Weekly exclusives
War Crimes: How the Enemy Spreads Lies. A conversation with the commander of the Kholodnyi Yar brigade. A wild race in almost 40 degree heat and more in Weekly exclusives newsletter.
Photo of the week
Participant of a running master class for patients of the Superhumans rehabilitation and prosthetics center, during which running prostheses from the German manufacturer Ottobock were tested, Lviv, July 6, 2024.
Interviews:
“An officer must have a balanced aggressiveness and willingness to take reasonable risks”, - Pavlo Palisa, Commander of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar"
Colonel Palisa, the commander of the Kholodnyi Yar brigade, is now in a place where it is very hot (and this is not only about the heat). In view of the situation in the Donetsk region, we had to catch the brigade commander for several days for the sake of a short conversation. But it was worth waiting even a year. The 39-year-old commander with the call sign "Hunter," which he inherited from one of the commanders, is already a knight of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, has a Cross of Combat Merit and ten years of experience in war. He says that one day he will write a whole book about the defense of Bakhmut... Always open with the soldiers, he respects his fellow officers and is always proud of his "Kholodnyr Yar." "Service in the army is not a debt, but a struggle for our future," "Hunter" said. At one time, he dreamed of being a soldier, he studied a lot and hard, and now he is doing his best and knows exactly what the future of Ukraine should be, for which so many of his comrades have given their lives.
Taras Vysotsky, interim Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food
Experts are predicting that the agricultural sector will be among the most disputable issues in the negotiation process on Ukraine’s EU accession, involving a multiplicity of outstanding challenges, delayed decisions, and yet-to-be-implemented standards. But the number-one challenge is that a lot of mistrust remains concerning farm exports from Ukraine, as seen from recent farmers’ protests in Europe, fearful of the coming of a "Ukrainian agrarian monster", as some politicians branded it.
Overcoming this distrust and convincing the Europeans that we are not so much direct competitors as partners who will strengthen each other in the struggle for a "position of advantage" on global markets is the key task to be tackled by the Ukrainian negotiating team.
Our correspondent spoke to interim Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotsky about this and other issues in an interview for Ukrinform.
Janusz Onyszkiewicz, former Minister of National Defense of Poland
The NATO summit is currently underway in Washington, attended, among others, by a Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In an Ukrinform interview, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, a former Minister of National Defense of Poland was speaking about his expectations from the summit, Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration prospects and the current situation on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Publications:
Ukraine’s domestic gas production capacity is sufficient to fully provide for the upcoming heating season
After the Russian military had renewed massive attacks on the energy infrastructure, Ukraine has lost over 9 GW of power generation capacity. As a consequence, the country has since May been continuously living in a regime of restrictions of power supply. Against this background, the role of natural gas as a source of energy both for the population and for electricity generation is growing as Ukraine has set a course towards the development of distributed generation and electricity generation with gas. That being the case, this new policy provides for an increase in the domestic production of gas and uninterrupted gas supply to consumers, which is a matter of national energy security. Naftogaz Group, the number-one gas producer in Ukraine, has been playing the central role in this effort. Ukrinform has found out how Naftogaz works to ensure energy security for each and all of the Ukrainians.
Fact check
Russia distributing fake video about Ukraine's production of chemical weapons
The Telegram channel of the Russian Defense Ministry, the leading Kremlin-run media and their accounts on social media are distributing a video in which CBRN defense specialists from the Russian Armed Forces are allegedly inspecting a chemical laboratory in the Avdiivka area. The Russians claim that the Ukrainians allegedly produced chemical weapons in this laboratory.
Top Videos:
The NATO representation in Ukraine will double by the end of the year
How Ohmatdyt hospital is recovering after the Russian attack
The wild heat only hardened the participants of the "Wild Race" (Dyka Gonka)
On July 12-14, in the village of Vytachiv in the Kyiv region, races of soldiers of the 5th brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine took place. There were five 5 km races with 20 obstacles. Civilians also had the opportunity to test their strength at a distance of 9 km. Tents, field kitchen and an incredible atmosphere — despite the insane heat, the event united many fans. Together they collected a lot of donations for the needs of the Armed Forces.
News:
War
Ukraine can use French weapons to strike targets in Russia, but not Kremlin - Macron's advisor
Biden not allowing Ukraine to use U.S. weapons for deep strikes against Russia to avoid escalation - Kirby
Expert criticizes ban on strikes on Russia: When we strike with our own weapons, there is no escalation?
Expert suggests what US and Russian defense ministers talking about
Ukraine, ICC simultaneously investigating Russia's July 8 missile attack
MoD: MH17 tragedy made Netherlands realise scale of Russian aggression
Dutch defense minister on F-16s for Ukraine: Fighter jets will arrive in short term
War crime
Russian war crimes: Prosecutor General says some ICC warrants may be secret
Ukraine informs OPCW in detail about Russia's gross violations of Chemical Weapons Convention
Politics
Kostin: In The Hague, we coordinated efforts with partners to prevent illegal supply of technology to Russia
Economy
Developers set exchange rate of UAH 45-47 for U.S. dollar in cost of new construction – expert’s opinion
Odesa region one of leaders among cherry suppliers this year
Mykolaiv region’s agricultural enterprises increasingly grow niche crops in 2024
Energy
Ukraine can additionally generate up to UAH 500B per annum through deshadowing – Hetmantsev
Recovery
Construction of medical facilities under agreement with Austria signed two years ago has not yet begun
Culture
Director comments on success of Ukrainian theater in Avignon
See you next Friday!