The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A view at a Cabinet of Ministers building in central Kyiv on Sept. 8, 2025 that was hit by a Russian “Iskander-K” cruise missile the day prior. (Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine recaptures another village in Donetsk Oblast from Russian troops, military says. Zarichne’s strategic importance comes from its position near key transport routes connecting Sloviansk and Lyman.
Ukrainian drones strike fuel pumping station supplying diesel to Moscow, military says. “Fuel in Moscow is acting up a little, they say,” the Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces Robert “Magyar” Brovdi mocked on Telegram. “Gasoline is becoming a scarce liquid, while gas and oil – fast-burning.”
Two explosions in Russia’s Far East target military unit accused of war crimes in Ukraine, HUR source says. Khabarovsk in Russia’s Far East is more than 6,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
Russia planned large-scale offensive in Zaporizhzhia direction, but Ukraine thwarted it, Syrskyi says. “The Russians were forced to postpone their offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and redeploy marine units to Donetsk Oblast,” Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
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Russian forces are once again focusing on hitting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Zelensky says. The statement follows a massive Russian attack overnight on Sept. 8 that damaged thermal power plants in Kyiv Oblast.
US urges Europe to stop buying Russian oil, gas in exchange for tougher Moscow sanctions. “If the Europeans drew a line and said: ‘We’re not going to buy more Russian gas, we’re not going to buy Russian oil.’ Would that have a positive influence on the U.S. leaning in more aggressively (on sanctions) as well? Absolutely,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.
EU considers new sanctions on Russian banks, oil trade, Bloomberg reports. The EU has dispatched a delegation to Washington to discuss potential new restrictions with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who, despite repeated threats, has yet to impose additional sanctions on Russia.
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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine recaptures another village in Donetsk Oblast, military says
Ukrainian forces have liberated the village of Zarichne in Donetsk Oblast and raised the national flag there, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Sept. 8.
Photo: General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces
Russia’s gains speed up in Ukraine ahead of high-stakes autumn
Amid a flurry of activity in the geopolitical arena without much real progress toward peace, the fourth summer of Russia’s full-scale war has come and gone on the battlefield. Not showing any real intent to stop its war in peace negotiations, Moscow has continued to pursue offensive operations at a high intensity across the front line.
Photo: Viacheslav Madiievskyi / Ukrinform / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Trump’s latest Russia sanctions threat has experts baffled
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sept. 7 that he is prepared to advance to a “second stage” of sanctions against Russia, though confusion remains over what this actually means.
Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
As Poland builds Europe’s largest army, Russia’s ongoing war reveals its gaps
As Western officials warn about an open clash with Moscow within the next five years, Warsaw readies to bear the brunt of such a war.
Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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
19th Russian top executive dies under suspicious circumstances since start of all-out war, media reports. Alexey Sinitsyn, CEO of potash producer K-Potash Service, was found dead near Kaliningrad.
Opinions and insights
‘Along the Dnipro’ – Ukraine’s longest river tells stories of war, life, and hope (Photos)
The Dnipro, Ukraine’s largest river, is an artery that flows through the heart of the country. The river unites people — soldiers, rescuers, volunteers, children, artists, doctors, activists — rather than becoming a geographical barrier.
Photo: Sergey Melnitchenko / The Kyiv Independent
Russia makes a cultural comeback in the West as Ukraine faces most brutal months of war
For Ukrainians and their supporters, the 82nd annual Venice Film Festival started off with a gut punch as they noticed the return of the Russian flag displayed alongside other countries’ flags at the main venue.
Photo: Richard Murgatroyd/BAFTA via Getty Images
International response
Alaska summit with Trump ‘gave Putin what he wanted,’ Zelensky says. “Putin doesn’t want to meet with me, but he wants very much to meet with the president of the United States, to show everybody video and images that he is there,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with ABC News.
Slovak prime minister’s ally compares Ukraine to Hamas, claims Russia was ‘provoked.’ “This is the same kind of provoked conflict as when terrorists from Palestine attacked Israel. The war developed in exactly the same way,” Deputy chairman of Slovakia’s ruling Smer party and member of parliament, Tibor Gaspar, said.
Drone with Cyrillic markings crashes in Poland near Belarus border. “The drone is unarmed, and there are Cyrillic inscriptions on it,” said Agnieszka Kepka, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office in Poland’s eastern city of Lublin.
Russia detains Azerbaijani citizen over alleged Ukraine-linked ‘terror’ plot as Moscow-Baku tensions escalate. Russian authorities are known to extract confessions under duress, and the highly formalized language of the arrested man’s testimony suggested it may have been pre-written.
China’s exports to Russia see sharpest decline in months. China’s exports to Russia fell 16.4% year-on-year in August, the sharpest drop in five months, adding to July’s 8.6% decline.
In other news
As inflation bites, Russia cracks down on food producers amid public concern. “Potatoes, eggs, milk, and butter are becoming more expensive… But some unscrupulous producers, suppliers, or sellers are allowing themselves to profit in this way,” Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov said.
Russian propagandist Simonyan diagnosed with ‘serious illness,’ she says. Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan said on Sept. 7 that she has been recently diagnosed with a “serious illness” and is about to undergo surgery.
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