Ukrainian children’s writer Volodymyr Vakulenko was allegedly killed during the Russian occupation of Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, which was liberated in September, Suspilne media outlet reported citing the results of a DNA examination that the journalists have seen.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General's Office reported in April that the writer was abducted by Russian forces in the village of Kapytolivka near Izium.
Belarusian Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Muraveika said Minsk originally chose to move the joint Russian-Belarusian drills away from the western frontier to ease tensions, but that decision may now be reconsidered.
Zelensky has said the meeting would focus on three key issues — the return of prisoners of war, the return of abducted children, and preparations for a leaders' summit.
"We see what people expect from state institutions — ensured justice and the effective functioning of each institution," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The attack followed the publication of a critical editorial and in-depth coverage of the government's push to expand the prosecutor general's control over key anti-corruption agencies.
Member of Zelensky’s Servant of the People faction, Anastasia Radina, discusses signing of controversial bill impacting Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions.
"The President of the European Commission (Ursula von der Leyen) was in contact with President Zelensky about these latest developments," European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said.
A Dutch court overturned seizure orders on Russian energy giant Gazprom's local assets, which had been imposed following lawsuits filed by two Ukrainian companies, Reuters reports on July 22, citing a published ruling on the court's website.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) suspects 31 sitting or former members of the current parliament of corruption.
The talks are expected to begin at 7 p.m. local time at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul.
Russia launched 71 drones from multiple directions overnight. Air defenses shot down 27 drones, and 18 were lost or intercepted by electronic warfare, the Air Force said.
The legislation, swiftly pushed through by President Volodymyr Zelensky's lawmakers on July 22 and signed by the president the same day, "crossed red lines" for Brussels, European Pravda reported, citing EU sources.
