Military aid from the USA, Russian pressure on ZNPP workers: today's highlights

Biden allocates another $275 million for military assistance to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum on the allocation of $275 million for military assistance to Ukraine: defense items, services of the US Department of Defense, military exercises, and training for Ukrainian defenders. This is stated in the message of the White House.

According to Reuters, this aid package includes new equipment to counter enemy drones and strengthen air defense. The Pentagon is also expected to include missiles for the HIMARS systems, 155-mm ammunition, Humvee military vehicles, and generators in this aid package.

Ukrainian government will procure medicines for children suffering from SMA for the first time

The Cabinet of Ministers supported the proposal of the Ministry of Health to purchase medicines for children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) for the first time. This is stated on the website of the Ministry of Health.

On December 9, the government decided to procure 9 types of drugs under managed access agreements. Among them is Risdiplam (Evrysdi), the drug against SMA. Children will be able to receive it free of charge.

The Ministry of Health explains that Risdiplam is the only drug against spinal muscular atrophy that can be taken at home because it must be taken orally. It will be purchased from Roche.

The Verkhovna Rada Committee supported the bill on banning the Russian Orthodox Church and its subordinate structures

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy supported three bills concerning the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine. This was reported by MP Mykola Kniazhytskyi.

In particular, the committee supported bill No. 8221. It proposes to ban on the territory of Ukraine the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, religious organizations that are part of the structure of the Russian Orthodox Church directly or as components of another religious organization, as well as religious centers that are part of or have subordination in canonical, organizational or other matters to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Russians beat two ZNPP workers

Russian military intensified repressions against Zaporizhzhia NPP employees. This is reported by Energoatom.

Russians broke into the premises of the ZNPP Social Programs Department on December 8. In the presence of other employees, they severely beat the head of the department Oleksii Trubenkov and his deputy Yurii Androsov. After the beating, the men were taken away in an unknown direction.

The occupiers also detained and “threw into the basement” the supervisor of the ZNPP shift Kostiantyn Beiner. He is a licensed person and is directly responsible for nuclear and radiation safety.

According to Energoatom, in this way, the Russians are trying to achieve loyalty from employees and increase the number of transfers to the illegal organization run by Rosatom.

Rector of Pochayiv Seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate spread anti-Ukrainian theses

Law enforcement officers served a notice of suspicion to the rector of the Pochayiv Theological Seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate for anti-Ukrainian activities. This is reported by the Security Service.

According to the investigation, the Archbishop distributed messages through social networks that humiliated the national honor and dignity of Ukrainians, as well as contributed to inciting religious hatred and enmity.

He published content with narratives of Russian propagandists through an anonymous Facebook profile. And during searches at the rector's place of residence and in the seminary, literature was found that repeated the Kremlin's theses on the internal situation in Ukraine.