Rumors about Reznikov's resignation and details of the plane crash in Donetsk region: highlights for August 31
Oleksii Reznikov may be dismissed as Ukraine's defense minister. The crews of the Mi—8 helicopters that crashed tried to avoid being targeted by a Russian fighter jet. The Dnipro police officer who shot and killed an aggressive driver on August 29 was placed under house arrest. We have collected the key news for August 31.
Rumors about Reznikov's resignation
Oleksii Reznikov may be dismissed from the post of Defense Minister shortly, as reported by MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak of the Voice party and several media outlets, citing sources.
The media outlets' interlocutors note that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered Reznikov the position of ambassador to the United Kingdom. And the current head of the State Property Fund, Rustem Umerov, may be appointed to replace Reznikov.
According to Zhelezniak, personnel changes in the ministry are scheduled for the first week of September.
Aircraft crash with Mi-8 helicopters
On August 29, six soldiers of the 18th Separate Army Aviation Brigade named after Igor Sikorsky died in a plane crash in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, while performing a combat mission.
It happened when they were trying to land two Mi-8 military helicopters to avoid being targeted by a Russian Su-35 fighter jet. What happened next is under investigation.
SBI investigators will examine the version of sabotage and the helicopters being hit by the occupiers. Specialists will conduct a thorough diagnosis of the flight data recorders.
House arrest for patrol policeman from Dnipro
In Dnipro, a court has imposed a preventive measure on patrol policeman Yehor Zvonkov, who shot and killed an aggressive driver on August 29. The law enforcement officer was placed under round-the-clock house arrest until October 30.
Several dozen police officers came to the Kirovskyi District Court of Dnipro to support their detained colleague.
The suspect did not admit his guilt, Suspilne Dnipro reported. He claimed that he used the weapon only after all possible means had been exhausted and to protect his life.
The patrol policeman was notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 115, Part 3 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The maximum sanction of these articles is up to 15 years in prison.
Separately, the police opened a criminal investigation into an attempt on the life of a patrol policeman. Presumably, the proceedings concern a woman who was also in the car.
Ukrainian weapon hits target 700 kilometers away
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has successfully used a long-range weapon of its own production, hitting a target 700 kilometers away.
He did not specify which target he was talking about. Presumably, he is referring to the destruction of Il-76 aircraft by drones at the airfield in Pskov. The distance from this Russian city to the Ukrainian border in a straight line is about 700 kilometers.
Earlier, a representative of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Andrii Yusov, confirmed the destruction of four heavy military transport aircraft, the Il-76, in Pskov. It is not clear how many other vessels were damaged.
Other important news
- The UK appointed a new Minister of Defense.
- British defense company BAE Systems will start producing weapons in Ukraine.
- Zelensky: Ukraine needs a total of 160 fighter jets to prevent Russia from dominating the air.
- Ukraine launched a joint mission with the Americans to provide prosthetics for the military and civilians.
- The next meeting of the Ramstein will take place on September 19.
- The World Bank has allocated $232 million to repair Ukrainians' war-damaged housing.
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