Weekly newsletter
Kyiv is recovering from the rocket attack. How to win the hopeful US president over in favor of Ukraine. Documentary film about Krynky - a destroyed village, and more in the Weekly newletter
Photo of the week
An apartment building destroyed by a Russian missile strike on June 28, Dnipro, July 3, 2024.
Interviews:
Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly
The General Assembly is a deliberative and representative body of the UN, in which Russia does not have the veto right. Its decisions are recommendatory, yet they show the global approach to the war against Ukraine. Over two years ago, its one hundred forty-one member states passed the resolution calling for the immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from internationally recognized borders of Ukraine. Five countries voted against it.
The General Assembly annually elects its President to guide the discussions at the meetings and monitor how countries comply with the rules. Now, it is Dennis Francis, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago. He visited Ukraine this week - the first visit of the President of the General Assembly in 30 years. Ukrinform spoke with Mr. Francis about the purpose of his trip, the audacity of Russian aggression, and leverage on the aggressor.
Viktor Mykyta, Head of the Zakarpattia Oblast Military Administration
Two weeks ago, the Defense Council of Zakarpattia called on all municipalities in the region to assess their renewable energy potential. Not everyone understands that the state will not be able to supply the communities with electricity for years because of the enemy's actions and destruction of the power system, says Viktor Mykyta, Head of the Zakarpattia Oblast Military Administration. And there can be no development without electricity.
Currently, the region is working to install gas-fired power plants by November and to provide some communities with the minimum energy needed during blackouts. But there is a need for decentralized power generation in the communities. It is suggested that this be done through the sun, wind and water. While the sun is more or less working – Zakarpattia is now the country's leader in the number of private solar power plants – projects of mini-hydroelectric plants and windmills in the region are involved in scandals because of their impact on fragile ecosystems.
In an interview with Ukrinform, we talked to the head of the Zakarpattia Oblast Military Administration, Viktor Mykyta, about how this will develop in the future.
Gen. Jarosław Kraszewski, former commander of the Polish Army’s missile and artillery forces
This week, Washington will host a NATO summit where aid for Ukraine will be discussed among other things. The gathering will take place amid several important decisions made by the US administration, particularly on the provision of additional air defense systems to Ukraine and a possibility for Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, as well as preparations for F-16 fighters’ deployment in Ukraine.
In an Ukrinform interview, Gen. Yaroslaw Kraszewski, a former commander of the Polish Army’s missile and artillery forces and current CEO at the Polish private company RBL, which puts out drones among other products, shared his thoughts on how the arrival of F-16 fighters is going to change the situation on the Ukrainian battlefield, and whether Poland will shoot down Russian missiles flying over Ukrainian territory. He additionally revealed what he thinks is President Biden’s “strategic mistake” and provided his vision of a future of combat drones and of the conditions deemed necessary for liberation of currently Russian occupied parts of Ukraine.
Publications:
Battle for Trump. How to win the hopeful US president over in favor of Ukraine
Almost everything depends on Donald Trump’s views of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. How can we influence these views towards Ukraine and away from Russia?
Russian propaganda spreading fakes about military mobilized from colony
Propagandists are trying to create panic among civilian population
Russian media outlets and z-Telegram channels are spreading information that military service persons who were voluntarily mobilized from penal colonies are allegedly committing numerous crimes in the Sumy region. In particular, the propagandists shared the image of a burnt police car and footage of confiscated drugs.
Top Videos:
Kyiv is recovering from a massive rocket attack
Krynky. A unique footage from the frontline through the eyes of those who have experienced hell
Preparation for de-occupation. How the training of the National Guard and the National Police went
News:
War
Sentsov: Person needs to be motivated, then he effective on battlefield
Sentsov on end of war: We have adult society, people need to be told truth
Diplomat: EU to help rebuild Okhmatdyt
Economy
Ukraine can produce up to 10 bcm of biogas from waste annually – Vysotskyi
Ukraine, EU need to look for new agricultural cooperation model – Vysotskyi
Liashko calls restoration of power supply to Okhmatdyt priority
Ambassador of Belgium: Attack on Okhmatdyt and Russia's reaction to it is attempt to dehumanize Ukrainians
Methodology for determining country of origin of grain to be finalized by end of August - Agrarian Policy Ministry
Energy
Mayor: Odesa to receive nine gas-fired power plants from Japan
Three temporary transformer substations to be installed on territory of Okhmatdyt
Politics
Orbán is trying to secure future with ‘peacekeeping initiatives’ in case he steps down – expert
Kallas can reform European External Action Service – expert
IAEA Board of Governors to consider attack on Okhmatdyt at extraordinary meeting
Ukraine's integration into NATO could follow German scenario - former Polish Defense Minister
Ex-Polish Defense Minister: Expanding geography of Ukrainian strikes may affect attitudes in Russia
Polish expert: Rutte will strongly support Ukraine as NATO Secretary General
Some NATO commands should be moved to east - former Polish Defense Minister
Expert: NATO should approve Poland's downing of missiles over Ukraine at political level
Defense
Ukroboronprom confirms plans to rebuild Mriya aircraft
Kamyshin: Ukraine's defense industry moving from receiving Western assistance to joint business
Society
Work and safety: Embassy to present results of survey among Ukrainians to German authorities
Russian ship denied entry to maritime festival in France
NACP starts monitoring lifestyle of SBI Deputy Director Udovychenko
See you next Friday!
Finally, after all that needless palaver, I wish to say that without English subtitles, the accompanying videos are of little use.