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Irish Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Zelenskiy is facing wartime protests for the first time. Why?
The hundreds of Ukrainians who protested on Tuesday evening against moves to slash the independence of top anti-corruption agencies rallied outside the Ivan Franko theatre in central Kyiv because, activists said, it was the closest they could get to the headquarters of president Volodymyr Zelenskiy 's administration. The theatre sits on a leafy square at the foot of steps leading up to Bankova, which is the name of the guarded street where the presidency is situated and also a synonym in Ukraine for presidential power and related political machinations. Even in wartime – and in startling contrast to their neighbours in Russia – Ukrainians reject any notion that their leaders should exist in some sequestered space where decisions cannot be questioned and authority must not be challenged. It is infuriating to many Ukrainians that Zelenskiy and key aides seem to have forgotten or ignored lessons from the nation's recent history when ramming through a law that effectively makes the country's main anti-graft institutions subordinate to a prosecutor general who is a presidential appointee. READ MORE Both the Orange Revolution in 2004-5 and the Maidan Revolution, or Revolution of Dignity, in 2013-14 were at heart mass protests against corruption and the impunity of a political-economic elite in Ukraine that did not feel bound by the rules that applied to less privileged citizens. The same urge for change prompted Ukrainians to elect Zelenskiy – a comedian and businessman with no political experience – in 2019. A demonstration in Kyiv on Tuesday calls for a veto of a law that reduces the powers of anti-corruption agencies. Photograph: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP With its pivot to the West in 2014, Ukraine aimed for European Union membership and committed to rooting out graft at all levels. With EU backing it created a national anti-corruption bureau (Nabu) and specialised anti-corruption prosecutor's office (Sapo). These agencies have had some success despite facing obstruction from vested interests and a sometimes hostile attitude from Bankova. Zelenskiy said on Tuesday night that they would now be more efficient and 'cleansed' of 'Russian influence'. Civil society has long criticised the power held by Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and his deputies, who oversee the running of state structures ranging from law enforcement to arms production. The influence of unelected officials around Zelenskiy has only grown during Russia's devastating full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has brought a surge of western funding and weapons and also a suspension of elections and many of the checks and balances on presidential power that function in peacetime. Volodymyr Zelenskiy: anti-corruption agencies would now be more efficient and 'cleansed' of 'Russian influence'. Photograph: Vadym Sarakhan/AP Elections would be impossible under daily Russian missile and drone strikes, but Ukraine's civil society and free media continue to hold Zelenskiy and his allies to account. As shown by Tuesday's protests in Kyiv and other cities – the biggest in nearly three-and-a-half years of all-out war – Ukrainians who detest the dictator in the Kremlin will not tolerate any whiff of autocracy from Bankova.
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Zelenskyy to swap prime ministers in refresh to government
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he'll replace his prime minister in a Cabinet overhaul as the nation seeks to boost weapons production and maintain U.S. support in its war against Russia. Yulia Svyrydenko, a deputy premier who took the lead in coordinating a landmark minerals deal with President Donald Trump's administration, was nominated to replace Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Ukraine's longest-serving head of government, Shmyhal took office in 2020 and has led the Cabinet for the duration of Russia's war. Zelenskyy met with Svyrydenko, 39, on Monday to discuss "concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production," Zelenskyy said in a social media post on X. He proposed that she "significantly renew" the work of the government. The Ukrainian president hinted at a Cabinet overhaul last week during a meeting with allies in Rome. That gathering stoked optimism about U.S. military aid, with Trump expected to send more Patriot air-defense batteries to Kyiv as part of a shift to a more confrontational stance toward the Kremlin. Svyrydenko, a former aide in Zelenskyy's office who has climbed the ranks from state administration in the Chernihiv region to high office in Kyiv, has long been subject of speculation as Shmyhal's replacement. She would become Ukraine's second female prime minister after Yulia Tymoshenko, who led the government in the