In a critical moment, Poland stepped up with key military assistance for Ukraine, although it might not top the donor list. Warsaw calculates it has already extended nearly €5 billion in aid, as disclosed by the head of the National Security Bureau …
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Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
Amy B. Zegart
Ukraine
Poland's military support to Ukraine nears €5 billion
Ukraine
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Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 28
Editor’s note: This is issue 28 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukraine Reforms Tracker” covering events from May 26–June 1, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, …
Ukraine
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With music festival honoring fallen combat medic, Ukrainians reinvent memorial culture
Editor’s Note: The following is the latest in a series of reports by the Kyiv Independent about the memorialization of Ukraine’s fallen soldiers.
“We weren’t taught to live side-by-side with death in schools and universities, but it’s …
Ukraine
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Putin casts doubt on peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 questioned the value of ongoing peace talks with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of orchestrating deadly attacks on infrastructure in Russia that …
Ukraine
Russia
Ukraine claims successful strike on Crimean Bridge, Russia denies damage
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian Federation's President, confirmed that Ukraine's Security Service indeed struck the Crimea Bridge. However, Peskov assured that the illegally structure remains unharmed and operational. Describing the …
Ukraine
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New footage from Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb hitting Russian bombers
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has published new drone footage from Operation Spiderweb – the remarkable special operation targeting four Russian airbases with low-cost FPV drones. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed on June …
Ukraine
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Ukraine's SBU releases exclusive footage of Operation Spiderweb targeting Russia's strategic aircraft
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on June 4 released a new footage from its Operation Spiderweb, showing targeted strikes on Russian strategic aircraft across multiple airfields.
On June 1, the SBU conducted an operation using first-person-view (FPV) …
Russia
Russia advances in the Sumy region! Will the occupiers achieve strategic success?
Russia
Massive fire erupts at Yaroslavl’s Avtodiesel plant: key Russian manufacturer of military engines
In the early hours of June 4, a significant fire broke out at the Avtodiesel (YAMZ) engine plant in Yaroslavl, where diesel engines are produced, including those for the intercontinental RS-12M "Topol" and RS-24 "Yars" systems.
According to official …
Ukraine
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Exclusive: Ukraine could face 500+ Russian drones a night as Kremlin builds new launch sites
Russia will soon be able to deploy more than 500 long-range drones a night to attack Ukraine as it ramps up production and builds new launch sites for them, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) has told the Kyiv Independent. …
Ukraine
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Putin's 'disregard' for troops highlighted as Russian losses approach 1 million, CSIS report shows
Russian military casualties in Ukraine are approaching 1 million and are likely to surpass that figure by summer 2025, according to a new report by the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published on June 3.
The total …
Ukraine
Russia
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Ukraine wouldn't launch Operation Spiderweb if Russia agreed to ceasefire, Zelensky says
Ukraine would not have launched its drone strike on Russian strategic bombers if Moscow had accepted Kyiv’s calls for a ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a June 4 meeting with journalists attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Kyiv …
Ukraine
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Russia strikes Ukrainian military training unit in Poltava Oblast, military says
Editor’s note: The story is being updated.
Russia launched a missile attack against a military training facility in Poltava Oblast on June 4, resulting in injuries, the Ground Forces' press service reported.
“Thanks to timely and …
Ukraine
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Ukraine to bring home 500 POWs in next prisoner swap with Russia, Zelensky says
Editor’s note: The story is being updated.
Ukraine will bring home a total of 500 prisoners of war (POW) from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia between June 7 and 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a meeting with …
Ukraine
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“My garden is my safe place.” How people in Kharkiv Oblast grow fruits, vegetables despite spring frosts and Russia
UKRAINE, OKHOCHE, KHARKIV, Jun 4 — “This year, the warmth came early, in March. All the plants started growing, and then the frost came. Of course, it had an impact. We lost the fruit harvest, but some vegetables were saved,” said Viktor, a farmer …
Ukraine
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USA
US hasn't decided yet on new Ukraine aid, focuses on peace, NATO envoy says
The U.S. administration has not yet made any new decisions on military assistance for Kyiv as it remains focused on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told journalists on June 4.
Whitaker stressed that Washington …
Ukraine
Russia
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Ukraine passes Budget Code changes to implement US mineral deal
Ukraine’s parliament approved key amendments to the Budget Code on June 4 to implement the landmark minerals agreement with the United States, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak announced.
The legislation, supported by 309 members of parliament, …
Ukraine
Russia
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'There is nothing secret left' — Ukraine hacks Russia's Tupolev aircraft manufacturer, source claims
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) has gained access to sensitive data of Russia’s strategic aircraft manufacturer Tupolev, a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent on June 4.
Tupolev, a Soviet-era aerospace firm now fully …
Ukraine
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Academic Fallout: The Impact of War on Ukraine’s Scientific Output
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has triggered immense destruction, human suffering, and institutional disruption. Much has been written about the effects of war on infrastructure and industry. Less attention, however, has been paid to its impact …
Ukraine
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USA
Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb ranks with 'raid on Bin Laden,' US Senator Blumenthal says
Ukraine’s recent drone strike against Russian bombers was a show of “skill and audacity” comparable to the U.S. operation to kill Osama bin Laden, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal told Politico in an interview published on June 3.
The …
Ukraine
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Kremlin confirms explosion at Russia's Crimean Bridge after Ukraine's sabotage, claims 'no damage'
An explosion recently occurred at the Crimean Bridge, but caused “no damage,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on June 4, accusing Ukraine of attempted attacks on Russia’s infrastructure.
The Security Service of Ukraine …
Ukraine
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France, Belgium wary of EU's plan to halt Russian LNG imports by 2027
France and Belgium are not ready to accept the European Commission’s latest proposal to phase out Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), calling for additional assurances, Politico reported on June 3.
The two nations, the largest EU importers of …
The beginning of Operation "Web": the SSU sources showed UNIQUE shots #shorts
Ukraine
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In second fire at Russian engine plant in 2 days, fire engulfs US-sanctioned Yaroslavl facility
A fire broke out on June 4 at the Avtodizel motor plant in Yaroslavl, one of Russia’s largest producers of diesel engines and a supplier to the Russian military, the Moscow Times reported, citing regional emergency officials.
Located roughly 280 …
Ukraine
Russia
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USA
Trump raises steel, aluminum tariffs to 50%, hitting key Ukrainian export
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 3 to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, raising duties from 25% to 50%, the White House announced.
Trump’s new order builds on a Feb. 10 executive action that imposed a …