The Kyiv Independent
News, analyses, investigations, opinions, podcasts and more. On-the-ground reporting from Ukraine
Ukrainian POWs faced conditional release from Hungary.
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.
Become a member Support us just once
Two Ukrainian prisoners of war, part of a group of 11 handed over to Hungary by Russia in June 2023, said in an interview to Deutsche Welle, that Hungarian representatives imposed conditions preventing their return to Ukraine until the war's end.
The 11 soldiers were previously held captive in Russia for an undisclosed duration, and the transfer occurred without prior notification to Ukraine. Both Russia and Hungary denied direct state involvement, attributing the operation to the Russian Orthodox Church and the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta.
Hungarian representatives involved in the transfer claimed that their reason for preventing the return of the Ukrainian soldiers was because of their alleged ethnic ties to Hungary.
Despite most of the soldiers not even being ethnically Hungarian, they were pressured to claim Hungarian identity to secure a return, the soldiers told Deutsche Welle. Upon arrival in Budapest, they were confined to a hotel and warned against roaming until obtaining refugee status.
Eventually, with the assistance of Hungary’s Ukrainian Embassy, five soldiers acquired documents and returned to Ukraine some time in summer 2023. The location of the other six soldiers remains unclear, but Ukrainian officials said they are trying to organize their return.
Source: SBU hits oil refineries, military airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched drone strikes against two oil refineries and a military airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight on April 27, a source in the security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent.
Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, casualties reported.
Russian forces hit energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts in a mass missile attack against Ukraine overnight on April 27, causing damage and casualties, Ukrainian authorities reported.
General Staff: Russia has lost 465,054 troops in Ukraine since Feb.
Russia has also reportedly lost 7,268 tanks, 13,971 armored fighting vehicles, 16,019 vehicles and fuel tanks, 11,905 artillery systems, 1,049 multiple launch rocket systems, 775 air defense systems, 348 airplanes, 325 helicopters, 9,485 drones, 2...
Shmyhal: Ukraine has received $12 billion in international aid this year to help cover budget deficit.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced during a government meeting that Ukraine has received approximately $12 billion in external financing since the beginning of the year to help address the budget deficit.
Norway to allocate $13.7 million for Ukrainian Leopard tank maintenance in Poland
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense revealed plans to provide up to $13.7 million for maintaining Leopard 2A4 tanks at a Polish maintenance center.
'There’s no safety net for people': Portrane houses on a cliff edge from erosion.
Houses near the Portrane shoreline are facing imminent destruction from coastal erosion - and homeowners desperately need a solution before it's too late. Video: Chris Maddaloni
Satellite images appear to show tent compounds near Rafah ahead of a possible Israeli offensive.
Israel has said that it is preparing to evacuate Palestinians from the southern Gazan city of Rafah and launch its long-awaited offensive. The Israeli government claims that the bulk of Hamas' remaining forces are hiding in Rafah. The Islamist mil...
Gov. Kemp takes action against squatting: 'This is insanity'
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp joined 'Fox & Friends' to discuss how the legislation will empower homeowners who fall victim to squatting and the impact of Trump's legal woes on November. #FoxNews Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch F...
Jonathan Turley: 'This case is quickly becoming incomprehensible'.
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley offers his latest analysis on 'The Ingraham Angle.' #foxnews #ingrahamangle Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-ho...
Watch live: SNP and Scottish Greens power-sharing deal ends.
The Scottish National Party holds a news conference as it formally ends its power-sharing deal with Scottish Greens following a row over a climbdown on climate targets. Read more here: SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: Follow us on...
Olympic champion soars to ski jump world record - ABC News.
––– Subscribe to ABC News on YouTube: Watch 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events on ABC News Live: Watch full episodes of World News Tonight with David Muir here: Read ABC News reports online: ABC News Digital is your daily source of bre...