they had access to that telephone call. That was the best bit they could come up with,” Snyder also said at the time in reference to the leak.

A woman lays carnations at a makeshift memorial for victims of recent riots on Instytutska Street in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 23, 2014. (Etienne De Malglaive/Getty Images)

The U.S. blamed Russia for the hack, noting that a Russian official was the first to spot and point it out online, and a transcript posted with the video was in Russian.

Nuland and Pyatt appeared once again in Russian propaganda narratives after the two were photographed offering food to the protesters in Kyiv. The gesture was intended as a show of support and solidarity for democracy after the anti-democratic violent crackdown by Ukrainian authorities. Russian commenters online used it to disparage protestors as having “sold out” to Washington.

`How has Russia advanced these narratives?`

Eleven years after the protests, claims that EuroMaidan was a coup continue to persist.

His Feb. 2 social media post isn’t the first time Musk has pushed these narratives. In 2023, he prompted pushback from Ukrainian authorities after he posted online in reference to Ukraine that there was “no question that there was indeed a coup."

Advisor to Ukraine’s Presidential Office Mykhailo Podolyak responded by telling him to read less Russian media, saying: “Enslaved societies take to the streets to rid themselves of repressive states. This is the basis of freedom, Elon Musk.

“There have never been coups in Ukraine, but there have always been free people.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee for health secretary, also repeated the false claim that the U.S. spent $5 billion on a coup in Ukraine in an interview with far-right American political commentator Tucker Carlson in 2023.

Political commentator Tucker Carlson speaks with Donald Trump during a Turning Point Action rally in Duluth, Georgia, U.S. on Oct. 23, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

It’s no accident these propaganda statements have taken root. Russia has carried out a coordinated campaign for years to amplify these claims.

Detector Media found that official Russian channels on social media have been claiming EuroMaidan was a coup using the propaganda tactic of “relentless repetition,” disseminating these messages on many accounts representing a variety of organizations in different countries. These comments are pushed in various languages to reach broad audiences.

These comments have also been echoed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials over the years, including just two months ago by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during an interview hosted by Carlson.

EuroMaidan Revolution

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Sobolieva

Ukrainian citizen beaten to death in Bratislava, media reports

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 21:24:58 +0100

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 and body. He was hospitalized but died the next day due to the severity of his injuries.

The man was previously caught stealing from the New Yorker clothing store in Nivy. Later, he was taken to a back room of the shopping center, as seen on the surveillance cameras.

Slovak police are investigating several versions of the circumstances surrounding the death of a Ukrainian national, according to Aktuality. Local law enforcement agencies have not ruled out the possibility that the man was beaten by police and private security guards.

The paramedic who treated the man also pointed to a possible beating as the cause of the victim’s injuries.

The Ukrainian Embassy has reached out to the Slovak police and Slovakia’s ombudsman.

“Shocked by the tragic death of a Ukrainian citizen in Bratislava. We cannot exclude ethnic hatred as one of the reasons for this crime,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.

“We demand an impartial investigation and accountability,” Sybiha added.

The death of the Ukrainian citizen comes amid increased tensions between Kyiv and Bratislava. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, a long-time opponent of military aid to Ukraine, has escalated threats against Kyiv following the termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1.

Fico’s Kremlin-friendly policies sparked widespread demonstrations throughout Slovakia, which his government has blamed on an alleged Ukrainian-backed coup. Fico has not provided evidence to support the allegations.

As government cuts support, some internally displaced Ukrainians return home — to Russian occupation

Last winter as Olena Morozova braced for a long and arduous trip to Ukrainian-controlled territory from her Russian-occupied home in Lysychansk in Luhansk Oblast, her friends were traveling in the opposite direction. The friends — a family with two sons — came back to their house in Lysychansk beca…

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Multiple Georgian opposition leaders arrested as pro-EU demonstrators block highway in Tbilisi

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 20:23:03 +0100

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 of EU-friendly party “Akhali” Nika Melia was arrested as well.

Both Melia and Ugulava had previously been imprisoned under the current government on charges widely criticized as politically motivated.

The arrests took place as thousands of demonstrators attempted to block a major highway leading into Tbilisi, near the capital’s main shopping center.

Authorities warned that blocking the highway was a criminal offense, citing a recent legislative amendment on January 31 that added “roads of international and domestic importance” to the list of strategic objects.

Officials stated that the protest near Tbilisi Mall fell under Article 222 of the Criminal Code, which carries penalties ranging from correctional labor to up to two years in prison.

Several other protesters were also detained, with at least one reported injury.

“Fire to the oligarchy,” “No justice - no peace”, the protestors chanted.

The pro-Russian Georgian Dream party claimed a sweeping victory in the Oct. 26 elections amid widespread allegations of fraud and intimidation. The disputed results triggered mass demonstrations in Tbilisi.

A second round of protests kicked off when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia’s integration into the EU could be postponed until 2028.

The controversial foreign agents law adopted earlier this year led the EU to effectively freeze Georgia’s accession process.

Hundreds of protestors have been arrested since the fall, and numerous cases have been reported of Georgian police using tactics such as tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrations.

Russia’s new naval base raises fears of Georgia’s involvement in Ukraine war, WSJ reports

Ochamchire, more than 700 kilometers southeast of the nearest Ukrainian-controlled territory, could provide Moscow with a naval base that remains largely beyond the range of Ukraine’s existing long-range strikes.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

'No unit named Georgian Legion' in our agency — Ukraine's military intelligence hits back at Slovakia's coup accusations

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 02:47:49 +0100

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 officially reports that there is no unit called the Georgian National Legion in its structure,” the agency said in a statement on Feb. 1.

The statement comes after Slovakia banned Georgian Legion commander Mamuka Mamulashvili from entering the country amid allegations that his unit was connected to a coup plot.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed on Jan. 31 Mamulashvili helped organize mass protests in Slovakia on behalf of Ukraine as part of a hybrid operation against his government. He did not explain how Mamulashvili organized the demonstrations or plotted a coup but said the commander was “subordinate” to HUR.

Fico also claimed that the Peace for Ukraine initiative, a group that has helped mobilize the recent protests, had financed the Georgian Legion’s attempts to overthrow the government.

HUR “strongly rejects false accusations of organizing illegal actions in the Slovak Republic,” the agency’s statement said.

Mamulashvili “has no relation to Ukrainian intelligence, and does not receive any tasks or instructions from the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. This person terminated his contract with the International Legion of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine in April 2023 and did not renew it,” HUR said.

The Georgian Legion is a volunteer unit that has been fighting in Ukraine since 2014. Mamulashvili established the unit to combat Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Fico’s accusations come at a time of heightened tensions between Kyiv and Bratislava. The termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1 triggered retaliatory threats from Fico’s Kremlin-friendly government, and Fico has reportedly criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky for supporting the protests in Slovakia.

The demonstrations, held under the slogan “Slovakia is Europe,” swept across 30 cities on Jan. 24. Around 100,000 people nationwide chanted slogans like “Enough of Fico” and “We are Europe,” voicing opposition to the prime minister’s pro-Russian stance.

Outrage after Russian independent media Meduza uses Ukrainian war victim in ad campaign

Russian independent news outlet Meduza used a photo of a Ukrainian man mourning his family killed in a Russian strike to bolster its European promo campaign — without his permission, he told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

US foreign aid transformed Ukraine. Its suspension threatens a setback

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:42:24 +0100

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 freer and more democratic since the earliest days of its independence in 1991.

The White House ordered a 90-day suspension of U.S. foreign aid-funded projects globally, to ascertain if they aligned with “American interests” and “American values."

The agencies affected include the National Endowment for Democracy, the Food for Peace Emergency Program, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an organization particularly active in Ukraine.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, USAID has provided Ukraine with $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance, and more than $30 billion in direct budget support, helping to rebuild schools after Russian attacks, pay for bomb shelters, advanced medical equipment for hospitals and much more.

Yet USAID’s support for Ukraine began well before the full-scale invasion and, according to people who have worked on such projects, their work is vital, and their value immeasurable.

Ukrainian photographer Vladyslav Sodel, who has been capturing USAID’s work in Ukraine for the past eight years, said people “can’t even imagine” how deeply all the funds provided by USAID have become woven into Ukrainians' lives “to the point where they don’t even suspect it."

In a post on Facebook, Sodel said this aid ranges from “a bed with a mattress” for war refugees, to “multi-billion-dollar investments” in Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that has been ravaged by Russian mass missile attacks.

This “support from the American people” has allowed Ukrainians to “move forward and achieve something greater,” he added.

`USAID — benefits and misconceptions`

Opinion polls show that Americans significantly overestimate the proportion of the U.S. federal budget that is spent on foreign aid, believing it to be around 25 percent when in fact it was only around 1 percent in 2023, amounting to just 0.25% of GDP.

Yet due to the size of the U.S. economy, this translates to 40 percent of all humanitarian aid globally.

And it’s not just a one-way street — while hugely benefiting the citizens of the countries in which it is spent, U.S. foreign aid also has positive impacts on American citizens back home, Professor Liam Swiss, a foreign aid expert and head of the department of sociology at Canada’s Acadia University, told the Kyiv Independent.

Highlighting USAID programs to fund polio immunization, Swiss said that unless someone steps in to fill the gap, it could harm the global drive to eradicate the disease.

“The only reason we aren’t dealing with polio in the U.S. or in Canada, or the U.K. now, is because we’ve kind of had these successful immunization campaigns to eliminate it,” he said.

Another consequence of reducing or cutting foreign aid that Swiss highlights is the potential of it exacerbating one of the most pressing issues for many Trump supporters — immigration.

Cars are parked on Saint Michael’s Square during a handover ceremony by the UN Population Fund in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 25, 2023. (Oleksii Samsonov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

“If you abandon support… does that actually start to drive further migration from those parts of the world that are then furthering the MAGA-perceived border crisis?” he said.

According to Deborah Fairlamb, the co-founder of Green Flag Ventures, who previously worked on several USAID-funded projects in Ukraine, there is also a public misconception that USAID is used by the U.S. to dictate terms and conditions on countries, a mistruth often exploited by Russia and its supporters.

“It’s not the U.S. coming in and unilaterally telling Ukraine what it needs and deciding this. It is always done in conjunction with (the state) and the approval,” she told the Kyiv Independent, adding the Russian propaganda narrative that “USAID is an arm of the CIA” has no basis in reality.

North Korean troops not seen for 3 weeks in parts of Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s Special Forces say

“These are standard measures – rotation due to large casualties,” a military intelligence source commented for the Kyiv Independent, confirming the reports.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

`USAID and Ukraine`

With the signing of a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and USAID in 1992, the agency started working alongside the Ukrainian government to build a competitive market economy, implement crucial social reforms, provide humanitarian, technical, and financial assistance, and help Ukraine navigate its post-Soviet transition.

“Thus began a 30-year partnership that has endured, animated by the belief that by working together, we can forge a secure and prosperous future for all Ukrainians,” reads the USAID statement on its work in Ukraine.

In over 30 years of working in Ukraine, USAID has played a key role in transforming numerous sectors that often go unnoticed.

Dmytro Boyarchuk, the executive director of the Centre for Social and Economic Research (CASE Ukraine), said that Ukraine would not have been able to implement vital reforms without the support of international donors like USAID.

“Ukraine would not have been able to implement vital reforms without the support of international donors like USAID.”

The USAID’s technical assistance program which provides expert advice, support, and resources to help countries implement reforms and achieve development goals, played a big role in transforming Ukraine after the EuroMaidan Revolution that ended the rule of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.

Boyarchuk says that back then, the "reform-minded" people took advantage of it to introduce changes and push solutions through the parliament.

USAID's efforts have also included supporting judicial reforms and anti-corruption initiatives, and promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

It also supported Ukraine’s 2014 decentralization reform, which granted more economic and political freedom to small villages and towns.

While USAID’s impact on freedom of speech in Ukraine can only be traced "indirectly," the organization greatly supported Ukrainian human rights activists and journalists, says Oksana Romaniuk, chief of the Kyiv-based Institute of Mass Information (IMI).

"We, in turn, monitored freedom of speech, we made statements, we held protests, we developed media legislation," Romaniuk told the Kyiv Independent, adding USAID was a "supporting structure" for independent media.

But in 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion reshaped the focus and priorities of USAID’s work in Ukraine.

"When the (all-out) war started, everything shifted into survival mode. And it was not just USAID, it was the entire country," says Fairlamb.

Before that, USAID may have been helping a community "develop a business plan and figure out how best to use the new tax-free resources," Fairlamb says, but after Feb. 24, 2022, the critical issue became "making sure people in that community had electricity, and that those who had been displaced could find homes."

It is these seemingly small efforts that have played a crucial role in helping Ukraine lessen the devastating impact of the full-scale war.

`Small steps matter`

Mykolaiv-based entrepreneur Tetiana Viaznikova says the small grant that she received thanks to USAID has helped save lives during the war.

Back in 2021, Viaznikova launched her first aid course "Sample" but Russia’s full-scale war forced her to switch to working at a military administration center in southern Ukraine.

Then last summer, she quit her job and decided to scale the courses up.

A small grant of Hr 410,000 (around $9,700) allowed her to purchase new tourniquets and mannequins, expand her course offerings, and order a marketing strategy.

"It wasn’t just money to get by — it was a boost that helped me scale my business," Viaznikova says. "Thanks to a marketing strategy, I found clients and continue to train people."

Since last fall, over 750 people have undergone her training, and several of them have already saved lives using their new skills.

"For small business owners and those just starting out, even small amounts of money, like mini-grants, provide a foundation that gives you the opportunity to start and scale up," Viaznikova says.

Transfer of more than 10 tons of vegetable seeds to more than 200 thousand households in frontline and de-occupied communities under the USAID Agricultural and Rural Development Program (AGRO) in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on March 12, 2024. (Volodymyr Tarasov / Ukrinform / Getty Images)

There are thousands of success stories like Viaznikova’s across Ukraine, all made possible by USAID, from training teachers and providing scholarships for researchers, to supporting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and agriculture.

A farmer from war-torn Kharkiv Oblast managed to save his crops after receiving costly fertilizers for free, while Ukrainian internally displaced persons (IDPs) gained access to vital medication and essential goods.

The work of USAID in just one territorial community in Chernihiv Oblast amply demonstrates its impact.

USAID-funded projects have created spaces for young people, organized workshops and training sessions for locals, supplied new equipment for municipal services and hospitals, and much more.

"The stop of USAID’s support means lost opportunities," Andriy Tkach, the secretary of the Sosnytsia village council, told the Kyiv Independent.

`What is at stake`

While the U.S. has issued a waiver for "life-saving humanitarian assistance," most USAID-funded programs in Ukraine now face at least a three-month pause in funding, and an even more dire situation if it is not renewed after the U.S. State Department review.

Boyarchuk said Ukraine’s agriculture sector — "the key sector today that is holding up the economy, with more than 60% of commodity exports being agricultural products" — is largely dependent on donors’ support.

"And while we praise their (farmers’) resilience, their equipment was damaged, destroyed, or taken — this is all a significant cost, and they have to continue working," he adds.

Many Ukrainian non-profits and media outlets are already appealing for alternative funds and donations, while others have decided to halt certain operations.

Veteran Hub, an NGO that supports Ukrainian soldiers, war veterans, and their families, announced that it had to close its operations in Vinnytsia.

Ukrainian Veterans at Veteran Hub, an NGO supporting Ukrainian soldiers, war veterans, and their families in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Veteran Hub / Facebook)

Ukrainian media, especially regional outlets, are under threat as well.

According to Romaniuk, nearly 90% of regional media funding relies on grants, with advertising accounting for only 3-10% of their revenue.

"At the start of the invasion, over 300 regional outlets shut down due to financial strain, Russian attacks, and people fleeing," Romaniuk says, adding: "This may lead to another wave of media shutdowns."

Bogdan Logvynenko, founder of Ukrainer, a popular online magazine that lost most of its funding due to the U.S. aid freeze, says that Trump’s decision is not just about Ukraine "but about a new isolationist policy of the U.S."

"How will the (media) sector survive this? I think it may shrink by half," he says.

Ukraine’s unlikely ally against Russian attacks on energy sector — warm weather

Nearly three years into the war, Ukrainians have grown used to bracing for brutal winters with electricity blackouts and heating cuts from Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. This winter was predicted to be one of the toughest ones of the war yet. In a worst-case scenario, black…

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Slovakia bans Georgian Legion commander, linking him to alleged coup plot

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:52:03 +0100

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 Ukraine since 2014, was founded by Mamulashvili to combat Russian forces.

Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj-Eštok said a total of 10 people were on the list of individuals barred from entering Slovakia.

During a press conference, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico did not explain how Mamulashvili could have organized protests in Slovakia or been behind the alleged coup plot.

The demonstrations, held under the slogan “Slovakia is Europe,” swept across 30 cities on Jan. 24, with around 100,000 people nationwide chanting slogans like “Enough of Fico” and “We are Europe” in opposition to his policies and pro-Russian stance.

The protests were also fueled by Fico’s visit to Moscow in late December, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin — one of the few European Union leaders to do so since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Fico cited a photo of Mamulashvili with Lucy Štasselová from the Peace for Ukraine initiative and Denník N commentator Martin Šimečka, both of whom supported the Georgian Legion, as evidence for his claim.

The Georgian Legion dismissed the Slovak government’s accusations as “absurd and groundless."

“These statements are nothing more than a deliberate attempt to discredit our unit, which has been fighting alongside Ukraine against Russian aggression since 2014,” Mamulashvili said.

A similar accusation previously emerged in Georgia, where the State Security Service (SSG) alleged that the Georgian Legion, a former bodyguard of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, and Giorgi Lortkipanidze—allegedly a deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence—were involved in a plot against the ruling pro-Russian Georgian Dream party.

“Now, the Slovak authorities have decided to follow the same Russian game, recycling the same lies to serve their own political agenda,” Mamulashvili added.

The news came a day after reports that the police in Slovakia detained a Ukrainian citizen on Jan. 30 suspected of preparing a coup in the country.

Relations between Kyiv and Bratislava have become increasingly tense this month. Fico, who has long opposed military aid to Ukraine, has escalated threats against Kyiv following the termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1.

Zelensky backs Slovak protests as Fico criticizes opposition, organizers

“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 Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko gets himself reelected for 7th consecutive term

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:52:39 +0100

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 Lukashenko faces uncertain future after the vote.

Hungary refuses to sign joint EU statement condemning Belarus’s elections, RFE/RL reports.

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Fifteen more prisoners freed in tenth round of ‘pardons’ issued by Lukashenko ahead of elections.

Belarus ‘unilaterally releases’ US citizen detained on politically motivated grounds, Washington reports on election day.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) files with ICC complaint against Belarus for systematic crimes against journalists.

`Lukashenko claims seventh term amid Western condemnation, sanctions`

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself president for his seventh consecutive term after holding a presidential election on Jan. 26 that was decried as neither free nor fair.

The first presidential election since the contested 2020 vote was held under conditions of strict repression, with over 1,250 political prisoners behind bars, all but four political parties banned, 1,800 NGOs shut down, and all opposition jailed or exiled.

The Belarusian Central Election Committee released preliminary election results on Jan. 27, presenting Lukashenko with a record 86.82% of the votes. Stalinist Siarhei Syrankou was the runner-up with just 3.21%, scoring lower than the graph of “against all candidates,” which received 3.6% of the vote.

The other token “challengers” fared even worse: Oleg Gaidukevich reportedly landed 2%, “constructive opposition” candidate Hanna Kanapatskaya got 1.86%, and in last place came Alexander Khizhnyak with 1.47%.

The commission also claimed there was a record-high turnout of 85.7%. Nearly half of the votes — 41.81% — were supposedly cast in early voting, a practice criticized for being vulnerable to ballot-stuffing and other manipulations. No polling stations were opened abroad despite the Belarusian diaspora having been significantly enlarged in recent years.

Reportedly, between 300,000 and 500,000 Belarusians have left the country of just under 9.2 million since 2020.

After Lukashenko’s latest sham election, exiled Belarusians reflect on their lost revolution

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the victor in the country’s latest so-called presidential elections on Jan. 26, in which no political opposition was allowed to take part. The country’s authorities claim Lukashenko won 86.82% of the vote, securing a seventh consecutive term…

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

There were no credible international observation teams monitoring the voting, as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) received an invitation only 10 days prior to the voting, rendering any effective observation impossible.

The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, issued a statement on behalf of the EU rejecting the legitimacy of Lukashenko’s election.

Western nations, including Australia, Canada, the EU, New Zealand, and the UK, decried the elections as a “sham” in a joint statement. The UK and Canada followed up with a new round of sanctions targeting three Belarusian defense enterprises and six individuals, including Central Election Commission Chairman Ihar Karpenka, law enforcement officials accused of political repression, and heads of prisons. Canada extended restrictions against 10 individuals and 12 companies.

The exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who claimed to have won the previous 2020 presidential race, dismissed this latest election as a “special operation to illegally cling to power.”

“Lukashenko, propped up by (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin, holds 9 million Belarusians hostage, drags us into war, and betrays our sovereignty,” Tsikhanouskaya wrote on X on Jan. 26.

The exiled opposition held a march in Warsaw in protest at the rigged Belarusian presidential election. The next day, the Belarusian investigative committee claimed to have identified 365 participants in the march and opened in absentia criminal proceedings against them.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin welcomed Lukashenko’s contested election, declaring “Moscow takes no notice of the expected criticism of the elections in Belarus in the West.”

`Lukashenko faces uncertainty after 2025 ‘election’`

Belarusian political analyst Artsiom Shraibman says Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is entering a “zone of uncertainty” as he faces turning points in his relations with Russia and the need to resolve the transition of power amid an ongoing domestic political crisis.

Dependent on Russian subsidies and having no room to improve relations with the West, Lukashenko can maintain the current status quo as Moscow’s ally while the active phase of war continues,” Shraibman says.

“Putin is interested in a stable pro-Russian authoritarian Belarus, he will keep it that way,” he told the Kyiv Independent. “The spending on supporting Lukashenko can be categorized as a military expenditure for the Russian government, so it is not something they will try to save money on.”

But depending on how any temporary or long-term settlement of the war affects Russia, Lukashenko might face two “equally unpleasant extremes:” Moscow switching its imperial appetites to Belarus, or losing interest in its client state altogether, leaving Lukashenko without financial aid.

Lukashenko may seek dialogue with the United States, potentially releasing the remaining prisoners with U.S. ties. However, Shraibman notes that Lukashenko has little to offer to attract Western interest, given his “peripheral role” in resolving the war.

Repression in Belarus, which has accelerated in the past few months, may decrease in the absence of election campaigns in the near term, but will remain sufficient to maintain a chokehold on society. While the individual fates of some political prisoners could be decided with pardons, Shraibman does not foresee and large-scale political “thaw,” especially not in light of another fundamental issue — the possible transition of power.

