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6:01 PM

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 78

Editor’s note: This is issue 78 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukrainian Economy in Brief” newsletter, covering events from Oct. 14- Oct. 20, 2024. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with

5:34 PM

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Kostin resigns.

"I am grateful to the president of Ukraine and Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada for their trust. But in this situation, I believe it is right for me to resign from the post of prosecutor general," he said.

5:28 PM

Russia

Torn apart by infighting, without a plan, what comes next for Russia’s opposition?

When Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024, the country’s liberal dissidents vowed to carry on their mission: to end the rule of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Eight months on, however, and Russia’s opposition is bitterly divided, with little to no

5:09 PM

G7 plans to keep Russian assets frozen after war in Ukraine ends, Nikkei reports.

G7 leaders will issue a joint statement in October saying that "Russia's sovereign assets will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," according to the draft prepared by this year's chair, Italy.

4:26 PM

Germany 'skeptical' about Ukraine's NATO membership, Zelensky says.

Talking to journalists, Zelensky did not rule out that "some partners" may think about Ukraine's membership in NATO in exchange for the occupied territories. "We are not discussing this," he said.

4:16 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Shifting the paradigm in Ukraine

Last month, a Russian missile blew apart an apartment building in the center of Lviv. I sent a message to a friend who lives there: Was everyone okay? “Yes, we were lucky,” he replied. “Our friends who live just next to us, a young woman and her three daughters, are

3:50 PM

North Korea helping Russia in Ukraine 'for money,' Zelensky says.

Speaking at a meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent, Zelensky was asked about Pyongyang's increasing support for Moscow, which in recent days is reported to have developed from just weapons to boots on the ground.

3:09 PM

US to provide Ukraine with another $800 million to boost domestic long-range capabilities, Zelensky says.

Washington is also planning to provide $800 million as the first tranche for the production of Ukrainian drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

2:28 PM

Putin hosts BRICS summit in Russia but Brazilian and Cuban leaders cancel attendance.

BRICS, composed of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and other nations, is a group of emerging economies often portrayed as a counterweight to the Western-led world.

1:01 PM

Baltics

As the Baltics raise the alarm about Russia, Washington still not listening

For Zygimantas Pavilionis, a member of the Lithuanian parliament, history is repeating itself: The Kremlin’s military sights are set on Europe beyond Ukraine and the U.S. is not listening to warnings from the Baltics. “In Europe, they listen to the Baltics, but in America, they are so arrogant

1:00 PM

North Korea denies sending troops to join Russia's war in Ukraine, dismisses 'groundless rumors'.

The statement is Pyongyang's first public reaction to multiple reports of such a deployment from Kyiv and Seoul.

12:18 PM

UK to provide Ukraine with $2.9 billion military loan, to be repaid with proceeds from frozen Russian assets

The loan will be allocated to Ukraine's military spendings. Kyiv will be able to invest in key equipment to fight Russia, such as artillery, air defense, and wider equipment support.

11:33 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 10, injure 42 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 46 out of 60 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

10:48 AM

South Korea considering sending military personnel to Ukraine to monitor North Korean troops, Yonhap reports.

"While watching signs of North Korea-Russia military cooperation, the response measures will be taken in steps," a government source told the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

9:14 AM

Ukrainian drones target Russian alcohol plants overnight, local authorities claim.

Ukrainian drones attacked four plants, including three distilleries, in Tula, Tambov and Voronezh oblasts in Russia overnight on Oct. 22, Russian local authorities claimed.

8:23 AM

Polish officials seek access to classified sections of Ukraine's victory plan.

Warsaw is seeking to review the classified additions to Ukraine's victory plan recently presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewsk said in an interview on Oct. 21.

8:14 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 681,580 troops since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,350 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

6:05 AM

Russia executed 2 Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk Oblast, prosecutors say.

Russian soldiers executed two captured Ukrainian soldiers near Selydove in Donetsk Oblast, the Donetsk regional prosecutor's office reported on Oct.21.

5:21 AM

Cargo plane shot down in Sudan, Russian nationals possibly on board.

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have shot down a cargo plane in Darfur, with speculation that Russian nationals may have been on board.

1:25 AM

US to provide Ukraine with $800 million for drone production, Zelensky says.

"Every meeting with our partners involves discussions about the defense-industrial complex," Zelensky said in his evening address. "We need Ukraine to be able to defend its sovereignty and independence regardless of any political threats in the world."

