Newsletter 22/10/2024
Daily news digest
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European Parliament approves EUR 35B loan to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets
This loan is the EU’s part of a G7 package agreed last June, to provide up to USD 50 billion (approximately EUR 45 billion) in financial support to Ukraine.
With 518 votes in favor, 56 against and 61 abstentions, the European Parliament approved such a decision in the first reading.
According to European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, with this mechanism, the EU not only confirms unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as necessary, but also takes an important step to ensure Russia’s responsibility, including financial. It is very important that Russia pays for its aggression and for the damage caused by it on its own, Reynders stressed, adding that it is necessary to further support Ukraine in the coming months, and perhaps even years, in close cooperation and coordination with all G7 countries and other international partners.
UK announces $2.93B loan to Ukraine backed by profits from frozen Russian assets
Ukraine will receive further funding to purchase essential military equipment to defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion, as the Chancellor today announces that the Government will loan a further £2.26 billion in new money to Ukraine.
As noted, the new £2.26 billion is the UK’s contribution to the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans to Ukraine scheme, in which $50 billion from G7 countries will be delivered to Ukraine for its military, budget and reconstruction needs.
Ukraine’s top prosecutor stepping down after subordinates exposed for abuse
"I consider absolutely right the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as to the fact that not only should all unlawful decisions regarding the granting of disabilities, corresponding pensions, and other payments be canceled, not only clear legislative and organizational changes be made, but also personal accountability must be in place. This includes political accountability. I am grateful to the President of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada for their trust. But in this situation, I consider it correct to resign from the post of Prosecutor General," this statement was posted on the Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin Telegram channel.
As reported, the President held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on the situation of medical and social expert commissions (MSEK) and abuses by officials of various state bodies in relation to a disability status.
The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, following the NSDC meeting, announced that the agency, in cooperation with other law enforcement bodies, exposed large-scale corruption schemes in the said commissions. Thus, in 2024, according to SBU files, 64 commission officials were charged with crimes, and another nine were convicted.
Three dead in Sumy following Russian drone attack
In the city of Sumy in Ukraine’s north, three people, including a child, were killed in an overnight drone attack that targeted a residential neighborhood.
“All night and into the morning, Sumy and the region have been under Russian attack, with dozens of ‘Shahed’ drones targeting the area. Ordinary residential buildings were damaged. Our warriors have already destroyed more than 20 ‘Shaheds’ in the Sumy region alone, with over 40 strike drones shot down in total so far. Drone interception is still ongoing,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Facebook.
“This Russian terror can only be overcome through global unity. Air defense and electronic warfare systems. Investments in weapons production within Ukraine. Long-range strikes against Russian military logistics, military airfields, and troop bases. All of this can protect against Russian terror, but it must be sufficient—sufficient for life to prevail over Russian aggression,” the President stressed.
Russians dropped guided bombs on five-story building in Myrnohrad - one killed, two wounded
The Russian army dropped a KAB-250 on a five-story building in Myrnohrad, Donetsk region, killing one person and injuring two others.
Drones attacked facilities in Tambov, Voronezh regions of Russia
Unmanned aerial vehicles attacked the Russian enterprise Biochem in the Tambov region and an industrial enterprise in the Voronezh region of the Russian Federation, and the airport in Nizhny Novgorod was closed, the Russian authorities have reported.
Russia can share nuclear arms tech with N. Korea, Seoul tells UN
Russia can expect a “generous payoff” from North Korea for the participation of its military in the war against Ukraine.
"North Korea will expect a generous payoff from Moscow in return for its troop contribution. It could be either military of financial assistance. It could be nuclear weapons-related technology," said South Korea's Permanent Representative to the UN, Joonkook Hwang.
Freedom House calls for holding Russia accountable for murdering captured Ukrainian journalist
The international human rights organization Freedom House called on the international community to hold Russian authorities fully accountable for the murder of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, whom Russia had captured and imprisoned.
War
Kherson Regional Council tells how Russians remove local collaborators from positions on TOT
“The situation with the collaborators-traitors who have gone over to the enemy since the beginning of the invasion and worked in the structure of the occupation administration, in the so-called ministries, is very interesting. The process of removing them from office continues, and this is mainly due to criminal proceedings that have already been initiated against them by Russian investigative authorities. So, the Russians are removing local traitors from their positions,” said the first deputy chairman of the Kherson regional council, Yuriy Sobolevsky.
SBS operators destroyed the launcher of the Buk-M3 medium-range anti-aircraft missile complex
Russians shell Marhanets with artillery, one killed
Man injured as Russians drop explosives from drone in Kupiansk district
Ukrainian forces shoot down 42 Russian UAVs overnight
Two children killed in Russian shelling of Pokrovsk district
Russian troops fired almost 400 times over last day at Ukrainian positions in Kharkiv sector
In occupied part of Kherson region invaders forcing residents to sign army contracts
The "Achilles" battalion hit 17 enemy vehicles
Reports of North Korean flag in Donetsk region: Russia’s propaganda of fear
"After verifying information from the military command, the Center informs that the flag of the DPRK, the photo of which was distributed on the network, has not been found in the area of the settlement of Tsukuryne in the Pokrovsk axis at the moment," noted the watchdog.
Politics
Memorandum between Ukraine and Turkey to enhance defense potential of both countries - Umerov
The signing of the Memorandum on mutual acceptance of state quality assurance for defense goods, works and services between Ukraine and Turkey will strengthen the defense potential of both countries.
This document is a logical continuation of close cooperation that will strengthen the defense potential of both countries. It allows for the application of unified NATO quality assurance standards (AQAP) in the development and procurement of defense products.
Ukraine, France sign agreement on EUR 200M in grant assistance
First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Ukraine Gaël Veyssière have signed the Implementation Agreement on the EUR 200 million Grant Agreement between the two governments.
The key sectors that will receive funding under the Implementing Agreement are healthcare, energy, water supply and sanitation, demining, digital technologies, infrastructure, agriculture, waste management and housing.
Work is also underway to expand the AFD Group’s mandate in Ukraine to support Ukrainian businesses. Thus, the Agence Française de Développement, PROPARCO and Expertise France will be able to provide loans, grants, guarantees or other forms of financial and technical assistance.
Society
Repairs completed at UPR soldiers' cemetery in western Poland
In the city of Kalisz in western Poland, repairs have been completed at the Kalisz-Szczypiorno cemetery of UPR soldiers, which have been underway since 2023.
“There are 240 crosses in the cemetery, most of them with metal frames. Some of the crosses have elements of the original crosses found in this place during the preparatory work for the cemetery's restoration,” said former head of the Association of Ukrainians in Poland, Yuriy Reit.
According to estimates, there were up to 400 crosses on graves in this cemetery before the war, and archival data has revealed the presence of 300, as well as 190 confirmed names of people buried here. Reith noted that this was largely possible thanks to the archives and books of Oleksandr Kolianchuk, a historian from Przemyśl.
According to him, several Jewish and Crimean Tatar burials were also found here, as these people also served in the UPR army.
I should like to know more about these dismissed collaborators.
Were they really dismissed for corruption or is is prejudice against native Ukrainians?