Banning the UOC-MP in Khmelnytskyi Oblast and new aid from the United States: highlights of today

Ban on the activities of the UOC-MP in Khmelnytskyi Oblast

Deputies of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council unanimously supported the ban on the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in the region.

The deputies also propose that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy designate the draft law “On Ensuring the Strengthening of National Security in the Field of Freedom of Conscience and Activities of Religious Organizations” as urgent so that it can be considered by the Verkhovna Rada out of turn.

In addition, local governments of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast were recommended to conduct an inventory of land plots used by the UOC-MP. In the future, the regional council proposes to terminate the right to use these plots for the UOC-MP.

New assistance from the United States

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced an additional $2.6 billion package of military aid for Ukraine.

Thus, $500 million worth of ammunition and equipment will be transferred from the Pentagon's existing stockpiles. These include:

• additional ammunition for the Patriot air defense system;
• additional ammunition for HIMARS;
• artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber;
• mortar shells of 120 mm caliber;
• tank ammunition of 120 mm and 105 mm caliber;
• ammunition of 25 mm caliber;
• anti-tank missiles (TOW);
• approximately 400 grenade launchers and 200 thousand rounds of ammunition;
• 11 tactical vehicles for lifting equipment;
• 61 fuel tankers;
• 10 trucks and 10 trailers for the transportation of heavy equipment.

This amount will also include maintenance of equipment, transfer of spare parts, and field equipment.

Another $2.1 billion is allocated from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Under this program, the United States purchases equipment from industry rather than withdrawing it from the stockpile. This means that Washington will now conclude contracts to supply this aid package to Ukraine.

The United States promises to provide, among other things, 3,600 small arms and more than 23 million rounds of ammunition, armored bridge systems, logistics vehicles, communications systems, etc. under USAI.

What did Russia plan after the occupation of Ukraine?

According to a report by the British Royal United Kingdom Institute for Defense Studies, аfter the occupation of Ukraine, Russia planned to divide Ukrainians into five groups, depending on their role in society.

In particular, people whom the Russians considered leaders of Ukrainian nationalism were to be singled out. They were to face physical destruction or imprisonment. Military and government officials were to be recruited or harassed.

However, the invaders did not plan that they would need the support of a large part of the people to control Ukraine. Based on their experience in Chechnya, they expected that 8% of the population would have to cooperate with them to control the territory.

Other news

• The deputy head of the Federation of Trade Unions was preparing to give a bribe to change the preventive measure in the case of illegal alienation of property worth over UAH 138 million.
• The High Council of Justice refused to suspend the judge of Kyiv Pecherskyi Court Tetiana Ilieva from administering justice. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau suspects her of illegally lifting the freeze on funds.
• The Ministry of Health will soon update the labeling of cigarette packages. This will complete the implementation of the European Commission's smoking directive.
• Finland officially became a member of NATO.
• Trump was arrested and will be charged in a court in New York.