An independent reporting media that covers Russia's crimes in Ukraine
After returning from captivity, he spent months fighting the consequences of Russian abuse – broken ribs, ulcers and other injuries. He also struggled with nightmares, fear of silence and recurring memories of what he had endured. On Nov. 16, 2025, the heart of 36th Marine Brigade serviceman Oleksandr Savov stopped.
Surgeons from the US and Canada came to Ukraine to work alongside their Ukrainian colleagues, operating on soldiers with severe facial injuries. Over five days, surgeons perform thirty procedures on people injured in the war. This Frontliner article explores how surgeons are restoring the appearance and function of their faces.
In Kyiv, veterans are training in humanitarian demining to find their place in civilian life while applying their combat experience and skills. Learning to become a deminer after being wounded and leaving the Armed Forces allows them to continue serving in a new way – helping with Ukraine’s recovery.
“Korshun,” an infantryman of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss,” has seen much during his seven months of combat on the front: he captured an enemy soldier, held his position alone for several days, and was wounded. His command has put him forward for the Order of Courage.
At the “Beyond the Limit” boxing tournament, veterans who have undergone traumatic amputations stepped into the ring. The thrilling fights showed that willpower can push the boundaries of what’s possible.
At the request of our subscribers, Andriy and Vita asked local residents and the military holding the line what they thought about Donald Trump's statements about the need for concessions from Ukraine and the possibility of ending the war.
He’s been through constant beating with fists and sticks, made-up war crimes that he was forced to hang on other prisoners, and grueling 16-hour standing in a cell, this is the story of Yurii Sviderskyi, the 23-year-old Azov fighter from Khmelnytskyi. After putting down arms in Mariupol, he was imprisoned for over two years. Yurii watched the whole city burn to the ground, witnessed the Olenivka attack with other Ukrainian soldiers being killed, and saw numerous inhuman interrogations. It’s been six months since Yurii got back to Ukraine. He is still undergoing rehabilitation, as he still struggles with his teeth due to the injuries he received before his release. Frontliner spoke to Yurii in Khmelnytskyi when he came to see his girlfriend Taisiia between rehabilitation sessions. The following text is Yurii’s raw speech.
The "Alcatraz" battalion, operating within the 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodny Yar", is composed of former prisoners who have chosen to enlist in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Each of these men has a unique past, shaped by the criminal charges they once faced. Some served just a few months behind bars, while others spent a significant portion of their lives in prison.
Frontliner reporters Andriy Dubchak and Viktoria Kalimbet have traveled to the Donetsk region to document life in frontline towns and villages. They will visit Ukrainian military positions, speak with locals, and share daily photos and reports from their journey. Follow their diary on the Frontliner website.
After enduring months of brutal torture, men freed from Russian captivity are forced to continue battling for their survival. Many have returned to a life stripped of homes, money, and the care they should receive from the state. To support themselves and others like them, these former prisoners have come together to form a network called The Alumni.
During the full-scale war, the Russian army has regularly launched missile and drone strikes, devastating critical infrastructure and residential areas in Kyiv.
The Netherlands city of Leiden is hosting a photo exhibition “Far and Yet So Close” until March 5, which presents the realities of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.
Velykyi Burluk, a quiet village in the Kharkiv region, that lies just 20 kilometers from the Russian border. Since the Russian offensive of May 2024, this village has found itself trapped between two relentless fronts. To the northwest, battles rage in the charred ruins of Vovchansk, while to the southeast, Kupiansk is being systematically leveled to the ground. With the advent of Russian planing guided bombs in 2023, Velykyi Burluk lives under the shadow of constant strikes.Yet, in the face of unending danger, most of Burluk's residents remain rooted in their homes. They feel forsaken, resigned to their fate, and gripped by the belief that no life beyond their embattled village could possibly be better than the one they already endure.
Ukraine has been in a full-scale war with Russia for the third year. 2024 was especially difficult and exhausting for the army, society, and economy. Every day, 100-200 combat clashes along the thousand-kilometer front line. Hundreds of drones and missiles are launched at cities and villages in the depths of the country.
My grandfather, Anatolii, passed away clinging to the myth of the "Russian world.” Despite surviving the brutal Russian occupation, he remained captivated by this idealized vision. My grandfather was a lifelong miner, dedicating his life to the Donetsk region. He never experienced poverty and he had a house and a big family. Yet, as the cruel Soviet economic system exploited the relatively stable Ukrainian welfare, many people felt hardships immediately.
In a shift from traditional textbooks, young people are now attending monthly "Defense of Ukraine" classes, learning to fly drones, shoot, provide first aid, and more. To foster the spirit of national unity, various patriotic education centers are being established in Ukrainian cities. Have a look at the "Defense of Ukraine" classes in different regions in this photo report.
Kyiv's Memorial Wall on Mykhailivs'ka Square no longer has room for new photos of fallen soldiers. Before Russia's full-scale war, this memorial contained almost 5,000 portraits. Being doubled in size, it does not have the names of all the defenders who sacrificed their lives. Relatives and friends honor the fallen by adorning the Wall with flowers, lamps, candles, flags, and funeral wreaths. Faded photos, barely recognizable, remain as a poignant reminder of those who fell in battles. Who are the caretakers of this spontaneous memorial? Does it fit in the square’s ambiance? Is one wall capable of holding the memory of all those who died in the battles of the Russian-Ukrainian war?
