The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
The police evacuation group “White Angels” and the NGO Plain Compassion Crisis Response evacuate civilians from the city of Dobropillya, Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 27, 2025. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv in massive attack against Ukraine. The attack killed and injured civilians, including children. Homes, offices, and schools have been damaged across the city. One five-story apartment was hit directly and completely destroyed.
‘Powerful explosion‘ rocks Russian oil pipeline supplying Moscow, intelligence source claims. As a result of the “powerful explosion… the transportation of petroleum products to Moscow (via the pipeline) has been suspended indefinitely,” a HUR source claimed. The cause of the explosion was not specified.
Top Ukrainian officials to meet US delegation this week amid proposed peace talks. Presidential Office Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov are heading to New York this week to discuss security guarantees and future peace talks, Bloomberg reported.
Ukraine appoints new ambassador to US. Ukraine has appointed former Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna as its new ambassador to the U.S., President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Aug. 27.
Security mechanism inspired by NATO Article 5 remains ‘main one on the table,’ Meloni says. “The Italian proposal, based on a mechanism inspired by NATO’s Article 5, is currently the main one on the table. It is a potential contribution to the peace that our nation has made, and I think we should be proud of it,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
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US-Russia talks on Ukraine should be private, Kremlin says. “Discussing specific details out of context and in public would hardly be helpful to the overall outcome of the matter,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
‘Admission of guilt’ — Ukraine blasts Russia’s planned withdrawal from torture prevention convention. “The decision to withdraw from the Convention for the Prevention of Torture only reinforces this reality and firmly places Russia among the countries where human life and dignity are worth nothing,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said.
Russia convicts more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers of terrorism following Kursk Oblast incursion. More than 300 Ukrainian soldiers who took part in the Kursk Oblast incursion have been convicted on terrorist charges by Russia this year.
62% of Americans back sanctions on Russia’s trading partners, poll says. Among supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump from the Republican Party, 76% backed sanctions against Russia’s trading partners, while Democrats shared this position at 58%.
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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms Russia entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, reports advance stopped
Russian forces failed to capture the villages of Zaporizke and Novoheorhiivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, but active fighting is ongoing in the region, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Aug. 26.
Photo: Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images
Russian forces edge westward, probe Ukrainian defenses in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Western military experts who previously spoke to the Kyiv Independent said Russia’s probe into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast appears to be more of an informational campaign rather than the start of a larger operation for Moscow.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
Across occupied Ukraine, Russia has caused a devastating water crisis it cannot fix
All across the Russian-occupied Ukrainian land, Moscow is struggling to provide one of the most basic needs of the very people it claims to have “liberated” — water.
Photo: Mariupol Seichas/Telegram
From Crimea to Donbas, Russia’s “peace” has always meant more war. We’re here in Ukraine to give the world a reality check. Support independent journalism in this critical moment.
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attacks kill 2, injure 29 in Ukraine over past day, damage energy infrastructure. Ukrainian forces downed 74 out of the 95 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.
Why Russia’s war won’t end yet
International response
French, German, Polish leaders to visit Moldova amid fears of Russian election interference. The visit comes amid what the Moldovan presidency described as Russia ramping up its “interference activities ahead of the high-stakes elections” scheduled for September.
France says Russia pressuring Germany’s Nord Stream investigation. The French representative in the U.N. said that “by making the (Security) Council meet many times, the Russian Federation is putting pressure on Germany’s investigation, which is unacceptable.”
Ukrainian journalist dismissed after insulting Polish president amid Kyiv-Warsaw tensions. Vitalii Mazurenko, a Ukrainian journalist and deputy editor-in-chief of the Polish outlet Obserwator Międzynarodowy, was dismissed after insulting Polish President Karol Nawrocki, according to the outlet’s statement published on Aug. 27.
Lithuania urges EU to bypass Hungary in Ukraine membership talks. Vilnius reportedly proposes launching technical-level accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova without Hungary, provided the other 26 member states agree.
52% of Germans say Ukraine should cede Russian-occupied territories for peace, poll shows. The position was most present among supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with 72% saying that Ukraine should be ready to give up on occupied territories for peace.
Denmark summons top US diplomat over reports of influence operations in Greenland. Danish public broadcaster DR, citing its sources, reported that the Danish government believes at least three U.S. citizens with ties to the Trump administration have been attempting to influence opinion through covert operations on the island to promote secession from Denmark.
In other news
Russia boosts oil exports following Ukrainian strikes on refineries, Reuters reports. The moves follows Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, as the paralyzed refineries freed up additional crude oil volumes for export.
Stolen Ukrainian housing being re-sold in occupied Donetsk Oblast. “All these ‘deals’ are legally null and void. Everyone involved in the sale of Ukrainian property will be held accountable,” the Center of National Resistance said.
Ukraine developing ‘careful’ policy on sharing ‘priceless’ wartime data, minister tells Reuters. “I think this is one of the ‘cards’, as our colleagues and partners say, to build win-win relations,” Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
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