Extension of martial law and dismissal of heads of all regional military enlistment offices: August 17 highlights

Extension of martial law

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed laws extending martial law and general mobilization for 90 days, until November 15, 2023.

This is the eighth extension since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. MPs have already made such decisions five times in 2022 (February 24, March 15, April 21, August 15, and November 16), and twice in 2023 (February 7 and May 2).

Dismissal of heads of all regional military enlistment offices

Zelenskyy also signed a decree with recommendations from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, to dismiss the heads of all regional military enlistment offices. The NSDC recommended that Zaluzhnyi decides on the heads of regional military enlistment offices, "stopping the practice of their rotation".

Earlier, the Land Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine explained to us in a comment that the "dismissal" of the heads of regional military enlistment offices in practice means that they are placed at their disposal, i.e. they are expected to serve in other units, in particular in combat brigades.

The Prosecutor General's Office, the NAPC, and the SBI were given a month to take additional measures to combat corruption and other offenses in military enlistment offices.

Stefanishyna's reaction to the grain case with Poland

Ukraine will not allow anyone to win elections, speculate politically, or obtain additional financial instruments at the expense of Ukrainian farmers. This is how Olha Stefanishyna, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, reacted to the tensions between Ukraine and Poland over the issue of Ukrainian food.

Stefanishyna said that the case with Poland has become "a certain lesson" for Ukraine.

"First, we realized that we have to move away from some space economic theories and realize that we have to find our place in the big market [EU]. And this will not be an easy process. Second, there should be the same rules for everyone. And we will definitely not allow anyone to win elections, speculate politically, or receive additional financial instruments at the expense of Ukraine," she said.

Downing Russian "Alligators"

The first downed helicopter was reported by the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk.

Ukrainian servicemen from the Air Defense Missile Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down an enemy helicopter in the Bakhmut sector.

The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade said that at about 07:40 am the fighters managed to destroy an enemy "Alligator" near Robotyno in Zaporizhzhia region.

"A firing group of an anti-aircraft missile and artillery division spotted an enemy Alligator. They made one launch from the man-portable air defense system — the target was destroyed. This is the eighth Ka-52 permanently grounded by our fighters. The cost of one of these is $16 million," they said.

Other important news

• The HCJ found no interference in the activities of Judge Arestova, in whose possession the journalists found a Russian passport.
• MP Dubinskyi stated that he was walking around without his assigned electronic bracelet.
• Two policemen were killed in the shelling of Orikhiv on August 12.
• A policeman ran over an 81-year-old woman twice and left her to die on a bench, SBI reports.
• Occupiers shelled Zaoskillia in Kharkiv region: a woman was killed.
• Strike announcements appear in occupied Mariupol on the day when Russia wants to hold "elections".