Former deputy detained in Lviv region on suspicion of evading mobilisation

On 23 July, Orthodox Christians honour the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God – one of Ukraine’s most famous Christian shrines. They pray before this miraculous icon for protection, healing, family harmony and help in difficult circumstances.

Ukrainian radio stations and television channels, whose frequencies have been temporarily reallocated for defence and security purposes, will be able to switch to new broadcast channels. For some listeners and viewers, this may mean having to retune their radio or T2 television set.

Ukraine may begin a gradual increase in gas and electricity tariffs for households as early as 2027. This scenario is set out in the updated Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policies, which the Ukrainian authorities have agreed with the IMF. However, no final decision has yet been made – the document itself does not imply an automatic increase in tariffs.

In the first six months of 2026, 73,292 children were born in Ukraine, whilst 259,853 people died. The death rate is therefore almost four times higher than the birth rate.

Large-scale testing of fifth-generation mobile networks has begun in Kyiv. Owners of compatible smartphones can use 5G, although coverage depends on the network operator and the specific area of the city.

Law enforcement officers have detained two people suspected of plotting to blow up a section of railway track in the Chernihiv region. According to the investigation, they were acting on behalf of the Russian security services and planned to derail a freight locomotive.

Law enforcement officers have uncovered an organised criminal group whose members are suspected of stealing commercial refrigeration equipment from a warehouse in Zaporizhzhia. During the searches, a large cache of weapons, ammunition and substantial sums of cash were seized.

Law enforcement officers have notified the director of a private company that he is under suspicion in a case involving the misappropriation of nearly 68 million hryvnias allocated for the refurbishment and construction of protective structures for one of the energy infrastructure facilities in the Mykolaiv region. According to the investigation, the work was never actually carried out.

The Security Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigations and the National Police have announced that they have uncovered six new schemes to evade mobilisation. According to the investigation, 15 organisers of these schemes have been detained, and more than 200 conscripts took advantage of one of the schemes.

In Kharkiv, law enforcement officers have shut down two so-called rehabilitation centres where, according to the investigation, people with drug and alcohol addictions were unlawfully detained, isolated from the outside world and forced to work for free. Six suspects have been served with notices of suspicion.