New security agreements, fines for corruption suspects, and a strike on a Russian base in Crimea: July 18 highlights
Ukraine signed security agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovenia. In temporarily occupied Crimea, Ukrainian drones hit a Russian coast guard base. In the first reading, the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill that would allow suspects of corruption crimes to plea bargain with the investigation, a commitment of Ukraine to its partners in the EU. We have collected the main news for July 18.
Strike on Russian base in Crimea
The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the Navy, attacked the Russian coast guard base on Lake Donuzlav in temporarily occupied Crimea with air and sea drones, informed sources told hromadske.
As a result, several Russian facilities were damaged, including the headquarters with a command center, an ammunition and equipment depot, and firing positions.
Security agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovenia
Ukraine has signed a security guarantee agreement with two more European countries. These are the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Czech Republic has provided Ukraine with military assistance worth about 400 million euros. Prague pledged to maintain the same dynamics over the 10 years of the document's validity.
Slovenia has also pledged to maintain the level of support throughout the 10-year term of the agreement. It also announced that it would allocate an additional 5 million euros for humanitarian aid.
Orbán publishes report of his “peacekeeping mission”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has released a report he sent to European Council President Charles Michel following talks in Russia, the United States and China.
Orban claims that Ukraine and Russia intend to get deeper into the conflict, and neither side wants to take initiatives for a ceasefire or peace talks. Orbán believes that the European Union, the United States, and China are the global players that can influence the development of events. He also advised to take Turkey into account.
Ukrainian Armed Forces confirm withdrawal from Urozhaine
Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the village of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region. Russians destroyed almost the entire village.
Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesperson for the Khortytsia military unit, told hromadske that the command decided to withdraw to other positions to save the lives of the soldiers.
Fines for corruption suspects
The Ukrainian parliament passed a draft law in the first reading that would allow officials suspected of corruption to make a deal with the investigation and pay a fine for the offense.
According to the draft law, in case of a particularly serious crime, the fine will be between UAH 102 million and UAH 204 million.
The head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, David Arakhamia, explained that the bill is needed as part of the Ukraine Facility Plan, a €50 billion multi-year financial assistance program for Ukraine from the EU.
Taxes may increase
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the state budget for 2024, which will increase defense spending by UAH 495.3 billion. Most of the funds to cover the additional expenditures are planned to come from an increase in state budget revenues by over UAH 214 billion. The draft law is to be considered by the Parliament soon.
How many more people can be reserved
In Ukraine, a total of about 1.2 million people can be reserved, with most of this number already reserved.
In addition, the Ministry of Economy has recognized more than 700 enterprises, institutions and organizations as critical. The total number of companies is still being calculated.
Parliament approves fuel excise tax increase
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has voted in favor of a draft law to increase the excise tax on fuel. The explanatory note states that the purpose of the draft law is to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with the norms of the European Union.
Chervinskyi is placed under house arrest
Former intelligence officer Roman Chervinsky was placed under house arrest as a measure of restraint in the bribery case. The day before, he was released on bail in the amount of UAH 9 million in the case of the shelling of the Kanatove airfield.
According to the investigation, in July 2020, Chervinskyi impersonated an influential official of the Fiscal Service in order to seize the entrepreneur's funds in the amount of $100,000 together with his accomplices.
Election of the President of the European Commission
The European Parliament voted in favor of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission for the next 5 years.
She promised to create a European Defense Union if she is re-elected to this position.
State Border Guard Service: No border breakthrough in Sumy region
The State Border Guard Service has denied the information that Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups had breached the border in Sumy region, as claimed by the Russians.
They note that there is still some enemy activity on the border, but it is much less than before.
Other important news
- Villages near the border with Russia, Belarus and the frontline will not be cut off from electricity.
- The third group of children from Okhmatdyt was sent abroad for treatment.
- The Ministry of Education and Science has developed a draft resolution that will determine the start and end dates of the 2024/2025 school year.
- Russians demolish a monument in honor of the Holodomor victims in occupied Luhansk.
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