Weekly newsletter
Photo of the week
Fighters of the Separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion, which performs aerial cover of our unmanned objects and destroys targets at a distance of up to one and a half thousand meters, during practice firing from a large-caliber Browning machine gun, Zaporizhzhia region, July 10, 2024.
Interviews:
Oleksandr Pivnenko, Brigadier-General, Ukraine National Guard (NGU) Commander
Bearer of the title of “Hero of Ukraine”, Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko is young, athletic leader, and a talk with him reveals that he is habituated to handle things in a businesslike manner.
Pivnenko has been in his position since early July 2023, i.e. a bit longer than a year. It is noticeable that the General is thinking million things in his head, but he still manages to find time to meet with his soldiers’ parents and to talk patiently with them. He says that he accepts complaints by himself and responds to appeals via his Facebook.
The commander tells about how the NGU is evolving into an effective, highly combat capable branch of the Defense Forces, how it is handling the shortage of human resources and planning for force rotations, where soldiers are assigned to serve after being released from captivity or treated for injuries.... And, of course, about the prospects we are facing in this war.
Publications:
Government spending budget 2024 will be boosted by UAH 500 billion
The Cabinet of Ministers has identified the sources from which to finance the additional budgetary needs arising from the war. The previous day, the government endorsed and submitted to parliament two key draft laws - on "Amendments to the Law ‘On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2024’ insofar as it pertains to financial support for the security and defense sector" (No. 1417) and on "Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine” and other Laws of Ukraine insofar as it pertains to the specifics of taxation during the validity of Martial Law" (No. 11416).
In the meantime, the Verkhovna Rada passed several acts that will enable the Government to collect an additional half a trillion hryvnias in funding for the country’s defense and security sector and the Armed Forces’ needs throughout the remainder of the year. The budgetary adjustments particularly address increasing the excise duty on fuel as well as suspending foreign debt payments in the event the government fails to arrange with bondholders to restructure its bond debts before a payment moratorium expires on August 1.
Ukrinform has explored and found out where the money is going to come from
Fact check
Russian propaganda spreading fake about Ukrainian priest praying for Trump's repose
The news site Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP), Russian media outlets and pro-war Telegram channels are sharing a screenshot of an Instagram account with the nickname otec_nazarij, in which a clergyman of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine from Hluhiv is calling on parishioners to pray and light a candle for the repose of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Spanish blogger spreads fake about death of soldiers from NATO countries in Odesa
A Spanish YouTube blogger and retired colonel, Pedro Banos, said during a program on his channel El Canal del Coronel that 18 British soldiers had allegedly been killed and 25 others injured in Russia's missile attack on Odesa. He claimed that the French military had also suffered casualties.
Top Videos:
I understood that hands are amputated during evacuation, and I was mentally prepared for this - a veteran of the Armed Forces
The story of Yurii Trokhymenko, a veteran of the Armed Forces, who, while defending Ukraine, came under targeted mortar fire from the Russians. Both hands were cut and had to be amputated. Having undergone prosthetics abroad, the fighter was able to adjust to the new realities of life. How, with the support of his wife and family, Yurii managed to go through a difficult period after the injury, start a new phase of life, find his business, which inspires him to live and work further - the hero told in an interview with Ukrinform.
The demonstration "Russian captivity kills" took place in Berlin
Ukrainians in Germany took part in Berlin Pride
News:
War
Ukrainian ambassador explains why Poland should down Russian missiles over Ukraine
Intelligence monitors enemy's construction of fortifications near Mariupol - Yusov
New wave of deportation of officials' families to Russia in Crimea - Yusov
World
Russia could have lost up to 750,000 soldiers in Ukraine - Austrian expert
Russians in EU open companies to export banned technologies to Russia - KSRIFE
Russian missiles and drones contain components from more than 20 countries - KSRIFE
MEPs preparing letter to European Commission over Hungary's decision to simplify entry for Russians
Europe's belief in rationality of Putin's regime was a mistake – Austrian foreign minister
Defense
F-16s to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, push back Russian bombers - Austrian colonel
Ukraine needs four times more air defense systems it currently operates – Austrian colonel
Russia’s operational-level goal to stretch frontline in Ukraine as much as possible - Austrian colonel
Drones are revolutionizing warfare - Austrian military expert
Austrian expert slams U.S. for “boiling frog” strategy, limiting aid to Ukraine
Politics
Austrian FM on Orban's "peace mission": Now is not time for self-promotion
Ambassador: Ukraine and Poland have made right conclusions about blocking border
Ambassador Zvarych: Russia systematically trying to pit Ukrainians against Poles over past two years
Poland sending 45th package of defense aid to Ukraine - Ambassador Zvarych
“Silly season” - MFA Austria on Russia inviting Kneissl to UNSC
Ambassador: Russia is unable to establish production of high-tech components for weapons
Society
Hundreds of specialists involved in Farion's murder investigation - Interior Ministry
Police deny providing additional security to Farion murder suspect
Mass poisoning in Warsaw: no information on Ukrainians affected yet
See you next Friday!