Official confirmation of fighting in Kursk region and bribery of the Deputy Minister of Energy: highlights for August 12

Zelenskyy confirms operation in Kursk region for the first time

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the operation in the Kursk region of Russia. Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that they had already managed to take control of 1,000 square kilometers of territory there.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Defense Ministry to push Ukrainian fighters out of the territory of Russia.

Bribery of the Deputy Minister of Energy

Law enforcers have exposed the Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine and three of his accomplices on bribery of half a million dollars. It was Oleksandr Kheil, and he has already been dismissed.

The High Anti-Corruption Court has remanded Kheil in custody until October 8 with the right to post UAH 25 million bail.

COVID-19 incidence increases

The incidence of coronavirus has increased sixfold in Ukraine over the past month. While in June there were 2,000 cases, in July there were almost 12,000. In total, 10 sub-variants of Omicron are circulating in Ukraine. Five people were diagnosed with the new FLiRT subtype.

The Ministry of Health has issued updated recommendations for vaccinating the population against COVID-19.

Ukraine is working on authorizing the use of long-range weapons

The Ministry of Defense and diplomats are to present a list of necessary actions by Ukraine that would lead to permission to use long-range weapons from partners to protect Ukrainian territory.

Colonel Zelenskyi's lifestyle is being checked after Slidstvo.info investigation

The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption has begun monitoring the lifestyle of Security Service of Ukraine Colonel Oleksii Zelenskyi following an investigation by Slidstvo.info into the property of the official's relatives.

Earlier, journalists found out that his family had purchased houses in Koncha Zaspa and a car fleet worth $440,000. The SBU assured that the financial, economic and business activities of Zelenskyi's relatives were official and legal.

SBU warns of psychological operations in Kursk region

The Security Service of Ukraine has recorded attempts by Russian special services to use the situation in the Kursk region to falsely accuse the Defense Forces of committing war crimes.

According to the SBU, in the near future, Russian special services may resort to staging crimes, in particular against the civilian population of the region.

Battles in Kursk region, F-16 pilots, lithium and weapons — what did the US senators talk about in Kyiv?

On August 12, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (Republican Party) and Richard Blumenthal (Democratic Party) paid an official visit to Kyiv.

Both supported Ukraine's military operation in the Kursk region of Russia. Graham also emphasized the importance of allowing Kyiv to have long-range weapons and an invitation to join NATO. He also spoke about lithium mining in Ukraine.

The Republican also believes that retired F-16 fighter pilots could help train Ukrainian aviators.

Other important news

• President: We will end the war in the way Ukraine and its people need.
• The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine plans to launch online recruitment.
• China reacts to the operation in Kursk region: calls on the parties to “adhere to de-escalation”.
• Ornithologist photographer Oleksii Sapuha died at the front.
• A Ukrainian refugee died of injuries in Germany.
• “Russia continues to torture Ukrainian citizens”: Lubinets talks about political prisoners who are not provided with medical care.