years after the 2004 Orange Revolution. Ukraine's parliament would need to confirm the nomination before Svyrydenko takes office. Shmyhal and his Cabinet has come under criticism from Zelenskyy for not focusing fully on the battlefield last year, while public criticism has focused on a lack of independence. The level of trust in the Cabinet is low, along with that of the parliament and courts, polls have shown. The reshuffle conforms with Zelenskyy's preference to fill top positions with loyalists from his inner circle. His appointment of Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister last year was part of that pattern. He worked under chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak in the first two years of the war. Maintaining his grip Yuriy Yakymenko, president at the Razumkov Centre think tank, said major policy changes were unlikely - and that Zelenskyy's grip over Ukraine's wartime politics will be maintained. "The president's influence on the government remains - and it will remain in this configuration," Yakymenko said by phone. Zelenskyy weighed in on potential changes in Italy on Thursday, saying that he may appoint Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as his new envoy to the U.S. as part of a "serious reshuffle" of the Cabinet. Shmyhal, along with another deputy premier, Olha Stefanishyna, were among candidates to replace Oksana Markarova as Ukraine's ambassador to Washington, according to people familiar with the matter. Svyrydenko has a master's degree in antitrust regulation from Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics and worked in the private sector until 2015, when she entered state government roles in Chernihiv - and led the region in the second half of 2018. She advanced to Cabinet roles in Kyiv under Zelenskyy, as deputy minister overseeing development, trade and agriculture - then as deputy head of office in the presidential office. She's held her current post, overseeing economic policy, since November 2021. An avid classical pianist, Svyrydenko is prized by Zelenskyy for following through with orders. On a panel at a conference in Kyiv last month, an attendee asked her whether she knew her nickname from those in the business community. "Top of the class," the attendee said. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
DW
14-07-2025
- Business
- DW
Ukraine: Zelenskyy proposes new prime minister – DW – 07/14/2025
Yuliia Svyrydenko would become the country's second female prime minister in history once her candidacy is approved by parliament. She is currently Ukraine's economy minister. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday that he had asked Yuliia Svyrydenko to become the new prime minister. "I have proposed that Yuliia Svyrydenko lead the government of Ukraine and significantly renew its work. I look forward to the presentation of the new government's action plan in the near future," Zelenskyy wrote on X. Yuliia Svyrydenko is currently Ukraine's economy minister, with her role becoming especially prominent in the media this year because of the mineral deal that eventually came to be signed by the US and Ukraine. A televised spat between the leaders of the US and Ukraine in Washington had ended discussions on the deal in February, when the agreement was originally meant to be signed. But Svyrydenko has been credited as the person to have traveled to Washington shortly after the spat to get the job done. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been eyeing changes to his cabinet as Ukraine continues to try and fend off Russian forces for the fourth year of war. Zelenskyy last week announced during a gathering of leaders in Rome that he was considering replacing his current ambassador to the US. "We need a person (as US ambassador) to be strong and to be in the context of the most important thing, in the context of strengthening Ukraine — through weapons, first of all. Therefore, one of my ideas is that it can be Ukraine's defense minister." But other names have also been floated for the job for the country's next ambassador to the US as well, and a final decision is pending. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Svyrydenko is 39 years old and has held a number of posts in the state administration of Chernihiv region in the north, where she was born. She then quickly rose through the ranks and became deputy head of the presidential office, and in 2021, became the economy minister and deputy prime minister. Svyrydenko would replace incumbent Denys Shmyhal, who was appointed as the country's prime minister in 2020. Her candidacy would still have to be approved by Ukraine's parliament before she can step into the role. Once approved, she would become Ukraine's second female prime minister after Yulia Tymoshenko, who led the country in the years after the 2004 Orange Revolution.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside America's Protest Machine: Who's Funding The Chaos?
