New draft law on mobilization, possible arrival of long-range GLSDB bombs: highlights for January 30

New draft law on mobilization

The Cabinet of Ministers has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada an updated draft law on military service, mobilization, and military registration. In particular, it defines the terms of service for the period of martial law, and proposes categories that will receive a deferral or exemption from service.

For example, if a serviceman has served continuously for 36 months. The draft law also provides for a change in the conscription age from 27 to 25 years.

A person will not need to go to the military registration and enlistment office to update their data. This can be done online in a personal account or at an administrative service center.

After mobilization, all citizens will undergo mandatory military training for 2-3 months. The government stresses that a person cannot be sent immediately to the front after mobilization.

It is assumed that the financial support will be at least 20,000 hryvnias ($529) per month, excluding additional remuneration, which for the period of martial law ranges from 30,000 to 100,000 hryvnias ($793–2,644).

Law on the e-Registry of Persons Liable for Military Service 

Back on January 16, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law creating an electronic register of persons liable for military service, which should unlock digitalization. However, two weeks later, the text of the law has not even been submitted to the parliament speaker for signature.

IL-76 crash: Russia silent on transferring bodies

A representative of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Yusov, said that the Russians have not declared theoblastir readiness to hand over to Ukraine the bodies of prisoners who were allegedly on board the Russian IL-76 that crashed in Belgorod region of Russia on January 24.

He emphasized that the fact that there were Ukrainian prisoners is a statement made by Russia itself. According to him, there is a possibility that the plane was carrying both ammunition and prisoners who were used as human shields.

"If the worst is confirmed, we will do everything possible to take our defenders with a shield or on a shield," Yusov said.

Ukraine's national debt has grown

In 2023, Ukraine's total public debt increased to $145.32 billion, or 5.5 trillion hryvnias.

The biggest impact on the debt growth in 2023 was the receipt of macro-financial assistance (soft loans) from the EU. This accounted for 55% of the total increase in public debt in hryvnia terms and 61% in foreign currency terms.

Working group for NATO membership

The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (2009-2014) launched the International Working Group on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

The working group, in addition to Yermak and Rasmussen, includes 16 other representatives – former and current high-ranking officials and politicians. In particular, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Corruption Perceptions Index 2023

Ukraine received 36 out of 100 points in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2023, adding three points. This ranks Ukraine 104th in the world. These data were published by Transparency International Ukraine.

The increase of three points is one of the best indicators in the world over the past year. Also, Ukraine became one of 17 countries in this year's CPI ranking that demonstrated its best-ever performance.

The world leaders and outsiders of the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2023 have remained almost unchanged. Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, and Norway lead the ranking. Somalia, Syria, and South Sudan remained outsiders. This year, they were joined by Venezuela.

GLSDB bombs for Ukraine

Politico writes that Ukraine may receive the first batch of GLSDB precision-guided ground bombs as early as January 31.

These bombs, which are being developed by the American corporation Boeing in cooperation with the Swedish company SAAB, have a range of approximately 150 kilometers.

Cadet defrauds another of $21,154

A cadet of a law enforcement university in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast swindled another girl out of more than 800,000 hryvnias ($21,154) by pretending to be a soldier fighting near Bakhmut.

The suspect wrote to the girl on behalf of a soldier that "had come under enemy fire and was seriously injured". She started asking for money for the so-called treatment. The victim borrowed more than 800,000 hryvnias from her friends and relatives and sent it all to the account of the "serviceman".

Other news

• The Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down a Russian SU-34 aircraft in Luhansk Oblast and hit an enemy radar station in Crimea.
• Ukrainian banks plan to reduce interest rates on household deposits.
• A plane from China arrived in Belarus four times – likely with military cargo.
• A city council official in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast was fired after making sexist statements. He called a councilmember a "witch."
• The first heart surgery using the Da Vinci robot was performed in Ukraine.