The Kyiv Independent
News, analyses, investigations, opinions, podcasts and more. On-the-ground reporting from Ukraine
Russian court sentences Ukrainian POW to 18 years in penal colony.
A Russian court has sentenced a Ukrainian POW to 18 years in a maximum security penal colony, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on May 4.
Vladyslav Plahotnyk was accused of "participation in a terrorist organization" and "training for terrorism," by being a member of the Azov battalion which Russia has declared a terrorist organization.
The court in Rostov-on-Don has been the site of several trials of Ukrainian POWs.
Last month Dmytro Yevhan, a Ukrainian servicemember who was captured defending the Azovstal steelworks plant in Mariupol, was sentenced to 20 years.
Serving in the 36th Marine Brigade, Yevhan lost both his hands during the fighting in Mariupol.
He refuted terrorism allegations, asserting he was acting in defense of his country and fulfilling military duties.
Ukrainian prisoners of war have been subjected to rough conditions and systemic torture in Russia, according to POWs who have been been returned through swaps.
Ukraine is open to considering an all-for-all prisoner of war (POW) exchange, and will discuss the idea at the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland in June, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 3.
"It's desired that we swap all-for-all. All reasonable countries support this route," Zelensky told recruits while speaking at the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
"We are conducting exchanges, but they are slower than we would like."
The last reported prisoner exchange occurred on Feb. 8 with 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) returned from Russian captivity.
Before that on Jan. 3, 230 prisoners were exchanged in the largest prisoner exchange since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelensky: Ukraine only has 25% of needed air defense capabilities.
Ukraine only has 25% of the air defense capabilities it needs to adequately repel Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with AFP on May 17.
Zelensky: Russia’s Kharkiv Oblast offensive could be first of several waves.
Russia's offensive on Kharkiv Oblast this month could be the first of several waves, and Russian forces may try for the regional capital of Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with AFP on May 17.
Ukrenergo: Russia launched attacks on 2 Ukrainian energy facilities overnight.
Russian forces attacked two energy facilities in Ukraine with drones overnight on May 18, Ukraine's state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo reported.
Update: 3 killed, 31 injured in Russian glide bomb attack on Kharkiv.
The number of people injured in the Russian attack on Kharkiv on May 17 has risen to 31, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said in his morning report on May 18.
General Staff: Russia has lost 491,080 troops in Ukraine since Feb.
This number includes 1,210 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Labour campaign chief denies breaking expenses rules.
Pat McFadden says he stuck to the rules as they were written at the time following reports he claimed rental expenses on a home when he owned the property nextdoor. The Daily Telegraph said the MP claimed over £40,000 from the public purse for ren...
Pro-Russia gunman who shot Robert Fico had tried to form anti-violence party, Slovak journalist says.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after he was shot five times in a "politically motivated" assassination attempt. The PM's alleged shooter has been named as local man, Juraj Cintula. Local media identified the alleged ...
Vote 24: Sky's Beth Rigby holds Labour leader to account on 'downsized promises'.
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that the Labour Party has changed and they "are not scaling back on their ambitions" or "reducing their missions". Sky's political editor Beth Rigby questioned the Labour leader on changes to his goals, in terms of cl...
Russia's Putin greeted by Xi Jinping at the start of a two-day visit to China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing at the start of a two-day visit - Putin's first foreign trip since his re-election as president. NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer reports from Beijing for Early ...
LIVE: Latest News, Breaking Stories and Analysis on May 16, 2024 - CBS News.
We're following all the top stories and more on CBS News. #news #livenews #breakingnews CBS News 24/7 is the premier anchored streaming news service from CBS News and Stations that is available free to everyone with access to the internet and is t...
‘My time will come’: Why Thai politician Pita Limjaroenrat won’t give up - DW News.
Former Thai opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to DW about Thailand’s future and his hopes to still some day become prime minister. Pita led the reformist Move Forward party to winning the most seats in last year’s elections, only to be bl...