Attack on Deputy Head of State Tax Service and US authorization to provide F-16s to Ukraine: August 18 highlights

The deputy head of the tax service faces an assassination attempt

On August 17, two men attempted to assassinate the acting deputy head of the State Tax Service, Yevhen Sokur, in central Kyiv.

According to MP Danylo Hetmantsev, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Tax Committee, the order was given by "schemers" who had lost their "business" and "crossed the line."

The police managed to prevent the attack when the suspects with bats were already heading towards Sokur.

The attackers were previously convicted citizens aged 27 and 31. They were detained, and investigators are finding out who ordered the attack.

US approves the transfer of F-16s 

The foreign ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands have officially confirmed the United States permission to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

But it has not yet been decided when the planes will be delivered. This issue is being discussed with the allies, said Danish Defense Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

In addition, according to CNN, Ukrainian pilots will begin training on F-16s in Denmark at the end of August.

Fee exemption for anti-drone guns and thermal imagers

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed draft laws No. 9467 and No. 9468 to simplify the import of necessary equipment for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

These decisions exempt anti-drone guns, thermal imaging monoculars equipped with an infrared detector with a built-in camera function, and binoculars with a rangefinder function from VAT and customs fees.

Illegal enrichment in Zaporizhzhia City Council

The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption has revealed signs of illicit enrichment of Anatolii Kurtiev, acting mayor and secretary of Zaporizhzhia City Council.

In August 2022, about UAH 9 million was found in the official's apartment.

Kurtiev's assistant claimed that the money belonged to him and his parents. However, the NACP found out that they could not have received such funds legally.

For his part, the interim mayor called the news about the illicit enrichment "paid-for materials". He suggested that there were "people interested in misleading the controlling authorities" who were spreading false information.

The NACP forwarded its opinion to the NABU.

Explosion at a meeting of the occupation "police" of Enerhodar

On August 18, an explosion occurred in the temporarily occupied city of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region, during a meeting of the heads of the occupation "city police".

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the incident resulted in numerous injuries to the head of the "city department" Pavel Chesanov, his "deputy" for operational work, and the so-called heads of several units.

They were immediately taken to a local hospital, and then ambulances were called. The occupiers are to be evacuated by military helicopters to the territory of the Russian Federation.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, a fire broke out in the "police" building. Occupation personnel also live there.

The intelligence noted that the area was blocked, and civilians were "significantly restricted" from moving around the city.

Other important news

• Biden is ready to meet with Kim Jong-un "without preconditions", the White House reported.
• The GUR calls on Ukrainians in the occupied territories to provide data on pseudo-elections and collaborators.
• A bill to decriminalize porn is registered in the Verkhovna Rada.
• Former MP Kiva is notified of another suspicion.
• Turkey will build a second corvette for Ukraine.
• The ex-judge Tandyr, who ran over a National Guard officer, was left in custody until September 9.
• Ministry of Culture: Military memorial cemetery in Bykivnia cannot be built in a short time.
• Occupiers shelled a village near Kherson: an elderly man was killed.