Lukashenko has long hinted that he might give up power, but has repeatedly backtracked. Lukashenko took his first real step to standing down, Shraibman argues, in 2022 when the dictator introduced the All-Belarus People's Assembly, an extra-governmental body, and made himself its head. So far it has no real powers, but it is effectively an institutional bolt hole to which Lukashenko might retreat after giving up the presidency.

“He is thinking about (the transition of power) and preparing for it, but this constitutional framework does not place any deadlines on him,” Shraibman explains. At least until 2035, according to the Belarusian constitution, he can hold both positions: the presidency, and the head of the assembly.”

According to the analyst, another action that might indicate that Lukashenko is preparing to hand over the reins of power would be the selection and cultivation of a successor.

“But until we see some already high-profile official gets catapulted up the nomenclature ladder, and starts to be painted as a future leader, the only other reliable indicator of the chances of a transition of power is the state of (Lukashenko’s) health.”

`Hungary blocks joint EU statement condemning elections in Belarus, RFE/RL reports`

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban listens to Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico speak during the joint press conference in the Mirror Hall of the Slovak Governmental Office on Jan. 21, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Zuzana Gogova/Getty Images)

Hungary refused to sign a joint EU members statement rejecting the presidential election in Belarus, sources told U.S. government-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Brussels.

Failing to achieve unilateral support from all 27 members of the bloc, the head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, issued her own statement declaring that the Jan. 26 .” In particular, Kallas criticized the late invitation sent to observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which prevented the proper monitoring of critical stages of the electoral campaign. She also called for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.

Initially, both Hungary and Slovakia refused to sign the draft EU joint statement, which referred to the elections in Belarus as “undemocratic.” RFE/RL said the draft statement also cited a “relentless and unprecedented level of repression” that “has deprived the electoral process of any legitimacy.”

Representatives of Slovakia later agreed to sign, but Hungary, led by Russia-leaning Prime Minister Viktor Orban, could not be persuaded.

Hungary has also consistently resisted stricter sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as well as increased European support for Ukraine. Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó was the only top-ranking European official since the fraudulent 2020 elections and subsequent crackdown on dissent.

`15 political prisoners released on eve of sham elections in Belarus`

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko released 15 more political prisoners ahead of the country’s sham presidential elections, rigged to ensure the Belarusian leader was elected for a seventh consecutive term.

In the ten rounds of “pardons” that the Lukashenko regime initiated in July 2024 ahead of the Jan. 26 presidential elections, 293 political prisoners were released from custody. Despite the releases, the crackdown on dissent in Belarus continues, and some 1,250 individuals remain behind bars on politically motivated grounds.

According to Lukashenko’s press office, eight of the released prisoners were convicted of “crimes of extremism” – a charge frequently brought up against political opponents since the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections.

The other seven released had been found guilty of drug-related crimes.

The announcement of the pardons, published on Jan. 24, two days prior to the elections, did not give the names of those being released but said that five men and three women were among pardoned political prisoners. Five reportedly have children, and one woman is pregnant. Lukashenko’s press office again presented the pardons as “demonstrations of mercy.”

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in a Reuters interview published earlier accused Lukashenko of “playing games” with political prisoners. Belarusian political analysts consider the pardons to be part of Lukashenko’s strategy to revive relations with the West, which were ruptured after Lukashenko’s brutal crackdown on civil society in the aftermath of the 2020 elections and after he supported Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since the 2020 election, over 60,000 Belarusian citizens have been detained for political reasons, and the count continues to rise, according to the Minsk-based human rights group Viasna.

Lukashenko frees 23 more Belarusian political prisoners

Nearly 1,300 prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

`Belarus releases detained US citizen on election day, Washington says`

Belarus has “unilaterally released” a detained U.S. citizen, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Jan. 26 — the main day of voting in the sham Belarusian presidential election.

The alleged release follows ten rounds of prisoner “pardons” by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, which started in July 2024 in the run up to the 2025 presidential elections. The pardons have been dismissed as window-dressing by exiled Lukashenko opponents: while 293 prisoners have been released, the number of political prisoners remains firmly fixed at 1,250 individuals in custody because political arrests are continuing in Belarus.

Without providing details of the release, Rubio claimed in a post on X that U.S. citizen Anastasia Nuhfer was now free.. It remains unclear how the release was organized and if any concessions were made to achieve it.

Speaking at a press conference on election day, Lukashenko claimed that by releasing political prisoners, he was not seeking to repair relations with the West. However, he also claimed to be in direct negotiations with “the United States and others” on the matter of political prisoners.

The U.S. State Department later confirmed to the Associated Press that Nuhfer had been detained in early December 2024. Former top-ranking Belarusian diplomats anonymously told the AP that the woman was detained in connection with 2020 protests and released “as a gesture of goodwill.”

Nuhfer has no previously known public profile and Belarusian human rights advocates have no record of such a prisoner. However, activists note that their political prisoner records are incomplete, and the real number of unjustly imprisoned is much higher, as authorities harass the relatives of the detained to prevent them from reporting detentions to human rights watchdogs.

In the week before the election, Belarusian propaganda aired a series of “interviews” with journalists of U.S.-funded broadcaster RFE/RL, including a dual U.S.-Belarusian citizen Yuras Ziankovich – a move that was regarded as a Belarusian opening bargaining offer for the incoming administration. None of the journalists have been reported as being among the released to date.

According to the Minsk-based Viasna Human Rights Center, at least 36 foreign citizens remain jailed in Belarus on politically motivated grounds.

In total, at least 75 foreigners have been subjected to persecution since 2020 in Belarus.

Belarus Weekly — 2024 in review: Drone incursions, deepening alliance with Russia, totalitarianism

The Kyiv IndependentMaria Yeryoma

Ukrainian detained in Slovakia over alleged coup plot, media reports

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 20:05:47 +0100

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 Jana Mashkarova, the head of the Slovak police. She did not specify when the Ukrainian could be deported.

The news comes as relations between Kyiv and Bratislava have become increasingly tense this month. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who maintains friendly ties with Russia, recently called President Volodymyr Zelensky an “enemy” of Slovakia, while Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called Fico “the Kremlin’s mouthpiece” in response.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry told Babel media outlet that the Ukrainian, born in 1966, is accused of “threatening the national security” of Slovakia.

The embassy has established contact with the detainee and his family, the ministry said.

Slovak opposition lawmaker Juraj Krupa suggested that the case may be trumped-up. If the detainee’s intentions to organize a coup in Slovakia were true, he would not have acted alone and in a “top secret manner,” the lawmaker said, as quoted by Slovak media.

Richard Gluck, chairman of Slovakia’s Internal Security Committee who is a member of Fico’s party, said that more information is expected from the country’s Interior Ministry on the suspect’s potential accomplices.

Earlier on Jan. 30, 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.

A day before, the Slovak Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador to Bratislava Myroslav Kastran after Kyiv criticized Fico for wanting to continue Russian gas supplies to Slovakia.

Days before, Fico claimed that Ukraine was connected to a cyberattack on Slovakia’s national insurance company, which Kyiv rejected.

Fico, a pro-Russian politician who has long opposed military aid to Ukraine, has escalated threats against Kyiv following the termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1.

He has threatened to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies amid an energy crisis brought on by Russia’s relentless attacks against Ukraine’s power grid.

Zelensky backs Slovak protests as Fico criticizes opposition, organizers

“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 Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry calls Fico 'Kremlin's mouthpiece,' summons Slovak ambassador over recent remarks

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:21:18 +0100

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 Minister Robert Fico and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Fico, who maintains friendly ties with Russia, has escalated threats against Kyiv following the termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1. In his remarks on Jan. 28, Fico called Zelensky “the enemy” of Slovakia.

Ukraine expressed “deep disappointment” over Fico’s statements, accusing him of acting as “the Kremlin’s mouthpiece” while ignoring Slovakia’s EU membership. The Foreign Ministry warned that this undermines relations between the two countries and damages EU unity.

Earlier on Jan. 29, the Slovak Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Myroslav Kastran, delivering a “strong protest” against what it called Ukrainian interference in Slovakia’s internal affairs.

Just days before, Zelensky voiced support for protests against Fico’s government, writing on X, “Bratislava is not Moscow, Slovakia is Europe."

The protests, which kicked off on Jan. 24 under the slogan “Slovakia is Europe,” saw around 100,000 people across 30 cities demanding an end to Fico’s leadership.

Fico has earlier threatened to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut electricity supplies amid an energy crisis caused by Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.

The prime minister’s friendly stance toward the Kremlin, including a controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December, has drawn condemnation from European leaders.

Georgescu has ‘masters in Moscow’ — Kyiv slams Romanian politician over comments on Ukraine’s partition

Georgescu’s comments, made in a Jan. 29 interview, were dismissed by Ukraine as revisionist and contrary to international norms, the U.N. Charter, and democratic values.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

EU debates restarting Russian gas purchases as part of Ukraine peace deal, FT reports

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:54:22 +0100

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, including Hungarian and German officials, argue that the move could give both Russia and Europe incentives to maintain a peace deal while stabilizing the continent’s energy market, the outlet wrote.

The news comes almost a month after Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas through its territory to the EU, putting an end to a scheme dating back to Soviet times. The decision has sparked protests from some EU members — Slovakia and Hungary — who continue to rely on Russian gas despite the bloc’s efforts at diversifying supplies.

According to the FT, the proposal to resume Russian gas purchases has faced backlash from Ukraine’s chief allies within the EU and officials from some “eastern” member states.

While most of the Russian pipeline gas flow to Europe came to a halt, European countries continue to buy Russian liquified natural gas (LNG). The TurkStream line remains the last operational pipeline connection funneling Russian gas to the EU.

Earlier this week, Hungary announced it had received “requested guarantees” from the EU on securing energy transit to European countries after threatening to veto sanctions against Moscow. Shortly after, Reuters reported that the European Commission will continue leading talks on gas supplies with Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary.

Before the full-scale war, Russian pipeline gas represented roughly 40% of the EU’s overall purchases, with Germany being the chief buyer.

Fossil fuel exports represent a key portion of Russia’s state revenue and help fuel Moscow’s all-out war against Ukraine, leading to calls among Kyiv’s partners to phase out the purchases completely.

The EU cut all Russian coal imports, most Russian oil imports, and over two-thirds of Russian gas imports to the EU, a Commission spokesperson said earlier in January. The EU aims to eliminate all Russian fossil fuels from its market by 2027.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged to broker a peace settlement in Ukraine, urged Europe to purchase more American LNG and called for increasing oil production to push down the prices and stifle Russia’s revenues, thus forcing it to the negotiating table.

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones hit Lukoil oil refinery, missile arsenal in Russia, sources claim

Key developments on Jan. 29: * Ukrainian drones hit Russian missile arsenal, oil pumping station in Tver Oblast, SBU source claims * ‘4 out of 4’ — Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims * Russian assault intensity declines, focuses o…

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Georgia withdraws from PACE, calls demands for new elections 'blackmail'

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:47:55 +0100

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 elections sparked mass protests and political turmoil, with the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party declaring a sweeping victory as opposition groups and international monitors pointed to evidence of widespread fraud.

PACE on Jan. 29 adopted a resolution calling on the Georgian government to hold “new genuinely democratic parliamentary elections,” Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos said in a statement. The resolution stipulated that the credentials of the Georgian delegates would be reviewed and potentially revoked if the government did not take these measures.

PACE had previously ratified the Georgian delegation’s credentials, but suspended some of the members' rights due to evidence of “democratic backsliding.” The new resolution applies conditions for the future ratification of Georgia’s credentials.

Besides new elections, the resolution also calls for the release of all political prisoners and immediate steps to resume the process of Georgia’s integration into the European Union.

In response to the vote, Georgia announced the withdrawal of its delegates from PACE.

“We believe that as long as the completely unjust and unfounded blackmail against the government elected by the Georgian people continues … the participation of our parliamentary delegation in the Assembly has no meaning or justification,” Teia Tsulukiani, the head of the Georgian parliamentary delegation, said in a statement to reporters.

Georgia remains a member of the Council of Europe but will not resume work with PACE until “the blackmail ends” and the Assembly “changes its unfair attitude towards the Georgian state,” Tsulukiani said.

PACE President Rousopoulos said he regretted the delegation’s decision.

“I regret the decision of the Georgian delegation to withdraw from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe following the Assembly’s vote tonight to ratify the delegation’s credentials, subject to conditions,” Rousopoulos said.

“This jeopardizes the dialogue that could help to advance democratic standards in Georgia."

Under the leadership of the ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, Tbilisi has moved closer to Russia and stalled its accession to the EU.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced in November 2024 that Georgia’s EU integration could be delayed until 2028. The statement kicked off a fresh round of demonstrations across the country.

Georgia has incurred sanctions, including visa restrictions, from the U.S., E.U., and Ukraine due to its apparent anti-democratic trajectory.

After Lukashenko’s latest sham election, exiled Belarusians reflect on their lost revolution

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Slovakia summons Ukrainian ambassador over Zelensky's criticism of Russian gas purchases

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 20:15:36 +0100

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 media.

The move came as relations between Fico and President Volodymyr Zelensky have become increasingly tense over this month.

In his recent remarks on Jan. 28, the Slovak prime minister called Zelensky “the enemy” of Slovakia.

“Many in Europe… have chosen to preserve their independence and sovereignty. But not Mr. Fico. He chooses Moscow over America and other partners who can supply his country with gas on commercial terms. This is his mistake,” Ukraine’s president said in response.

According to the ministry’s statement, the Slovak ministry delivered the Ukrainian ambassador “a strong protest” against statements by the Ukrainian side, without specifying which ones.

"(These statements) are considered interference in the internal affairs of the Slovak Republic," the ministry said.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry is yet to comment on this move.

Fico, a pro-Russian politician who has long opposed military aid to Ukraine, has escalated threats against Kyiv following the termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1.

He has threatened to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies amid an energy crisis brought on by Russia’s relentless attacks against Ukraine’s power grid.

As tensions mount, Zelensky and Fico signaled in mid-January they may hold talks.

Fico’s friendliness towards the Kremlin has sparked outrage both at home and abroad. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in December drew condemnation from other European leaders.

Mass protests erupted in Bratislava in early January, with thousands chanting “We are not Russia."

Zelensky backs Slovak protests as Fico criticizes opposition, organizers

“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 Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

EU considering new trade regime with Ukraine, media reports

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:44:07 +0100

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 European Commission allegedly does not plan to reinstate pre-invasion trade rules, it is considering alternatives within the 2016 Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) framework, including quotas for agricultural products and additional safeguards.

The EU lifted customs duties on Ukrainian agricultural products in 2022 to alleviate the country’s economy amid Russia’s full-scale invasion. This led to large-scale protests among European farmers, namely in Poland, who claimed the influx of cheaper Ukrainian products was threatening their businesses.

The newly proposed framework would establish specific export and import volumes, potentially aiding Ukraine’s integration into the EU single market while addressing concerns from member states about agricultural imports.

European Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen reportedly noted widespread support among agriculture ministers for transitioning to a “more stable DCFTA agreement” instead of extending the current regime.

Preliminary technical negotiations between the EU and Ukraine have reportedly begun, with formal discussions expected soon.

The EU’s current free-trade scheme has already been updated with an automatic safeguard mechanism for sensitive sectors, such as eggs, poultry, sugar, oats, maize, hulled grains, and honey.

Poland has implemented import bans on certain Ukrainian products, such as grain, citing negative impacts on Polish agriculture.

Germany ramps up Russian LNG imports via EU ports, report says

Germany’s imports of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) via other EU countries continue to rise despite efforts to cut off direct shipments, the Financial Times wrote on Jan. 28, citing a report by Belgian, German, and Ukrainian NGOs.

The Kyiv IndependentBoldizsar Gyori

'A farce' — Foreign Ministry condemns sham election in Belarus

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 23:22:30 +0100

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 president on Jan. 26 in a so-called election widely denounced as neither free nor fair by the international community.

“It is difficult to call such elections fair, transparent and democratic, in particular given the political repression in Belarus, which deprived voters of any alternative choice and turned the elections themselves into a one-man political show,” the ministry’s statement read.

Elections under the repressive conditions of the Lukashenko regime “cannot be legitimate,” the ministry said.

“It is a farce.”

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally. The Belarusian leader competed for the presidency against regime-approved candidates Sergey Syrankov, who secured 3.21% of the vote, and Oleg Gaidukevich, who received 2%.

Lukashenko was declared the winner with 86.82% of the vote, while 3.6% of ballots reportedly voted “against all."

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, called the vote “a sham” and “an affront to democracy."

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the election was nothing more than a “special operation” by the Russia-backed regime.

Tsikhanouskaya contested the results of the country’s 2020 election, sparking mass protests after Lukashenko declared victory despite evidence of widespread fraud. The government brutally repressed the demonstrations and detained thousands of political prisoners.

The Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with Belarusian opposition figures and encouraged them to continue to fight for an independent Belarus.

“We are convinced that a democratic and sovereign Belarus, in which the people, not one person, will determine the future, will be a factor of long-term stability in our region, and not an accomplice in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the ministry said.

After Lukashenko’s latest sham election win, exiled Belarusians reflect on lessons learned from 2020’s lost revolution

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 authorities, Lukashenko secured 86.82% of the vote and became president for…

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

After Lukashenko's latest sham election win, exiled Belarusians reflect on lessons learned from 2020's lost revolution

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 20:21:35 +0100

According to the country’s authorities, Lukashenko secured 86.82% of the vote and became president for the seventh consecutive time.

Despite international condemnation and widespread opposition among Belarusians, Lukashenko’s regime has only tightened its control since the last election. Relentless crackdowns on dissent, including mass arrests, imprisonment, and torture, have been ongoing in the country for nearly five years.

Despite international condemnation and widespread opposition among Belarusians, Lukashenko’s regime has only tightened its control since the last election.

"Anyone following the situation knows it's a sham election, and for us, Lukashenko has been wholly illegitimate since 2020," Hanna Komar, a Belarusian author who has been living in exile for the past five years, told the Kyiv Independent.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, widely recognized by election observers as the rightful winner of the 2020 presidential election, publicly condemned the latest so-called vote.

"Lukashenko, propped up by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, holds nine million Belarusians hostage, drags us into war, and betrays our sovereignty. We will never accept him. He does not represent Belarus. The regime must end its repressions, release political prisoners, and be held accountable for its crimes," Tsikhanouskaya wrote on Jan. 26.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 5, 2023. (Pavel Byrkin / Sputnik / AFP via Getty Images)

For the more than 500,000 Belarusians who have fled the country since 2020, Lukashenko's latest "victory" serves as a painful reminder of the democratic future they fought for and ultimately failed to secure.

Yet, even in the face of despair, many try to remain hopeful, using the hard-earned lessons of that tumultuous period to strengthen their exile community and continue working toward a future democratic Belarus that they still dream of having.

‘You’ll die here’ – Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenko’s reelection

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for 30 years, is looking to reelect himself for the seventh time. In the run-up to the January 2025 presidential elections, Lukashenko has pardoned prisoners convicted of extremism, claiming that it was a “humane gesture” toward those…

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

`Point of no return`

The 2020 presidential election in Belarus was defined by Tsikhanouskaya's bold challenge to Alexander Lukashenko's decades-long rule. By contrast, the latest so-called election lacked any real opposition, featuring three candidates from pro-government parties and one candidate seen as a figurehead.

In the months leading up to Jan. 26, Lukashenko staged an orchestrated spectacle by pardoning and releasing dozens of political prisoners. Lukashenko framed the move as an act of goodwill toward those who had "gone astray."

However, these individuals had been imprisoned solely for exercising their democratic rights and taking part in the protests against Lukashenko's regime that began in May 2020.

As of December 2024, at least 1,265 political prisoners are known to be held in Belarusian prisons, according to the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna. In December alone, up to 150 politically motivated sentences were handed down, with Belarusians consistently denied the right to a fair trial.

"I think Lukashenko understands that Russia is waiting for the right moment to replace him. He's deeply afraid of this and is now trying to play some kind of strange game with the West. He released some political prisoners to garner a 'favorable' image, but at the same time, he hasn't stopped the repressions. It's endless," Kseniya Halubovich, an exiled film director and journalist, told the Kyiv Independent.

"I think Lukashenko understands that Russia is waiting for the right moment to replace him."

Komar was among those detained during the 2020 protests, having attended a rally organized in solidarity with opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava, who had been arrested just days prior.

An aerial view of protesters during a demonstration in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 16, 2020. Protests erupted following President Lukashenko's claimed victory in the Aug. 9 election, seen as fraudulent. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Law enforcement officers detain a man during a rally in Minsk, Belarus, on Oct. 11, 2020, protesting presidential election results. Riot police detained thousands. (STRINGER / AFP via Getty Images)

The rally escalated when the women protesters tried to prevent the police from arresting the men. Komar spent nine days in jail and, by her own account, considers herself lucky to have been released.

"It was still a relatively mild phase of the political crackdowns back then. I am one of over 50,000 Belarusians who have endured detentions and imprisonment," Komar said.

"Since then, repression (against pro-democracy Belarusians) has only intensified. Every day, hundreds of people lose their jobs, face home searches, are summoned for interrogations, or are sentenced to days, weeks, months, and even years in prison. The punishment machine has not ceased for a single day since the summer of 2020."

Opposition leader Kalesnikava has been behind bars for over four years, as are those who attempted to challenge Lukahsenko on the ballot in 2020, including Viktar Babaryka and Siarhei Tsikhanouski.

“Prison is for people who have opened their mouths too wide and who have broken the law. Don't you have prisons in Britain and America?” Lukashenko countered when asked about jailed opposition figures in a recent interview with the BBC.

Reflecting on the days immediately following the 2020 election, Halubovich recalls the pervasive sense of fear that hung in the air. On the night following the election, as she and others waited outside her school for election results, some panicked and fled at the sight of the police.

An internet shutdown made it difficult to communicate properly, get news, or coordinate — not to mention get news of what was happening to the outside world.

"The 'point of no return' for me came the night when the police released some of those who had been arrested and tortured in the first days," Halubovich said.

"I spent the entire night outside Akrestina prison — the most terrifying place in Belarus — where people were released by morning, horribly beaten. Some of them were too afraid to even sit in an ambulance, it was like they were half-mad after being tortured."

After several weeks, the protests began to lose their momentum. From every march she attended beginning in September 2020, Komar recalled beginning to sense a lack of clear strategy among the movement and felt that it was often unclear what the right course of action should be.

Belarus special police troops block a street as opposition supporters rally to protest against disputed presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 30, 2020. (Tut.by / AFP via Getty Images)

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (C) holds a photo of her jailed husband Sergei Tsikhanouski while other demonstrators hold photos of Belarusian opposition figures Maria Kalesnikava (L) and Viktar Babaryka (R) as they protest in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, on March 8, 2024. (Petras Malukas / AFP via Getty Images)

"Still, I kept joining the marches and protests until early 2021. It was simply the need to keep going — because to stop would have meant letting down all the people still behind bars in Belarus," Komar said.

