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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Growing up under missiles — Ukrainian childhoods shaped by war (PHOTOS)
Ukrainian children are growing up in a world entirely reshaped by Russia's war. Sirens, blackouts, and bomb shelters are nothing extraordinary — but a part of everyday childhood. This photo story follows five families as they raise their children in the shadow of the ongoing invasion. It's not about the battlefield, but of bedrooms with windows shattered by blasts, morning routines interrupted by air raid alerts, and games played in underground shelters. The war seeps into the smallest moments. The Kyiv Independent spoke to children and their families to understand how war affects childhood, how it quietly rewrites dreams, creeps into fantasies, and redefines what it means to be safe. Children, in their honesty and imagination, reflect truths that adults sometimes struggle to express. One thing all the children who spoke to the Kyiv Independent have in common: They all feel safest when there are no air raid alerts or the sounds of Russian missiles and drones above morning of Feb. 24, 2022, Tina and Tymofii's mother Yuliia Tyshchenko woke up to feed then- 8-month-old Tymofii — when, for the first time, she heard the terrifying sound of the first explosions of the invasion. Within 10 minutes, Yuliia and her husband Bohdan Tyshchenko, had gathered their things, picked up their daughter Tina from her grandparents, and set off west, driving without a clear destination. After the liberation of Kyiv Oblast, they returned home and now, they no longer want to leave. They are happy to be home. They spent many nights hiding in the basement, but the children always got sick afterward. With no better option, they began taking shelter in their bathroom, even though they know it offers little real protection. Every day, the family says they thank God and Ukraine's defenders for the morning, for waking up, and for being alive. (I'd like to have) the superpower of fire because it can destroy. I would first destroy Putin, because he is very bad. The Kyiv Independent: What superpower would you like to have and why? Tina: The superpower of fire because it can destroy. I would first destroy (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, because he is very bad. When I grow up, I'd buy, like, a gun or something, and I'd go and, um… pretend to be a Russian. And then I'd pick some poisonous berries — they don't know what poisonous berries are. And then I'd give them some, and they'd all die and be dead. I'd give Putin a worse death. And Russia too — a terrible one. Because Putin is very mean. And the president of Ukraine is much, much, much, much better. The Kyiv Independent: You wouldn't shoot him with fire, right? Tina: No! I'd take care of him. And give him blueberries. Or strawberries. The Kyiv Independent: You'd give blueberries or strawberries to our president? Tina: Yes! Or cake. The Kyiv Independent: What do you dream about? Tina: I want to be very rich. I want to buy everything I Ovsieienko was just five months old when Russia's full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022. She and her mother, Kateryna Ovsieienko, fled Chernihiv under heavy shelling after spending three weeks in the city without electricity, water, or heating. They found temporary refuge in Germany, where they lived for six months before returning home. Since returning, the war has shaped the rhythms of their daily life. After an explosion shattered their windows and a rocket fragment hit a neighboring apartment, going to the shelter during air raid alerts is a regular part of their routine. Sofiia knows what the sirens mean: time to run to the shelter. She does this at kindergarten, and she does it at home with her mom. Sometimes, going to the shelter can even resemble a small adventure to Sofiia. She knows there will be other children there — and afterward, her mom always buys her cocoa or a hot dog. The first thing she asks when they go underground is 'What's in the bag?' She knows her mom's emergency backpack is always packed with her favorite toys and snacks. The sound of knocking frightens her most. Sofiia doesn't remember the beginning of the war. When she hears the air defense systems, she asks, 'Who's knocking?' The sound of knocking frightens her most. She may not understand war, but she feels its presence every the war began, Matvii and his mother, Nina Logachova, left their home. His father stayed behind and joined the military. For six months, the mother and son lived with friends, first in Ukraine's Carpathian Mountains, then in Portugal — before they returned. Matvii is now in kindergarten. He loves robots and books. His favorite is 'The Battle for the City,' a story that helps kids believe that light will overcome darkness and that evil will eventually be punished. He flips through the pages quickly, pausing to show the illustrations of war. They still haven't bought a mattress for the bathroom, where they hide during attacks. It's hard to accept that this might be their reality for a long time. His mother's calm helps, but she can't silence the explosions that frighten Matvii so much. When they travel abroad, Matvii remains tense, constantly asking his mother if the planes flying overhead are the 'good ones.' 