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Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
Amy B. Zegart
Ukraine
Ukraine’s NATO membership – a long road full of challenges
Russia
USA
Nuclear THREATS from the KREMLIN – Trump put Medvedev in his place
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Kyrgyz citizen pleads guilty to illegally exporting US firearms to Russia
Sergei Zharnovnikov, a 46-year-old citizen of Kyrgyzstan, pleaded guilty in New York federal court on June 25 to a conspiracy to illegally export U.S.-made firearms to Russia and smuggling, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
According to the …
Ukraine
4000 rescued – A nun from Argentina helps Ukraine
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Influence as a service: l’illustration de la Dame de Sochi
Au cœur des démocraties libérales, la liberté d’opinion demeure un pilier intangible. Mais c’est précisément cette valeur, socle du débat public ouvert, que certains États malveillants exploitent désormais à des fins d’ingérence. Plutôt que de …
Russia
USA
Nuclear THREATS from the KREMLIN – Trump put Medvedev in his place
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 31
Editor’s note: This is issue 31 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukraine Reforms Tracker” covering events from June 17–June 24, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Over 20,000 Russian soldiers prosecuted for refusing to fight in Ukraine, media reports
More than 20,000 Russian soldiers have been prosecuted for refusing to fight in Ukraine, a Russian independent media outlet Mediazona reported on June 26, citing online data from military courts.
As of late May, Mediazona had documented 20,538 such …
Ukraine
Russia
Protests
Photos
USA
Russia still hasn't declared war on Ukraine, and doing so could spell Putin's demise, experts say
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 …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
The Kyiv Independent reaches 20,000 paying members — thanks to our global community
The Kyiv Independent has officially reached 20,000 paying members, becoming the first Ukrainian media outlet in history to cross this milestone.
This is not just a number — it’s a reminder that people around the world believe in the importance of …
Ukraine
They are HOME! Ukraine has RETURNED the captive HEROES
Russia
USA
Nuclear THREATS from RUSSIA – TRUMP responds HARSHLY
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Facing manpower shortage, Ukrainian brigade turns to women in first-ever female recruitment drive
Editor’s note: This article originated as a winning story idea in a vote by members of the Kyiv Independent’s community. Join our community today and join our exclusive members-only Discord channel, where you can discuss and suggest stories, ask our …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW swap under Istanbul deal
Ukraine has brought home a group of soldiers released from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 26, marking yet another in a recent series of exchanges with Moscow.
“Today, soldiers of the Armed Forces, the National …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
Erdogan says Trump ready to join Zelensky-Putin talks in Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara is working to organize a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with U.S. President Donald Trump potentially joining the talks, Reuters reported.
Speaking …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
North Korea likely to send more troops to Russia by August, South Korea says
North Korea is likely to send more troops to Russia as early as July or August to bolster Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said during a closed-door briefing, Yonhap reported on June …
Russia
Latvia Protects EU and NATO External Border and Invests in Its Security
Latvia, together with Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, has called on the European Union to provide financial backing to strengthen the Eastern external border of the EU and NATO. A joint letter signed by Latvian PM Evika Silina, Estonia’s …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
'50,000 Russian troops pinned down' — Ukraine halts advance in Sumy Oblast, summer offensive 'faltering,' Syrskyi says
Ukraine has halted Russia’s advance in Sumy Oblast, stabilizing the front line and blunting the momentum of Moscow’s summer offensive, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on June 26.
“Based on the results of May and June, we …
Ukraine
Russia
Protests
Photos
USA
Trump gets king’s treatment at NATO summit while Ukraine sits on the sidelines
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 …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Orban claims 95% oppose Ukraine's EU accession in disputed Hungary referendum
Hungary’s government announced on June 26 that 95% of participants in a national consultation opposed Ukraine’s accession to the EU, Hungarian news outlet Telex reported.
The poll, promoted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Russia reportedly helping North Korea build warships, but questions over seaworthiness remain after failed launch
Russia appears to have provided North Korea with extensive assistance in designing and rapidly constructing two advanced destroyers, the most modern in Pyongyang’s fleet, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on June 25.
The destroyers, part of …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
Taking lessons from Ukraine war, Trump's US defense budget prioritizes drones, missiles
U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed defense budget for fiscal year 2026 prioritizes drones and long-range missile systems over traditional air and naval platforms, Reuters reported on June 26.
The $892.6 billion request maintains the overall …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
Ukraine to receive 20 new Rheinmetall Ermine vehicles — here's what they can do
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
Meloni tells Trump US must show 'same determination' on Ukraine as with Iran
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told U.S. President Donald Trump that the determination shown by the U.S. toward Iran should also be applied to ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, she said on June 25 on the sidelines of the NATO summit …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,015,750 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost 1,015,750 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on June 26.
The number includes 1,100 casualties that Russian forces suffered just …