"I remember one of the final neighborhood marches, feeling exhausted and desperate, but thinking of Mikita Zalatarou, the 17-year-old political prisoner with epilepsy who was tortured in prison. The drive to do something to free him became my only fuel."

The regime's relentless brutality against those who opposed Lukashenko highlights the immense challenges the movement faced from the onset.

"Unfortunately, we weren't ready to seize the opportunities that briefly arose during the moment of disarray among (those in power)," Alina Rudina, a Belarusian journalist now living in Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent.

"Never again can we underestimate the enemy's cruelty and what they are willing to do to maintain their power."

`Moving away from Russia`

Over 30 years into his reign, Lukashenko seems poised to remain in power for the foreseeable future, but many of the Belarusians who took part in the 2020 protests hesitate to look back on that period as a total defeat.

For pro-democracy Belarusians, the events of 2020 were largely a moment of national awakening — one that reignited a sense of independence, rekindled pride in their language and history, and fortified their resolve to break free from Russia's influence over their country.

Under Lukashenko's rule over the past three decades, Russia's cultural and political reach remained entrenched in Belarusian society. However, the ongoing crisis has provided Belarusians in exile with an opportunity to assert the distinctiveness of their language and culture, challenging years of Russification and reaffirming their national identity.

"My sense of identity is more Belarusian now than it was before 2020. I make a conscious effort to avoid reading or watching anything Russian, and I'm grateful that my mind feels so clear and free from that imperialistic influence," Halubovich said.

For those Belarusians who have sought refuge in wartime Ukraine, this choice of language holds even greater significance.

Rudina, who has lived in Ukraine for nearly five years, finds that her new home has helped to foster an environment that has allowed her to rediscover the Belarusian language, which she now uses daily in both her personal and professional life.

A member of the Belarusian diaspora carries a placard depicting Belarus' dictator Alexander Lukashenko during a rally in Warsaw, Poland, on Jan. 26, 2025. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called the presidential election in Belarus a "farce." (Sergei Gapon / AFP via Getty Images)

She also devotes her time in exile to learning how independent Ukrainian media is developing to better understand what pro-democratic Belarusians can do to help counter Russian propaganda.

"After being in Ukraine and living through the full-scale invasion, I am convinced that Belarusians need a certain degree of Russophobia and radical rejection of anything Russian," Rudina told the Kyiv Independent.

"Only this can become a vaccine for the future, preventing the country's absorption and the loss of Belarusian identity."

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians in exile must grapple with the uncertainty of life abroad and thoughts of when they will ever be able to return home.

"The identities I once took pride in, like being a writer or an activist, now feel distant," Komar said.

"More and more, I find myself thinking that what truly matters is simply being a decent human."

Belarusian soldiers fighting for Ukraine say time is running out for their brother-in-arms extradited to Belarus

In Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarus, helping to defend Ukraine against Russia gets you labeled as a terrorist. Vasil Verameichyk, a Belarusian who enlisted in Ukraine’s Armed Forces just four days after Russia launched its all-out war, was detained on Nov. 13 in Vietnam in a suspected covert operatio…

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan. Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

The Belarusian people's ongoing struggle for a better future is both courageous and inspiring. Despite bravely facing Lukashenko's harsh authoritarian regime, their efforts receive far too little attention. They deserve greater recognition and our unwavering support.

If you found this story important please consider supporting our reporting.

EU suspends visa privileges for Georgian officials over democratic backsliding

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:06:52 +0100

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. Officials that represent a country which trample down these values should not benefit from easier access to the EU,” said Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s interior minister.

The decision follows mass protests in Tbilisi over parliamentary elections that the opposition belives were nor free nor fair and a political crisis sparked by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement that Georgia’s EU integration could be delayed until 2028.

The suspension applies to members of Georgian official delegations, government and parliamentary officials, Constitutional and Supreme Court judges, and holders of diplomatic passports.

Ordinary Georgian citizens will retain visa-free travel to the EU for short-term trips.

The ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, has drawn criticism for steering Georgia closer to Russia while hindering its EU accession.

A controversial foreign agents law adopted earlier in 2024 led the EU to freeze Georgia’s membership process effectively, while a package of anti-LGBTQ laws further exacerbated the crisis.

EU to continue talks with Ukraine on gas supplies to Europe, including Hungary, Slovakia, Reuters reports

“The (European) Commission is ready to continue discussions with Ukraine on the supply to Europe through the gas pipeline system in Ukraine,” the statement said.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Kremlin backs Lukashenko's 'victory' in Belarus election, dismisses Western criticism

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:50:52 +0100

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 Vladimir Putin’s closest ally, was declared the winner with 86.82% of the vote.

“The elections in Belarus were transparent and absolutely legitimate. Moscow does not take into account the expected criticism of the elections in Belarus in the West,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media.

Lukashenko competed for the presidency against regime-approved candidates Sergey Syrankov, who secured 3.21% of the vote, and Oleg Gaidukevich, who received 2%, while 3.6% of ballots reportedly voted “against all."

EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, criticized Lukashenko ahead of the election, denouncing it as a sham and an affront to democracy.

“Lukashenko has clung to power for 30 years. This is a blatant affront to democracy. Lukashenko doesn’t have any legitimacy,” she said.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who contested the 2020 election, condemned the results, calling the vote a “special operation” to illegally maintain power.

The 2020 election, marked by mass protests and a violent crackdown, became pivotal in Belarus' history. Lukashenko claimed victory despite widespread evidence of fraud, while Tsikhanouskaya asserted she won 60% of the vote.

Since then, over 60,000 Belarusians have been detained for political reasons, according to the human rights group Viasna.

Belarus releases American citizen amid controversial election

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio identified the U.S. citizen as Anastassia Nuhfer, who was detained in early December 2024.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Lukashenko declares himself 'winner' of Belarus’s presidential vote blasted as sham

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 07:19:04 +0100

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 “won” 86.82% of the vote, followed by regime-approved and little-known candidates like Sergey Syrankov with 3.21% or Oleg Gaidukevich with 2.02%. Some 3.6% of the ballots voted “against all."

“You can congratulate the Republic of Belarus, we have elected a president,” said Igor Karpenko, the head of the electoral commission, early on Jan. 27. The commission claimed a 85.7% turnout.

Lukashenko, the country’s leader since 1994 and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally, has long been accused of staging fraudulent elections in Belarus.

In 2020, during the last presidential election, Lukashenko maintained power despite the country’s most prominent opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, receiving popular support. The now-exiled opposition leader said she won with 60% of the vote.

Following the fabricated results in 2020, mass protest erupted in Minsk but were ultimately quelled with the support of Russia. According to the Belarusian human rights group Viasna, over 60,000 citizens have been detained for political reasons since the 2020 election.

Tsikhanouskaya responded to the election results on Jan. 26 by condemning the legitimacy of the vote and rejecting Lukashenko as president.

“These are not elections but a ‘special operation’ to illegally cling to power. Lukashenko, propped up by Putin, holds 9 million Belarusians hostage, drags us into war, and betrays our sovereignty,” she wrote on X.

“He does not represent Belarus. The regime must end its repressions, release political prisoners, and be held accountable for its crimes. Belarusians will prevail!"

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, echoed similar sentiments on X on Jan. 25.

“Lukashenko has clung to power for 30 years. Tomorrow, he’ll reappoint himself in yet another sham election. This is a blatant affront to democracy. Lukashenko doesn’t have any legitimacy,” she said.

Notably, Lukashenko declined to invite a mission from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the country’s presidential election.

On Nov. 22, state-run news outlet Belta reported that Lukashenko may completely shut down the internet during the 2025 presidential elections if protests similar to those in 2020 arise.

“If this (the protests) happens again, we will shut the internet down completely,” Lukashenko said, admitting that internet shutdowns during the 2020 protests were carried out with his approval.

While Belarus has not directly participated in the war against Ukraine, it has allowed the Kremlin to use its territory as a staging ground for its operations. The country is also reportedly hosting Russian tactical nuclear arms on its territory.

Photos of jailed Belarusian opposition leader appear after almost 2 years of no news

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 Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Belarus releases American citizen amid controversial election

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 03:17:00 +0100

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.

Rubio identified the U.S. citizen as Anastassia Nuhfer, who was detained during former President Joe Biden’s tenure. He did not provide details on the timing or reasons for her arrest.

Rubio’s statement followed a series of prisoner releases by Lukashenko, often referred to as “Europe’s last dictator.”

Belarus' oldest human rights group, Viasna, reports that over 1,250 individuals remain in detention for opposing the government. Lukashenko’s opponents, many imprisoned or exiled due to his ongoing crackdown on dissent, have condemned Sunday’s election as fraudulent. The 2020 election, which sparked months of mass protests, has been widely criticized for its lack of legitimacy.

The U.S. State Department later confirmed that Nuhfer had been detained in early December 2024, according to the Associated Press. Earlier this month, a consular officer from Washington gained rare access to her in detention.

A former high-ranking Belarusian diplomat told the Associated Press that Nuhfer’s arrest was tied to the 2020 protests, though they did not provide further details. The diplomat, speaking anonymously due to security concerns, added that Lukashenko offered to release Nuhfer “as a gesture of goodwill” but refused to free any Belarusian opposition or rights activists.

Lukashenko’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine has strained Belarus’ relations with both the U.S. and the EU, ending his previous attempts to leverage Western support for more subsidies from Moscow.

It remains unclear what, if any, concessions Belarus may have sought in exchange for releasing Nuhfer.

Belarus Weekly: Belarus to host over 13,000 Russian troops for Zapad-2025 joint military drills

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. Subscribe to the NewsletterBelarus Weekly Join us…

The Kyiv IndependentMaria Yeryoma

Lukashenko poised to secure 7th term in Belarus 'sham' election

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:58:00 +0100

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 preliminary results announced by the country’s Central Election Commission on Monday.

The 70-year-old leader, who has ruled since 1994, faced no real competition, as key opposition figures are either imprisoned or living in exile following years of political repression.

Lukashenko’s 2020 re-election, widely criticized as fraudulent, sparked unprecedented protests in Belarus, leading to over 65,000 arrests and widespread reports of police brutality. Western nations responded with sanctions and condemnation.

The president, who has relied heavily on Russian subsidies and backing to maintain his grip on power, campaigned this time on a platform of “peace and security.” Lukashenko justified his close alliance with Moscow, which included allowing Russia to use Belarusian territory to launch its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons. “It’s better to have a dictatorship like in Belarus than a democracy like Ukraine,” Lukashenko said during his campaign.

Observers suggest the election date was strategically moved to January, avoiding the warmer months when protests might have been more likely. Economic challenges and the ongoing war in Ukraine have heightened tensions in Belarus, but the government ensured no significant opposition emerged in the lead-up to the vote.

On election day, Lukashenko engaged in a four-hour press conference where he dismissed criticism about the fairness of the election. Asked about the absence of opposition figures, he replied: “Some chose prison, some chose ‘exile,’ as you say. We didn’t kick anyone out of the country.” He also denied allegations of suppressing dissent, claiming opponents had made their own decisions regarding their fate.

Belarus Weekly: Belarus to host over 13,000 Russian troops for Zapad-2025 joint military drills

The Kyiv IndependentMaria Yeryoma

Zelensky backs Slovak protests as Fico criticizes opposition, organizers

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 19:47:00 +0100

“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 protests were also sparked by Fico’s visit to Moscow in late December, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin—a rare trip to the Kremlin by a European Union leader since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Fico reportedly criticized Zelensky for supporting protests against Slovakia’s government. According to Aktuality, Fico dismissed Zelensky’s comment on X as “laughable” and called it “an inappropriate interference in the internal affairs of the Slovak Republic.” He added that he currently has no plans to meet with Zelensky.

Commenting on the protests, Fico accused the organizers of misleading participants and claimed that a third of those attending the demonstrations were allegedly Ukrainians.

The Kyiv Independent can’t immediately verify this information.

Organized by the “Peace to Ukraine” initiative and opposition parties, the protests drew significant crowds on Jan. 24, including an estimated 60,000 participants in Bratislava’s Freedom Square.

Fico, who has been critical of Western support for Ukraine, accused opposition leader Michal Simecka on Jan. 18 of plotting to overthrow the government. Fico based his accusations on a confidential report from the country’s intelligence service, which he presented in parliament last week.

In a Facebook address, Fico claimed that Simecka was “kissing Zelensky’s ring” and pledging support for Ukraine’s NATO membership.

Simecka, leader of the pro-Western Progressive Slovakia party, recently led a delegation of opposition lawmakers to Kyiv on Jan. 17 to reestablish Slovakia’s support for Ukraine.

Investigation: How Russia profits from arms exports to Saudi Arabia despite sanctions — leaked emails

The Kyiv IndependentAlisa Yurchenko

Move over Elon; Ukrainian fungus can help us get to Mars.

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 15:00:07 +0100

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 lives? Upgrade now.

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A Photo on display at the Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv. (Photo by Francois Lochon/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Space is deadly silent, just like the Chornobyl exclusion zone.

There is something spooky about the emptiness of both: these great expanses where no human life can exist, the desolation of the void.

"It feels like a cemetery. This area could have had a future, but it was lost because of the accident," says Olena Pareniuk, a Ukrainian radiobiologist.

Despite the nuclear disaster, Olena is among many that believe Chornobyl has a future far beyond our planet. If one day humans can conquer the exclusion zone, we can conquer even greater frontiers, including outer space.

In 1991, five years after the accident at the nuclear power plant that caused a massive release of radiation, remote-controlled robots discovered black fungus on the walls of the destroyed reactor.

Scientists were baffled. Not only did the microorganisms survive in what seemed to be an uninhabitable environment, but they also began to ‘grow’ toward the radiation source, which would later inspire applications beyond Earth.

This is a plate culture of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).

Ukraine has cultivated unique microbial habitats that exist nowhere else in the world, paving the way for advances in space exploration and the development of new technologies. Using microorganisms, such as radiotrophic fungi from the Chornobyl zone, Ukraine is contributing to the exploration of space – and could even help humanity travel to Mars.

Since the first sighting of black fungi in the reactor, Ukrainian scientists have regularly visited the plant to study these organisms' ability to thrive under extreme radiation. Eventually, a team led by Ukrainian scientist Nelli Zhdanova identified more than 200 species of fungi at the site. Many of them were rich in melanin—a pigment also found in humans that gives color to skin, eyes, and hair, while also protecting the body from ultraviolet radiation.

It was then proposed that these fungi could grow due to the interaction between melanin and radiation.

In 2007, this theory was further confirmed when an American research team obtained some of their own mushroom samples from Chornobyl. They found that three species of fungi with the pigment melanin — Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Wangiella dermatitidis and Cryptococcus neoformans — grew faster and accumulated nutrients (acetate) in an environment with extremely high radiation levels. In this case, they were growing in locations where the radiation was 500 times higher than normal.

This process was similar to photosynthesis in plants. Only this was radiosynthesis, in which the fungi converted dangerous radiation into chemical energy to help them grow.

"No normal biological process is designed to handle such high doses of radiation. But our planet is remarkable in how life adapts to everything," Olena Pareniuk explained to The Counteroffensive.

Ukrainian radiobiologist Olena Pareniuk, 2022. This photo was taken from her social media.

From an early age, Olena Pareniuk's life has been intertwined with Chornobyl. She was born in Zhytomyr, not far from the exclusion zone, and her family members worked in areas of contamination after the explosion.

Due to her family’s background, in the eighth grade Olena became interested in radiobiology, the study of the effects of radiation on living organisms. She hasn’t looked back since.

Since 2008, Olena Pareniuk has been studying microorganisms in the Chornobyl zone, specifically bacteria. She later became the first to publish a study on the diversity of bacteria inside a destroyed nuclear reactor. She was also among the Ukrainian scientists who helped address the Fukushima catastrophe.

Her meeting with one of the Japanese professors was a turning point. He invited Olena to a private space conference, where the scientist was inspired by the idea of turning Chornobyl into a space research laboratory and offering scientists from around the world access to it. In particular, she is convinced that Chornobyl can contribute to the exploration of Mars.

"I listened to what kind of radiation they were studying, what kinds of energies they were dealing with, and what difficulties they were facing... And I thought, 'Oh my God, we have their ‘space’ for free,'" Olena noted.

The question of colonizing Mars has been debated for decades. Elon Musk, who aims to be a pioneer with his SpaceX Red Planet project, makes quite optimistic predictions. He plans to land on Mars within four years, and people will start living there in about twenty years. On the other hand, NASA, which is working with SpaceX, believes that any idea of going to a neighboring planet by 2040 would be "audacious."

That’s because humans face many challenges before colonizing Mars.

One of them is how to deal with cosmic radiation.

In some ways, Earth is lucky. Thanks to its strong magnetosphere, our planet is protected from dangerous radiation, particularly radiation from solar flares and galactic cosmic rays.

SpaceX's Starship rocket launches from Starbase during its second test flight in Boca Chica, Texas, on November 18, 2023. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

This is not the case on Mars, which has no protective magnetic field. As a result, everything—spacecraft, rovers, and humans themselves — will be exposed to much higher levels of radiation. During a single trip to a neighboring planet and back, humans risk receiving 60 percent of the maximum amount of radiation deemed safe for a lifetime. Such high levels of radiation could render mission participants mentally and physically incapacitated.

However, a discovery made at Chornobyl — radiotrophic fungi — may help solve the problem. One such species is Cladosporium sphaerospermum. In the winter of 2018-2019, samples of this fungus were delivered to the International Space Station.

The idea was to test the fungus's potential as an inexpensive and lightweight material for radiation shielding. It was a way of killing two birds with one stone — addressing both the safety and cost issues facing the Mars mission.

Radiation exposure aboard the space station is low compared to other parts of space, but it is still many times higher than on Earth’s surface. Under these conditions, fungal spores were tested on the space station for about a month. The study showed that fungi are able to adapt to microgravity and grow under the influence of cosmic radiation. A layer just over 20 centimeters thick of such fungi would be enough to protect space travelers.

Cladosporium sphaerospermum, a fungus that can be used for radiation shielding. Source: www.biorxiv.org

In addition, Chornobyl fungus is self-replicating and self-healing. This means that astronauts may be able to grow new radiation shielding during deep space missions. Only a small amount is needed, which can then grow vigorously. This eliminates the dependence on interplanetary supplies, which are complex and expensive. And even if the shield is damaged, it will repair itself in a few days thanks to these properties.

"You can use fungus or mold as a shield on living modules. You create a gap between the inside and outside the module, fill it with some nutrients, and then radiotrophic microorganisms can reduce the exposure dose [a measure of the radiation level in the environment],” notes Olena Pareniuk.

However, according to preliminary estimates, many microorganisms would need to be grown. To live on Mars in a radiation environment similar to Earth's, habitats should be covered with a layer of radio-synthesizing fungi biomass that is more than two meters thick.

But, according to Olena, the potential of Chornobyl is huge. It’s not just about using fungi that absorb radiation. Chornobyl can become a hub for testing materials and conducting other biological research — an additional link before sending something into space.

For example, you can grow cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which could be used as food when people begin colonizing Mars. At Chornobyl, people would be able to study whether they could survive high doses of radiation and whether they mutate.

Or we can research the effects of radiation on humans. According to Olena, no one has definitively studied whether the degradation of brain cells will begin while astronauts travel to Mars for months.

The new sarcophagus of reactor number 4 is seen from Pripyat.(Photo by Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Of course, the conditions in space are different from those in the sarcophagus of the Chornobyl reactor. But according to Olena, if the ideas don’t work on Earth, they won’t work in space.

These ideas are now waiting for a better time: the era of post-war rebuilding. Chornobyl is currently a highly militarized area, so its access is restricted.

During the full-scale invasion, it was occupied by Russia. Its troops stole all the equipment they could find. Olena recalls that a local employee managed to enter the lab where she works, and put up "Radioactive" signs. This is the only thing that saved at least something from the Russians.

So, Olena’s Сhornobyl space project, which has not yet started, is on hold. The war has also made its own adjustments to Olena's scientific life. She now focuses on advocacy work. The war has brought new challenges — nuclear security in the face of Russian terror.

But she believes that one day, Ukraine will return to her concept, and help the whole world explore into the unknown.

"I have always been annoyed by statements that we are unhappy. No doubt, [Chornobyl] is a tragedy. But we already have it, and we must find a way to benefit from it," Olena says.

NEWS OF THE DAY:

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

U.S. TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS AID TO UKRAINE: The new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has issued an order that immediately suspends funding for most foreign aid programs over the next 90 days, and appears to apply to Ukraine, Politico reported. The only exceptions are military funding for Israel and Egypt.

An unnamed USAID official told Reuters that staff responsible for projects in Ukraine have been ordered to stop all work. Support for schools and health assistance, such as emergency maternity care and child vaccinations, are among the frozen projects in Ukraine, the official said.

However, according to Zelenskyy, military aid will continue to be delivered to Ukraine.

U.S. BANS REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is terminating several programs that allowed refugees to resettle in the country temporarily. This includes the Unite for Ukraine initiative, which permitted Ukrainians to enter the U.S. if they had financial sponsors. The program was launched under President Biden’s administration. As of September 2023, more than 150,000 Ukrainians have been able to come to the United States under this program.

UKRAINIAN INTEL ATTACKS RUSSIAN COMMS: HUR allegedly carried out a massive cyberattack on one of Russia's largest mobile and internet operators, Ukrainian media reported. Specifically, the DDoS attack affected the following companies: ‘MegaFon,’ ‘Yota,’ and ‘NetByNet.’

On the morning of January 24, residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and many central regions of the Russian Federation began to complain about poor internet connectivity and communication issues. Additionally, Russians lost access to services such as Steam, Twitch, and Discord. According to Ukrainian intelligence, these platforms are actively used by Russian special services.

SLOVAKIA PROTESTS PRO-RUSSIAN PM: Mass protests against pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico have erupted in Slovakia under the slogan “Slovakia is Europe.” The protesters are demanding his resignation and a shift in the country’s policy of rapprochement with Moscow. Over 100,000 people have taken to the streets in 30 cities across Slovakia. Slovaks also held rallies in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Ireland.

Cat of Conflict

Today's Cat of Conflict is a gray kitten who pretended to be sad and stole a piece of Mariana's grilled meat.

Stay safe out there.

Best,

Mariana

Foreign Ministry rejects Slovak PM's unfounded Ukrainian cyberattack claim

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 04:15:43 +0100

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 reject the hints of Ukraine’s involvement in the cyberattack against a health insurance company in Slovakia,” the statement said.

The Ministry also called on Fico to stop portraying Ukraine as an enemy.

“We once again call on the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, to stop looking for imaginary enemies in Ukraine, which is friendly to Slovakia and the Slovak people.”

Fico made the allegation during an urgent press conference, offering no evidence to support his claim.

Meanwhile, widespread protests against Fico’s government are underway, and the opposition is pushing for a vote of no confidence.

Protesters, which erupted in more than 20 cities, chanted slogans like “Enough of Fico” and “We are Europe,” expressing discontent with the prime minister’s policies and pro-Russian rhetoric.

