Melkonyants was arrested in August 2023 in connection with the activities of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), which was co-founded by Golos's legal predecessor, the Golos association.
Ukraine's underground storage facilities are currently using 19.4% of their capacity. Almost 32%, or 2.79 bcm, less gas is available in the storages than in the previous year, according to the estimates.
The majority of Ukrainians, 71%, do not support holding elections before a full peace deal, even in the case of a ceasefire and security guarantees, according to a poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on May 14.
"He'd like me to be there, and that's a possibility. ... I don't know that he would be there if I'm not there. We're going to find out," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Qatar, Reuters reported.
Trump has long demanded that NATO allies increase their military spending, previously calling for the alliance to raise its benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP.
More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city occupied by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The government has approved "reform roadmaps in the rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions, as well as Ukraine’s negotiation position," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The statement did not name the ex-official by name, but details of the case indicate it relates to Oleh Hladkovsky, a former deputy secretary of Ukraine's top security body who has been wanted since mid-April.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva claimed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
Member of Falcon unit sending Ukrainian drone Leleka to air in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, on April 18, 2023. (Oleksandr Magula/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukraine's military intelligence agency attacked three airfields deep inside Russia overnight, damaing a Russian supersonic bomber plane, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on July 27.
On the morning of July 27, Ukrainian drones arrived at airfields in three regions: Saratov, Murmansk, and Ryazan. The kamikaze drones also hit an oil refinery in Ryazan region.
The attack damaged a Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bomber-missile carrier in the Olenya airfield, Murmansk region. The airfield lies close to northern Finland and is roughly 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine managed to down the Tu-22M3 for the first time in April 2024. The aircraft is armed with AS-4 heavy anti-ship or Kh-22 cruise missiles that are used in strikes on Ukraine.
The source did not confirm whether other aircraft were damaged in the attacks and said that the results of the operation are being clarified. However, the Dyagilevo airfield in Ryazan region, which also came under attack, houses Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, Tu-134UBL, and Il-78 aircraft, in addition to an aircraft repair plant.
Russia's Defense Ministry said that at least 23 drones were shot down overnight and in the morning over the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, Rostov, Bryansk, and Lipetsk.
While Ukraine does not have permission to fire Western-made long-range weapons at Russian territory, the embattled country frequently launches drone attacks, mainly using domestically-produced weapons. Earlier on July 23, Russia downed 21 drones in occupied Crimea and the Black Sea.
Ukraine’s drone operations often target oil refineries and airfields, aiming to reduce Russia’s oil process capabilities and hinder its economy, as well as target Russian aircraft that bomb Ukrainian cities.
Dominic is the business reporter for the Kyiv Independent. He has written for a number of publications including the Financial Times, bne IntelliNews, Radio Free Europe/Liberty, Euronews and New Eastern Europe. Previously, Dominic worked with StopFake as a disinformation expert, debunking Russian fake news in Europe.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
