News
Five Ukrainian sailors are on board a cruise ship infected with the Hantavirus
There are five Ukrainian seafarers on board the MV Hondius, where an outbreak of hantavirus has been reported. One of them is due to leave the ship shortly, whilst the other four will remain on board to sail the vessel to the Netherlands.
Trump has described Iran’s response to US proposals to end the war as unacceptable
US President Donald Trump has criticised Iran’s response to American proposals to end the war. According to Iranian media reports, Tehran is demanding a cessation of hostilities, the lifting of the naval blockade and guarantees against further attacks.
3,000 ‘postgraduate students’ were enrolled to avoid conscription
A case involving nine members of a criminal organisation has been referred to court; they are accused of falsely enrolling men liable for military service in postgraduate programmes in order to secure a deferment from conscription. According to the investigation, nearly 3,500 men were processed through this scheme.
The debts owed by the district heating company to Naftogaz have risen to 150 billion hryvnia
The debts owed by district heating companies to the Naftogaz Group have more than doubled over the last four years – rising from around 60 billion hryvnia to nearly 150 billion hryvnia. The government is working on a mechanism to compensate for the difference in tariffs and is seeking additional sources of funding.
They made over 200 million hryvnias from fraudulent disability claims
The police have reported the uncovering of a large-scale scheme involving the falsification of disability certificates at medical facilities in Zaporizhzhia. According to the investigation, the group’s members made over 200 million hryvnias, and at least 500 people used their ‘services’.
The Russians are planning to ‘nationalise’ 150 commercial buildings in the Luhansk region under the pretext that they are ‘ownerless’
Previously, the occupiers had threatened to seize 50,000 flats over utility bills, and now they have turned their attention to non-residential property.
Demobilisation, contracts and new pay scales: Ukraine is preparing a major reform of the armed forces
Ukraine is preparing a major reform of the armed forces, which will involve new contracts with guaranteed demobilisation, pay rises for military personnel, and a reform of the Territorial Recruitment Centres (TRCs). For combat personnel, contracts of 10–14 months and a new ‘10/20/40’ bonus system may be introduced, under which military personnel will receive up to 400,000 hryvnias per month. The Ministry of Defence also plans to transform the Territorial Recruitment Centres into ‘Reserve+ Offices’, with a division of mobilisation and social functions.
Summer holidays 2026: when schoolchildren can go on holiday
There is no fixed start date for the 2026 summer holidays in Ukrainian schools. The academic year may officially run until 30 June 2026, but each school determines the actual end of term and the date of the last bell independently.
The ISW has explained what Putin’s hint about the end of the war in Ukraine actually means
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has hinted that the war in Ukraine may soon come to an end. However, there are as yet no signs that the Kremlin intends to end its aggression.
“It’s a disaster”: Ulyutin assesses the population of the territory under Ukrainian control
Between 22 and 25 million people currently live in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. This estimate was given by the Minister for Social Policy, Denys Ulyutin, who described the situation as a “disaster”.
Spain has seized 30 tonnes of cocaine – a record shipment for Europe worth over €800 million
Spanish law enforcement officers seized 30 tonnes of cocaine from a vessel off the Canary Islands and arrested 23 crew members. This is the largest drug seizure in European history.
Iran has sent its response to the US regarding proposals to end the war
Iran has conveyed its response to the US proposals for ending the war to the US via intermediaries in Pakistan. The details of the document have not been officially disclosed.