The demonstrations drew significant crowds, with organizers claiming 60,000 participants in Bratislava’s Freedom Square.

NATO chief urges US to keep arming Ukraine, pledges European funding

“If this new Trump administration is willing to keep on supplying Ukraine, the bill will be paid by the Europeans,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

'Enough of Fico' — Slovaks flood the streets in nationwide anti-government protests

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 20:58:09 +0100

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 Fico” and “We are Europe,” expressing discontent with the prime minister’s policies and pro-Russian rhetoric.

Organized by the “Peace to Ukraine” initiative and opposition parties, the demonstrations drew significant crowds, with organizers claiming 60,000 participants in Bratislava’s Freedom Square.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these numbers.

Fico, who has been critical of Western support for Ukraine, accused opposition leader Michal Simecka on Jan. 18 of plotting to overthrow the government.

In a Facebook address, Fico claimed that Simecka was “kissing Zelensky’s ring” and pledging support for Ukraine’s NATO membership.

Simecka, leader of the pro-Western Progressive Slovakia party, recently led a delegation of opposition lawmakers to Kyiv on Jan. 17 to reestablish Slovakia’s support for Ukraine.

Fico likened the opposition’s actions to Ukraine’s EuroMaidan Revolution, alleging they were preparing to stage a coup in Bratislava.

Fico’s government has faced criticism for its perceived alignment with Russian interests, contrasting with the pro-Western orientation of opposition leaders like Simecka.

What leverage does Trump have over Putin in peace negotiations? Quite a lot, experts say

Only days after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House, he dialed up the heat on Russia with a threat of sanctions, tariffs, and negotiating “the hard way” if Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to come to the table for a peace deal with Ukraine. Trump has

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

Early voting begins in Belarusian presidential election

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:14:15 +0100

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 Belarusian history. Most Western governments refused to recognize the 2020 election results and do not consider Alexander Lukashenko the country’s legitimate leader.

Lukashenko, who has been in power in Belarus since 1994, announced last year that he intended to run again in the Jan. 26 presidential election.

Meanwhile, human rights activists call the early election procedure one of the mechanisms of vote rigging, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

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Up to 40% of voters usually take part in early voting, and the executive branch determines the number of people who are supposed to participate. Early voting plans are distributed among regions and enterprises, effectively forcing citizens to vote during this period, according to the media outlet.

Elections in Belarus "no longer fulfill their functions but are used by the authoritarian government to show a positive picture of general support and thus legalize the authoritarian government," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported, citing human rights activists.

Lukashenko claimed victory in the 2020 presidential election, which was widely denounced as rigged in his favor. It was followed by mass protests across the country, which were brutally suppressed by the authorities. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who leads Belarusian democratic forces in exile, said she had won 60% of the vote.

The Belarusian dictator is also a close ally of Russia and has backed Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, providing Belarusian territory as a staging area for Russian invasion troops in 2022. Russia has also been using Belarus to launch missiles against Ukraine.

‘You’ll die here’ – Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenko’s reelection

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

The Week Ahead: Key Developments Impacting Global Politics & Markets

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 20:18:41 +0100

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 Sunday.

The global spotlight will be fixed firmly on Washington D.C. next week as Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on Jan. 20. This is perhaps the most anticipated event of the year, with allies and adversaries bracing for potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy and its impact on global power dynamics.

On the same day, the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will start in Davos, Switzerland, centered around the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.” The forum will run from Jan. 20 to Jan. 24 and focus on adapting economies to anticipated geopolitical shifts and technological advances, including artificial intelligence.

Additionally, European MEPs will gear up for the Jan. 20-23 plenary session at the European Parliament to address the ongoing repression in Belarus and vote on a resolution condemning Russia’s disinformation and historical distortions used to justify its war against Ukraine.

On Jan. 22, the Polish PM, Donald Tusk, will present the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to the plenary of the European Parliament. The address is expected to focus on European security, emphasizing Polish strategic objectives during its tenure (Ukraine will be looking for indications of Poland’s willingness to help fast-track its negotiation clusters and speeding up EU accession).

On Jan. 22, Ukraine marks Unity Day, commemorating the 1919 unification treaty between the West Ukrainian People’s Republic and Ukrainian People’s Republic (the union lasted until 1921). This will be followed by a series of historical dates, culminating with the 3rd anniversary of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 and the war’s entry into its 2nd decade on Feb. 27.

The week will then be capped off by the Presidential “election” in Belarus on Jan. 26 with Alexander Lukashenko set for another five-year term. Due to the severe political repression in the country, major protests are unlikely.

If you have an upcoming event that you would like featured in our newsletter, please get in touch via insights@kyivindependent.com.

Other Events and Milestones:

Jan. 21, 17:00-18:00 (EET): An in-person Q&A Session “How Tech Companies Become Global Leaders” with Hanna Shuvalova, Principal at Horizon Capital, will be run by Diia.City. Register here.
Jan. 24, 14:00–15:00 (EET): Meeting “Key WEF Takeaways for Businesses.” Hosted by the European Business Association and Global Business for Ukraine, focusing on insights from the World Economic Forum in Davos. Register here.
Jan. 25, 10:30 (EET): Conference “U-Nation Startup & Innovation” in Odesa. The fifth annual event at Bristol Hotel, Italiiska Street 15, showcasing startups and innovations. Register here.

What’s the Buzz in Davos:

Jan. 21, 16:30-17:30 (EET): Panel “In It to Win It: How Ukrainian DefenceTech is Transforming the War, Ukraine, and the World.” Hosted by Ukraine House Davos, exploring the innovations and resilience of Ukrainian DefenseTech.
Jan. 21, 19:30-20:30 (EET): Panel “INVICTUS. Unleashing War-Wounded’s Superpowers.” Hosted by Ukraine House Davos, focusing on empowering war-wounded individuals.
Jan. 22, 10:00–11:00 (EET): Gathering “Shaping the Future of GovTech: Launch of the Global GovTech Board and the Power of Global Collaboration." will be held in Ukraine House Davos, Switzerland. Organized by the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
Jan. 22, 14:00–15:00 (EET): Panel Discussion “Investing in Ukraine’s Economic Resilience Today and Creating Foundations for Growth, Recovery and Reconstruction.” Focusing on Ukraine’s recovery and future development.
Jan. 22, 17:30–18:30 (EET): Panel “Insurance Programs Accelerating New Investments and Supporting Ukraine’s Economic Recovery.” Organized in collaboration with Marsh McLennan.
Jan. 23, 14:00–15:00 (EET): Panel “Ukraine: A $12 Trillion Critical Mineral Superpower.” Co-hosted by BGV GROUP MANAGEMENT, highlighting Ukraine’s potential in critical minerals.
Jan. 23, 15:30–16:30 (EET): Panel “Leadership, Competitiveness, Sustainability: Success Stories of Ukraine’s Top Investors and Enterprises.” Featuring insights from Ukraine’s largest investors.

KI Insights

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2025 – A Turning Point for Ukraine

Editor’s note: This article is a special edition of the KI Insights’ The Week Ahead newsletter, looking at challenges and opportunities facing Ukraine in 2025. 2025 is gearing up to be a decisive year for Ukraine. The country’s leadership will need to navigate a turbulent international landscape, a…

The Kyiv IndependentKI Insights

Fico accuses Slovak opposition leader of 'kissing Zelensky's ring'

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 18:01:22 +0100

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 leader of the Progressive Slovakia party, headed a delegation of Slovak opposition MPs on a visit to Kyiv Jan. 17. The aim of the visit was to “reopen the door that Robert Fico slammed with his aggressive outbursts,” Simecka said.

In an address posted to Facebook late on Jan. 18, Fico said the delegates were “kissing (President Volodymyr) Zelensky’s ring” and “promising him support for Ukraine’s membership in NATO.”

Fico said the opposition wanted to stage a coup and alluded to Ukraine’s EuroMaidan revolution in his accusation.

“We are preparing for all possible alternatives,” he said.

“We will be ready for everything. Especially for Maidan, that is, a coup d’etat across the street, which the opposition, especially Progressive Slovakia, is so tenaciously trying to achieve.”

Fico, a pro-Russian politician who has long opposed military aid to Ukraine, has escalated threats against Kyiv following the termination of Russian gas transit via Ukrainian territory on Jan. 1. He has threatened to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies amid an energy crisis brought on by Russia’s relentless attacks against Ukraine’s power grid.

As tensions mount, Zelensky and Fico have signaled they may hold talks in the coming days. Fico told reporters on Jan. 16 that he might meet with Zelensky at an unspecified location in the “next few days.” Zelensky on Jan. 17 invited Fico to visit Kyiv.

In his address, Fico showed no signs of softening his rhetoric against Ukraine.

“Robert Fico is the Slovak Prime Minister, not a Ukrainian servant,” he said.

The prime minister said he would likely veto future financial aid to Ukraine from the European Union and reiterated his opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership.

“The government I lead will never support Ukraine’s membership in NATO, because it would only lead to World War III,” Fico said.

“The government will also never propose sending soldiers to Ukraine to turn their weapons against the Russian Federation.”

Fico’s friendliness towards the Kremlin has sparked outrage both at home and abroad. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in December drew condemnation from other European leaders. Mass protests erupted in Bratislava in early January, with thousands chanting “We are not Russia.”

A coalition of Slovak opposition parties announced on Jan. 14 that they planned to initiate a vote of no confidence in Fico’s government.

Zelensky slaps sanctions on Ukraine’s top pro-Russian politicians

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing new sanctions on Ukraine’s top pro-Russian politicians, he announced on Jan. 19.

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

24-year-old Belarusian volunteer soldier killed in action near Bakhmut

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 11:39:19 +0100

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 full-scale war and fought with the 2nd International Legion Battalion.

She turned 24 on Jan. 16, a day before she was killed by Russian forces.

In August 2020, Zaitseva participated in the protests in Minsk against alleged presidential election fraud in Belarus. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have won elections by a landslide with 80% of the vote, provoking nationwide protests and a subsequent regime crackdown on dissent.

During protests, fragments of a flash grenade severely injured Zaitseva’s arm and head. Her photo from the protests with her face covered in blood went viral.

“Gravely injured during the 2020 Belarus protests, she gave her life for freedom,” said Belarusian opposition leader Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya, describing Zaitseva as “an icon of our revolution."

This is utterly heartbreaking. Maria Zaitseva, an icon of our revolution, was killed at just 24 years old while defending 🇺🇦. Gravely injured during the 2020 Belarus protests, she gave her life for freedom. My deepest condolences to her family & friends at this unimaginable loss. pic.twitter.com/i7G7wAITrQ
— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) January 17, 2025

After being injured, Zaitseva was treated in the Czech Republic, where she underwent several surgeries. She said that the injury caused a hematoma in her brain. She also lost hearing in one ear.

Hundreds of Belarusians have joined the Ukrainian army since 2014, and over 60 of them have been killed in action, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. In Belarus, volunteer fighters risk imprisonment, and the Lukashenko regime harasses their families.

Belarusian soldiers fighting for Ukraine say time is running out for their brother-in-arms extradited to Belarus

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Belarus Week: Belarus to host over 13,000 Russian troops for Zapad-2025 joint military drills

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:41:51 +0100

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.

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Irregular crossings into EU from eastern borders more than triple in 2024, Frontex reports.

Belarusian state TV airs a propaganda film with jailed journalists, attempting to discredit their coverage of 2020 elections ahead of upcoming vote.

Belarusian opposition announced it will issue “New Belarus” passports, yet legal uncertainty remains for exiles.

`Belarus refuses to invite OSCE observers to upcoming election`

Minsk has not invited observers from the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions to monitor the upcoming presidential elections in Belarus, the OSCE announced on Jan. 9.

The presidential elections, which are expected to provide Belarus’s longtime dictator Alexander Lukashenko with a seventh term in office, are scheduled for Jan. 26. The poll, dismissed as a “sham” by the Belarusian opposition, will be the first presidential race since the 2020 election — which sparked an unprecedented wave of anti-government protests and an ongoing domestic political crisis.

The OSCE said Belarus’ decision not to invite its member states via the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) was “regrettable” and “deprives the country’s citizens of a transparent and full assessment of the entire process.”

“The lack of transparency further undermines faith in the electoral system of Belarus,” said OSCE PA President Pia Kauma.

This is the third time the office will be unable to observe elections in Belarus since the contested 2020 vote — it was not invited to observe the 2022 constitutional referendum or parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a meeting with the chairs of regional executive committees on Jan. 3, Lukashenko mentioned the idea of inviting international observers, saying, “We should meet with the Central Commission once again and decide whether we will invite these foreigners (Western observers) to the elections.”

However, Lukashenko raised the issue less than three weeks before the elections, with the key stages of the campaign — the nomination of candidates, the formation of local electoral committees, and the selection of national observers — already having been carried out.

The rushed presidential election campaign is being held nearly half a year earlier than is stipulated in Belarus’s election law. The Belarusian Central Election Committee (CEC) cleared the heads of three loyalist parties — Aleh Haidukevich, Alexander Hizhnyak, and Siarhei Syrankou — along with another sham candidate representing the so-called “constructive opposition” — Hanna Kanapatskaya — to “challenge” Lukashenko for the presidency.

As of Jan. 8, the Belarusian Central Electoral Committee (CEC) had accredited 362 foreign observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (PA CSTO) — all Russia-led international alliances favoring the Lukashenko regime.

Among the 28,330 national observers, 79% come from political parties or pro-government professional unions, the independent news outlet Pozirk reports. Since 2020, Lukashenko has eliminated all but four loyal political parties and liquidated over 1,800 civil society organizations.

The expert observation mission organized by the Viasna Human Rights Center and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee claims that the electoral campaign is organized in a “repressive climate of threat, fear-mongering, pressure, and persecution in connection with any civil activity unauthorized by the state.”

Will Transnistria’s gas crisis lead to its collapse and reintegration into Moldova?

By halting natural gas supplies to Moldova on Jan. 1, Russia created an unprecedented economic crisis in the Russian-occupied part of the country — Transnistria. The crisis prompted a question: will the breakaway region, occupied by Russia since 1992, survive without Russian gas? Free-of-charge Ru…

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

`Minsk expects 13,000 Russian troops to take part in joint military drills in 2025`

Over 13,000 Russian troops will participate in the Zapad-2025 joint military exercise, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced on Jan. 10, citing Major General Valery Revenka.

Military allies Russia and Belarus have been conducting the Zapad (“West” in Russian) strategic drills every two years since 2009. Approximately 12,800 Russian soldiers were hosted in Belarus in 2021. Another military drill, “Union Resolve 2022,” followed the Zapad-2021, and was used to disguise a troop buildup on the Ukrainian border ahead of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.

In an interview with a state-owned TV channel, Major General Revenka said that Belarus has already notified OSCE member states about the drills in line with the Vienna Document, extending an invitation to “allies, friends, partners” to observe the exercises.

According to Revenka, Belarus “views positively” only some EU and NATO member countries — without specifying which ones. Noting that Belarus had not been invited to observe European military drills last year, Revenka said that a decision regarding an invitation to NATO members remained to be taken.

The date of the Zapad-2025 drills has not officially been announced, but they are believed to be scheduled for September 2025. In October 2024, the Belarusian Air Force announced “major drills with Russia in September 2025,” right after a meeting of the joint board of the Belarusian and Russian Defense Ministries approved a concept plan for the Zapad-2025 joint strategic exercise.

The Vienna Document on security and confidence-building requires its members to provide notification 42 days or more prior to holding military drills.

Aside from Zapad-2025, Belarus plans to host three military drills — Search, Interaction, and Echelon — along with members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russia-led bloc Moscow set up in 2002, over a decade after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.

While not committing Belarusian troops to Russia’s war on Ukraine, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a jumping off point for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, provided supplies to the Russian army, and offered to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

`EU diplomatic staffer in Belarus sentenced to 4 years in prison`

Minsk City Court has handed down a four-year prison sentence to a local staff member of the European Union’s diplomatic service in Belarus, Politico reported on Jan. 9.

The sentence, issued in late December 2024, has only now been made public. The court found the EU staffer, Mikalai Khilo, guilty of “incitement of hatred and calls for actions harming Belarus’s national security.”

The EU’s External Action Service condemned the decision and reiterated calls for Khilo to be released.

“We continue calling for Mikalai Khilo’s immediate and unconditional release,” EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anitta Hipper said in a statement shared with Politico.

The EU diplomatic service previously called for Khilo’s release ahead of his trial, which was held on Dec. 23. At the time, a Lithuanian member of the European Parliament, Petras Auštrevičius, told Politico that Minsk was “testing the EU” by arresting its employee. He said Belarusian diplomats should be expelled from the EU if Khilo was convicted.

Forty-one-year-old Khilo split his time between working for the EU diplomatic mission and serving as a preacher in a local Baptist church, as confirmed by CV (formerly known as Christian Vision) — an international Christian ministry that monitors the repression of clergy and religious groups.

According to an unnamed EU official, Khilo was detained by the Belarusian KGB security service in front of the EU delegation office on April 24, 2024. The Viasna Human Rights Center, a human rights organization based in Belarus, recognizes Khilo as a political prisoner.

Although there have recently been eight rounds of pardons of political prisoners in Belarus, 1,240 political prisoners remain behind bars in the country. According to CV, 86 clergymen from various confessions are behind bars because of their public support for anti-government protests in 2020.

‘You’ll die here’ – Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenko’s reelection

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

`EU border agency: Irregular crossings of eastern border more than tripled in 2024`

The number of detected cases of migrants irregularly entering the European Union through its eastern borders more than tripled in 2024, to 17,000, the European border agency Frontex said in a report on Jan. 14.

Following the introduction of European sanctions in 2021 over the contested 2020 presidential election and crackdown on dissent, the regime of Lukashenko orchestrated an artificial migration crisis, allowing migrants from the Middle East and African to storm Belarus-EU borders.

Frontex preliminary data show that while the overall number of irregular border crossings to the European Union declined by 38% (returning to the post-pandemic level of 2021), the eastern border route (including Belarus and Ukraine) bucked the general trend: There were 17,000 illegal crossings of the bloc’s eastern border out of a total of 239,000 crossings recorded in Europe last year.

A woman holds barbed wire while attending a demonstration against the Polish government's plans to suspend the right to asylum for refugees illegally crossing the Polish-Belarusian border, Krakow, Poland on Oct. 28, 2024. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In 2021, the EU recorded 8,000 illegal crossings of its eastern border, in what Frontex monitoring described as a “hybrid operation targeting the EU external border.” Following an initial settlement that led to a decline in the registered irregular border crossings to 5,608 in 2023, the artificial migration crisis reignited again, with Russia joining the effort.

In late 2024, the EU authorities revealed that 90% of the migrants arriving via Belarus had Russian student or travel visas. The bloc pledged 170 million euros to its eastern members — Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, and Finland — and to Norway to fortify their borders.

As “hybrid warfare” involving migrants continues, the border security agencies of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia have thwarted a total of 36,291 attempts to illegally cross their borders from Belarus in 2024.

In 2024, Poland reimposed a 200-meter-wide buffer zone next to its border with Belarus, and considered temporarily suspending the right to asylum.

`Belarusian state TV shows jailed journalists ahead of 2025 vote`

The Belarusian state-owned TV channel ONT aired on Jan. 14 the first segment of propaganda interviews with journalists held in Belarusian prisons, in an apparent attempt to discredit the work of independent media during the 2020 presidential elections.

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, widely viewed as neither free nor fair, the free media field in Belarus was eradicated. Thirty-seven journalists remain behind bars on politically motivated charges, and hundreds were forced into exile. In 2024 alone, 35 independent media were branded as “extremist” and banned in Belarus.

The first part of the series “about employees of American Media,” was filmed in prisons, yet is titled “Freedom of Speech.” RFE/RL’s Belarus Service freelancer and political prisoner Andrey Kuznechyk, who was charged with six years of imprisonment for allegedly “creating and participating in an extremist formation.”

In the interview, Kuznechyk appears in a black robe in the prison yard, looking emaciated. The interviewer urges him to condemn the independent media in Belarus for biased coverage and “trying to set Belarus on fire” during the 2020 elections.

The program is airing ahead of the Jan. 26 presidential elections, the first presidential vote since the contested 2020 race, which is expected to provide Lukashenko with a seventh consecutive term in office. After winning the country’s first and last fair election in 1994, Lukashenko remained in power for 30 years, gradually giving up parts of Belarusian sovereignty to Russia.

Other segments are to feature RFE/RL Belarus Service journalist Ihar Losik, who has been held incommunicado for nearly two years, as well as former reporter Ihar Karney and opposition activist Yuras Zyankovich, who hold dual citizenship of Belarus and the United States.

The international press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) placed Belarus 167th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index, calling the country the fourth largest jailer of journalists in the world, and Europe's most dangerous country for journalists up until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

`Belarusian opposition announces issuing ‘New Belarus’ passports`

Political opponents of the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko will start accepting applications for the alternative identity documents for exiled Belarusians on Jan. 26, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has announced on her Telegram channel.

In September 2023, Lukashenko barred Belarusian embassies from issuing or renewing passports of Belarusians living abroad, forcing the regime’s critics to return to Belarus — risking arrest — to renew their essential documents. As a result of Lukashenko’s move, over 300,000 exiles who have fled Belarus since the contested 2020 elections risk finding themselves in legal limbo, unable to prove their identity, renew residence permits, or access essential services in host countries with expired passports.

In response, the Belarusian opposition in exile announced the “New Belarus” passport project in 2023, but there was little progress on it in 2024. After a change of leadership of the project and a scandal involving the Lithuanian contractor for producing the passports — which was found to have ties with the Lukashenko regime — the opposition has since produced the first prototypes of the passport.

However, the new document has yet to be recognized as suitable for travel or as official proof of identity, and it will initially be available only to EU-based Belarusians due to verification constraints, according to project head Marius Gudelaitis.

Franak Viachorka, a chief advisor to Tsikhanouskaya, said that the passports will have “specific functionality” within a year.

“Our goal is that this document can replace a foreign passport, be used for travel, and also replace expired (Belarusian) passports when submitting documents for legalization, for example,” Viachorka told news outlet Zerkalo.

However, the former head of the passport project, Valery Kavaleuski, who earlier resigned from Tsikhanouskaya’s Transitional Cabinet, has warned that gaining recognition for the document under present conditions is unlikely. According to Kavaleuski, the issuing center has had to undergo an independent audit before issuing the documents. Besides, the passport will reportedly use a new country code, instead of the existing Belarusian one, which Kavaleuski described as a "dead end" for the recognition process.

The passport will be presented to the public at the “Belarusians Deserve Better” congress in Warsaw, Poland on Jan. 26 – the same day as Lukashenko's latest presidential election, which has been dismissed as a sham by the Belarusian opposition. Meanwhile, Belarusian prosecutors have already issued warnings that congress participants could face criminal prosecution.