A spreadsheet circulating on X, shared by @DataRepublican on June 13, 2025, appears to expose a coordinated network of activist groups orchestrating monthly protests across the United States—including the recent 'Tesla Takedown' on February 15, 2025. The document identifies multiple organizations—reportedly 22 in total, according to the original post—including CHIRLA, which allegedly received $34 million in grants, and progressive advocacy arms like Vote Save America. The coordination suggests these demonstrations are far from spontaneous grassroots activism. The spreadsheet, corroborated by posts from journalist @AsraNomani, shows a pattern of overlapping organizers and synchronized nationwide protest dates. Critics on X, including @DataRepublican, have labeled the network a potential 'color revolution'—a term historically associated with uprisings like Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution, where foreign-funded NGOs were widely believed to have played a role. A 2016 article in the Journal of Democracy discussed how NGO networks can sometimes serve as soft-power instruments for geopolitical influence, lending context to the comparison. Concerns over foreign involvement have surfaced alongside allegations that Neville Singham, a controversial activist and donor, is linked to groups behind the June 8–9 protests, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Multiple outlets have accused Singham of having ties to entities aligned with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interests, though no formal charges or direct financial links have been proven. These reports have nonetheless intensified scrutiny of nonprofit funding channels. Taxpayer dollars may also be fueling the activity. According to @DataRepublican's analysis of public filings, CHIRLA's grant income surged from $12 million to $34 million within a year. Other organizations, such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), are said to operate with opaque donor networks. The failed H.R. 5128 Nonprofit Transparency Act of 2023, which aimed to require 501(c)(3) nonprofits to disclose foreign donations, left a loophole that critics say enables this kind of funding. Watchdog groups have long warned that many nonprofits do not fully comply with donor transparency standards, allowing millions to circulate with limited federal oversight. Users on X expressed outrage. @JKash000 asked, 'Why is a nonprofit charity funding riots against American citizens?' Another user, @TonyDGianino, posted, 'By paying taxes, we're funding the destruction of our own country.' Such reactions reflect mounting public distrust in nonprofit and government oversight, with increasing calls for audits and federal investigations. 'The IRS needs to step in,' wrote @SaveUSAKitty. This controversy goes beyond isolated demonstrations—it raises questions of influence and intent. The spreadsheet's pattern of methodically scheduled, nationwide events mirrors tactics seen in past politically motivated revolutions. As @realMAG1775 noted, drawing clear lines between domestic billionaire donors and alleged foreign-linked operatives like Singham is crucial. The involvement of platforms such as ActBlue and affiliated PACs suggests a convergence of financial and ideological motives. Congress must act. Weak regulatory oversight has allowed what @DataRepublican describes as a 'well-oiled machine' to exploit DHS grants and route money through nonprofits, potentially turning taxpayer funds into fuel for political agitation. Proposed reforms—such as mandatory disclosure of foreign donations and stricter IRS compliance audits—could help restore accountability. Until then, Americans may be unknowingly bankrolling a protest apparatus with global ambitions. As the nation watches, one question remains: Are these uprisings authentic expressions of dissent—or orchestrated campaigns to destabilize American society? The emerging evidence increasingly points to the latter—and demands urgent scrutiny.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former politician and aide to ex-Ukrainian president shot dead in Madrid
A man who served as an aide to a former Ukrainian president has been shot and killed in Madrid, local authorities have said. An unidentified gunman - or gunmen - shot former politician Andriy Portnov outside the gates of the American School of Madrid in the Pozuelo area of the Spanish capital on Wednesday morning, according to a source close to the investigation. Police received a report at 7.15am local time and rushed to Calle America, where Mr Portnov is believed to have been taking his children to school, radio station Cadena SER said. Emergency service vehicles and a police cordon were pictured at the scene. He served as a senior aide to Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovich before he was ousted in 2014. The pro-Russian leader was driven out by Ukraine's 2014 Orange Revolution - and has been living in exile in Russia ever since. Since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, crimes have been committed against several high-profile Russians and Ukrainians in Spain, which has large ex-pat populations from both countries. In November and December 2022, six letter bombs were sent to targets across the country, to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid, as well as its US counterpart. A 76-year-old retired Spanish civil servant was jailed over the offences after his social media searches suggested he was sympathetic towards Russia's invasion. Read more from Sky News In April that year, a Russian businessman linked to the country's Novatek gas company was found dead with his wife and daughter, having all sustained stab wounds. In February last year, a Russian pilot who defected to the Ukrainian side was found dead with gunshot wounds in the car park of his apartment near Alicante. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
