This week in Ukraine
This week, Ukraine celebrated 35 years of independence, with media drawing parallels to the United States' upcoming 250th anniversary. Concurrently, Russian attacks resulted in four fatalities and 30 injuries across Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts. Separately, Ukrainian volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev alleged that Russia's FSB attempted to recruit him in Moscow by blackmailing him through his son.
About Ukraine
Ukraine, a vast Eastern European nation, boasts a rich history, diverse geography, and profound cultural heritage. Its media landscape, while pluralistic, operates under wartime conditions, influenced by oligarchic ownership and reporting constraints imposed by martial law, shaping a complex news environment.
Visiting Ukraine
Media landscape
The media environment is pluralistic but heavily influenced by oligarchic ownership and operates under martial law, which imposes reporting constraints. Recent legislation mandates a minimum percentage of Ukrainian-language content across various media platforms.
To gain a comprehensive understanding, consult a variety of sources, being mindful of potential biases stemming from media ownership and wartime reporting conditions.
Sources we track 1
Independence is defended by citizens every day
Ukraine is marking 35 years of independence this year, a milestone that resonates particularly as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. While separated by centuries of distinct historica…
FSB Blackmailing Me: Ukrainian Volunteer Claims Russian Services Tried to Recruit Him Through Son
Ukrainian volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev says he flew to Moscow voluntarily on August 17, 2026, to counter alleged blackmail by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Puryshev, renowned for his efforts…
Four killed, 30 injured in Ukraine's Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts from Russian attacks
Russian aggression claimed four lives and injured 30 people across four Ukrainian oblasts in the last 24 hours, according to regional military administrations. The attacks impacted Donetsk, Kherson, S…
Ukraine has creative ideas for peace process, seeks U.S. leadership
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has announced that Kyiv possesses "creative ideas" to revitalize the peace process concerning Russia's ongoing war of aggression. Speaking at a joint press con…
Germany allocates €50mn in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and €10mn to NATO fund
Germany is bolstering its support for Ukraine with an additional 50 million euros in humanitarian aid, alongside a 10 million euro contribution to NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) for Ukr…
German foreign minister arrives in Kyiv amid Russian missile attack
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Kyiv on August 22 for a solidarity visit, coinciding with a nighttime Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian capital. His arrival by special train o…
Five Killed, 26 Injured in Russian Attacks Across Three Ukrainian Oblasts
Five people died and 26 were injured in Russian attacks across three Ukrainian oblasts in the last 24 hours, according to reports from regional military administrations. The assaults targeted Donetsk,…
Russian forces hit Kryvyi Rih shopping center twice, killing 15 and injuring 130, including 23 children
A Russian drone attack struck Kryvyi Rih's largest shopping center twice on August 21, killing at least 15 people and injuring 130 others, including 23 children. The devastating assault occurred in th…
Ukraine's post-war democracy faces familiar shadows of corruption and populism
Ukraine's democracy confronts significant hurdles as it navigates the post-war landscape, even if a peace settlement satisfies most citizens. Russia's war has thrust the nation into uncharted territor…
How a Chinese UAV became a Ukrainian long-range weapon
Ukraine has successfully transformed Chinese-made civilian drones into potent long-range weapons, a development that has surprised analysts and expanded Kyiv's strike capabilities against Russian targ…
NATO Says Drone Shot Down in Romania Appears Russian
A drone shot down over Romania appears to be Russian, NATO spokesperson US Colonel Martin O'Donnell stated. The incident occurred on the night of August 15-16 when a Spanish fighter jet intercepted th…
Chinese-made drone forms basis of Ukraine's new long-range weapon
Ukrainian forces have successfully deployed a sophisticated long-range drone, the MICH-2000, capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometers away. This advanced unmanned aerial vehicle is operated …
Russia launches large-scale attack on Kramatorsk community: one killed, 15 injured
The city of Kramatorsk and the village of Bilenke in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast came under a heavy Russian assault on the evening of August 13. The attack, which involved multiple strikes between 8:30 P…
Russia Claims Downing Over 1,100 Ukrainian Drones in One Day