Belarusian soldiers fighting for Ukraine say time is running out for their brother-in-arms extradited to Belarus

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Slovak opposition announces no-confidence vote against PM

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 22:08:37 +0100

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. 14.

The opposition — Progressive Slovakia, Freedom and Solidarity, the Christian Democrats, and others — criticized Fico for undermining Slovakia’s pro-European stance and failing to address domestic issues such as healthcare, rising prices, and administrative inefficiencies.

Opposition leader Michal Simecka of Progressive Slovakia accused Fico of steering Slovakia toward pro-Russian policies. “Fico has left Slovakia,” Simecka said, referencing the prime minister’s recent travels, including a controversial visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Fico’s Kremlin-friendly stance has drawn widespread criticism, with accusations that he prioritizes ties with autocratic regimes over Slovakia’s Western alliances.

Protests erupted in Slovakia’s capital on Jan. 3, with thousands chanting pro-EU slogans and condemning Fico’s policies.

The opposition has criticized Fico’s domestic governance, accusing him of neglecting pressing national issues while alienating Slovakia from its Western allies. “We will not allow Fico to turn Slovakia eastward,” Simecka said, as reported by Aktuality.

Efforts to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session to reaffirm Slovakia’s foreign policy orientation failed due to a lack of coalition support. The opposition now plans to use the no-confidence vote as a platform to challenge Fico’s policies and leadership.

Relations between Slovakia and Ukraine have deteriorated after Kyiv allowed a pre-war Russian gas transit deal to expire on Dec. 31, 2024. In retaliation, Fico threatened to reduce aid to Ukrainian refugees and cut electricity exports to Ukraine.

Before Fico’s government took power, Slovakia had been a leading supporter of Ukraine, delivering military aid and fighter jets.

Fico’s administration reversed this policy, halting arms shipments and adopting rhetoric critical of the West’s role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Public dissatisfaction with Fico’s policies has been growing, as demonstrated by the Bratislava protests. Demonstrators carried Slovak and EU flags, played the EU anthem, and displayed banners like “We are Europe” and “Fico, go to Moscow, leave Slovakia in peace."

Ukraine targets Russia’s industrial plants, ammunition depots in ‘massive’ strike overnight

Chemical plants, refineries, the Engels airbase, and other facilities in Russia were successfully targeted, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Russian-friendly incumbent Zoran Milanovic re-elected president of Croatia

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 01:09:47 +0100

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 of 74.7% to 25.3%, with 99% of polls reporting. The total turnout sat around 44% of eligible voters.

Milanovic is a staunch critic of Western aid for Ukraine as well as the country’s future accession into the military alliance. He previously referred to Ukraine’s 2014 Euromaidan protests as a “coup d’état” and has railed against Western allies and Ukraine for not respecting the Minsk Agreements.

In October, Milanovic refused to approve the participation of Croatian soldiers in NATO’s mission to support Ukraine.

Milanovic’s re-election to the largely symbolic position serves as a setback for Plenkovic’s government, whose government was recently embroiled in a corruption scandal implicating a former health minister.

Milanovic, who served as Croatia’s prime minister from 2011 to 2016 amid the country’s accession into the European Union, was first elected to the presidency in 2020 with the support of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“This is the beginning of the end for Andrej Plenkovic,” SDP leader Sinisa Hajdas Doncic said following Milanovic’s victory.

The Croatian government, mainly aligned with Plenkovic, has strongly supported military aid to Kyiv, including the delivery of 14 Mi-8 helicopters, and Plenkovic himself has made several visits to Ukraine.

Croatian president opposes country’s participation in NATO’s Ukraine mission

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has refused to approve the participation of Croatian soldiers in NATO’s mission to support Ukraine, citing concerns about the conflict potentially spreading to Croatia and prioritizing the safety of his country.

The Kyiv IndependentSonya Bandouil

Lukashenko refuses to invite OSCE observers to upcoming election

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 06:53:10 +0100

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.

Lukashenko has been in power for 30 years and is seeking a seventh term on Jan. 26. The regime’s election rigging in 2020 — the last time Belarus held a presidential vote — sparked mass protests and a subsequent violent crackdown.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said Minsk’s decision not to invite observers was “deeply regrettable” and a violation of the country’s international obligations.

“I deeply regret the decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE states through ODIHR to observe the forthcoming presidential election, depriving the country’s citizens of a transparent and full assessment of the entire process,” ODIHR Director Maria Telalian said.

“This decision underscores the continued lack of commitment by the Belarusian authorities to invite other OSCE states to observe and provide an independent view on whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and international democratic standards."

ODIHR said it had reached out to Belarusian officials over the past few months in efforts to secure an invitation to observe the elections, but received no offer.

OSCE monitors were also unable to observe the August 2020 election due to lack of a timely invitation, the organization said.

According to OSCE, the office is still monitoring events in Belarus, despite its inability to observe the Jan. 26 vote.

OSCE urges Tbilisi to institute reforms in final report on Georgian parliamentary elections

“To safeguard the democratic principles currently at stake in Georgia, it is imperative that the authorities urgently address all concerns,” OSCE representative Eoghan Murphy said.

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

“Dali: I will get my life back.” Kharkiv remembers poet, soldier Maksym Kryvtsov 1 year after he was killed in combat mission in Russia’s war

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:20:50 +0100

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 exhibition features photographs and personal belongings of the artist and soldier.

Kryvtsov was an activist in Euromaidan protests in 2013, and volunteered to join the army after Russia first invaded in 2014. He remained a soldier after the Russian full-scale invasion and wrote a poetry book “Poems from the Gunport" from the frontline that was published in 2023.

When the note of his death reached his mother, she wrote on her Facebook: “The violets will grow through my dear son’s body... Oh, God."

Visitors can join the exhibition "Dali: I Will Take Back My Life" at the Makers café on Skovorody Street, 36 in the city center of Kharkiv. It will be open until January 22.

A fragment of GM’s translation of one of Maksym Kryvtsov’s poems:

If war is a song,

then it’s a song without words,

a song without notes,

without music,

a song

that was sung before humans

before the world was made,

a song without song and a song of all songs.

The exhibition is part of nationwide activities organized in honor of Kryvtsov. Visitors will be able to donate and receive merchandise featuring Dali's quotes and drawings. The funds raised will support the activities of the charity fund bearing his name.

The memory platform Memorial was created to tell more people about Maksym's Kryvtsov. The authors of this project put together his biography facts, memories of relatives and friends about Maksym, and his poetry, and photos to reveal his personality and reconstruct his life path.

“Do not appease evil.” Ukraine’s public figures appeal to world leaders, urge against freezing war, concessions to Russia
In photos: Memorial to defenders of Ukraine opened in Kharkiv

The post “Dali: I will get my life back.” Kharkiv remembers poet, soldier Maksym Kryvtsov 1 year after he was killed in combat mission in Russia’s war appeared first on Gwara Media.

Garry Kasparov: 'You never hear Russian opposition actually say Ukraine must win'

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:30:08 +0100

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 President Vladimir Putin and his regime have petitioned for the West to lift sanctions imposed on Russia for the war it had begun and the war crimes it had committed.

Garry Kasparov, Russian chess grandmaster and political activist, is not among them. Supporting Ukraine militarily and making sure it wins is a moral imperative, says Kasparov.

A staunch critic of authoritarianism, Kasparov wrote about the dangers posed by Putin’s rule for years.

His 2015 book, “Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped,” outlined Russia’s political threat to global security.

Over the past three years, Kasparov has repeatedly argued that any chance at Russia becoming a democratic country not only requires its total military defeat but a shedding of its imperialistic legacy — a stance not widely embraced by other Russian opposition figures.

In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, Kasparov shared his thoughts on the current state of the Russian opposition, why they’re looking for a “good tsar” to replace Putin, and why he’ll push back at those who insist it’s “Putin’s war” rather than Russia’s war.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Kyiv Independent: Living in the West, you’re well-placed to comment on its perceptions of Russia. There are these centuries-old ideas like the “Russian soul” or the warning not to “poke the Russian bear."

Do you think the enduring popularity of these ideas has contributed to both the West’s fear of Russian escalation but also this misplaced compassion for Russians as some tortured souls who are just misunderstood?

Garry Kasparov: You know, I think it’s a matter of looking for a black cat in a dark room — something that is simply not there. That’s the crux of the problem. I remember, back when I was younger, my friend Yury Afanasyev, a brilliant historian, said that Russian literature was one of the most fertile sources of Russian nationalism. At the time, I instinctively disagreed. But now I see he was right.

American exceptionalism is rooted in tangible concepts like living standards, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. Russian exceptionalism, on the other hand, leans more toward the mystical. It’s tied to the notion that being Russian means having a special connection to a higher power. However, Russian history provides no evidence of such a unique connection. We need to delve deeply and understand, on a fundamental level, why the idea of the “Russian soul” remains so resistant to external influences.

The war in Ukraine has shown us that when we celebrated the fall of communism in 1991, we failed to grasp that communism was merely a facade for an underlying imperialist matrix.

Whether it’s the tsars, the Bolsheviks, or Putin, this imperialism always finds a way to emerge.

“I’ve been saying for the past three years that there’s only one way to dismantle this imperial matrix: the Ukrainian flag has to fly over Sevastopol again.”

I've been saying for the past three years that there's only one way to dismantle this imperial matrix: the Ukrainian flag has to fly over Sevastopol again. As long as the idea of Russia's messianic mission endures, nothing will truly change. You need to shatter it with a visual shock. This is likely the best — perhaps the only — way to give Russia a chance to reform itself into a normal nation-state in the true sense of the word.

The Kyiv Independent: One might say that living abroad can deepen or distance one's understanding of their home country. How has it been for you and the way you look at Russia?

Garry Kasparov: Undoubtedly, when you step away, you lose a certain connection to things on the ground. Some things are no longer tied to your immediate senses. However, if you want to analyze the bigger picture, distance can be helpful because you're no longer caught up in the daily routine. From afar, you gain a sense of objectivity. After all, why do you need to be on the inside to understand what's happening — especially when you've been predicting it for so long?

My first warning about Vladimir Putin and the potential dangers he posed came on Jan. 4, 2001, in a piece I wrote for The Wall Street Journal. When he began attacking free media and television, I immediately recognized the signs — his statements like "once KGB, always KGB," and actions like restoring the conservative Soviet anthem.

The writing was on the wall.

On April 25, 2005, during his State of the Nation address, he declared that "the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century." That statement was the defining moment. It was a clear declaration of intent to rebuild the Russian Empire — not necessarily within the same borders, but rather a return to the kind of world where the underlying principle is that "might makes right." This is the world Putin understands.

"It was a clear declaration of intent to rebuild the Russian Empire — not necessarily within the same borders, but rather a return to the kind of world where the underlying principle is that "might makes right."

What's tragic is that even now, after so much blood has been spilled, there are still people in the free world trying to find some kind of compromise or middle ground to return to. What they fail to recognize is that you cannot negotiate with this kind of evil for a simple reason: Putin views this as a war of destruction, not a war for territorial gains. Giving him a piece of Ukrainian territory won't change his calculations — it will only whet his appetite. His ultimate goal includes the destruction of Ukrainian statehood because Ukrainian statehood is one of the pillars of this world order he seeks to dismantle.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a concert marking the anniversary of the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in Moscow, Russia, on March 18, 2022. (Getty Images)

Supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin hold flags and cheer during a concert marking the anniversary of the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in Moscow, Russia, on March 18, 2022. (Contributor / Getty Images)

When you examine the attitudes of politicians in the West — in Germany, Britain, or America — it's striking. Even after (the occupation of) Crimea, after countless wars, after Syria, many still fail to grasp the situation.

Looking at the world's conflicts today, you see Putin as a spider at the center of the web. Yet, there remains a persistent tendency among many Western politicians to seek common ground, negotiate, and find ways to avoid the magic word — escalation. This approach is utterly misguided because the surest way to escalate is to show weakness. Everyone knows that when facing a predator, you must hold your ground and look it in the eye. If you turn your back, you're done for.

WTF is wrong with Russia?

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The Kyiv Independent: With increasing discussions about the possibility of negotiations and freezing conflict lines even among Ukrainian officials, the prospect of the Ukrainian flag flying over Sevastopol again, unfortunately, seems distant. Do you think the lack of a decisive military defeat could further radicalize pro-war sentiments in Russia?

Garry Kasparov: I don't think there's a strong pro-war sentiment in Russia. Instead, it's more about accepting the war as inevitable. There's very little opposition to it — let's be honest. At its peak, perhaps 15 percent of people opposed the war on moral grounds. I'm skeptical of any numbers coming from Putin's Russia, but the so-called Crimean consensus — 86 percent in favor — likely reflects the true mindset. In the early days of the full-scale invasion, I don't think more than 10 percent of the population opposed the war on moral grounds, which still amounts to 15 to 20 million people. Those who wholeheartedly supported the war were a smaller group, likely a surge of fervent supporters. The rest were more conformist, going along with it because the war brought some material benefits.

"At its peak, perhaps 15 percent of [Russian] people opposed the war on moral grounds."

I don't think there's the same fanatical belief in the cause as there was in Nazi Germany or Stalin's Soviet Union because there's no real future in this for most people. But there's compliance because there's not much else to do. If you look at the living standards in Russia, the full-scale invasion has actually acted like a drug, inflating everything, including people's earnings.

While it may not last, it created a kind of new consensus in society. Putin managed to avoid massive mobilization from big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, drawing most soldiers from the countryside, poor regions, and prisons.

So far, the war hasn't had the same impact on society as mass mobilization would have, nor has it caused body bags to arrive in Moscow or St. Petersburg.

Remains of Russian soldiers are found in the Bakhmut battle zone, in Sloviansk, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on June 29, 2024. (Pablo Miranzo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

In this aerial view, smoke rises from the Ukrainian border city of in Vovchansk, Ukraine, on May 17, 2024. (Libkos/Getty Images)

I see no evidence that any potential deal could be made. And while I'm not in favor of a deal, that's not my decision. I understand that the Ukrainian leadership must deal with reality. We also have to acknowledge that the cowardly stance of the free world has left Ukraine with very few options on the table.

It's a shame that all the weapons developed and manufactured in America — specifically to fight Russia — are still collecting dust in storage or sitting unused in the deserts of California and Nevada. The NATO alliance, which was created for the sole purpose of stopping Russian aggression in Europe, is now debating whether Ukraine belongs in it. Ukraine is the only country that has fought and is still fighting for NATO's core mission — not sending troops to Afghanistan or Iraq but preventing a Russian invasion.

While the idea of the Ukrainian flag flying over Sevastopol may take longer than we all hope, I still believe that without a decisive military defeat, there won't be substantial change in Russia.

The Kyiv Independent: Why do you think some opposition figures — such as Ilya Yashin, Yulia Navalnaya, and her late husband, Alexei Navalny — often frame their arguments to the Russian public against Russian aggression in economic terms rather than moral ones?

Garry Kasparov: Because they live within this paradigm of good Putin, bad Putin, good Tsar, bad Tsar, with no real interest in eliminating the imperial nature of the Russian state. This is the fundamental difference. When people talk about the Russian opposition, I ask: opposition to what? Reducing everything to Putin and his entourage is historically wrong because the true foundation of Russian aggression is the Russian Empire itself — its imperial mindset.

You can talk about corruption, but in a way, it actually helped Ukraine. Without it, the Russian army could have been much stronger. Thanks to the corruption of Russian generals, who stole probably half of the military budget, Ukraine has had a better chance of survival. Ultimately, the whole idea of continuing to expose corruption is irrelevant — corruption makes Putin weaker, not stronger.

Many of them dream of the day they can return to Russia, campaign, and address Russian voters. But if they see themselves doing that, they think they need to say, "We never took the other side, even when our country was wrong; we tried to stay neutral." Honestly, that's a moral dilemma I don't understand. For me, it's clear: we're fighting Putin, Putin's fascism, and everything connected to him. At the core of it all is this imperial matrix, and we have to win the war. The Ukrainian army is the only force fighting against it. So, helping Ukraine and supporting the army with all available means is the right decision. That's the only moral position — it's really that simple.

Ukraine's victory must include a full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. It must also include reparations to be paid. Russia must pay for this. It is crucial to punish war criminals, whether that happens in The Hague, in Russia, or by whatever international tribunal, and there should be no compromise on this.

Someone might hear this and think, "Why don't you (and other members of the Russian opposition) just find common ground? Why don't you work together?" I'm happy to work together, as long as we see the world through the same lens. Yes, we can argue about many things, but when it comes to fundamental moral issues — matters of life and death — that's what truly matters.

The building of the Government of Moscow is seen with the illumination of "Z," a symbol of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Moscow, Russia, on March 26, 2022. (Konstantin Zavrazhin/Getty Images)

Russian opposition politicians in exile Yulia Navalnaya, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Ilya Yashin attend an anti-war demonstration in Berlin, Germany, on Nov. 17, 2024. (Axel Schmidt/Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: Do you think that's why they insist on calling it "Putin's war" rather than Russia's war?

Garry Kasparov: Absolutely, that's the point. As I've mentioned elsewhere, it's not about whether Putin personally killed someone — he probably did early on in his career — but he gives orders, and those orders are executed. I haven't heard of mass desertion in the Russian military, just some desertion, but not on a large scale.

These are orders being carried out, and many acts of cruelty show this isn't just about Putin; it's a mentality. Ignoring this and claiming it's all Putin's doing is an attempt to distort the truth. It's not politics, and to suggest otherwise is morally wrong.

"If people continue to say this is Putin's war, I will push back, rejecting that notion as absolutely inconceivable."

As much as I don't want to argue, if people continue to say this is Putin's war, I will push back, rejecting that notion as absolutely inconceivable. It's simply ignoring reality. I'm happy to debate when there are many unknowns, but no one knows better than those fighting on the Russian side that they plan to destroy Ukraine. They are attacking kindergartens and hospitals — they know exactly what they're doing when they press the button to launch missile and drone attacks. Who presses that button? It's not just Putin.

The Kyiv Independent: In retrospect, what was the Russian opposition's greatest failure leading to 2022?

Garry Kasparov: The last moment the Russian opposition had a chance to change things was back in 2011-2012 after Putin returned to power. Unfortunately, we couldn't generate enough momentum with the protests on the streets of Moscow. It was over after that. Over the next decade, it became clear that the system was fake. You could have participated in some elections, but they were absolutely meaningless. What did those elections accomplish? I had several debates with (members of the Russian opposition) about this.

My point was simple: if you find yourself in a bad position, like in chess, it doesn't mean you have to make a bad move. Many young people were misled by the claims that they only needed to go out and protest. But what was the goal? Putin was firmly in power, and these opposition activities, without clear goals, couldn't change anything inside the country. They only created the wrong image in the free world.

While in exile, I've met with top politicians and given interviews. Whenever I spoke out about this, people would say, "Mr. Kasparov, you're a great chess player, but we're talking about Russia, not the Soviet Union. You have Navalny, you have others." But by saying so, they were essentially helping Putin build his war machine and providing cover for him.

A good example was back in 2018 or 2019, just before COVID. The question arose about restoring Russia's membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights. I wrote an open letter to Heiko Maas, then Germany's Foreign Affairs Minister, saying it was absolutely immoral.

Russia had violated every provision of that organization — every rule. They were occupying Ukraine's sovereign land, just as they had done with Georgia.

He, of course, never responded to me directly, but there was an indirect response. He gave another interview, saying, "Yes, we've heard some pushback," without naming me. He also mentioned having a letter from 39 human rights organizations in Russia supporting the restoration of Russia's membership in the Strasbourg Human Rights Court.

Meanwhile, some organizations are pretending that they're operating in Russia. It's clear that it's about funding. Millions of dollars are still being wasted on these fake activities in Russia by organizations that never did anything useful there.

Millions of dollars are still being wasted on these fake activities in Russia by organizations that never did anything useful there.

Now, in exile, they continue pretending. They claim they must protect their people, but I say stop this nonsense. Nothing is happening in Russia. These people pretend they're making a difference. They speak about demonstrations and say they're against the war, but that's not enough.

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of late Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, is surrounded by media as she waits for an Uber after voting at the Russian Embassy during Russian elections in Berlin, Germany, on March 17, 2024. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

We must support Ukraine's victory in this war. You never hear them say Ukraine must win. It's always about stopping the war, but at this point, maybe even Putin wants to stop it for his own reasons.

There is no common ground between us. This is unfortunate because it creates bad optics, but the reality is that most of the Russian opposition, or those who believe they are opposition, don't realize that it's not enough. They still hold on to the idea of a "good Putin" alternative, essentially wanting to replace the bad Putin with a "good Tsar."

The Kyiv Independent: Given the current state of the Russian opposition, particularly with so many figures now in exile, what do you believe is the most effective approach to challenging Putin's regime and supporting Russia's future?

Garry Kasparov: Well, I'd like to ask again — what opposition? This so-called opposition has failed to make meaningful change, and I don't see how anything can be done at this point except supporting Ukraine in winning the war.

Right now, it's about surviving this onslaught and winning. This illustrates the key differences in our approaches.

From the very beginning of the full-scale invasion, I proposed an idea later supported by Mikhail Khodorkovsky: we should offer every Russian who opposes the war and wants to leave the country the chance to do so after signing a declaration. We worked out the Berlin Declaration, which was a mild statement compared to the Free Russia Forum Council's format, but it contained three key points: the war is criminal, the regime is illegitimate, and Crimea is Ukraine.

It's a simple test — if someone is willing to sign it, we need to find a way for them to leave the country, obtain a visa, and find a place in the free world.

There are several important aspects to this plan. One is that it can impact the intellectual class in Russia — people involved in finance, business, IT, and engineering, including those who could possess the kind of knowledge that would have them working on the development of missiles.

I'm not offering a moral defense for them, but before criticizing anyone, we need to give them a chance to leave. So far, Putin has gained a significant ideological advantage because these people see that the world doesn't want them. As a result, hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of Russians — crucial to Putin's war machine — remain in Russia. Without them, Putin's economy, especially his war economy, would collapse.

This was the plan, but strangely, many of our colleagues in the opposition were not happy. They argued that we can't let people leave because who will protest against Putin? But I don't see people needing to stay just to protest. We could help these people leave, work with them, and build what I call "Russian Taiwan" — a network of the future free Russia.

When the moment comes, and the regime collapses, those who want to return can come back, and they would be the new ruling elite. But the opposition rejected this idea. For example, did you ever hear Yulia Navalnaya talk about something along those lines? She has met with many prime ministers and presidents but never mentioned anything like it.

Instead, they all rejected the idea because, in their view, it wasn't a good one. That's exactly what Putin needs — people to stay and oppose the idea of leaving.

So, if someone calls themselves a member of the Russian opposition, tell me, what is your goal? I know what our goal is.

The Free Russia Forum, which I co-founded, believes that Ukraine must win — that is our only chance. We must work toward Ukraine's victory and create momentum for Russia's defeat.

Only then can we begin to consider what comes next.

