Latest news with #Ukrain
DW
7 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
Ukraine: New law curtails anti-corruption bodies' powers – DW – 07/23/2025
A controversial law gives Ukraine's prosecutor general control over the country's once independent anti-corruption authorities. The move has drawn fierce criticism and sparked nationwide protests. On July 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law restricting the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) mere hours after it had been passed by Ukrainian parliament. The move sparked protests in several cities across Ukraine. Thousands of people took to the streets of Kyiv, with demonstrators criticizing what they saw as a "return" to the era of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was forced to flee to Russia during the Euromaidan Revolution in 2014. The new law stipulates that the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president with approval of parliament, will have access to all NABU cases and can also grant other prosecutors access. The prosecutor general can issue instructions to NABU investigators, change the focus of trials, discontinue proceedings at the request of the defense and much more. The new law also significantly restricts SAPO's procedural autonomy. "The independence of both institutions — whether from political influence and pressure on future and ongoing investigations — has been effectively destroyed," SAPO prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko told DW. "NABU and SAPO were created as bodies equipped with exclusive investigative powers to fight corruption at the highest levels, with full guarantees of their independence," added NABU Director Semen Kryvonos. "This is a prerequisite for our [Ukrainian] progress toward Europe." NABU and SAPO offices were searched just one day before Ukraine's controversial law was passed. Prosecutors of both agencies are suspected of maintaining ties to Russia. Some Ukrainian lawmakers have therefore welcomed the new law, including former prime minister and Fatherland party leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who accuses both bodies of being selective in whom they investigate over corruption. "You can't call this an anti-corruption structure, but rather a shadow government that controls all processes," she said. President Zelenskyy has said Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities would continue working though "free from Russian influence." He also said that "suspected corruption cases must be investigated; for years, some officials who fled Ukraine have been living abroad without facing legal consequences." Zelenskyy said there was no rational explanation why some of the billion-dollar corruption cases have been stalled for years and complained that Russia had previously gained access to sensitive information. The new law drew criticism across party lines, with even members of Zelenskyy's own ruling Servant of the People party expressing disapproval. Ahead of the vote, Anastasia Radina, who chairs the parliamentary anti-corruption committee, warned the law would have "catastrophic" consequences for the Ukrainian state. The opposition European Solidarity parliamentary group said Ukraine's anti-corruption system was one of the greatest accomplishments to result from the Maidan revolution, and that those who voted for the law were destroying the Ukrainian state at a very dangerous moment. "The country is reverting back to a state that the Russians were once pleased with, when there was a lack of rights and democracy," warned opposition MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, who chairs Ukraine's EU Integration Committee. "Sooner or later, such countries fall into the Kremlin's sphere of influence." Klympush-Tsintsadze also said the law threatens European and other international financial aid, which is linked to Ukraine's commitments to fight corruption. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called the new law a "serious step back" on X. She said "independent bodies like NABU & SAPO, are crucial for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of law remains at the very center of EU accession negotiations." On Facebook, investment banker and financial expert Serhiy Fursa pointed out that many people accuse NABU and SAPO of inefficiency, through stressed that these bodies are "far more effective than assumed." He said there had to be "great fear, which means that NABU is doing a very good job" if decision-makers are prepared to risk European integration and the Western support just to limit the body's powers. On July 23, in light of the backlash, Zelenskyy convened a meeting with all the heads of Ukrainian law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, as well as Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. "We are all hearing what the public is saying," Zelensky told them. "We see what people are expecting from state institutions to ensure all institutions operate according to the principle of justice and efficiency." Zelenskyy announced that a joint action plan to resolve the dispute would be developed within the next two weeks.