Russia's Ministry of Defence asserted on August 2 that its air defense forces downed an unprecedented 1,158 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over the preceding 24-hour period. The ministry's statement, as …
Ex-Defense Minister Fedorov Explains Dismissal Amidst Reform Resistance
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov suggests his recent dismissal stemmed from opposition to his reform efforts within the ministry, rather than a routine government reshuffle. Fedorov …
Russia imports Indian petrol as refinery attacks bite
Russia is turning to India for petrol supplies, importing at least 67,000 tonnes of fuel to address a significant shortage. This move comes as Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have cr…
Forensic Experts in Ukraine Face Threats Amid High-Level Corruption Cases
Forensic experts in Ukraine who handle high-level corruption cases are increasingly facing threats and pressure to abandon their investigations. These tactics aim to influence the outcomes of criminal…
Ukraine Protests Erupt Over Defense Minister's Dismissal, Demand Commander-in-Chief Ouster
Protests erupted across Ukraine on July 16, marking the second demonstration since the full-scale war began. This time, citizens took to the streets not in support of anti-corruption agencies, but to …
Ukraine's Neptune missiles: striking oil facilities, ports, and arms factories
Ukraine's Neptune cruise missile stands as a significant achievement of its defense industry, demonstrating remarkable combat effectiveness from the outset of the full-scale invasion. Its most notable…
Trump urges Congress to add Iran provisions to Russia sanctions bill
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has again called on Congress to incorporate Iran-related provisions into a bipartisan bill aimed at sanctioning Russia. Trump asserted on his Truth Social platform t…
Zelenskyy: Russia rejected dozens of Ukrainian proposals to end war in 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine has made dozens of proposals to Russia in 2026 aimed at ending the war, all of which Moscow has rejected. He stated that the ongoing confl…
Ukraine opens arms exports, but manufacturers face new hurdles
Ukrainian arms manufacturers find themselves in a frustrating position at international defense exhibitions. While they can display cutting-edge, combat-proven technologies like unmanned systems, the …
European Commission confirms withdrawal of €2m grant to Venice Biennale over return of Russian pavilion
The European Commission has formally confirmed the withdrawal of a €2 million grant intended for the Venice Biennale, a prominent international art exhibition, covering the 2025-2028 period. This deci…
Zelenskyy weighs elections amid war, discusses potential candidates with inner circle
A confidential meeting at a state residence outside Kyiv, rarely used due to security concerns since Russia's full-scale invasion, brought together Ukraine's top officials in mid-June. President Volod…
Zero reports is not cause for celebration, it's cause for alarm
The author expresses deep concern over an annual report from a large agency operating in a crisis zone that claims zero violations of sexual exploitation and abuse. This lack of reported incidents, es…
Drones disable air defense before Ukrainian aircraft strike Russian command posts
Ukrainian forces have executed a joint operation, employing drones to neutralize a Russian air defense system before launching an aircraft strike on key command posts. The operation, a collaboration b…
Education Under Russian Occupation: A Key Battleground in Ukraine
Education has emerged as a critical battleground in the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Russian occupation authorities systematically targeting schools and universities in occupied territories. Since Rus…
Hypersonic or quasi-ballistic? Inside Russia's Zircon missiles terrorising Kyiv
Ukraine is struggling with a critical lack of air defense systems that can counter advanced threats like Russia's Zircon hypersonic missiles. While most air defense systems can handle cruise missiles …
Women's voices must be heard in Ukraine's public and political life
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has profoundly reshaped public life, with women increasingly taking on vital roles in their families, communities, and local governance. While both men and women hav…
Russian strikes on Nikopol district injure five, including two-year-old boy
Russian forces launched extensive attacks across two districts in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on June 21, resulting in injuries to five civilians, including a young child. Oleksandr Hanzha, Head o…
Russian guided aerial bomb strikes on Zaporizhzhia have injured 26 people, Zelenskyy reports
Russian guided aerial bomb attacks struck Zaporizhzhia on June 20, killing five people and injuring 26 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported. The strikes underscore the ongoing inte…
Ukraine FM thanks Poles opposing tensions, cites Russia as common enemy