Historian Marci Shore: Putin’s obsession with denazification is ‘Freudian projection’

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Photos of jailed Belarusian opposition leader appear after almost 2 years of no news

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:12:50 +0100

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 Lukashenko pardoned 20 political prisoners in an apparent goodwill gesture ahead of the presidential election on Jan. 26.

Lukashenko has ruled the country since 1994, cementing his power through widespread repressions, secret police, and electoral fraud. The dictator claimed victory in the last 2020 election after rigging the vote and violently suppressing the subsequent protests and is expected to secure his seventh term later this month.

Photos of Babaryka and an excerpt from his video appeal to relatives have been published on the Telegram channel of Pratasevich, formerly a dissident and editor-in-chief of the opposition news channel Nexta who became a regime apologist after his arrest in 2021 and subsequent pardon.

The pictures show the opposition leader dressed in black clothes, with a yellow sign designating him as “prone to extremist activities,” writing something on paper. According to the Viasna human rights group, Babaryka has not been seen since Feb. 5, 2023.

Pratasevich said he had passed letters between Babaryka and his family members.

Babaryka intended to run for the 2020 presidential election but was rejected and, in 2021, sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of bribery and tax evasion broadly seen as politically motivated.

In a similar case last November, photos of imprisoned activist Maria Kalesnikava, who headed Babaryka’s electoral campaign and later worked with another oppositionist, Sviatlana Tsikahnouskaya, emerged after more than 600 days of no communication.

‘You’ll die here’ – Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenko’s reelection

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes 3 Russian air defense systems in single day; 3,800 North Korean troops killed, injured in Kursk Oblast

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:26:54 +0100

Key developments on Jan. 6:

Ukraine strikes 3 Russian air defense systems in single day, Navy claims
3,800 North Korean troops killed or injured in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says
Ukraine’s position in Kursk Oblast important for possible negotiations, Blinken says
Zelensky offered to buy weapons from incoming Trump administration with frozen Russian assets
Lukashenko apologized to Zelensky for Belarus' role, denied responsibility early in Russia’s invasion, Zelensky says
Russia fueling Transnistria energy crisis for propaganda, destabilization, Moldova says
Macron sees no ‘quick and easy solution’ to Ukraine, urges ‘realistic’ discussions on territory

Two Russian anti-missile Pantsir-S1 systems and one OSA anti-aircraft vehicle were damaged or destroyed by Ukraine’s Navy in one day, the military branch claimed on Jan. 6.

“Our soldiers continue to turn Russian equipment into scrap metal,” Ukrainian Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa said in a Facebook post referring to the three successful attacks.

In his post, Neizhpapa shared a video apparently depicting a drone zeroing in on a Russian Pantsir-S1 vehicle, claiming that the two Pantsir-S1 were destroyed in the occupied territory of Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast.

A Pantsir S-1 has an estimated price tag of around $15 million. One such system is suspected to be behind the mistaken downing of an Azerbaijani plane on Dec. 25, according to the media.

0:00

A video that purports to show a Ukrainian strike against a Russian Pantsir air defense system. Footage published on Jan. 6, 2024. (Ukraine’s Navy/Telegram)

Developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s, the 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko according to NATO terminology) is a highly mobile, short-range, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system still in use by Russia, Ukraine, and a dozen other countries.

The Osa has been used with great effect by the Russian Armed Forces against Ukrainian drones, with some experts linking it to Ukraine scaling down the use of its once-popular Bayraktar drones.

The system functions as an all-in-one transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR) vehicle that can detect and attack enemy targets independently.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the Navy’s claims nor the extent of the damage done to the Russian anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems.

Russia has lost 1,034 air defense systems since the full-scale invasion began, Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported before the news of the three successful hits surfaced.

Russia claims to capture Kurakhove, Ukraine says fighting ongoing in the sector

Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces reported on Jan. 6 that battles are ongoing in the Kurakhove sector.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

`3,800 North Korean troops killed or injured in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says`

A total of 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman published on Jan. 5.

Pyongyang sent upwards of 12,000 North Korean soldiers into Kursk Oblast in the fall of 2024, amid an agreement to help counter a surprise Ukrainian incursion into the region which began on Aug. 6.

Ukrainian forces have been fighting to hold onto territory in the region ever since in hopes it can be used as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky, in his wide-ranging interview with Lex Fridman, added that Pyongyang has the capabilities to bring additional North Korean troops to the front, as many as 30,000 -40,000 troops.

Ukraine reportedly ramped up its operations in Kursk Oblast with a new offensive on Jan. 5, with mixed reports surfacing on outcome of the renewed push from Kyiv.

The renewed offensive comes amid significant losses among Russian and North Korean forces during recent clashes, Zelensky said in his evening address on Jan. 4, citing information from Ukraine’s top commander.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Dec. 27 that North Korean units had been carrying out “human wave” attacks against Ukrainian positions in Kursk Oblast, with little effect — amounting to high casualty totals.

Kirby added that North Korean soldiers have reportedly taken their own lives rather than surrender to Ukrainian troops, out of fear their families will be targeted over their capture.

Ukraine and Russia are rushing to make up ground in Kursk Oblast before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes power on Jan. 2o. Trump has previously said he would end the war in “24 hours” with potential peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

U.S. officials told Bloomberg on Dec. 27 that they believe Ukraine may only have a few months left in its incursion into Kursk Oblast until Ukraine’s military is forced to retreat from the region or risk being encircled by Russian forces.

The comments come as Ukraine has steadily lost ground in the region amid Russian counterattacks. Ukraine has reportedly lost over 40% of territory it previously gained in due to renewed Russian efforts.

Heavy Russian, North Korean losses in Russia’s Kursk region, Zelensky says

“In battles yesterday and today near a single village, Makhnovka, in Kursk region, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroops,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Jan. 4.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

`Ukraine’s position in Kursk Oblast important for possible negotiations, Blinken says`

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Jan. 6 that Ukrainian positions in Russia’s Kursk Oblast could play an important role in possible talks with Russia, the AFP news agency reported.

The Biden administration, whose term expires in a few weeks, has sped up the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine to put Kyiv in the strongest possible position in potential peace negotiations.

“Their (Ukraine’s) position in Kursk is an important one because certainly it’s something that would factor in any negotiation that may come about in the coming year,” Blinken told reporters in Seoul.

The comments come at the heels of reports of Ukraine launching new offensive operations in Kursk Oblast after months of being on the defensive.

Ukraine launched the cross-border incursion in early August, allegedly seizing 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian soil. Since then, Moscow has deployed reinforcements, including thousands of North Korean soldiers, and reportedly recaptured around half of the lost territory.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also called the Kursk incursion an important “trump card” in any potential talks.

There are growing expectations of possible peace talks in 2025 as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on Jan. 20, pledged to bring both sides to the negotiating table.

Trump’s return to the White House sparked concerns among Ukraine’s allies due to the president-elect’s past criticism of the Biden administration’s support for Kyiv.

In comments made since his reelection, Trump hinted at a possible reduction of U.S. assistance but said he would not “abandon” the country, instead aiming to leverage Washington’s aid to push Russia to negotiate.

Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, mixed reports surface on outcome

Ukrainian troops attacked Russian forces in several directions in Kursk Oblast, Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s counter-disinformation center, claimed on Jan. 5. Reports by Russian pro-war Telegram channels have echoed the statement, saying that a new Kyiv offensive is underway.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

`Zelensky offered to buy weapons from incoming Trump administration with frozen Russian assets`

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously offered U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for Ukraine to buy American weapons at the expense of $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, Zelensky revealed in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman published on Jan. 5.

“This is one of the security guarantees. Take the money, what we need for our interior production, and we will buy all the weapons from the United States. We don’t need gifts from the United States,” Zelensky said in his wide-ranging interview with Fridman.

“It will be very good for your industry. For the United States. We will put money there. Russian money. Not Ukrainian. Not European. Russian money. Russian assets. They have to pay for this,” Zelensky added.

Zelensky did not comment on Trump’s reaction to the suggestion.

Trump and his team have been critical of U.S. spending to support Ukraine. Michael Waltz, Trump’s appointed National Security Advisor for his upcoming term said on Dec. 15 that a “blank check… just isn’t a strategy."

Despite previously criticizing U.S. aid for Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 21, citing undisclosed sources, that Trump may not halt U.S. military support for Ukraine.

Zelensky has taken steps to foster a positive relationship with Trump, despite previously having a fraught relationship stemming from Trump’s 2019 impeachment trial. The two leaders met on Sept. 27 in the midst of the U.S. presidential election campaign. They met again on the sidelines of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 7.

“He (Trump) is strong… He is young… and his brains work,” Zelensky said when asked why he thinks Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November.

Zelensky previously said that the country must do everything possible to end the war through diplomatic means in 2025, adding that a war would “end faster” under a Trump administration.

SBU behind drone attack on one of Russia’s largest sea trade ports in Leningrad Oblast, source claims

The Kyiv Independent’s source shared a video purporting to show one of the drones hitting gas condensate tanks. One tank was heavily damaged, and three others suffered by explosive debris, they added.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

`Lukashenko apologized to Zelensky for Belarus' role, denied responsibility early in Russia’s invasion, Zelensky says`

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 Fridman published on Jan. 5.

“A few days into the war, I spoke with Lukashenko on the phone, and he apologized… he said, ‘It was not me, missiles were launched from my territory, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin was the one launching them.’ These are his words, I have witnesses,” Zelensky said in his wide-ranging interview.

"‘And I apologize,’ he said. ‘But believe me’ — that’s what he told me — ‘Volodya (referring to Volodymyr Zelensky), this is not me. I’m not in charge,'” Zelensky added.

In response, Zelensky said that he called Lukashenko “a murderer,” questioning why Lukashenko allowed Russia to launch missiles at Ukraine from Belarusian territory.

Lukashenko became increasingly reliant on Russia after isolating Belarus from the West, following Belarus’ 2020 election. Lukashenko’s opposition and the West condemned the results as fraudulent.

Lukashenko cracked down on mass protests that broke out in response to the fraudulent election results. Since then, Belarusian authorities have increasingly suppressed political freedoms and have become complacent in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Despite not being directly involved in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus continues to host Russian troops and missiles on its territory.

Lukashenko asked Putin on Dec. 6 to deploy the Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus, a weapon Russia recently used to strike Ukraine, Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti reported. As many as 10 missile systems will be deployed, according to pro-Kremlin journalist Alexander Yunashev.

Belarus will be holding its next presidential election on Jan. 26 where Lukashenko is expected to be handed a seventh term in office.

Lukashenko to visit China ahead of Belarus presidential elections

The reported visit will be Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s third trip to China in three years. Lukashenko is likely looking to reduce Belarusian dependence on Russia, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

`Russia fueling Transnistria energy crisis for propaganda, destabilization, Moldova says`

The energy crisis in Transnistria, triggered by Russia’s Jan. 1 cutoff of gas supplies, is part of a broader Russian plan to manipulate and spread propaganda, Moldovan government spokesperson Daniel Voda said on Jan. 6.

“Russian propaganda tries to create a story in which Moldova becomes a ‘problematic actor,’ although the government has proposed clear solutions to avoid the crisis,” he said.

Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled energy giant, halted gas deliveries to Moldova, citing alleged unpaid debts by Moldovagaz. Moldovan officials disputed these claims, noting an international audit failed to verify the debts.

Transnistria, a Russian-occupied region since the early 1990s, relies heavily on Russian gas and has faced industrial collapse due to widespread power outages and heating failures.

Voda said the crisis reflects Russia’s deliberate effort to create fear and unrest. “This energy crisis is more than an economic problem — it is part of a larger Russian plan of manipulation and propaganda designed to create fear and discontent on both banks of the Dnister."

Nearly 72,000 homes and 1,500 high-rise buildings in Transnistria are without heating or hot water, according to Vadim Krasnoselsky, leader of the region’s Russian-backed administration.

Moldova previously offered to help Transnistria purchase gas through European platforms, but local Russian-backed authorities rejected the proposal, claiming Western energy prices are “higher and unstable."

The spokesperson criticized the refusal, calling it a failure to “cooperate for the benefit of the people.” Russian propaganda has sought to blame Chisinau for the crisis, alleging that Moldovan authorities intentionally caused power outages to punish the region, Voda said.

While a transit agreement for Russian gas through Ukraine expired on the same day, Gazprom maintains that Moldova’s debts, not transit issues, prompted the suspension.

While the rest of Moldova has transitioned to European energy supplies through Romania, Transnistria remains heavily dependent on Russian gas.

Transnistria’s electricity supply system faces collapse amid gas shortage, Moldovan official warns

The electricity supply system in the Russian-occupied Moldovan region of Transnistria is under risk of collapse after the halt of Russian gas flow, a high-ranking official of Moldova’s Energy Ministry warned in a Facebook post on Jan. 5.

The Kyiv IndependentBoldizsar Gyori

`Macron sees no ‘quick and easy solution’ to Ukraine, urges ‘realistic’ discussions on territory`

French President Emmanuel Macron on Jan. 6 called on Ukraine to have “realistic discussions on territorial issues” as they alone can conduct them.

“There will be no quick and easy solution in Ukraine,” Macron said in an address to French ambassadors in the Elysee Palace. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has previously vowed to bring both sides to the negotiating table and swiftly end the war.

“The U.S. must help us to change the nature of the situation and convince Russia to come to the negotiating table,” Macron said in comments quoted by France24.

Russia currently occupies around 20% of Ukrainian territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that Ukraine’s military currently lacks the strength to retake all of it by force, noting that some regions, like Crimea, will have to be liberated through diplomatic means.

In his address, the French head of state warned of repercussions for Europe and the U.S. should Ukraine emerge from the war on the losing side.

“The new American president himself knows that the U.S. has no chance of winning anything if Ukraine loses,” Macron said.

France’s president also said that it would be up to European countries to “build security guarantees” for Ukraine, a statement in line with his calls for greater European strategic autonomy.

Paris has spearheaded the idea of deploying European peacekeepers to Ukraine after a possible ceasefire deal is reached. Trump, who vowed to get the U.S. “out” of the conflict, has reportedly backed the idea, while Russia has rejected it.

Trump’s imminent return to the White House, Ukraine’s military setbacks, and Russia’s growing economic difficulties have contributed to expectations of possible peace talks in 2025.

Kyiv’s allies have said they seek to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for any possible negotiations, with German government saying on Jan. 6 that peace cannot be “dictated” from Moscow.

‘Putin is afraid of Trump’s administration’ – Estonian foreign minister on potential Russia-Ukraine negotiations

As Ukraine and Europe enter 2025 with a worsening situation on the battlefield and the incoming Trump administration hoping to quickly reach some kind of peace in Russia’s all-out war, the first months of the year look to be fundamental in deciding the outcome of the war. While much

The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Lukashenko apologized to Zelensky for Belarus' role, denied responsibility early in Russia's invasion, Zelensky says

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 04:38:53 +0100

"‘And I apologize,’ he said. ‘But believe me’ — that’s what he told me — ‘Volodya (referring to Volodymyr Zelensky), this is not me. I’m not in charge,'" Zelensky added.

In response, Zelensky said that he called Lukashenko “a murderer,” questioning why Lukashenko allowed Russia to launch missiles at Ukraine from Belarusian territory.

Despite not being directly involved in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus continues to host Russian troops and missiles on its territory.

Lukashenko asked Putin on Dec. 6 to deploy the Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus, a weapon Russia recently used to strike Ukraine, Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti reported. As many as 10 missile systems will be deployed, according to pro-Kremlin journalist Alexander Yunashev.

Belarus will be holding its next presidential election on Jan. 26 where Lukashenko is expected to be handed a seventh term in office.

Lukashenko to visit China ahead of Belarus presidential elections

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

Georgian businesses and employees to carry out nationwide strike demanding new elections

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 03:08:22 +0100

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 last for three hours, with businesses and employees halting work during this time.

Organizers aim to highlight the potential consequences of political isolation, such as economic stagnation, unemployment, and poverty.

The dissatisfaction of citizens, stemming from disputed parliamentary elections in October, has intensified with the controversial inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili and the government’s stance against European integration.

The ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, has led Georgia closer to the Kremlin while hindering its accession to the European Union. The controversial foreign agents law adopted earlier this year led the EU to effectively freeze Georgia’s accession process.

Protesters hope the strike will underscore public frustration and push for democratic reforms.

Over 20 foreign citizens to be deported from Georgia for participating in protests

The Migration Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry has initiated expulsion proceedings against 25 foreign nationals.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Over 20 foreign citizens to be deported from Georgia for participating in protests

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 16:52:34 +0100

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 a sweeping victory in the Oct. 26 elections amid widespread allegations of fraud and intimidation. The disputed results triggered mass demonstrations in Tbilisi.

The Migration Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry has initiated expulsion proceedings against 25 foreign nationals who participated in the protests in Tbilisi in November and December. The court also imposed various administrative penalties on them.

The ministry added that 10 out of 25 citizens have already left Georgia’s territory, without specifying which countries they are citizens of.

There are no official statistics on foreigners detained during the protests. Over 20 of the nearly 450 arrested were foreign nationals, most of them Russians, News Georgia reported, citing reports by NGOs and other media.

In December, foreigners who attended the protests began to be summoned en masse to the Migration Department.

Human rights activists noted that this practice did not comply with international standards and warned that the deportation of foreign nationals for participating in peaceful demonstrations was contrary to national law.

Some 91 foreigners were ordered to leave the country between November and December 2024. According to News Georgia, more than a quarter of them participated in anti-government protests.

The ruling party, founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, has led Georgia closer to the Kremlin while hindering its accession to the European Union. The controversial foreign agents law adopted earlier this year led the EU to effectively freeze Georgia’s accession process.

The parliamentary elections and ensuing political crisis sparked a wave of large-scale demonstrations in Tbilisi. A second round of protests kicked off when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia’s integration into the EU could be postponed until 2028.

Protests in Georgia, explained

For the fifth day in a row, Georgians are holding massive protests against their government in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. The brewing dissatisfaction was ignited by the country’s democratic backsliding under the leadership of the pro-Russian, increasingly illiberal government. The final straw…

The Kyiv IndependentElsa Court

Lukashenko to visit China ahead of Belarus presidential elections

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 04:55:11 +0100

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 repressive regime and continued support for Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Lukashenko has found China to be a key ally. In August the two nations pledged to strengthen security ties and improve cooperation.

Lukashenko is looking to improve mutual cooperation between Belarus and China in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, and the defense industry, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported.

Lukashenko is likely looking to reduce Belarusian dependence on Russia and strengthen his hand in his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Center said.

Belarus is under pressure from Russia due to economic and energy dependency, debt from Russian loans, and Moscow’s military presence in Belarus. Lukashenko is also likely angling for China to mediate a reopening of trade routes from Belarus to the EU, according to the Center.

The trip will mark Lukashenko’s third visit to China in three years.

Lukashenko has been in power for 30 years and is seeking a seventh term on Jan. 26. The Belarusian presidential elections are not expected to be free or fair.

When Belarus last held elections in 2020, mass protests broke out and the West condemned the election results as fraudulent. Lukashenko’s regime quelled the protests in a large-scale crackdown on dissent.

‘You’ll die here’ – Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenko’s reelection

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Vladimir Putin's 25-year-long reign over Russia in photos

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 19:53:30 +0100

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 2000 March presidential elections. He held on to power ever since.

Putin’s rise to power was marked by apartment bombings and a brutal war in Chechnya, while his first term as president saw him crushing the opposition, taking hold of nationwide TV outlets, and allowing the illicit enrichment of his allies and friends.

From Bucha to Kursk: 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale war (Photos)

One thousand days ago, at 4 a.m. Kyiv time, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the deadliest military conflict in Europe since World War II. For 1,000 days, Ukraine has been defending against the Russian military, well-equipped and superior in numbers of weapons and people deployed.…

The Kyiv IndependentIrynka Hromotska

Putin’s second term in office saw the terrorist attacks on Russian soil and the killings of prominent opposition figures.

Putin’s third, fourth, and fifth terms as Russia’s president were marked by Russia’s war against Ukraine and the descent of his country into totalitarianism.

This photo story lists 25 major events that define Putin’s 25-year-long rule over Russia.

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`1999-2000 Battle of Grozny`

In the summer of 1999, Chechen militias conducted a raid into neighboring Dagestan, effectively launching the Second Chechen War. Three days later, Putin was appointed as the country's prime minister and de facto Yeltsin's successor.

Before being appointed acting president and immediately after, Putin oversaw the bombing and ground assault on Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic.

According to Amnesty International, 25,000 civilians were killed in Chechnya during the Second Chechen War, while the city of Grozny was said to be the most bombarded and destroyed city in Europe at that time. Russia installed a Chechen government headed first by Akhmat Kadyrov and then by his son Ramzan, who established an oppressive regional dictatorship known for torture and execution of those seen as unreliable.

Russian soldiers roll through the bombed city of Grozny, Russia, after intense fighting in the Second Chechen War on Feb. 15, 2000. (Antoine Gyori / Sygma via Getty Images)

The last of the Chechen civilians flee the town, taking their belongings with them from Grozny, Russia on Feb. 15, 2000. (Antoine Gyori / Sygma via Getty Images)

Then-acting Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with a Russian officer as he presents an ornamental hunting knife during an awarding ceremony in Gudermes, Russia, 30 kilometers east of Grozny, on Jan. 1, 2000. (AP Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

`2000 Kursk submarine`

On Aug. 12, 2000, Russia's Kursk submarine sank in the Barents Sea, with all 118 personnel on board being killed. Putin faced criticism for failing to pay attention to the disaster initially and for the authorities' incompetence and mishandling of the botched rescue efforts.

Putin's interview with U.S. TV anchor Larry King summed up the president's response. When asked by King what happened to Kursk, Putin responded "it sank" with a smile.

The wreck of the Russian submarine Kursk (K-141) is seen in a floating dock at Roslyakovo, Russia, on an unknown date. The nuclear-powered submarine sank when a torpedo exploded on board during naval exercises in the Barents Sea off northwestern Russia on Aug. 12, 2000, killing all 118 personnel on board. (Reddit)

A Russian boy stands by portraits of victims of the Kursk submarine disaster in their barracks during a first-anniversary memorial ceremony at the Kursk’s home base of Vidyayevo, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, on Aug. 12, 2001. (Sergey Karpukhin / AFP via Getty Images)

In September 2000, just months after his inauguration, Vladimir Putin was in a New York studio across from legendary TV anchor Larry King. When asked, "What happened with the submarine?" about the Kursk disaster that killed all 118 crew members, Putin responds with a smile, "It sank." (Screenshot / Social Media)

`2001 Putin's takeover of NTV channel`

On July 20, 2000, the Russian authorities struck a deal to acquire NTV, the largest TV channel independent from the Kremlin, from billionaire Vladimir Gusinsky in exchange for dropping a criminal case against him.

In 2001, criticism of the Kremlin has been eliminated at NTV, with Putin later destroying all independent media in the country.