'Children are not made for war, fear, and despair in those little eyes. No children are,' Nina says. — When do you feel safe? — When there is no air alarm or anything else scary. The Kyiv Independent: What superpower would you like to have and why? Matvii: I want to have all the superpowers from the cartoon Dinoster to defeat bandits…and the biggest bandits are Russians. The Kyiv Independent: Do you get scared sometimes? Matvii: Of course. When there's a siren, or something... The Russians do stuff to make me scared. The Kyiv Independent: When do you feel safe? Matvii: When there is no air alarm or anything else scary. On the first day of the full-scale invasion, the Davydenko family woke up to the sound of a missile whistling over their home in Kyiv. They immediately fled to western Ukraine. Now they're back home. Andrii often sleeps in his parents' closet, surrounded by his favorite panda and capybara stuffed animals. During missile attacks, the family shelters there or in their building's parking garage. When sheltering, they play games or discuss their hopes for the future. Every month, Andrii helps underprivileged children from the NGO Misto Dobra, buying them gifts with his pocket money and going through his own toys and clothes to donate to the children. The Kyiv Independent: What would you wish for if you had three wishes? Andrii: If I had a magic wish, the first would be for the war to end. The second would be 100 more wishes. The third: 200 more wishes. Or maybe… to have endless money. Because with money, you can do anything: end the war, buy whatever you want, and help other people. The Kyiv Independent: How would you end the war with money? Andrii: I'd build a couple of nuclear missiles. They (Russia) attacked us because we have nothing, no nuclear weapons. And my third wish would be a Bugatti Chiron. If I had a magic wish, the first would be for the war to end. The Kyiv Independent: If you could move a house anywhere on the planet, where would you move it? Andrii: I would move my house to Japan because I really love Kyiv Independent: Do you get scared sometimes? Andrii: When there is an air raid at night, when ballistic missiles or cruise missiles are flying. The Kyiv Independent: When do you feel safe?'Where grandma lives,' Andrii says, pointing to the Carpathian Mountains on the map on the the beginning of the war, Timofii and his mother, Marharyta Valevach, left for Poland, while his father, Bohdan Moskalchuk, remained in Ukraine. Six months later, the family reunited and returned to Kyiv — because home is home, and everywhere else you're a stranger. War inevitably steals parts of childhood, and his parents are doing their best to lessen its impact. He won't get another childhood. These are the years that will shape his memories, and his parents want him to remember trips to theme parks and visits to the village, not bomb shelters and the sound of Shahed drones. Timofii is fascinated by building things out of whatever he can find. He also loves hiding in boxes or creating his own little shelters, though he can't quite explain why he enjoys them so much. Sometimes he likes to draw, and lately, he often draws explosions. Whether they come from missiles or from his imagination in a fictional game, it's hard to say. I wish I had the superpower to get really angry so I could protect myself from bad guys. The Kyiv Independent: What superpower would you like to have and why? Tymofii: I wish I had the superpower to get really angry so I could protect myself from bad guys. The Kyiv Independent: Are you brave? Tymofii: Yes, I'm only afraid of monsters when I have a scary Kyiv Independent: When do you feel safe?Tymofii: At home... with mom and dad, and also my grandparents. Read also: Coming of Age Amidst War We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Strike them at sea, in the air, and on the ground': Ukraine claims 34% of Russia's missile carriers destroyed
Ukraine's security agency claimed a massive drone attack on June 1 which severely damaged Russia's long-range air strike capabilities, causing an estimated $7 billion in destruction and disabling 34% of its cruise missile bombers. Called 'Spider Web,' the operation reportedly struck four key Russian airbases, targeting aircraft regularly used to launch missiles on Ukrainian cities. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), over 40 aircraft were hit, including rare and heavily relied-on models like the A-50 surveillance plane, and the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers. The SBU said the plan was in the works for more than 18 months and involved transporting first-person-view (FPV) drones deep into Russian territory. These drones were hidden inside trucks before being deployed in coordinated attacks on airbases in Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan and Ivanovo oblasts. A source from the SBU told The Kyiv Independent that the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk, over 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine, was among the targets, highlighting the unprecedented range and ambition of the operation. The Tu-95, one of the aircraft reportedly hit, dates back to the Soviet era and was originally designed to carry nuclear bombs. It has since been adapted to fire cruise missiles, including the modern Kh-101 and Kh-102, with each aircraft capable of carrying up to 16 such missiles. The SBU shared a defiant message following the attack, quoting iconic Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko, 'And you thought Ukraine was easy? Ukraine is exceptional. Ukraine is unique. All the steamrollers of history have rolled over it. It has withstood every kind of trial. It is tempered by the highest degree. In today's world, its value is beyond measure.' The agency vowed to keep pushing back Russian forces by any means necessary, 'We will strike them (Russia) at sea, in the air, and on the ground. And if needed, we'll get them from underground too.' The strike came as Russia escalated its own attacks. On May 26, it launched what Ukraine says was the largest drone offensive of the full-scale war, using 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys in a single night – an assault seen by many as an attempt to gain leverage amid US-backed ceasefire talks. The SBU says more details about the June 1 operation will be released in due course.
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
Ukraine pounds Russia with drones, destroys Tu-95 aircraft— What are AI-powered FPV drones? How do they work? EXPLAINED
Ukraine — in an unprecedented covert operation codenamed 'Spider Web" — allegedly overseen by President Zelensky, reportedly destroyed at least 40 Russian planes in an attack with the help of AI-powered FPV drones launched from trucks parked inside Russian territory. AI-powered First Person View (FPV) drones are unmanned aerial vehicles enhanced with artificial intelligence to perform advanced tasks with greater precision and autonomy. By processing real-time video data through AI algorithms, FPV drones are able to avoid obstacles, and carry out mission-specific operations such as surveillance and search and rescue. Ukraine released the FPV drones remotely from wooden mobile houses that were transported on trucks inside Russian territory, reported Reuters, citing an official. Russian aircraft including the Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3 long-range bombers capable of deploying conventional and nuclear weapons as well as the A-50, are reported to have been damaged after Ukraine's drone attack, added Reuters. As the phrase 'First Person View' suggests, FPV drones offer a first-person view of the flight through a live video feed. The drone system, developed by Ukraine's defense tech cluster Brave1, can deliver two AI-guided FPV (first-person view) strike drones with an operational range of up to 300 kilometers, reported The Kyiv Independent. Once released, the smaller drones can autonomously locate and hit high-value targets, including aircraft, air defense systems, and critical infrastructure — all without using GPS and any human intervention. The non-reliance on GPS for navigation, is one of the key features of the AI-powered FPV drones: 1. GPS-independent navigation: Operates without relying on satellite-based GPS, enhancing resilience against jamming or signal loss. 2. SmartPilot system: Utilises advanced visual-inertial navigation, interpreting camera data to determine position and movement. 3. LiDAR technology: LiDAR technology complements the SmartPilot system, boosting precision in complex or cluttered environments. A single mission with this AI drone system costs around $10,000 (~ ₹ 8.5 lakh) —much less than launching a missile, which can be 300 to 500 times more expensive, mentions a report. Ukraine's surprise drone attack on Russia comes after the latter, earlier in the day, launched a barrages of Russian missiles and drones, with air sirens lasting for more then 9 hours in Ukraine. Ukraine's FPV drones hit airfields including the Belaya air base in Russia's Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine. Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed in a Telegram statement attacks at five military airbases across the nation from the Far East and eastern Siberia to locations just several hundred miles from Moscow.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate to 'start moving' Russia sanctions bill next week, Graham says
