In 2021, when Olga Rudenko and other journalists launched the Kyiv Independent, they were committed to making a publication that wouldn't face political pressure from an owner. A few months later, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Independent began reporting breaking news from the front lines.
Lavrov claimed Moscow was intent on defending 'international law' and rejected any notion of Russia breaking international law in Ukraine, asserting that its forces never targeted 'exclusively civilian' targets.
