Author: Elsa Court
Elsa Court
Elsa Court is a journalist working as a news editor for the Kyiv Independent. She's from UK, but based in the Netherlands. She's an experienced journalist, with previous experience as freelancer and editor.
Support Independent Journalism in Ukraine Join the fight to support independent journalism in Ukraine. As Ukraine gears up to negotiate security guarantees with Ireland and sign bilateral agreements with Estonia and Lithuania, it is crucial to stand by their side. The agreements, following the G7’s pledge at the NATO summit, demonstrate a commitment to Ukraine’s defense. Over 15 countries, including the U.S., Japan, U.K., Germany, and France, have already signed similar treaties to assist Ukraine in repelling Russian aggression. Despite Ireland’s neutral stance, these agreements go beyond weapons and encompass economic and sanctions-related matters. Ukraine is also reaching out to…
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis announced that Ukraine will receive a payment of 1.5 billion euros from frozen Russian assets before the summer break. This is part of a larger plan to provide Ukraine with around 3 billion euros annually for reconstruction and defense needs. While details of the exact payment timeline are not specified, the EU aims to deliver the funds before their summer recess. The EU, along with G7 partners, is utilizing profits generated by immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine, instead of confiscating them outright. The costs of Ukraine’s reconstruction are projected to reach $486 billion over…
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once Ukraine’s IT Army launched a cyber attack on Russian banks and the Mir payment system on June 20, disrupting services. Mir was created after Russia’s Crimea annexation in response to international sanctions limiting card usage. With the withdrawal of Visa and Mastercard post-Ukraine invasion, Mir’s importance grew. The IT Army announced the attack on Telegram, affecting banks like VTB, Alfa-Bank, Gazprombank, and Sberbank, making it a massive DDoS attack. This attack comes after a prior disruption in Moscow and Kazan transport payments. Ukraine…
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once The Latvian government has allocated 10 million euros ($10.7 million) from the state budget’s contingency funds to reinforce defenses on the country’s eastern border, Latvia’s Defense Ministry reported. Latvia shares borders with Russia and Belarus, and the strengthening of the eastern border is a crucial part of the Baltic Defense Line’s creation to prevent potential aggression from these neighboring countries. The Baltic Defense Line, planned by Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, aligns with NATO’s defense strategy. It includes various defensive installations like fortified positions,…
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Switzerland on June 14 for the peace summit on June 15, with 92 countries and 8 organizations attending. The confirmed attendees include 57 heads of state and 29 ministerial representatives. Key organizations like OSCE, Council of Europe, and European Parliament join the summit for peace in Ukraine. Zelensky emphasized the global goal of achieving just peace. Surprisingly, Saudi Arabia and China’s absence and reports of alternative peace plans added intrigue to the event. Meanwhile, Brazil, Holy See, U.N.,…
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once The G7 Summit in Italy concluded with a joint statement warning Russia against the use of nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine. The G7 emphasized the inadmissibility of such actions, citing Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric. Despite Putin’s repeated nuclear threats, no nuclear actions have been taken by Russia during the ongoing conflict. The G7 also addressed Russia’s deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus and its tactical nuclear weapons drills. The group expressed concern over China’s support for Russia and called for China…
In a recent public event with Russian military personnel, President Vladimir Putin boldly claimed that almost 700,000 Russian troops are currently fighting in Ukraine. This statement comes after his previous declaration in December 2023, where he stated there were 617,000 military personnel engaged in the conflict. However, Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, refuted Putin’s claims, stating that the true number is closer to 450,000. Additionally, a declassified U.S. intelligence report revealed that Russia has suffered significant losses in Ukraine, with 315,000 troops killed since the invasion began. Ukrainian sources estimate that over 500,000 Russian soldiers have been…
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Become a member Support us just once A Moldovan man was arrested by Czech police on June 14 in connection with the murder of a 9-year-old Ukrainian girl in Germany. The girl, Valeriia, went missing on her way to school and was found dead in a forest near Dobeln in Saxony. The investigation revealed that the girl died from a violent crime, with no evidence of sexual assault. German police are focusing on her social circle for further clues. The suspect, a 36-year-old Moldovan national, was apprehended in Prague. Valeriia…
NATO allies have yet to reach a consensus on a long-term financial commitment for Ukraine, as stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers. Stoltenberg proposed providing Ukraine with 40 billion euros annually for military support to enforce stability. Despite the lack of agreement on long-term financial support, NATO aims to coordinate security assistance and training for Ukraine, launching the initiative at the upcoming NATO summit. Stoltenberg emphasized the need for immediate aid, especially in ammunition supplies. In light of Hungary’s reluctance to participate in NATO efforts to aid Ukraine, Stoltenberg acknowledged Hungary’s…
U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern to French President Emmanuel Macron about the proposal to send Western military trainers to Ukraine. France is considering sending military trainers to Ukraine as Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi revealed the signing of documents allowing the visit of French instructors. However, the official confirmation is pending as per the French Defense Ministry. Biden and Macron discussed the matter on a recent phone call, with Biden expressing concern about the potential consequences of sending troops into the conflict zone. The presence of French military instructors in Ukraine was warned by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as a…