The U.S. Senate is expected to "start moving" next week on a bill introducing sweeping new sanctions against Russia, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said at a press briefing in Kyiv on May 30 attended by The Kyiv Independent. The proposed bill would impose 500% tariffs on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products. At least 82 U.S. senators are prepared to vote for the bill, Graham said. "I would expect next week that the Senate will start moving the sanctions bill," Graham, a vocal supporter of Ukraine and close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, said. "There are House members that are ready to move in the House, and you'll see congressional action. President Trump said that the next two-week period will be outcome-determined." Asked whether Congress would pass the bill before its summer recess and whether Trump would sign it, Graham responded: "I've never been more optimistic than I am today." The senator dismissed the upcoming June 2 Russian-Ukrainian peace talks in Istanbul, where Moscow is expected to present a draft ceasefire memorandum, as unlikely to yield progress. "I see nothing about the meeting on Monday in Istanbul to give me any hope at all that Russia is interested in peace," he said. "So when this two-week period is over, I think it'd be pretty clear to everybody (that) Russia is playing a game at the expense of the world, not just the United States." The senator also credited growing global recognition of Ukraine's willingness to negotiate in good faith and Russia's refusal to reciprocate. "It's clear to almost anyone — Putin is not remotely interested in anything that would lead to peace," he said. "So there's a card game going on this summer. The first cards are going to be played by the United States Senate and the House." Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya on May 30 reiterated that Moscow would only consider a ceasefire if Ukraine halts mobilization and stops receiving foreign military aid. Reuters reported on May 28 that Russian President Vladimir Putin's broader demands include a written pledge from NATO to stop expanding, the lifting of certain sanctions, and recognition of Ukraine's neutral status. Graham accused Moscow of stalling while ramping up its war effort and warned that the U.S. response would be swift and severe. He also issued a stark warning to Beijing. "China, the game you're playing with Russia is about to change. If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to fuel Putin's war machine, there will be a 500% tariff on all of your products coming into the United States," he said. He added that "70% of Russian oil is bought by China and India." The first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in over two years, held in Istanbul on May 16, produced no agreement on a ceasefire but resulted in a major prisoner exchange. A second round is tentatively scheduled for June 2. Ukraine continues to demand a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Russia has refused, intensifying aerial assaults across Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Journalists identify collaborators involved in religious persecution in occupied Melitopol
Investigative journalists from The Kyiv Independent have identified collaborators responsible for religious persecution in the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, particularly in the city of Melitopol. Source: investigative documentary No God but Theirs Details: The journalists contacted a man currently heading the Department for Work with Religious Organisations under the Russian occupation's military-civil administration in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. His name is Artem Sharlai. He is responsible for suppressing Ukrainian churches in the occupied city of Melitopol. Originally from Zaporizhzhia, Sharlai has espoused pro-Russian views since the early 2000s. During the Revolution of Dignity, he took part in the local Anti-Maidan movement and later joined the illegal armed formations of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) at the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian war. He disappeared from the public eye for some time, returning in 2022 to launch a campaign against so-called "sects" in the occupied territory. Sharlai told journalists about his colleagues: Andrii Zinchenko, Viacheslav Lytvynenko and Oleksandr Danylov. The latter, even before the annexation of Crimea, held mid-level administrative posts and openly promoted pro-Russian rhetoric. After the start of the full-scale invasion, Danylov moved to Melitopol and now heads the Department for Internal Policy in the occupation administration. Yevhen Balytskyi, a former member of the Ukrainian parliament who sided with Russia after the full-scale invasion began, signed decrees banning churches. These orders also stripped them of all movable and immovable property. As head of the occupation administration, Balytskyi is the key figure coordinating the persecution of Ukrainian churches in Melitopol. Now, the seized church buildings are used by Russian occupation authorities. The former premises of the New Generation church host the so-called Ministry of Youth of Zaporizhzhia Oblast; the Grace church now houses the Ministry of Culture; and the Word of Life church building has been handed over to a department of the so-called Ministry of Internal Affairs. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
