News
Gravestone slabs were used to repair a staircase in Chernivtsi: what is known
In Chernivtsi, the renovation of the steps on Philharmonic Square caused a widespread stir after local residents noticed fragments of portraits on the granite slabs that resembled images from gravestones. The city council stated that no new slabs had been laid during the recent works, but promised to investigate the origin of the materials.
Zelenskyy is considering replacing Syrskyi
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is considering replacing the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, but does not intend to make any personnel decisions until he has identified a candidate who can lead the army without jeopardising the command of the troops
A man who hid cocaine in his daughter’s rucksack has been sentenced in Odessa
The Primorsky District Court of Odessa found a 40-year-old local man guilty of the illegal trafficking of cocaine and sentenced him to nine years’ imprisonment with confiscation of his property. Whilst transporting the drugs, the man used his seven-year-old daughter’s rucksack to conceal the illicit substance.
An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Mexico
An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of the Mexican state of Chiapas on 18 July. The tremors were felt by residents of southern Mexico, as well as in Guatemala and El Salvador. Despite the earthquake’s considerable strength, there are currently no reports of fatalities or widespread damage
The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked an oil depot near Moscow and Russian ships
On the night of 18 July, the Ukrainian Defence Forces carried out strikes on a number of military and logistical targets on Russian territory and in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The targets included an oil depot in the Moscow region, ships and support vessels of the Russian navy, and a railway bridge in the Luhansk region.
France has summoned a Russian diplomat over FSB cyberattacks on French institutions
On 17 July, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the Russian Federation. This was in response to cyber-attacks which the French authorities link to the activities of the Russian security services
A proposal has been put forward in the US Senate to automatically impose sanctions on Putin
An amendment to the defence bill has been tabled in the US Senate, which would impose new restrictions on Russia should the peace process with Ukraine break down. It was tabled by Republican Senator Steve Daines
Kadyrov called on Russia to launch strikes against NATO countries
The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has made further aggressive statements regarding Western countries that support Ukraine. In a post on social media, he called on Russia to take military action against those states supplying Kyiv with weapons and other military aid
Police seized over 2 kg of cannabis from a resident of the Vinnytsia region
In Vinnytsia, law enforcement officers have arrested a 32-year-old local man suspected of growing cannabis and preparing it for sale. During a search, the police seized over two kilograms of the drug
A woman has been convicted in Kyiv for setting fire to a door in a high-rise block
The Holosiivskyi District Court in Kyiv has found a 35-year-old local woman guilty of setting fire to the entrance hall door of a block of flats. She was sentenced to five years and one month’s imprisonment for the offence
What will the dollar exchange rate be by the end of July: an expert’s forecast
By the end of July, Ukraine’s foreign exchange market is likely to remain relatively stable, and the dollar exchange rate will not exceed 45 hryvnias. At the same time, a full-scale war remains the main factor that could influence the situation
The government has appointed Maksym Tsutsikiridze as acting head of the National Police of Ukraine
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has temporarily appointed Maksym Tsutsikiridze to act as head of the National Police. The government adopted the relevant decision on 17 July