Opinion

Ukrainian forces are closing on the final phase of the Kupiansk clearing operation with most Russian troops encircled and dwindling — intense fighting and strategic shifts as winter campaign continues. EMPR.media

Explosive probe finds Ukraine’s energy pricing corruption and unjust tariffs boosting intermediaries, destroying industry, costing jobs and stalling recovery amid war. empr.media

Ukraine’s peace talks have slipped from formal diplomacy into backroom deals with unmandated intermediaries, weakening institutional control and risking foreign influence over the nation’s future amid wartime negotiations.

As talks on ending the war continue, Ukraine faces a deeper threat: corruption tracked by Western intelligence, crypto myths exposed, and officials vulnerable to blackmail — turning looting into a national security risk.

Dialogue with Putin is futile, critics argue, as Kremlin threats, blackmail and aggression persist — meaning peace talks risk legitimizing Russian demands without delivering real security for Ukraine.

Journalist Dmytro Khylyuk recounts 3.5 years in Russian captivity: starvation, brutal conditions and even trying to eat toothpaste to survive, fighting to rebuild life after release.

Investigation reveals over ₴578 million ($14M+) was embezzled from Ukraine’s defense contracts via shadow firms and laundering schemes, exposing deep corruption in military procurement.

Analysis suggests Rustem Umerov may be prepping personal post‑war security and life plans for Zelenskyy — not peace deals — sparking fresh debate about priorities amid Ukraine’s negotiations.

Slidstvo.Info revisits offshore probe, alleging billions in transfers linked to Zelenskyy’s circle — Kolomoiskyy denies $40M claim but suggests sums may reach $640M, fueling scrutiny of elite finance.

Mykhailo Fedorov set to lead Zelenskyy’s election effort under a new political brand as Oleksandr Kornienko becomes Servant of the People party head amid wider reshuffles and election prep signals.

Ukraine didn’t just sink a Russian tanker — its strikes are hitting the heart of Russia’s war economy, targeting fuel, refineries and chokepoints that undermine Moscow’s revenue and military financing.

Ukraine‑Russia peace plan stalls as Moscow insists on Donbas and Zaporizhzhia NPP terms and the U.S. pushes for a quick deal — but Zelenskyy rejects key concessions, deepening the diplomatic deadlock.