Moldova's Sandu advances to presidential run-off, winning after 'unfair fight'

2:18 AM

(Updated: October 22, 2024 12:38 am)

Moldova's Sandu advances to presidential run-off, winning after 'unfair fight.'

"The people of Moldova have spoken: our EU future will now be anchored in the constitution," Sandu said on X. "We fought fairly in an unfair fight—and we won. But the fight isn’t over. We will keep pushing for peace, prosperity, and the freedom to build our own future."

10:36 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Opinion: Anti-money laundering watchdog FATF needs to blacklist Russia

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meets tomorrow, Oct. 22, and is expected to once again debate Russia’s blacklisting. That Russia, a clear state sponsor of terrorism, hasn’t been ousted from an intergovernmental body that sets global standards to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and related financial crimes,

10:18 PM

NATO

Is NATO ready for war with Russia?

The launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 confronted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with a new geopolitical reality. Described as "braindead" by French President Emmanuel Macron only a few years prior, the alliance woke up to a threat previously thought consigned to the past: a

10:00 PM

US has provided Ukraine with over $64 billion in military aid since start of full-scale invasion, Umerov says.

"Your unwavering support is not just a gesture of friendship. It's a powerful symbol of the shared values that bind our nations together," Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said alongside U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

9:26 PM

North Korea

‘Russia has problems’ – We asked 5 Ukrainian soldiers about North Korean troops fighting for Moscow

Russia's war in Ukraine is on the verge of escalating dramatically, with multiple reports, intelligence assessments, and a video suggesting North Korean troops could soon be fighting alongside Kremlin forces. While Pyongyang has long supplied Moscow with weaponry, the deployment of boots on the ground would mark a significant development

9:17 PM

Russian strikes against Pokrovsk district in Donetsk Oblast kill 3, injure 2.

Russia attacked the towns of Kurakhove and Myrnohrad in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast on Oct. 21, killing three and injuring two people, local authorities reported.

8:26 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Moldova's EU integration referendum hangs in the balance, highlighting the dangers of oversimplification

Moldovans headed to the polls on Oct. 20 to elect their next head of state and vote on the future of the country’s European Union integration. With over 99% of the votes counted on Monday, the “yes” vote edged ahead at 50.43%, while the “no” camp, which had

Ukraine war latest: US announces new defense aid package for Ukraine worth $400 million

8:01 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: US announces new defense aid package for Ukraine worth $400 million

Key developments on Oct. 21: * US announces $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine * Russia detains 18 North Korean soldiers who left positions in Kursk Oblast, source says * Kremlin calls North Korean troops reports 'contradictory' but stops short of denial * Russia attacking toward town near Pokrovsk, National Guard says * Ukraine

Russian attack against Zaporizhzhia kills 3, injures 16

7:54 PM

(Updated: October 21, 2024 7:55 pm)

Russian attack against Zaporizhzhia kills 3, injures 16.

Some 30 buildings were damaged after Russia struck the residential area of the city on the morning of Oct. 21.

7:04 PM

Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia says she will run for president if she can return to Russia.

"I will participate in the elections… as a candidate" when the time is right, Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny told the BBC in an interview published on Oct. 21.

US announces $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine

3:11 PM

(Updated: October 21, 2024 7:02 pm)

US announces $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said it would include ammunition, military equipment, and weapons.

5:52 PM

'Unprecedented interference' by Russia, its proxies in Moldova referendum, EU says.

Moldova's referendum on joining the EU, which took place alongside elections in the country, occurred under "unprecedented interference" by Russia and its proxies, European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano said.

News Feed

10:48 AM

Baltic states issue statement backing Ukraine’s EU, NATO membership.

They argued that Ukraine's NATO accession would “consolidate a just and lasting peace not only in Ukraine but also in all of Europe" and help uphold the rules-based international order globally.

10:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 995,030 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,120 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:52 AM

Ukrainian woman, 6-year-old daughter found murdered in Belgium.

A 46-year-old Ukrainian woman and her 6-year-old daughter were found murdered on June 6 in the city of Leuven, Belgium, authorities reported.

6:08 AM

(Updated: June 7, 2025 7:18 am)

Russian attack on Kharkiv kills 3, injures 19, including 2 children.

Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs overnight on June 7, killing at least three people and injuring 19, officials said.

1:58 AM

(Updated: June 7, 2025 6:36 am)

UPDATE: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb.

The attack killed three first responders in Kyiv and injured civilians across the country, including cities far from the front lines in western Ukraine.

5:19 AM

Wagner Group announces withdrawal from Mali.

The Wagner mercenary group announced on June 6 that it was withdrawing its presence from Mali, ending its fight with rebel groups.

3:41 AM

Operation Spiderweb 'gave Putin a reason to bomb the hell out of them,' Trump says, following large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities.

U.S. President Donald Trump on June 6 appeared to justify Russia's large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities launched the night before, in response to Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb.

1:47 AM

Ukraine hopes for Trump-Zelensky meeting in Canada during G7.

President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet U.S. President Trump during the G7 summit in Alberta on June 15–17, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said.

11:11 PM

Trump reluctant to confront China over support for Russia's war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.

Despite Trump’s current stance, the European Union has maintained public pressure on China, both through diplomatic channels and public statements.

9:40 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb; Ukraine strikes Russian air bases in 'preemptive strike'

8:59 PM

Trump quietly pressuring Senate to weaken Russia sanctions, WSJ reports.

The White House reportedly asked Sen. Graham to insert waivers into the bill allowing Trump to choose which entities get sanctioned and changing the word "shall" to "may."

8:42 PM

Video

Egyptian POW didn't need money, but went to fight for Russia.

Egyptian-born Russian fighter, callsign "Cobra," signed a contract with the Russian army in 2024, abandoning his young wife, university studies and comfortable lifestyle. Now in Ukrainian prison, he's rethinking his choices. Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.

8:15 PM

Russia's National Guard kills man attempting drone attack on military site, agency claims.

The suspect was allegedly preparing to launch a drone packed with grenades at a military facility in Russia's Ryazan Oblast. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claim.

8:03 PM

Field report

‘Find and destroy’ – how Ukraine’s own Peaky Blinders mastered the art of bomber drones

6:51 PM

Russia cuts key interest rate for first time since 2022.

The decision reflects a decrease in inflation and mounting political pressure to ease borrowing costs amid Russia's economic slowdown.

5:51 PM

Trump offers Germany US gas deals, but no promises on Ukraine aid or Russia sanctions.

When asked whether Trump would impose additional sanctions on Russia, the president dodged the question by boasting that he "ended Nord Stream 2" and hinting at future energy deals with Germany in a press conference with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

3:46 PM

Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says.

The drone attack on Bryansk was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities overnight on June 6.

2:48 PM

Moscow ready to grant Musk asylum if necessary amid rift with Trump, Russian official says.

"I think Musk is playing a completely different game," Dmitry Novikov, deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, said.

2:03 PM

'Loud night in Kyiv, Dad' — US envoy's daughter appeals to Kellogg during Russian attack.

"It might be the explosions and gunfire in the dead of night, but I get the strange feeling the Russians don't want peace," Meaghan Mobbs, daughter of U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, wrote on X.

12:56 PM

EU considers adding Russia to money-laundering 'gray list,' Financial Times reports.

Inclusion on the list would damage Russia's global financial standing and compel banks to apply stricter scrutiny to transactions involving Russian individuals or entities — raising compliance costs and increasing operational burdens.

11:53 AM

Ukraine strikes Russian air bases in 'preemptive strike' ahead of drone, missile attack, General Staff says.

Ukrainian strikes reportedly targeted Engels and Dyagilevo airfields — two key hubs for Russia's long-range bomber fleet, as well as logistics sites in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

10:30 AM

(Updated: June 6, 2025 10:47 am)

5 killed, 73 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 407 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones, along with 44 missiles of various types, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said.

9:31 AM

Russia plans to occupy Ukraine east of Dnipro, cut Black Sea access, Ukrainian official says.

"Unfortunately, they are not speaking about peace. They are preparing for war," President Volodymyr Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa said.

8:51 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 993,910 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,160 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

4:48 AM

(Updated: June 6, 2025 8:34 am)

Russia's Engels oil refinery ablaze after reported drone attack in Saratov Oblast.

Governor Roman Busargin claimed that a fire broke out at an unspecified "industrial enterprise" in Engels, as locals shared footage of an oil depot in flames. The Kristal Plant refinery supplies fuel to the Engels-2 military airfield.

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