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has expressed gratitude to Polish citizens who advocate against escalating tensions with Ukraine. Sybiha emphasized the shared threat posed by Russia, referrin…
Why Ukrainian military personnel are criticising Defence Ministry for proposed army reform
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has unveiled a long-awaited military reform package, introducing new contracts, fixed service terms for the first time, and increased payments. The announcement on June 1…
Ukraine official to return Polish award over Zelenskyy honor revocation
Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, announced he will return a Polish state award he received in 2022. This action is a direct response to Polish President Karol Nawrocki's…
Russian guided bomb strike on Kharkiv leaves several injured, including child
Kharkiv: A Russian guided bomb attack struck the Kholodnohirskyi district of Kharkiv overnight, injuring nine people, including a six-year-old child. The assault occurred on the night of June 19-20, a…
Zelenskyy: US positive about missile licence issue for first time
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday, June 19, that he has received positive signals from the G7, including from former U.S. President Donald Trump, regarding Ukraine's request …
Zelenskyy shares photos of meeting with Trump at G7 summit, citing need to coordinate positions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shared images of a meeting with former US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit held in France. Zelenskyy posted the photos on X, formerl…
NATO narrowly repels attack in Russian-style cyber warfare simulation
NATO forces recently engaged in a rigorous cyber warfare simulation, pitting a NATO team against a Ukrainian team acting as a fictional adversary. The exercise, held in Bydgoszcz, Poland, aimed to bol…
EU's 21st Sanctions Package Against Russia Expected June 8-9
The European Commission plans to unveil the European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia early next week, on June 8 or 9, according to sources familiar with the matter. The proposed measures…
"Eaglets of Russia": Ukrainian children being turned into future Russian soldiers
An investigation by Ukrainska Pravda reveals the alleged systematic transformation of Ukrainian children, evacuated to Russia, into future Russian soldiers. The report highlights the story of Oleh, a …
Ukraine Defense Contractor Fire Point: Unpacking the $7.1 Billion Controversy
The recent release of the Mindich tapes has ignited a firestorm of controversy surrounding Fire Point, a prominent drone and missile manufacturer. Ukrainska Pravda's investigative report seeks to clar…
Russians strike Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: two killed, two injured in renewed attacks
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has once again come under brutal attack from Russian forces, with the latest strikes hitting two districts and leaving a trail of destruction and casualties. According to Oleksan…
Kremlin Ramps Up Recruitment Pressure as Troop Numbers Fall Short
The Kremlin's strategy to fill its ranks for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine reveals a calculated avoidance of overt mobilization, a tactic learned from the public backlash experienced in autumn 2022.…
Colonel Yelizarov on Downing Shaheds and Developing Ukraine's Drone Force
In the crucible of this full-scale war, Colonel Pavlo Yelizarov embodies the innovative spirit driving Ukraine's defense. A former television producer, Yelizarov transitioned to the military post-inva…
Pastry chef by day, air defence operator by night: the woman from Bucha shooting down Russian drones
In the Kyiv Oblast town of Bucha, a remarkable transformation is underway, not just in the physical rebuilding of a community scarred by war, but in the lives of its residents. Liudmyla Lysenko, a wom…
One person injured as Russian drone hits residential building in Kharkiv
The city of Kharkiv once again finds itself under a brutal assault, as Russian forces launched a drone attack overnight, striking a residential building and injuring civilians. Ukrainska Pravda's repo…
Ukraine's Partners Announce €100 Million in Support at Ukraine Energy Coordinating Group Meeting
In a significant display of solidarity and commitment, Ukraine's international partners have announced additional contributions totaling around €100 million to the crucial Energy Support Fund. This vi…
Chornobyl, Not Chernobyl: Why One Letter Matters
The ongoing discussion about the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster presents a crucial opportunity to correct a persistent error in international discourse: the continued use of the Russian tr…
Zelenskyy: Ukraine Still Needs US Air Defense Despite Growing Domestic Arms Production
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's growing domestic arms production capabilities during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. While acknowledging th…
