New ambassador to Moldova, and consideration of amendments to the law on mobilization: highlights of March 29

Danilov was appointed ambassador to Moldova

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved the appointment of former NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov as the new ambassador to Moldova.

Before that, the head of state dismissed Mark Shevchenko from the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Moldova. The reasons for this decision were not reported.

In addition, Zelenskyy dismissed the deputy heads of the Presidential Office, Andrii Smirnov and Oleksii Dniprov.

Ukraine returns 121 bodies of fallen defenders

Ukraine has returned 121 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers as a result of repatriation activities.

It was possible to repatriate 12 bodies of defenders who fought in the Luhansk sector, 107 fallen soldiers from the Donetsk sector, and two defenders from the Zaporizhzhia sector.

Demand for mobilization “significantly reduced”

The Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has “significantly reduced” the number of people to be mobilized after reviewing internal resources and clarifying the combat composition, said Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

At the same time, he called for “refraining from extremes” because the personnel who do not take part in combat operations but provide support to combat units perform “a no less important part of the work”. We are talking about the system of supplying troops with food and ammunition, repair units, medical facilities, etc.

At the same time, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence has completed its consideration of amendments to the new draft law on mobilization. The second reading in the parliament is ahead.

Ukraine's population may decline significantly

The Ministry of Social Policy predicts that Ukraine's population could drop to 28.9 million by 2041 and 25.2 million by 2051.

Read about the main challenges and threats to Ukraine's demographic development here.

Zelenskyy ordered to study the work of online casinos

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to a petition calling for gambling restrictions that has collected the required 25,000 votes. He instructed the relevant authorities to collect data on how widespread it is and how it affects a part of society.

The author of the petition emphasizes that military personnel, who have been at the front for three years in stressful conditions, are particularly psychologically vulnerable. Therefore, for many of them, gambling becomes the only way to cope with stress and, as a result, quickly causes dopamine addiction and weakens self-control.

Petition to preserve World War II monuments

The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II, located around the Motherland in Kyiv, recently announced the dismantling of “all monuments and elements of Soviet propaganda” on its territory.

However, a petition calling for the monumental compositions to be preserved has appeared on the government's website. The signatories say that dismantling will violate the integrity of the memorial complex and devalue the sacrifices of the 10 million Ukrainians who died in World War II.

Meanwhile, the Institute of National Remembrance is calling for the demolition of the renamed Arch of Friendship of Peoples.

Other important news of the day

• Belgium will donate €100 million for F-16 maintenance for Ukraine.
• On the night of March 29, Russian troops deliberately targeted the Kaniv and Dniester hydroelectric power plants, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
• Wreckage of a suspected drone was found in Romania near the border with Ukraine.
• Dealers who supplied granite to Russia for monuments to Russians killed in the war were detained in the Zhytomyr region, the SBU reported.
• Russians mistakenly shot down their Su-27 over occupied Sevastopol.