Kyiv theater director resigns amid harassment claims, EU approves new Russia sanctions: May 14 highlights
Andriy Bilous, accused of harassment, stepped down as director and artistic head of Kyiv’s Molodyy Theater. The Council of Europe began creating a special tribunal for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. EU ambassadors approved a new sanctions package against Russia. Here’s a roundup of the top news for May 14.
Bilous steps down
Andriy Bilous, previously accused of harassment, resigned as director and artistic head of Kyiv’s Molodyy Theater, stating the decision was voluntary.
Bilous said he stepped down “solely to reduce internal tensions in the team and prevent further escalation of the conflict,” while denying any wrongdoing. His resignation follows public outcry over allegations, though he maintains he committed no offenses.
Gladkovsky's lawyer denied that his client was detained in Spain
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced the detention of a former official, with sources indicating it was Oleg Gladkovsky, ex-first deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
However, Gladkovsky’s lawyer, Ruslan Volynets, denied the detention, stating his client was not arrested in Spain.
EU ambassadors agree on new sanctions against Russia
EU ambassadors agreed on a new sanctions package against Russia, targeting its “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, as confirmed by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The measures also address Russia’s human rights violations, global hybrid interference, and chemical weapons proliferation.
The sanctions, expected to be formalized soon, aim to curb Moscow’s ability to evade existing restrictions, particularly in energy exports.
The Council of Europe has begun the creation of a special tribunal to probe Russia’s crime of aggression
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers launched the process to establish a special tribunal to investigate Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine.
The ministers emphasized strengthening support for Ukraine, including through the 2023-2026 Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction Action Plan, which aids Kyiv’s EU membership path. The tribunal, endorsed by 40 states in Lviv on May 9, seeks to hold Russia’s leadership accountable.
Verkhovna Rada supports awarding Viktoria Roshchyna the title of Hero of Ukraine
Ukraine’s parliament voted 246-0 to urge President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to award the Hero of Ukraine title to journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, killed in Russian captivity. The resolution honors her courage and investigative work exposing Russian war crimes.
The number of patients with hepatitis A rises in Kyiv
As of May 14 morning, Kyiv hospitalized 34 people, including 19 children, due to a hepatitis A outbreak, with a total of 48 cases (26 children). The Kyiv City Center for Disease Control and Prevention vaccinated 210 people—192 children and 18 adults.
Initial water samples from schools, shelters, and public fountains showed no contamination, and the source of the outbreak remains under investigation.
Other news
- The Ukrainian government approved roadmaps to open the first EU accession negotiation cluster.
- Germany and Switzerland detained three Ukrainians suspected of planning Russia-ordered sabotage.
- U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Türkiye on Friday for Russia-Ukraine talks.
- A drunken man from Khmelnytskyi Oblast was identified as the shooter in a Kyiv hotel incident.
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