Martial law extension and new suspicion of Kolomoisky: highlights for May 8
The Parliament once again extended martial law and mobilization; Russia's massive attack limited energy supplies to business and industry; Ihor Kolomoisky was suspected of organizing a contract killing. We have collected the main news for May 8, 2024.
Night attack on Ukraine
On the night of May 8, the Russians fired more than 50 missiles and 20 “Shaheds” at energy infrastructure in the Lviv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. This is the fifth massive attack on energy facilities since the end of March.
Ukrenergo reported damage to its generation facilities. In particular, Russian troops attacked three DTEK thermal power plants. Two people were injured in the Kyiv region. In the Kirovohrad region, a critical infrastructure facility was damaged: an 8-year-old child was injured.
Power engineers warned that the massive attack could lead to blackouts across Ukraine on the evening of May 8. So far, however, the restrictions have affected only business and industry.
New suspicion for Kolomoisky
Businessman Ihor Kolomoisky has received a new suspicion: he is accused of organizing a contract killing. According to the investigation, back in 2003, Kolomoisky ordered the murder of the director of a law firm to take revenge for his refusal to cooperate in an illegal deal.
Kolomoisky faces up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment for attempted premeditated murder, which was ordered by a group of people in prior conspiracy. Currently, 23 searches are being conducted in four regions as part of this proceeding to collect additional evidence.
Extension of martial law and mobilization
The Verkhovna Rada supported bills to extend martial law and general mobilization for 90 days, i.e. until August 11.
This was the 11th extension of martial law and mobilization since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Benefits from frozen assets of the Russian Federation
The ambassadors of the European Union have agreed on measures in principle to use the excess profits from frozen Russian assets. In particular, the funds will be used to arm Ukraine.
According to Euractiv, the EU will be able to use excess profits from immobilized Russian assets in the amount of up to 3 billion euros per year, mainly to finance joint purchases of weapons for Ukraine.
Prisoners were allowed to mobilize to the Armed Forces
In the second reading, the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill that allows certain categories of prisoners to be mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It is noted that people convicted of premeditated murder, rape, sexual violence, and crimes against national security will not be mobilized. Also, corrupt officials will not be allowed to replace their punishment with the opportunity to serve.
The vicissitudes of mobilization
The Supreme Court has ruled that the right of Ukrainian citizens to practice their religion may be restricted in terms of military service, i.e. during mobilization.
Meanwhile, the Verkhovna Rada Committee is considering two models of economic exemption from mobilization. One of them will be based on the minimum wage, and the other on quotas from the industry in which the person works.
Exposing the "grain baron"
Investigative journalists from hromadske told how the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, managed to take almost all of Ukraine's agricultural exports under his personal control.
Thus, in August 2023, the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, issued an order to strengthen customs control in the region, introducing special rules for the export of agricultural products from the Odesa region. In essence, separate customs rules were introduced in the region - not the same as in the rest of Ukraine.
At the same time, in 2022 and 2023, Oleh Kiper's wife became the owner of two apartments in Kyiv and four properties in Bukovel.
Read more in our investigation “Grain Baron: How One Official Took Control of 85% of Ukraine's Agricultural Exports”.
Other important news
- Journalists were allowed back into the Verkhovna Rada.
- Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Lina Kostenko were granted the title of honorary citizen of Kyiv.
- In Kyiv, Pravdy Avenue is renamed in honor of the European Union.
- Hungary opposes the creation of a €100 billion NATO fund for Ukraine because it is a “crazy mission”.
- Death of a man in a territorial recruitment center in the Dnipropetrovsk region: prosecutors open a case of abuse of power.
- The murder of a young man in a funicular in Kyiv: a suspected State Protection Department officer faces life in prison.
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