Consideration of amendments to mobilization bill, new investigation by hromadske: April 10 highlights

Consideration of the draft law on mobilization

The Verkhovna Rada began considering amendments to the draft law on mobilization. However, MPs decided that they wanted to hear from representatives of the Ukrainian military command before voting.

The Verkhovna Rada also voted in the first reading for a bill to increase responsibility for military offenses. In particular, it proposes to introduce new articles on violations of military registration, extended terms of administrative liability and detention, and criminal liability for refusing to undergo a medical examination during mobilization.

Drafting a law on demobilization

The Defense Ministry said that the government plans to spend up to eight months drafting a separate bill on rotation and demobilization.

The ministry explained that the provision on demobilization was excluded from the government's bill on mobilization following a request from the Armed Forces General Staff, "which understands the operational situation and the threats and risks facing the state."

Investigations: how the SBU persecutes collaborators' whistleblowers

Maryna Shepotko, a senior investigator at the SBU Office in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, allegedly used her official position to organize the criminal prosecution of whistleblowers of her collaborator father, Andriy Shepotko.

Shepotko, from the village of Torske in Donetsk Oblasts, had repeatedly publicly expressed pro-Russian views, and during the occupation began to collaborate with the Russians, his fellow villagers said.

When local residents began posting on social media about Shepotko's behavior after the village was de-occupied, the SBU began opening criminal proceedings against them.

Attacks

At dawn on April 10, Russians attacked Odesa Oblast with missiles and ballistic missiles. Two railway workers of the Odesa Railways were injured in the attack.

In the evening, Russian troops again launched a missile attack on Odesa Oblast. The attack killed four people, and 14 were reported wounded.

In addition, the occupiers opened fire on the settlements of Kharkiv district. Three people were killed, including a 14-year-old girl.

Bodies of a woman and her child found in Kostiantynivka

On the morning of April 10, rescuers found two more bodies at the site of a Russian airstrike in the town of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, on April 9. The bodies of a 43-year-old woman and her 12-year-old son were recovered from the rubble. In total, three people were killed.

New agreement between Ukraine and the UK

Ukraine and the United Kingdom have signed a new agreement on defense and industrial cooperation. The signing took place as part of the UK's largest trade mission to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion as representatives of 29 British defense companies arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian businesses.

The agreement paves the way for the introduction of state-of-the-art British technology for Ukraine's defense.

Ex-Party of Regions MP detained while trying to flee Ukraine

A former member of parliament from the banned Party of Regions, who contributed to Russia's armed aggression, tried to flee Ukraine.

According to hromadske's sources in law enforcement, it is Vladislav Lukyanov, who was a member of the Party of Regions in the 5th, 6th and 7th convocations of the Verkhovna Rada.

The investigation found that after the seizure of part of Donetsk Oblast, Lukyanov began to cooperate with Russia.

The US will provide a loan for the purchase of 40 locomotives

An American bank will provide Ukraine with a $156 million loan to purchase 40 freight locomotives from Wabtec for Ukrzaliznytsia.

According to Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Yevhen Lyashchenko, the company already has successful experience with Wabtec locomotives, which were purchased in 2018.

Currently, Ukrzaliznytsia has 29 locomotives, which it uses daily.

State Department approves sale of equipment for HAWK

The US State Department has approved the possible sale of $138 million worth of equipment for the maintenance and modernization of HAWK air defense systems to Ukraine.

The department stated that the financing of the HAWK system "is in the best interests of the United States," and therefore rejected demands for a congressional review of the deal. The Pentagon has already provided Congress with the required notice of the possible sale.

Other news

• In March, Russian attacks in Ukraine killed 604 civilians, which is 20% more than in February, reports UN.
• Ukraine will receive a €756,000 grant to restore communications in the frontline areas.
• The EU court lifted sanctions against Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven.
• Lviv Berkut riot police commander will be tried for murder of Revolution of Dignity participants.
• The date of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland was announced.
• The Pentagon chief criticized Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries because of the impact on world markets, Bloomberg reports.