Director Victor Shenderovich poses with life-size puppets of Russian political leaders on the set of the popular satirical television show "Kukly" (Puppets) in Moscow, Russia, on June 29, 2000. "Kukly" mocks the Russian political scene on the independent channel NTV. (Oleg Nikishin / Newsmakers)

Atmosphere in one of the newsrooms in Moscow, Russia, on April 4, 2001. Journalists who work for NTV go on strike to protest against the acquisition of the TV channel by Gazprom. (Antoine Gyori / Sygma via Getty Images)

Protesters cheer in support of the independent Russian NTV television station during a rally in Moscow, Russia, on April 7, 2001. Thousands of people gathered in the rain to show their support for Russia's only national independent television station in its fight against new owners. (Oleg Nikishin / Newsmakers)

`2002 Nord Ost`

On Oct. 23, 2002, Chechen terrorists took 912 hostages at Moscow's Dubrovka theater. A total of 132 hostages and 40 terrorists were killed. Most of the hostages died due to poison gas used by Russian security forces.

Russian Special Forces remove bodies from a besieged theater where Chechen guerrillas were holding hundreds captive in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 26, 2002. More than 100 captives died from an unspecified gas the special forces used to knock out the attackers before storming the building. (Anton Denisov / Itar Tass / Getty Images)

Relatives of hostages held by Chechen rebels in a Moscow theater hold banners reading "Stop the war in Chechnya" and "Do everything to save our children" during a demonstration in front of St. Basil's Cathedral near Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 25, 2002. (Kommersant / Getty Images)

Kristina Kurbatova's mother (CL) is comforted during the funeral of her 14-year-old daughter in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 30, 2002. Kristina was a member of the cast of the Nord-Ost show and one of 118 hostages killed during the storming of the theater captured by Chechen rebels. She died later at a hospital. (Alexander Nemenov / AFP via Getty Images)

Russian soldiers stand in front of a theater where hundreds of hostages were held by Chechen rebels in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 26, 2002. (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

`2003 Khodorkovsky's arrest`

On Oct. 25, 2003, Russian billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a political opponent of Putin, was arrested by Russian law enforcement officers.

The move was the beginning of a more authoritarian stage in the evolution of Putin's regime. Later Khodorkovsky, the owner of oil company Yukos, and many of his subordinates and associates were jailed.

Khodorkovsky was pardoned, released from jail and forced to move abroad in 2013.

Imprisoned former head of Yukos oil company Mikhail Khodorkovsky stands in the defendant's box during his trial at a courthouse in Moscow, Russia, on July 15, 2004. Khodorkovsky is standing trial with a top associate, Platon Lebedev, whose arrest the previous July heralded the start of the so-called Yukos affair, widely seen as a political witch-hunt. (Tatyana Makeyeva / AFP via Getty Images)

Protesters hold pictures of former Yukos chief and Kremlin opposer Mikhail Khodorkovsky as they demonstrate against his arrest and imprisonment outside a courthouse in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 22, 2003. A Moscow court is set to decide whether to extend Khodorkovsky's imprisonment for another three months. (Maxim Marmur / AFP via Getty Images)

`2004 Beslan`

On Sept. 1, 2004, Chechen terrorists took 1,000 hostages at a school in Beslan, North Ossetia. As a result, 334 hostages and 31 terrorists were killed.

The Kremlin used the Beslan hostage crisis as an excuse for a series of authoritarian reforms — including the cancelation of gubernatorial elections — that enabled Putin to further centralize and monopolize power.

This TV grab image taken from Russia's NTV channel on Sept. 7, 2004, shows a gunman walking as hostages sit in the gymnasium of the Beslan school in North Ossetia, Russia. Russia's NTV television aired a tape it said was made by the hostage takers, showing what appeared to be the first hours of the three-day-long crisis that ended in the deaths of 334 hostages and 31 hostage takers. (NTV / AFP via Getty Images)

A soldier covers the roof as volunteers survey the area after special forces stormed the school seized by Chechen terrorists in Beslan, Russia, on Sept. 3, 2004. (Oleg Nikishin / Getty Images)

People try to identify their relatives among the bodies of victims of the Beslan hostage crisis in the yard of a morgue in Vladikavkaz, Russia, on Sept. 5, 2004.(Viktor Drachev / AFP via Getty Images)

A woman cries in the ruins of the school gymnasium in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russia, on Sept. 5, 2004. (Viktor Drachev / AFP via Getty Images)

`2006 Politkovskaya's murder`

Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a vehement critic of Putin's regime and that of Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, was shot dead in her building's elevator on Putin's birthday on Oct. 7, 2006.

Several Chechens have been convicted as perpetrators of the murder but the organizers have not been identified.

Independent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a highly respected and tireless investigative reporter and author, is pictured at work in this undated file photo. Politkovskaya, who was murdered on Oct. 7, 2006, devoted much of her career to exposing human rights abuses and other atrocities of the war in Chechnya, as well as the plight of Chechen refugees. (Novaya Gazeta / Epsilon / Getty Images)

Mourners place flowers on the grave of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya at Troekurovskoe Cemetery in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 10, 2006. Politkovskaya was shot four times in the elevator of her apartment building. (Fyodor Savintsev / Epsilon / Getty Images)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Green Vault in Dresden, Germany, on Oct. 10, 2006. Putin said the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya "must not go unpunished," as he sought to deflect growing criticism of his commitment to press freedom and human rights. (Jose Giribas / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

`2006 Litvinenko's murder`

Former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko, who accused Putin of orchestrating the 1999 Moscow apartment bombings, was poisoned in the U.K. on Nov. 1, 2006 with polonium-210, a radioactive element.

The British police charged Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB officer and current pro-Kremlin lawmaker, and businessman Dmitry Kovtun with murdering Litvinenko.

In 2016, a British court concluded that Putin and Nikolai Patrushev, the former head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), “probably” ordered Litvinenko’s assassination.

Alexander Litvinenko is pictured in the Intensive Care Unit of University College Hospital in London, U.K., on Nov. 20, 2006, in this image made available on Nov. 25, 2006. The 43-year-old former KGB spy, who died on Nov. 23, 2006, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of poisoning him. Litvinenko died after radioactive polonium-210 was found in his body. Russia's foreign intelligence service denied any involvement in the case. (Natasja Weitsz / Getty Images)

`2008 Georgia war`

As Putin reached his term limit, he picked his ally Dmitriy Medvedev to take over the presidency. Under Putin and Medvedev, Russia invaded Georgia on Aug. 1, 2008 following deteriorating relations with pro-Western Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

A ceasefire was concluded on Aug. 12 but Russian troops still occupy Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, which account for over 20% of Georgia's territory.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili addresses the nation from the president's office in Tbilisi, Georgia, on April 29, 2008, in this TV grab from Georgian Rustavi-2 channel. Saakashvili called on all the peoples of Georgia — Georgians, Abkhazians, and Ossetians — to unite into one nation and resist the influence of what he called "black" forces, a likely reference to Russia. (Rustavi-2 / AFP via Getty Images)

A convoy of Russian troops moves through the mountains toward Georgian troops in the South Ossetian village of Dzhaba, Georgia, on Aug. 9, 2008. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili declared a "state of war" as his troops clashed with Russian forces over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. (Dmitry Kostyukov / AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters attempt to extinguish fires in an apartment building after the area was bombed by Russian jets in Gori, Georgia, on Aug. 9, 2008. After declaring a ceasefire, Georgian forces withdrew from South Ossetia, leaving Russian forces in control of the region. (Cliff Volpe / Getty Images)

Georgian women watch a convoy of Russian armored vehicles escorted by Georgian police on the road from the flashpoint city of Gori to Tbilisi, near the village of Savsvebi, Georgia, on Aug. 15, 2008. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images)

`2011-2013 protests`

In 2011-2013, tens of thousands of Russians protested against rigged parliamentary and presidential elections and Putin's increasing authoritarianism. These protests — led by Alexei Navalny, Boris Nemtsov, and Ilya Yashin and others — were the largest opposition rallies in Russia since the 1990s.

The protests didn't achieve the intended results. Nemtsov was killed in 2015 near the Kremlin, Navalny was killed in prison in 2024, and Yashin was imprisoned and later released as part of the 2024 East-West prisoner swap.

Demonstrators gather on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 4, 2012. Protesters gathered during temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius exactly one month before the presidential election to oppose Vladimir Putin's bid to return to the Kremlin for an unprecedented third term as president. (Harry Engels / Getty Images)

Opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov (L) and Alexei Navalny attend a 'March of Millions' protest rally against Vladimir Putin's return in Moscow, Russia, on May 6, 2012. More than 250 people, including opposition leaders, were arrested. (Oleg Nikishin / Epsilon / Getty Images)

Russian police detain opposition supporters during a 'March of Millions' protest rally against Vladimir Putin's return in Moscow, Russia, on May 6, 2012. More than 250 people, including opposition leaders, were arrested. (Oleg Nikishin / Epsilon / Getty Images)

`2014 annexation of Crimea`

Following the EuroMaidan Revolution in Ukraine and the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, Russian troops invaded Ukraine, effectively beginning the Russo-Ukrainian War, now in its 11th year.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula on Feb. 27, 2014. Later, Russia held a sham referendum and illegally annexed Crimea on March 18. It occupies the peninsula to this day.

Ukrainian activists rally in front of the Crimean parliament in Simferopol, Ukraine, on Feb. 26, 2014. (Vasiliy Batanov / AFP via Getty Images)

Russian soldiers, wearing no identifying insignia, patrol Simferopol International Airport after a Russia-backed crowd gathered near Simferopol, Ukraine, on Feb. 28, 2014. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a celebratory rally at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on March 18, 2014, following the Russian annexation of Crimea, Ukraine. (Sasha Mordovets / Getty Images)

`2014 invasion of Donbas`

On April 12, 2014, fighters led by former Russian intelligence officer Igor Girkin captured the city of Sloviansk in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

Russian proxies seized a number of cities in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts with active support from Russian troops that shelled Ukraine from across the border.

In August 2014, Russia launched a ground invasion of Ukraine's east, forcing Kyiv to sign the first Minsk Agreements.

Portraits and uniforms of Ukrainian prosecutors burn outside the local Prosecutor's Office as Russia-backed militants attempt to capture the city and other parts of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on May 1, 2014. (Alexander Khudoteply / AFP via Getty Images)

Russian proxies rip apart a Ukrainian flag outside a regional state building in Donetsk, Ukraine, on May 29, 2014. (Viktor Drachev / AFP via Getty Images)

`2014 MH17`

On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down by Russian forces over Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, with all 298 people on board being killed.

A Dutch court has established that the plane was downed by a Russian Buk surface-to-air missile. Two Russians and one Ukrainian proxy working for Russia were convicted for the murder in absentia in 2022.

Debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 smolders in a field in Hrabove, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on July 17, 2014. (Pierre Crom / Getty Images)

Members of the Ukrainian State Emergency Service search for bodies in a field near the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 near the village of Hrabove, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on July 26, 2014. (Bulent Kilic / AFP via Getty Images)

Lawyers attend the judges' inspection of the reconstruction of the MH17 wreckage as part of the murder trial, ahead of the beginning of a critical stage, in Reijen, Netherlands, on May 26, 2021. (Piroschka van de Wouw / Pool / Getty Images)

`2015 Nemtsov's murder`

Opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was shot dead in front of the Kremlin on Feb. 27, 2015.

Nemtsov was a critic of both Putin and the Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov. A Russian court has convicted Zaur Dadayev, ex-top commander of Kadyrov’s Sever (North) police battalion, and several other Chechen fighters as part of the Nemstov murder case.

The identity of the person who ordered the assassination was not disclosed.

Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov in Moscow, Russia, on March 29, 2010. (Dmitry Korotayev / Epsilon / Getty Images)

A tribute to Boris Nemtsov, who was murdered on Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 27, 2015. (Richard Radford / Getty Images)

`2015 intervention in Syria`

On Sept. 30, 2015, Russia launched its military intervention in Syria to prop up the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad. Russian troops actively conducted air raids against the opposition and terrorists from the Islamic State.

Russia was able to keep al-Assad in power until 2024 when his regime collapsed following an offensive by the country's opposition.

Smoke rises after Russian warplanes strike the opposition-controlled town of Daret Ezza near Aleppo, Syria, on Oct. 13, 2015. (Mamun Abu Omer / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

People gather around the rubble of a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) near Maaret al-Numan in Idlib Province, Syria, on Feb. 15, 2016, after suspected Russian airstrikes. MSF confirmed the hospital was "destroyed in airstrikes." (Ghaith Omran / Al-Maarra Today / AFP via Getty Images)

Several hundred people gather near the Russian embassy in Damascus, Syria, on Oct. 13, 2015, holding up portraits of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin to express support for Moscow's air campaign in Syria. Two missiles struck the embassy compound during the demonstration, sparking panic among the crowd. (Louai Beshara / AFP via Getty Images)

`2018 Skripal poisoning`

Former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia survived after being poisoned on March 4, 2018 in Salisbury, U.K., with Novichok, a nerve agent produced by the Russian government.

Dawn Sturgess, a British citizen, accidentally came into contact with the poison and died as a result. The British authorities identified Russian military intelligence agents using the passports of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Bashirov as suspects in the murder case.

Sergei Skripal (R), 66, and his daughter Yulia (L), 33, are seen in an undated photo. The two were found ill in Salisbury, U.K., in March 2018 after being poisoned with a nerve agent. (Social media)

Military personnel in protective suits cover two ambulances with tarpaulin before removing them from Salisbury ambulance station in Salisbury, England, on March 10, 2018. Sergei Skripal was granted refuge in the U.K. following a 2010 'spy swap' between the United States and Russia. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

`2020 constitutional amendments`

From June 25 to July 1, 2020, Russia held a rigged vote on constitutional amendments that eliminated limits on Putin's presidential terms, effectively making him dictator for life.

According to Russian-born election expert Alexander Kireyev, the vote was the most falsified one in Russian history. Based on a mathematical analysis of official data, he estimated the number of rigged votes to be 20 million.

Russian President Vladimir Putin enters the hall during a meeting with a group discussing amendments to the Constitution at the Novo-Ogaryovo State residence outside Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 13, 2020. A constitutional referendum was scheduled to take place in Russia by April 2020. (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Moscow, Russia, on June 30, 2020. Approval in the vote concluding on July 1 will allow Vladimir Putin to seek two more six-year terms after his current one ends in 2024, potentially staying in power until 2036, when he would be 83. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

`2020-2021 poisoning and imprisonment of Navalny`

On Aug. 20, 2020, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned while traveling across Russia. After days of protest he was flown for treatment to Germany while in a coma.

German doctors, as well as several independent labs in Europe, said that he had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent — a chemical weapon produced by the Russian government.

A joint investigation by The Insider, Bellingcat, CNN, and Der Spiegel revealed that Navalny had been poisoned by agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service.

Despite the poisoning, Navalny decided to return to Russia on Jan. 17, 2021 and was jailed upon arrival on trumped-up charges.

German army emergency personnel load a portable isolation unit into their ambulance after transporting Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny to Charité Hospital in Berlin, Germany, on Aug. 22, 2020. Navalny arrived in Germany for treatment following a government-sponsored poisoning. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny sits upright in a hospital bed, wearing a gown, as he is hugged by his wife Yulia and flanked by his two children, in a photo posted on Navalny's Instagram account from Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 15, 2020. Navalny shared the image from Berlin's Charite hospital, where he was being treated after being poisoned with a nerve agent. (Instagram)

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appears on a screen via video link from Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina detention center during a court hearing of an appeal against his arrest, in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 28, 2021. Navalny, 44, was detained on Jan. 17 after returning from Germany, where he recovered from a near-fatal poisoning, and was later jailed for 30 days for violating a suspended sentence from 2014. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

`2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine`

On Feb. 24, 2022, Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which became the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.

Russia's war against Ukraine led to hundreds of thousands of people being killed and even more injured.

In their initial push, Russian troops failed to take Kyiv, eventually pulling out of some of the occupied territories. After Russian troops withdrew, vast war crimes were uncovered by Ukrainian and international law enforcement.

The Bucha Massacre, mass graves in liberated Kharkiv Oblast, torture chambers in Kherson, executions, and rape of the civilian population across Ukraine's north, east, and south was what Russia left behind.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following first missile strikes by the Russian Armed Forces against Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Russian forces shot at a residential building during the siege of Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast. (Facebook)

People cross a destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing, 10 days after Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

(Graphic content) Bodies of civilians lie on Yablunska Street in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 2, 2022, after the Russian army withdrew from the city. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)

`2022 first mobilization in Russia since World War II`

On Sept. 21, 2022, Putin launched the first mobilization of conscripts in Russia since World War II.

The decision followed Russia's rapid withdrawal from parts of Kharkiv Oblast due to a lack of manpower. The mobilization was completed on Oct. 28 but Putin's mobilization decree is still in force, allowing him to keep those already drafted on the front line in Ukraine.

More than 200,000 people reported for service under partial mobilization in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 4, 2022. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

`2023 ICC arrest warrant for Putin`

On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Over 20,000 Ukrainian children were abducted by Russia from the occupied parts of Ukraine.

This warrant is the first attempt to bring Putin to justice.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova outside Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 16, 2023. (Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

`2023 Prigozhin's rebellion and death`

Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, launched a rebellion against Putin on June 23, 2023.

Several thousand Wagner mercenaries took over the city of Rostov-on-Don and marched northwest toward Moscow. Short of reaching Moscow, Prigozhin concluded a deal with Putin on June 24 and halted the mutiny.

Two months later — on Aug. 23 — a private jet with Prigozhin on board crashed not far from Moscow, killing him and his associates. Independent analysts point to Putin as the most likely organizer of Prigozhin’s killing.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, leaves the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A view of the site after a private jet, allegedly carrying Wagner mercenary group head Yevgeny Prigozhin and other passengers, crashed in Tver Oblast, Russia, on Aug. 23, 2023. (Wagner Telegram Account/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

`2024 Navalny's death`

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny died on Feb. 16, 2024 at the Polar Wolf penal colony in the town of Kharp, Yamal Nenets Autonomous District.

Independent experts and Western politicians say that Putin is personally responsible for Navalny's death. Some argue that Navalny was killed intentionally, while others believe he died due to harsh conditions and a lack of medical treatment.

A view of a spontaneous memorial in memory of the deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, organized at the monument to victims of political repression on Voskresenskaya Embankment, St. Petersburg, Russia on Feb. 16, 2024. (Artem Priakhin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with workers at the AO Konar plant in Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Feb. 16, 2024, a few minutes after his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Putin had been informed about Alexey Navalny's death. (Contributor/Getty Images)

(L) Zahar Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, Maria Pevchikh, Odessa Rae, and Dasha Navalnaya attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on March 12, 2023, less than a month after Alexei Navalny death. (Cindy Ord/VF23/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

`2024 Crocus Hall terrorist attack`

On March 22, 2024, a group of terrorists attacked the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, a Moscow suburb, shooting people and setting the venue on fire.

At least 145 people were killed, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia since 2004. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

A photo alleging to show the Crocus City Hall on fire in Moscow, Russia, on March 22, 2024. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

People light candles in honor of the victims of the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in Krasnogorsk, Russia, on March 23, 2024. (Contributor/Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin lights a candle to commemorate those killed in the Crocus City Hall concert hall terrorist attack in Moscow, Russia, on March 24, 2024. (Mikhail Metzel/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

`2024 First invasion of Russian territory since World War II (Kursk operation)`

Following setbacks on the eastern front, on Aug. 6, Ukrainian troops entered Russia's Kursk Oblast — the first major invasion of Russian territory since World War II.

Ukraine still controls part of the region's territory.

Ukrainian servicemen operate an armored military vehicle on a road near the border with Russia, in the Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, on Aug. 14, 2024. The Ukrainian army entered Russia's Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, capturing dozens of settlements in the biggest offensive by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images)

A damaged statue of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin stands in front of a building damaged during Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, on Aug. 16, 2024. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

A Ukrainian drone unit commander with the call sign Boxer (R) stands in front of Ukrainian vehicles parked at a Ukrainian military position and former Russian military position in the Ukrainian-controlled territory of Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, Russia, on Aug. 18, 2024. (Ed Ram/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

A Ukrainian military vehicle drives from the direction of the border with Russia carrying blindfolded men in Russian military uniforms, in the Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, on Aug. 13, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images)

Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with military chiefs in Moscow, Russia, on Nov. 22, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov/POOL/AFP/Getty Images)

Polish farmers protest in Warsaw against Ukrainian imports, EU policies

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:01:35 +0100

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 farmers against Ukrainian agricultural imports after the EU lifted tariffs on goods from Ukraine in 2022.

The most recent rally, which coincides with the inauguration of the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU, is held under the slogan “Five times STOP."

The five issues that sparked the protest include Ukrainian imports, the European bloc’s trade deal with the Mercosur group of South American countries, the Green Deal, the EU policies on forests and hunting, and the perceived “extinction of the Polish economy."

The protests began at 2 p.m. local time in front of the European Commission representation building on Jasna Street. Approximately two hours later, the farmers will hold a march through the city and conclude the event at 11 p.m.

“All agricultural organizations in our country will protest against the harmful policies of the European Union, against (European Commission President) Ursula von der Leyen, who is imposing policies that will force closure of our farms,” said Tomasz Obszanski, chairman of the Independent Farmers' Trade Union Solidarnosc (Solidarity).

Polish farmers and truckers launched their largest protests in late 2023 and early 2024, blocking off cargo traffic at the Polish-Ukrainian border. Most recently, on Nov. 23, 2024, farmers staged a blockade at the Shehyni border crossing with Ukraine, which lasted just over a day and restricted truck traffic.

Warsaw has already implemented import bans on certain Ukrainian products, such as grain, citing negative impacts on Polish agriculture.

The Polish government has expressed support for farmers’ concerns, highlighting challenges posed by the EU’s trade policies while also seeking to maintain solidarity with Ukraine during the ongoing war.

Poland prepared to increase energy exports to Ukraine in place of Slovakia, Bloomberg reports

Poland is ready to increase domestic electricity production if Slovakia halts the delivery of backup power supplies to Ukraine, an unnamed Polish official told Bloomberg on Dec. 29.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

US sanctions Russian, Iranian groups for election disinformation campaigns

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 03:38:36 +0100

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 Dec. 31 that these groups sought to deepen divisions among Americans ahead of November’s vote. U.S. intelligence agencies have identified both governments as responsible for spreading disinformation, including fake news stories, videos, and social media posts, to manipulate voters and erode confidence in U.S. elections.

“The governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” said Bradley T. Smith, Treasury’s acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

Authorities identified the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise as a key player in creating, funding, and distributing disinformation about American candidates, including AI-generated deepfake videos. The sanctions also target the center’s director, who allegedly collaborated with Russian military intelligence agents responsible for cyberattacks and sabotage against Western nations.

The center reportedly used artificial intelligence to generate fake videos and developed numerous fake news websites designed to appear legitimate. It also paid U.S. companies to host pro-Russian content.

