Reduction of Knyazev's bail, new aid from US: highlights of the day

Reduction of bail for Knyazev

The Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court has changed the measure of restraint imposed on former Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Knyazev. The bail was reduced from UAH 107.36 million ($2.9 million) to UAH 75 million ($2 million). At the same time, the court refused to release Knyazev from custody until July 14.

New aid from United States

The United States has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes, among other things, Avenger air defense systems, Stinger systems, as well as additional ammunition for Patriot air defense systems, HIMARS systems, and artillery. According to the Voice of America, the package will also include Zuni unguided air defense rockets and AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided air-to-air missiles.

In addition, the state budget of Ukraine received $1.25 billion in grants from the United States through the World Bank's Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The money will be used for wages and social assistance.

Zelenskyy visits Odesa Oblast

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a working visit to Odesa Oblast, where he introduced the new head of the Odesa Oblast State Administration, Oleh Kiper, who previously headed the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office. Zelenskyy signed the decree on his appointment today.

Under Yanukovych, he was deputy head of the Main Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office. In October 2014, he was lustrated and put on the list of people banned from working in government until 2024. However, in 2019, the District Administrative Court of Kyiv returned Kiper to his position, calling the lustration groundless.

Latvian parliament elects new president

The Latvian Saeima elected a new president on May 31. Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, who was nominated by New Unity, the political party of Prime Minister Krisjānis Karinš, will take over at the helm of the Baltic state on July 8.

Edgars Rinkēvičs has been heading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia since 2011. In this position, he has actively supported Ukraine, in particular with regard to restrictions on Russia.

Rinkēvičs will also be one of the first world leaders to openly declare his non-heterosexuality. In 2014, he announced that he was gay.

Other news

• Four bloggers who filmed air defense in Kyiv face up to eight years in prison.
• Russian Federation announces massive shelling of Belgorod Oblast: there are victims, evacuation of children from two districts has begun.
• Ukraine has confirmation of Belarus' involvement in the deportation of Ukrainian children, Ombudsman Lubinets says.
• Kyiv City Council member Trubitsyn, who was caught taking a bribe, went abroad thanks to a letter from spy chief Budanov, investigative journalists found.
• The Ministry of Digital Transformation and Nokia are working to ensure stable communication and internet in frontline cities of Ukraine.
• In the Kyiv subway, a passenger was hit by a train and killed. Train traffic was restricted.
• Germany recognized that Ukraine has the right to strike at Russian territory. But it asks to do so with non-German weapons.