Team

Kateryna Denisova
News EditorKateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years, covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics. Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.
Articles

Zelensky slaps sanctions on Russian exiled journalist, ex-Ukrainian lawmakers
President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 20 imposed sanctions on five individuals, three Ukrainians and two Russians.

Ukraine to secure $6.9 billion in arbitration from Russian Gazprom, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian ambassadors will receive detailed instructions on July 21 on how to proceed with the recovery of the awarded funds.

Russia moves to restrict foreign messaging apps on Putin’s order
According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, WhatsApp, owned by Meta tech giant, is a likely target for blocking.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 7, injure at least 28 over past day
Ukrainian forces downed 18 out of the 57 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

Azerbaijan to file international lawsuits against Russia over downed plane, Aliyev says
An Embraer 190AR plane operated by Azarbaijan Airlines crashed in Kazakhstan on Dec. 25, after coming under fire over Russia's Chechnya. Thirty-eight people were killed.

Inside Ukraine's recent government reshuffle, where old ministers take new roles
Ukrainian lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition are unexpectedly united in their assessment of the latest government reshuffle — neither group expects much change.
"In reality, there is no personnel change in the government," Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a lawmaker from the Holos party, told the Kyiv Independent on July 17 before the parliamentary vote on the new cabinet.
A similar take was shared by those who were tasked with approving such a change.
The major government reshuffle saw only

Ukraine eyes building its own private military companies — their role, legal framework remain unclear
Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid out an ultimatum, demanding that Ukraine dissolve military formations. Kyiv responded by saying it can add more.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled that Ukraine might consider creating its own private military companies (PMCs).
"I will be thinking about it after these ultimatums," Zelensky said during a meeting with several media outlets, including the Kyiv Independent, back in June.
The president did not elaborate on what exactly he meant by "priv

Denmark, Sweden back funding US weapons for Ukraine
Denmark and Sweden are open to help deliver U.S. weapons, including Patriot air defense systems, to Ukraine via NATO, countries' officials said on July 15.

Zelensky shouldn't target Moscow, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks come after the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing undisclosed sources, that he asked President Volodymyr Zelensky whether Kyiv could strike Moscow or St. Petersburg if provided with long-range U.S. weapons.

Kyiv court releases Ukraine's top anti-corruption activist on recognizance as his lawyer dismisses the charges
Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center's (AntAC) executive board and current member of the country's Armed Forces, was charged on July 11 with evading military service and fraud — an accusation he and his team reject.

Ukrainian cyberattack 'paralyzes' major Russian drone supplier, source claims
"The stolen data includes confidential questionnaires of the company's employees, and most importantly, full technical documentation on the production of drones, which was handed over to the relevant specialists of the Ukrainian Defense Forces," a source in Ukraine's military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent.

Patriot systems, missiles may arrive in Ukraine 'within days,' Trump says
When asked when certain weapons, including missiles to Patriot air defense systems, were expected to arrive in Ukraine, Trump responded by saying "a full complement with the batteries... We're going to have some come very soon, within days."

Zelensky hints prime minister Shmyhal may be appointed defense minister amid government reshuffle
"Denys Shmyhal's extensive experience will definitely be valuable in the position of Ukraine’s defense minister," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Russian drones strike Sumy, Kharkiv oblasts killing 1 person, injuring at least 21
Russian troops launched drone attacks on Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts on July 14, killing one person and injuring at least 21, local authorities reported.

Analysis: Ahead of Trump's 'major' Russia announcement, what will happen next to Ukraine?
by Francis Farrell, Chris York, Kateryna Denisova, Kollen Post, Alisa Yurchenko, Alex Cadier, Yuliia Taradiuk, Asami Terajima, Daria Shulzhenko
Amid ever-escalating aerial assaults, accelerating Russian advances in the east, and the weariness that comes with nearly 3.5 years of war, all eyes in Ukraine are once again focused upon one man — U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday," Trump said in an interview with NBC News on July 10, the latest development in a tortuously long and so far wholly ineffective U.S.-led peace process.
Short of a massive injection of military aid, or crus