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Ukraine's Anti-Graft Crackdown Sparks Protests Against Zelenskiy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy approved a law to strip anti-corruption agencies of their powers despite opposition, triggering the first outbreak of popular discontent against his leadership since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Hundreds of mostly young people joined rallies in the capital of Kyiv, the western city of Lviv, and the southern city of Odesa on Tuesday evening in protest against legislation that placed the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine under the control of the Prosecutor General's Office, whose head is appointed by the president. Zelenskiy dismissed concerns raised by the opposition and allies from the Group of Seven nations that such a move would hamstring efforts to tackle high-level graft. NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office were both established at the request of Western donors a decade ago. The unprecedented protests erupted as the capital has been suffering almost daily barrages of deadly drone and missile strikes, underscoring the growing sense of anger in society over Zelenskiy's attempts to concentrate power within a narrow circle of his close associates. It also comes as Ukraine tries to convince its Western allies, especially in the European Union, to deliver and pay for weapon supplies and continue financial assistance. Protesters in Kyiv gathered near one of the downtown theaters close to the presidential office carrying homemade posters with slogans including 'Why do I need a system that works against me?' and 'Do we want to be like Russia?' Were the discontent to escalate, it would add pressure on the war-torn nation, suffering from Russia's grinding offensive along a 1,000-kilometer front and intensified airstrikes targeting multiple cities. The protests come despite martial law, which remains in place and prohibits mass gatherings. Ukraine has a history of mass demonstrations which have morphed into successful revolutions, sweeping aside corrupt and authoritarian governments. Among the protesters in Kyiv were military veterans like Mykola Hradnov-Savytskyi, 31, who fought in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and lost both legs after being wounded last year. 'I am now trying to integrate into society,' he told Bloomberg News. 'I am here to support conscious people who will not allow harm to be done to Ukraine.' Several opposition lawmakers, along with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko — a former boxing heavyweight champion who has been at odds with Zelenskiy's administration — joined the protest in the capital. Earlier on Tuesday, 263 lawmakers in the 450-seat legislature voted in favor of the bill. The measure was part of a raft of amendments to the criminal code pushed through Ukraine's parliament, where Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party has a majority. Opposition members had sought to block the measure, with several shouting 'shame' as the vote proceeded. Semen Kryvonos, the chief of NABU, demanded that Zelenskiy veto the law. While foreign allies strongly support Ukraine in its war against Russia, having provided tens of billions of US dollars since 2022, a significant setback in anti-corruption reforms could jeopardize further assistance. Moreover, the crackdown on anti-graft institutions may stall Ukraine's efforts to joint the European Union and risk the suspension of its visa-free regime with the block. Concern among Ukraine's wartime allies was stoked on Monday when authorities carried out sweeping raids targeting anti-graft agencies. An unnamed employee of NABU was detained same day under suspicion of sending data on the identities of Ukrainian law enforcement officers to Russia's intelligence services, the prosecutor's office said. The ambassadors from the Group of Seven nations expressed 'serious concerns' about the raids, which targeted at least 15 NABU detectives, saying they intend to discuss the developments with the Ukrainian government. The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, a business association, urged Zelenskiy in a statement not to sign the proposed legislation and to continue 'supporting the independence of anti-corruption institutions.' Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka, who oversees Ukraine's EU integration promised to respect all the country's commitments on its path to EU membership. 'Ukraine acts responsibly in strengthening the rule of law and treats ensuring an efficient fight against corruption and the implementation of international commitments with utmost seriousness,' he said on Facebook. 'On these matters, there can be no compromise.'
