In this bonus episode of Escalation, we’re bringing you a conversation with Daria Kaleniuk, a Ukrainian anti-corruption expert and activist. Daria tells us about Ukraine’s history with corruption, the roots in the Soviet system, and the …
Reading
Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
Amy B. Zegart
Ukraine
BONUS: Conversation with Daria Kaleniuk
Russia
Macron SLAMS Russia for Meddling in Moldova – Will the West Stop Putin’s Hybrid War?
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
‘Painful for Russia:’ What new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy mean for Moscow
The Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia’s energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions.
The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil …
Russia
USA
U.S. Sanctions Policy in Chaos: Trump’s Team & Congress Send Mixed Signals on Russia
Khartia serves as basis for the new army corps
Khartia evolves from a volunteer unit to a corps in just three years.
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
Trump appoints Kellogg as Special Envoy to Ukraine, removes him from dealings with Russia
U.S. President Donald Trump appointed General Keith Kellogg as Special Envoy to Ukraine on March 15, where he will communicate directly with Ukrainian leadership rather than participate in negotiations with Russia as previously intended.
Initially …
Ukraine
Russia
New Reality Is Here: Will Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. Manage to Negotiate Peace? | Oleksandr Khara
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Western leaders reaffirm support for Ukraine following virtual summit hosted by Starmer
Western leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine following a virtual summit hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 15, where leaders from 25 countries were in attendance.
The virtual summit convened countries who could form a …
Ukraine
Russia
USA
Trump and Putin's claims of Ukrainian troops encirclement in Kursk region debunked by Russian war bloggers
In a surprising twist, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have made claims about the encirclement of thousands of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region that have left even Russian war correspondents baffled. Contrary to …
"I'm Here Since Day 1, Fighting for the Right Cause" – "Viking" | Brave Hearts with @StarskyUA
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Russian attacks in Nikopol kill 1, injure 3, including children
Russia attacked the town of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast over a dozen times on March 15, killing one woman and injuring three people, including two children, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
Two girls, aged 11 and 3 years old, were injured in the …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
EU 'without Ukraine' — Hungary's Orban posts list of demands to Brussels
Budapest has a series of demands for the European Union, including the exclusion of Ukraine from membership in the bloc, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on March 15.
Orban, widely regarded as the EU’s most pro-Russian leader, …
Russia
The "Long Neptune" Missile Strikes a Russian Oil Base in Tuapse
Ukraine
Russia
Germany's incoming Chancellor Merz to approve supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine
Upcoming leader Friedrich Merz, slated to become Germany's chancellor in the coming months, is set to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles, according to a report by Der Spiegel.
Kyiv has long requested these missiles from Berlin, …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
'Putin is lying to everyone' — Zelensky calls for 'strong pressure' on Russia after UK summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 15 called for an international coalition to intensify pressure on Moscow and meet with skepticism any claims from Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation on the battlefield.
“Putin is lying to …
Ukraine
Russia
USA
Ukrainian troops not encircled, withdraw to strategic positions in Kursk region, journalist reports
Ukrainian military journalist Yuriy Butusov has debunked claims that Ukrainian Armed Forces have been encircled in Russia's Kursk region.
Reports of a large encirclement in the area, allegedly mentioned by former U.S. President Donald Trump and …
Ukraine
Russia
Zelensky refutes claims of encirclement, highlights ongoing Ukrainian military operations in Kursk region
In response to circulating rumors, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reassured the public that Ukrainian forces are not encircled in the Kursk region, as ongoing military operations continue.
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of …
Ukraine
Russia
Russia launches massive drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure
The Ukrainian energy holding DTEK reported that Russian forces launched another wave of attacks on Ukraine's power infrastructure overnight, targeting the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions. The message dated Saturday morning, March 15, describes the …
Ukraine
Russia
Unstoppable! Ukraine’s Servicemen Use ‘Viking’ Vehicles to Crush Russian Forces
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Russia readying to attack Sumy as Donbas front stabilizes, Zelensky says
Russian soldiers are amassing at the border to prepare to launch an attack on Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 15.
Zelensky said in a post on Telegram that Ukraine has observed areas along …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
Zelensky appoints Yermak to lead Ukraine's peace delegation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree on March 15 creating a new delegation for international peace negotiations.
The delegation will be led by Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky’s office, the decree, published on the …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
UK's Starmer says 'troops on the ground and planes in the sky' could secure Ukraine peace deal
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced today that an expanded coalition of nations is ramping up efforts to back Ukraine in peace negotiations with Russia, following a high-level virtual summit in London on March 15.
The coalition, which now …
Ukraine
Russia
Ukraine successfully tests new long-range missile, hits target 1,000 km away
Ukraine's latest missile, dubbed the "Long Neptune," has reportedly been put to the test successfully. While the specific target within Russia struck by the new missile wasn't disclosed, speculation suggests it was used against an oil refinery in …
Ukraine
Russia
Ukraine faces shortage of SAMP-T missiles
Ukraine is grappling with a critical shortfall of missiles for its SAMP-T systems. The two SAMP-T ground-based air defense systems, also known as MAMBA, which were previously supplied to Ukraine by Italy and France, have nearly depleted their stock …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Inside Ukraine's desperate fight to stabilize Donbas front
Amid the escalating geopolitical circus, Ukrainian soldiers fighting in between order and chaos assert that the only way to stop Russia remains on the battlefield. The Kyiv Independent spent two weeks in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors of the …