Roman Hrynkevych in custody, bill on multiple citizenship, and Tusk's visit: highlights for January 22

Roman Hrynkevych remanded in custody

On January 22, the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv remanded the son of the defendant businessman Ihor Hrynkevych, Roman, into custody. Both Hrynkevychs (and three other defendants) are suspected of supplying the Ukrainian army with low-quality clothing worth UAH 1 billion ($26.7 million).

In the morning, Hrynkevych was detained in Odesa, and in the evening the court ruled that he would be held in custody until March 17 with an alternative of bail in the amount of UAH 500 million ($13.4 million).

At the same time, the defense claimed that the suspicion was not substantiated. The lawyer argued that the accusation was groundless and far-fetched. Therefore, tomorrow, on January 23, the defense plans to file an appeal.

The visit of the Polish Prime Minister

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrived in Ukraine. This was his first official trip to Ukraine since taking office on December 12, 2023.

Tusk's office said that his visit to Ukraine was aimed at discussing bilateral issues. They also said that "certain conflicts of interest" would be discussed "in a spirit of friendship" and with the intention of resolving them as soon as possible.

During the visit, it became known that Poland announced a new defense package for the Ukrainian army and joined the G7 declaration of support for Ukraine.

In particular, Tusk met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal. Together with the latter, they discussed the possibility of creating an additional four checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border.

Zelenskyy comments on outrage over detention of businessman Mazepa

The NGO Manifesto 42 has announced a move to "more radical" forms of protest against the "arbitrariness of rear security forces against businesses" amid the detention of businessman Ihor Mazepa. If the government does not start fulfilling its demands by February 1, they promised to shut down companies for one hour.

Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that government officials had met with representatives of Ukrainian businesses. The head of state listened to the details and asked to make "the necessary developments" so that all difficulties between government officials, business, and law enforcement could be eliminated.

Bill on multiple citizenship

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted a draft law on multiple citizenship to the Verkhovna Rada.

According to him, this will help everyone who was forced to leave their homeland during various waves of emigration, as well as foreign volunteers who stood up to defend Ukraine, to acquire citizenship.

National Guard soldier suspected of killing four people

The State Bureau of Investigation has detained a National Guard serviceman in Donetsk Oblast who, according to investigators, shot dead two police officers and two women in the town of Lyman.

The SBI says law enforcement officers detained the soldier on suspicion of premeditated murder.

Investigators opened criminal proceedings under paragraph 1 of Part 2 of Article 115 and Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The investigation is currently taking a range of measures to establish the objective circumstances of the incident. The National Guard officer may face life imprisonment.

Other news

• Ihor Kolomoisky will remain in custody and his bail was reduced once again.
• Government allocated additional UAH 657 million ($17.6 million) for urgent needs of combat brigades.
• Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced Belgium's plans to provide €611 million in military aid to Ukraine this year.
• Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that 17 sick children from Donetsk Oblast taken to Russia for 'rehabilitation'.