UPI
3 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Russia faces intense barrage of drones, shutting down Moscow airports
Passengers wait for their flights at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia, on July 7, 2025. Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA July 20 (UPI) -- Russia faced a penetrating barrage of drones from Ukraine over the weekend that caused Moscow airports to close amid the intensifying war. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a series of statements that between 7:45 a.m. local time on July 19 and 5:40 p.m. on July 20, its air defense systems reportedly shot down at least 272 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones across more than a dozen regions. The Bryansk region saw the heaviest concentration of drone activity, with 108 destroyed across eight separate reporting intervals. Kaluga followed with 55 intercepted drones, and Moscow region accounted for 46, including dozens reportedly flying toward the capital. Russian officials said drones were also intercepted over Tula, Kursk, Oryol, Smolensk, Belgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Tver, Ryazan, and Crimea. The most intense barrage occurred overnight, when 93 drones were downed between 11:30 p.m. and 7 a.m., including 16 reported to be heading for Moscow. The sustained and geographically dispersed attacks marked one of the highest-volume drone operations reported by Russian authorities to date. The drone strikes caused all four of Moscow's major airports to close and reopen about ten times in a 24-hour period from Saturday into Sunday, according to a statement from Russia's Association of Tour Operators, a nonprofit travel industry group. The airport in Kaluga remained mostly closed for 14 hours. The nonprofit, citing data from the airports, said that the closures led to 140 cancelled flights to and from the airports, particularly at Sheremetyevo International Airport - the busiest in Russia. The drone strikes and airport closures come after Ukraine launched more than 500 drones toward Russia in a 24-hour period, leaving at least 60,000 passengers stranded. In other parts of the war, Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed its forces made tactical advances across multiple fronts in Ukraine, including in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as part of its ongoing "special military operation." Russian officials said troops from its North, West, South, Center, East and Dnipro groupings inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian brigades and destroyed key infrastructure and depots. According to the ministry, Russian units captured the village of Belaya Gora in Donetsk and targeted Ukrainian positions with airstrikes, artillery and drones in 148 areas. Moscow said Ukrainian forces lost more than 1,200 personnel, along with dozens of armored vehicles, artillery systems -- including U.S.-made Paladins -- and several electronic warfare stations. The air campaign coincides with an intensifying intelligence war between the two countries. Ukraine said earlier this month it killed two Russian agents accused of assassinating a Ukrainian colonel in Kyiv. Russia, in turn, claimed it had detained several Ukrainian operatives and prevented sabotage attacks.
DW
04-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Ukraine hit by major attack as Trump says Putin won't 'stop' – DW – 07/04/2025
Russia attacked Ukraine with 550 drones and missiles, as US President Donald Trump said he was disappointed by his latest call with Vladimir Putin. Follow DW for more. The Ukrainian air force said it recorded the largest number of Russian drones and missiles in a single attack since Moscow's large-scale invasion began. The latest barrage came after US President Donald Trump had a phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin that resulted in "no progress at all." Trump is expected to speak later on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after a US announcement this week that a batch of arms shipments to Ukraine would be President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the latest Russian attack was one of the largest yet and called for appropriate pressure on Moscow. Describing the attack as "deliberately massive and cynical," Zelenskyy said it proved that "without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behavior." "For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure," Zelenskyy wrote on social media. "Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror," he added. Ukraine's air force said Russia's overnight aerial bombardment involved 550 missiles and drones. Russia launched 539 drones and 11 missiles, the air force said, adding that air defence units had downed 268 drones and two missiles. Yuriy Ignat, a representative of Ukraine's air force, said it was "the largest number that the enemy has used in a single attack." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said the attack was timed to follow the latest phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin. "Right after Putin spoke with President Trump. And he does it on purpose. Enough of waiting! Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war," Sybiga wrote on social media. Hours after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump said he did not think his Russian counterpart would stop the war in Ukraine. "I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed," Trump told reporters in Washington. "I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop (the war), and that's too bad." The phone call on Thursday was the sixth publicly disclosed chat between themsince Trump's return to the White House. He had said earlier their call resulted in "no progress at all." The Kremlin, meanwhile, said their conversation was "frank and contructive," and that Russia would keep pursuing its goals in Ukraine. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Kyiv came under heavy drone attack overnight, with Russian forces striking at least 13 locations across the Ukrainian capital. Ukraine's air defenses were active for hours and explosions echoed across the city. At least 14 people were injured, 12 of them hospitalized, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Officials say residential areas were targeted, with fires breaking out in at least two districts. The Ukrainian Air Force reports that the Russian military launched at least one Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile. They also fired ballistic missiles in two waves at targets in Kyiv and nearby areas. President Donald Trump says the US gave Ukraine too many weapons under President Joe Biden, claiming the country has "emptied out" its own supply. "We're giving weapons, but we've given so many weapons. But we are giving weapons. And we're working with them and trying to help them, but we haven't. You know, Biden emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves," he said. Trump's statement comes after a pause in some weapons shipments, including Patriot missiles and precision-guided artillery, to Ukraine as Russia steps up its offensive. The halt caught Kyiv off guard. Ukrainian leaders summoned the acting US envoy on Wednesday, warning that the delay could weaken their defenses. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he hopes to speak with Trump in the coming days to clarify the situation. "I hope that maybe tomorrow, or close days, these days, I will speak about it with President Trump," he said on Thursday. The Pentagon has not said when full deliveries might resume.. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Overnight, Kyiv came under a sustained drone attack, with explosions reported across the city. This comes even as Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is open to further talks with Ukraine. He told US President Donald Trump this during an hourlong phone discussion on Thursday. The US president said the conversation didn't lead to any breakthroughs. Putin was adamant that Moscow would not "give up" on its goals in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping to speak with Trump on Friday, particularly about the recent pause in some US weapons shipments to Ukraine.