The Iranian group, the Cognitive Design Production Center, is linked to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. designates as a foreign terrorist organization. Officials claim the center has been inciting political tensions in the U.S. since at least 2023, including encouraging protests over Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.

U.S. intelligence agencies have accused Iran of hacking into the accounts of high-profile current and former U.S. officials, including senior figures from Donald Trump’s campaign.

Ahead of the election, intelligence agencies also identified efforts by Russia, Iran, and China to undermine trust in U.S. democracy.

EU to impose first sanctions on Russian intelligence over disinformation campaigns, Bloomberg reports

The proposed measures target more than a dozen individuals and three entities, including Russian intelligence officers and media entrepreneurs, according to Bloomberg. The sanctions aim to counter destabilizing operations globally.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Nordic, Baltic countries voice concerns about elections in Georgia, call for investigations

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 02:04:33 +0100

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 Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia.

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.

The eight countries expressed concerns over reported irregularities during the elections, violence against peaceful demonstrators, and threats to Georgia’s fifth and previous President Salome Zourabishvili, who disputes the legitimacy of the election results.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze emphasized the need to restore public confidence in Georgia’s democratic institutions and called for implementing OSCE electoral recommendations as a step toward resolving the crisis.

“As long-standing friends of Georgia, and supporters of the European aspirations of the Georgian people, we are alarmed by the country’s path toward deeper polarisation and crisis,” the statement said.

“Georgia urgently needs a way out of the crisis, and to restore public trust in its democratic institutions.”

The statement condemned the use of intimidation and urged the Georgian authorities to take immediate action.

Protests in Georgia, explained

The Kyiv IndependentElsa Court

Anti-Western Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia's president, pro-EU Zourabichvili disputes legitimacy

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:29:50 +0100

Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, said she would vacate the presidential palace but stressed she remains the only legitimate head of state, pledging to continue the struggle against the ruling party.

Zourabichvili called Kavelashvili’s election a “mockery of democracy” as the former football player was elected as the only candidate on the ballot by the new parliament seen as illegitimate by its opponents.

The inauguration ceremony in the parliament building was attended by oligarch and Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili but not by foreign diplomats, who were not invited due to alleged “lack of space."

Pro-EU Zourabichvili called upon the government’s opponents to gather at the presidential palace to join yet another rally against the Russian-friendly Georgian Dream party. Opposition parties said they would continue to recognize Zourabichvili as the legitimate president.

The most recent waves of protests have been ongoing in the South Caucasus country since Georgian Dream claimed victory in the October parliamentary elections disputed by the opposition and international observers.

Protests in Georgia, explained

The Kyiv IndependentElsa Court

The government stepped in with riot police and tear gas against the protesters and said that the country’s EU accession process would be suspended at least until 2028 amid Western criticism.

Speaking to citizens gathering at the Orbeliani Palace in Tbilisi, Zourabichvili called the ruling party “locked up, scared, corrupt, illegitimate, unrecognized, subject to sanctions” in an apparent reference to recent U.S. sanctions on Ivanishvili.

Zourabichvili said that her loyalty to the Georgian people does not change based on whether she is inside or outside the presidential palace, adding: “I will leave here with you and will be with you. I take with me legitimacy, the flag, your trust."

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze threatened Zourabichvili ahead of the inauguration by forcibly removing her and placing her in a “correctional facility” if she refused to leave the presidential seat voluntarily.

Georgian Dream, in power since 2012, has been accused of undermining the country’s democracy and dragging it into the Kremlin’s orbit while derailing EU accession efforts.

The ruling-party-backed foreign agents law, compared to similar repressive legislation in Russia, was adopted in May amid widespread criticism from international partners and mass protests at home.

Belarus Weekly — 2024 in review: Drone incursions, deepening alliance with Russia, totalitarianism

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:28:28 +0100

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 Russia’s Vladimir Putin, helping him facilitate the major East-West prisoner swap that saw spies and murderers return safely to Russia. Lukashenko also reignited a major migrant crisis at the country’s western borders, effectively making it harder for people to leave the state.Here is the round-up of key events that happened in Belarus in 2024.

Source : kyivindependent.com/belarus-w…

Georgian Protest Under Ru-Propaganda Attack

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:03:16 +0100

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…

How Russia's Interference is Ruining Europe's Future: Protests and Election Scandals

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 17:24:19 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

What it feels like to be beaten, detained in Tbilisi’s anti-Russia protests

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 15:35:58 +0100

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 : www.counteroffensive.news/p/what-it…

Hungary vows to block potential EU sanctions on Georgia over protest crackdowns

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:43:56 +0100

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…

Trump -Zelensky meeting and Johnny Harris controversy | Ukraine This Week

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 18:31:55 +0100

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 opposition politician detained by police, crackdown continues on ninth day of mass protests

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:05:24 +0100

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 sanctions Georgian government amid crackdown on EU-protests

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:29:02 +0100

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 : kyivindependent.com/ukraine-s…

Georgian police detain opposition leader amid protests

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:32:57 +0100

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-…

GEORGIA: PRO-RUSSIAN BLOC USE ILLICIT FORCE - Days of protests have rocked Georgia

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 21:27:27 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Ukraine preparing sanctions against Georgian government amid crackdown on pro-EU protests

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 20:04:15 +0100

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…

Protests in Georgia, explained

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 19:43:08 +0100

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 : kyivindependent.com/protests-…

Abkhaz council votes against ratification of controversial agreement with Russia

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:33:52 +0100

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…

Baltic states will introduce sanctions against members of "Georgian Dream" for suppressing protests

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:52:44 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Scholz in Ukraine. Hundreds detained at protests in Georgia. Rebels in Syria seize equipment

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:44:01 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Kyiv denounces violence against Georgian protesters; Moscow compares pro-EU rally to Orange Revolution

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:14:44 +0100

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 : kyivindependent.com/ukraine-r…

Georgian opposition leader briefly detained amid crackdown on pro-EU rally

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 11:47:22 +0100

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…

Thousands of people resumed protests in Tbilisi

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 14:38:24 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Revolution in Georgia? Tbilisi Center in Protests, Parliament Building Surrounded

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 21:54:54 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Protests erupt across Georgia in defiance of government's anti-EU stance

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 21:34:48 +0100

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 : kyivindependent.com/protests-…

US suspends strategic partnership with Georgia amid mass protests

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 21:34:48 +0100

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…

Russia Tries to Capture Georgia Politically – Police Dispersed Anti-government Protests

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 15:57:12 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Foreign Ministry condemns Georgian response to demonstrations as second night of protests in Tbilisi continues

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:08:26 +0100

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 : kyivindependent.com/foreign-m…

Georgia Rebels Against Putin - Police Dispersed Protests | Wrap-up

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 21:19:35 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko threatens internet shutdown in case of protests during 2025 elections

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 13:58:27 +0100

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…

Lukashenko threatens internet blackout during 2025 elections to prevent protests

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 01:40:55 +0100

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 disperse protesters in Tbilisi

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:21:22 +0100

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-…

President of Russian-occupied Abkhazia resigns amid protests

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 04:10:28 +0100

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 : kyivindependent.com/president…

How does Russia use protests by relatives of prisoners of war in information warfare

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 23:05:33 +0100

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…

Protesters storm parliament in Georgia's Russian-occupied Abkhazia over controversial investment deal with Russia

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:16:33 +0100

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…

Moldova protests to Moscow over election interference, downing of Russian drones

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:28:20 +0100

Moldova’s Foreign Ministry said on Nov. 12 that it had handed a note of protest to the newly appointed Russian Ambassador, Oleg Ozerov, over Russian interference in the recent presidential election an Source : kyivindependent.com/moldova-v…

Democracy in Danger? Georgia’s Disputed Election Sparks Protests

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:52:46 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Electoral Fraud Sparked Anti-russian Protests In Georgia | Wrap-up

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 19:13:20 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Georgian president does not recognize election results, calls for protests

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 19:42:45 +0100

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said on Oct. 27 that she will not recognize the results of the country’s recent parliamentary elections and called for citizens to join her in mass demonstratio Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…

Georgia's government will be approved despite opposition's protests, PM says after elections

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 11:50:28 +0100

The Georgian parliament will approve the government despite protests by the opposition, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Oct. 27 as his party declared victory in the elections. The country’s e Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…

The Liberation Movement: The Kalynovtsy Regiment

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 09:12:46 +0100

The Liberation Movement: The Kalynovtsy Regiment In Belarus, the democratic movement gained significant momentum following the disputed 2020 presidential election, with widespread protests demanding t Source : uacrisis.org/en/ukrain…

Protests in Venezuela Spark Over the Alleged Election Fraud

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 20:29:30 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Protests erupt in Southern Russia over prolonged power outages

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 15:13:23 +0100

Southern regions of Russia, grappling with an energy collapse, are witnessing spontaneous demonstrations. Unplanned protests have erupted across cities and villages in southern Russia due to widesprea Source : www.uawire.org/protests-…

Georgian president vetoes 'foreign agents' bill

Sat, 18 May 2024 16:46:45 +0100

Georgia’s pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili said on May 18 that she vetoed the controversial “foreign agents” bill previously passed by the parliament despite large-scale protests. The bill r Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…

Explainer: What's behind ongoing protests in Georgia?

Mon, 13 May 2024 22:12:24 +0100

For the past few weeks, thousands of protesters have gathered every night in front of the Georgian parliament in opposition to the controversial foreign agents law that the ruling Georgian Dream party Source : kyivindependent.com/explainer…

Georgian police arrest 2 US citizens at Tbilisi protests

Mon, 13 May 2024 17:17:51 +0100

Georgian police arrested 20 people, including two U.S. citizens, at the ongoing anti-government protests in Tbilisi on May 13, the Internal Affairs Ministry said. The ministry’s statement only listed Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…

Warsaw suspends talks on Polish farmer protests due to ex-agriculture minister corruption suspicions

Mon, 13 May 2024 16:58:06 +0100

Poland has suspended talks with Ukraine regarding the Polish farmer protests at the countries' shared border over corruption suspicions involving former Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi, Source : kyivindependent.com/official-…

Protests continue overnight in Tbilisi ahead of final vote on foreign agents bill

Mon, 13 May 2024 07:15:31 +0100

Thousands of protesters remained on the streets of Tbilisi overnight on May 12 ahead of the final reading of the controversial “foreign agents law” in Georgia’s parliament on May 13. The law would req Source : kyivindependent.com/protests-…

US, EU, UN criticize Georgia's foreign agents bill

Fri, 03 May 2024 09:19:57 +0100

U.S., EU, and U.N. officials denounced on May 2 Tbilisi’s efforts to pass a controversial foreign agents bill amid the ongoing protests in Georgia. The legislation, scheduled for its third and final r Source : kyivindependent.com/us-eu-cri…

Infocleaning, Georgian Protests and Kremlin influence

Thu, 02 May 2024 18:44:05 +0100

As protests in Georgia continue against a bill that will bring the country back into the Kremlin’s wing of influence, RUS propagandists applaud the pro-RUS Georgian government for not bowing to the pe Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Media: At least 8 injured in latest police crackdown on protests in Georgia

Thu, 02 May 2024 08:55:46 +0100

Georgian police again attacked protesters gathered by the parliament building in Tbilisi on the evening of May 1, injuring at least eight, authorities reported. The injuries were severe enough to requ Source : kyivindependent.com/media-at-…

Georgian parliament moves forward with controversial foreign agents law as protests continue

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:08:44 +0100

Georgia’s parliament passed a controversial foreign agents law in its first reading on April 17 as protests in opposition to the legislation continued for the third night. The law must be passed in tw Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…

Thousands protest in Georgia over controversial foreign agents bill

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 22:12:25 +0100

The Georgian parliament postponed the vote on the first reading of the controversial foreign agents bill to April 17 amid mass protests, local media reported on April 16. According to officials, the A Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…

Ruling party in Georgia will again try to pass 'foreign agents' law withdrawn following protests in 2023

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 09:48:20 +0100

The ruling Georgian Dream party will try again to pass a controversial measure known as the “foreign agents” law requiring organizations that receive foreign funding to be labeled as such. Mamuka Mdin Source : kyivindependent.com/ruling-pa…

Whining over war criminals: How WSJ apes Dostoevsky

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:55:55 +0100

On March 12, WSJ published an article about protests by a few Russian soldiers’ wives against over-extended military deployments of their husbands in Ukraine. The article highlights hardships by famil Source : voxukraine.org/en/whinin…

Thousands of Hungarians protest against Orban following corruption leak scandal

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:41:19 +0100

Thousands of people gathered near the Hungarian parliament in Budapest on March 26, calling for the resignation of the chief prosecutor and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Reuters reported. The protests Source : kyivindependent.com/thousands…

Polish official: Border protests will be resolved within weeks

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:00:22 +0100

Negotiations between the Polish and Ukrainian governments will take a few weeks to resolve the issue of Polish farmers blocking the border with Ukraine, Pawel Kowal, Chairman of the Polish Sejm’s Fore Source : kyivindependent.com/polish-of…

Polish protesters resume blockade at Krakovets crossing with Ukraine

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 21:35:16 +0100

Polish protesters resumed blocking cargo vehicles at the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing with Ukraine at 11 a.m. on March 13 after suspending the protests there on March 9, Ukraine’s Customs Servic Source : kyivindependent.com/polish-fo…

Tusk meets Polish farmers, no agreement on ending border protests reached

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 19:35:43 +0100

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk failed to reach an agreement with Polish farmers to end protests against Ukrainian agricultural imports during a meeting on March 9, Polskie Radio reported. Polish fa Source : kyivindependent.com/tusk-meet…

State Border Guard: All border crossings with Poland remain blocked

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 10:25:20 +0100

All six checkpoints at the Ukrainian-Polish border remain blocked due to the ongoing Polish farmers’ protests, State Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on March 3 on national television. Source : kyivindependent.com/state-bor…

Media: Polish carriers plan to rejoin protests at Ukraine's border on March 1

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 11:22:34 +0100

Polish carriers may resume protests at up to four border crossings with Ukraine on March 1, saying that promises made to them by Polish authorities have not been fulfilled, RMF24 reported on Feb. 26. Source : kyivindependent.com/polish-ca…

Narratives in Media Coverage of Ukraine

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:24:26 +0100

Two-year Anniversary of Invasion Warnings About Stalled Aid Aid and Defense Pacts Farm Protests Russian Use of North Korean Weapons Sanctions Against Russia Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Death of N Source : www.promoteukraine.org/narrative…

Ten years ago, first roadblocks appeared in Crimea

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 23:48:18 +0100

On February 23, anti-Maidan forces set up first roadblocks in Crimea and organized protests. The year 2024 marks ten years since the start of Russian aggression against the Ukrainian state. MilitaryLa Source : militaryland.net/news/ten-…

Ukrainian Railways report another incident of grain being dumped from train at Polish border crossing

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:20:40 +0100

Unknown individuals again dumped grain from a Ukrainian train at the Dorohusk border crossing into Poland, Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) said on Feb. 23. Protests at the Polish-Ukrainian border Source : kyivindependent.com/ukrainian…

Protests on the Polish Border: Provocations or a Real Problem?

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:18:53 +0100

Source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_ZauWl_3IY

Infrastructure Ministry: Ukraine plans to bypass Poland border issues by adding new Danube export route

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:40:11 +0100

Ukraine is planning an additional route via the Danube River to circumvent the ongoing protests and ensuing problems at the Polish border, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 20, citing comments from Ukrainian Source : kyivindependent.com/bloomberg…

Polish border protests threaten Ukraine-Poland relations

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:12:59 +0100

The Kyiv Independent visited the Shehyni-Medyka border crossing at the Polish-Ukrainian border on Feb. 14 where hundreds of trucks are unable to enter Ukraine as protestors block the border. With no e Source : kyivindependent.com/polish-bo…

Protests on the Poland-Ukraine border

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 18:34:42 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Polish-Ukrainian tensions boil over as farmer protests escalate

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:12:58 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Ukraine's infrastructure minister holds meeting with Polish officials after buses blocked at border

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:27:24 +0100

Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov held an urgent meeting with Polish National Security Bureau head Jacek Siewiera on ongoing protests on the shared border, namely the reported block Source : kyivindependent.com/ukraines-…

Mass protests in Hungary over child sex abuse scandal

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 13:14:33 +0100

Tens of thousands of people protested in Budapest on Feb. 16 over a child sex abuse scandal that has rocked the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and caused a series of resignations. Source : kyivindependent.com/mass-prot…

Reuters: Oreos manufacturer Mondelez overhauls Russian operations amid boycott, protests

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 10:40:52 +0100

The US-based food manufacturer Mondelez, which owns a variety of well-known brands including Oreo and Cadbury, has opted to revamp its Russian operation in the face of boycotts and shareholder pressur Source : kyivindependent.com/reuters-o…

Russian governors claim drone attacks across the country

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 07:10:47 +0100

Governors in several Russian regions, including the Belgorod, Kaluga, Bryansk, and Voronezh Oblasts claimed that multiple drones were downed overnight on Feb. 17. Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav G Source : kyivindependent.com/protests-…

Meduza: Russian officials don't expect mass protests following Navalny's death

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:31:23 +0100

The reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is unlikely to spark mass protests across the country, the Russian independent outlet Meduza reported on Feb. 16, citing four Russian off Source : kyivindependent.com/meduza-na…

Ukrainian carriers to hold protests at Poland border

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:51:19 +0100

Ukrainian carriers plan to launch protests on Feb. 15 at the Dorohusk-Yahodyn border crossing with Poland in response to ongoing blockade by Polish farmers, Suspilne reported on Feb. 14. Protesting Uk Source : kyivindependent.com/ukrainian…

Czech farmers set to join protests, border blockade over Ukrainian imports

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 02:50:23 +0100

Czech farmers will join a large-scale protest next week against EU agricultural policies that allow cheap product imports from Ukraine, the Czech news outlet iRozhas reported Feb. 13. Farmers across E Source : kyivindependent.com/czech-far…

Polish farmer protests heat up, threatening Polish-Ukrainian relations

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:32:22 +0100

Polish farmers have again taken to the border with neighboring Ukraine in their new month-long strike against EU policies and unfair competition from abroad. The Solidarity trade union announced on Fe Source : kyivindependent.com/polish-fa…

Protests in Bashkortostan: Anti-Kremlin Sentiments and Ethnic Awakening

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 23:07:50 +0100

Source : www.youtube.com/watch

Romanian government reaches agreement with farmers, truckers to end protests at Ukrainian border

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 21:54:26 +0100

Romania’s coalition government reached an agreement with the country’s farmers and truck drivers to end a weeks-long protest against the import of products from Ukraine and other non-EU countries, the Source : kyivindependent.com/romanian-…

Polish farmers to stage more protests at Ukrainian border, nationwide

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:02:55 +0100

Polish farmers’ Solidarity trade union announced a nationwide strike on Feb. 1 that will start with the blockading of all Polish border crossings with Ukraine. Polish farmers began widespread protests Source : kyivindependent.com/polish-fa…

Protests on Tracking information about the Russian War against Ukraine

Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s supreme leader, pledges Russia’s steadfast support

'I’m only afraid of Belarus becoming part of Russia' — released opposition activist Kalesnikava calls on Europe to re-engage with Lukashenko

Why Trump needs Ukraine to stop Iranian drones

NEWS OF THE DAY:

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Women In Iran Removing Burqas, Burning Pictures Of Khamenei After He Died In U.S.-Israeli Strikes In 2026

Conflict in the Middle East

Original video

Russian Embassy in Seoul removes ‘Victory will be ours’ banner, moves Defender of the Fatherland Day event indoors after government pressure

The ‘anniversary effect’: Ukrainians live by a trauma calendar

NEWS OF THE DAY

DOG OF WAR:

The Mathematics of War: How to Tell Real Losses From Propaganda

Part 1. The psychology of numbers and Benford’s law

A mathematical deconstruction of propaganda: analyzing Russian Ministry of Defense briefings on Ukraine’s losses

Bureaucratic schizophrenia: verifying Russia’s real losses through its own civilian administrative records

Part 2. Arithmetic absurdity: how Russia fabricates statistics

The scale of confirmed Russian losses based on internal data

Intelligence consensus: everyone sees the same thing

Part 3. What we know about Ukraine’s losses

Part 4. Nonobvious consequences: what lies behind the numbers

The erosion of Lanchester’s square law and the “drone war” paradox

The price of territory

“Deathonomics” and the Kremlin’s social engineering

A geopolitical game: Munich 2026

Conclusions

Russia’s Losses in Ukraine Are Reshaping the Middle East

Italy foils Russian cyberattacks targeting Olympics

With Iran's uprising suppressed, Trump signals that military strikes are back on the table

Moscow’s Next Target Is Not the Baltic States, but Germany

How Iran’s internet blackouts work

NEWS OF THE DAY:

CAT OF CONFLICT:

What Iran’s Theocracy Doesn’t Want You To See

NEWS OF THE DAY:

DOG OF WAR:

Putin pitches himself as mediator after calls with Israel, Iran amid regional tensions

Kazakhstan protests strikes on Russian oil infrastructure used for Kazakh crude

How a drought drives Iran’s protests

NEWS OF THE DAY:

DOG OF WAR:

US imposes 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran as anti-government protests continue

Inside Venezuela’s oil refineries

NEWS OF THE DAY:

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Ukraine condemns Iran protest crackdown, urges global pressure

Russian cargo flights to Tehran amid protests spur claims Iran is moving gold to Russia

A far-left pro-Maduro protest event is planned in Riga, Latvia, organized by the underground group 'Maiznīca' and supported by leftist youth organizations promoting anti-nationalist European federalism.

Ukraine reacts to U.S. operation in Venezuela and Maduro’s capture

“Courage to call things as they are” — Founding editor of Gwara Media speaks at Free Media Award Ceremony in Hamburg

Ukraine This Year: a year of stalled peace and escalating war

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies uncover alleged bribery ring involving sitting MPs

No place to rest: Ukraine’s burial crisis

Tim Mak and Steven Beschloss

NEWS OF THE DAY:

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Will Ukraine face the hardest vote in decades?

NEWS OF THE DAY:

DOG OF WAR:

Azerbaijan protests to Russia over Kyiv embassy damaged in Russian missile attack

Don’t get fooled by Lukashenko

SHOCK! The Kremlin deceitfully sends Hindus to war. India protests

Why Ukraine’s heating is so vulnerable to Russian strikes

NEWS OF THE DAY:

DOG OF WAR:

Putin acknowledges Russia’s role in Azerbaijani airliner crash, blames Ukraine and air defense failures

Moldova's pro-Russian party rejects election results, threatens protests

Ruling party claims victory in Georgian elections amid major protests

Moldova’s PAS keeps majority as Kremlin-backed bloc falters, but risks of unrest persist

Russia could use Moldova to attack Ukraine’s Odesa region if Kremlin seizes control, Sandu warns

Russia claims NATO plans to occupy Moldova

Autumn Pride in frontline region: Three days with queer community in Kharkiv

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