luhansk people's republic
How Ukraine's War Became Big Business For the Underworld
VICE News went undercover to investigate how smugglers are profiting from the war in eastern Ukraine as a blockade of separatist territories spawns a black market trade in fuel, food, and medicine.
Paranoia and Purges: The Dark and Dirty Battle for Power in Rebel-Held Ukraine
In exclusive interviews with commanders, VICE News reveals the extrajudicial killings and atmosphere of Soviet-style paranoia that have subsumed the rebel-held areas in Ukraine.
'We Want Orders to Attack': Celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day on the Eastern Frontlines
VICE News visited Ukrainian army positions to gauge the mood among fighters and the temperature of the frontline, 24 years after independence and more than a year into a conflict with pro-Russia rebels.
Ukraine's First Separatist Soccer Derby
Professional soccer had not been played in Donetsk since the start of Ukraine's civil war. That changed on Saturday.
We Witnessed an Initiation Ceremony That Turned Ragtag Rebels Into Cossacks
VICE News watched an hourlong initiation rite where a band of rebels fighting in Eastern Ukraine officially become Cossacks, renowned for centuries for their battlefield prowess.
Ukraine Releases Video to Prove Its Claimed Capture of Two Russian 'Special Forces'
The two alleged Russian troops that were captured over the weekend refused to be sedated during medical treatment out of fear that Ukrainian doctors would harvest their organs.
Russian Soldiers Have Given Up Pretending They Are Not Fighting in Ukraine
Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin have repeatedly denied that their soldiers are in Ukraine, arguing that the Russians who are fighting there are all volunteers.
In Photos: A Year of Conflict in Ukraine
Exactly one year after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was forced from office, VICE News takes a look back at the bloody, bizarre, and often heartbreaking aftermath.
'People Live Here. Don’t Shoot': The Atmosphere Darkens as Divisions Deepen in Eastern Ukraine
VICE News reports from Donetsk, where humanitarian conditions are getting worse as essential food and medical supplies become increasingly scarce.