Business Recorder
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Russia advances to east-central Ukrainian region amid row over dead soldiers
MOSCOW/KYIV: Russia said on Sunday its forces had advanced to the edge of the east-central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk amid a public row between Moscow and Kyiv over peace negotiations and the return of thousands of bodies of soldiers who fell in the war. Amid talk of peace, the war is stepping up with Russian forces grabbing more territory in Ukraine and Kyiv unfurling high-profile drone and sabotage attacks on Russia's nuclear-capable bomber fleet and, according to Moscow, on railways. Russia, which controls a little under one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, has taken more than 190 square km (73 square miles) of the Sumy region of eastern Ukraine in less than a month, according to pro-Ukrainian open source maps. Now, according to the Russian defence ministry, units of the 90th Tank Division of the Central Grouping of Russian forces have reached the western frontier of Ukraine's Donetsk region and are attacking the adjacent Dnipropetrovsk region. 'The enemy does not abandon its intentions to enter the Dnipropetrovsk region,' Ukraine's Southern Defence Forces said on Telegram. 'Our soldiers are courageously and professionally holding their section of the front, disrupting the occupier's plans. This work does not stop for a minute.' Ukraine drones attack on Moscow forces airport closure, Russia says The pro-Ukrainian Deep State map showed Russian forces very close to the Dnipropetrovsk region, which had a population of more than 3 million before the war, and advancing on the city of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region from several directions. A Ukrainian military spokesman, Dmytro Zaporozhets, said that Russian forces were trying to 'build a bridgehead for an attack' on Kostyantynivka, an important logistical hub for the Ukrainian army. Russia on Saturday accused Ukraine of delaying the swap of prisoners of war and return the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers, though Ukraine denied those claims. Russia said on Sunday it was moving bodies towards the border. U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he wants an end to the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two, on Thursday likened it to a fight between young children and indicated that he might have to simply let the conflict play out. Accusations over willingness for peace Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace, after accusing them of ordering a bombing in Bryansk, western Russia that killed seven people and injured 115 a day before talks in Turkey. Ukraine, which has not commented on the attack on a Bryansk bridge, has similarly accused Moscow of not seriously seeking peace, citing as evidence Russian resistance to an immediate ceasefire. US believes Russia response to Ukraine drone attack not over yet, expects multi-pronged strike Russia is demanding international recognition of Crimea, a peninsula annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014, and four other regions of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed as its own territory. Ukraine would have to withdraw its forces from all of them. Russia controlled 113,273 square km, or 18.8%, of Ukrainian territory as of June 7, according to the Deep State map. That is an area bigger than the U.S. state of Virginia. The areas under Russian control include Crimea, more than 99% of the Luhansk region, over 70% of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, all in the east or southeast, and fragments of the Kharkiv and Sumy regions in the northeast Putin told Trump on Wednesday that he would have to respond to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's bomber fleet and the bombings of the railways. The United States believes that Putin's threatened retaliation against Ukraine over its attacks has not happened yet in earnest and is likely to be a significant, multi-pronged strike, U.S. officials told Reuters. Russia also hit the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Friday evening and overnight with drones, missiles and guided bombs, killing at least four people and injuring more than 60, including a baby, local officials said on Saturday. Russia also said it had downed 61 Ukrainian drones overnight on Sunday in the Moscow region. Two major airports serving Moscow were closed temporarily.
