MP Dmytruk's escape across border, call to Belarus to withdraw troops: August 25 highlights

MP Dmytruk was indicted

On August 25, the Prosecutor General pressed charges against MP Artem Dmytruk, known for his support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, of the suspicion over an attack on a law enforcement officer and a serviceman and an attempt to steal a weapon.

The lawmaker himself called the case an "absolutely falsified and fabricated story." According to him, no one indicted him.

Before that, Ukrainska Pravda, citing its own sources, wrote that Dmytruk left for Moldova on August 24. Later, the law enforcement officers confirmed that they had started criminal proceedings due to Dmytruk's departure abroad.

Against this background, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a meeting with the participation of the heads of law enforcement agencies to discuss people who "work against the state" but decided to hide abroad.

Ukraine called on Belarus to withdraw its troops

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on Belarus to withdraw its troops from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border to a distance that exceeds the range of fire systems available in Minsk.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that in the event of a violation of the border, all troop concentrations, military facilities and supply routes on the territory of Belarus will become legal targets for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The second Peace Summit can be held in India, but there is a condition

President Volodymyr Zelenskyн said that he had offered the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to hold the second Global Peace Summit in India. However, for this, the country must join the communique of the first meeting held in Switzerland.

The head of state also emphasized that the "Ukrainian approach" is closer to peace than "any other proposals". Zelenskyy also noted that the offensive of Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk Oblast is part of a large military-diplomatic operation.

Russian troops are blocked at the aggregate plant in Vovchansk

The Defense Forces have been blocking Russian troops at the aggregate plant in Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast for several months. At first, there were about 40 Russian soldiers there. For logistics, the Russians continue to use mostly drones.

Russia hit a hotel in Kramatorsk

Overnight on August 24, Russian troops fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile at a hotel in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast. The injured journalists are citizens of Ukraine, the United States and Britain. One journalist of the British news agency Reuters died. His body was found under the rubble.

A Lviv Oblast Military Administration refused to stand up during the national anthem

In Lviv, a woman did not stand up during the performance of the national anthem in the park, when an action in support of Ukrainian prisoners and those who went missing took place there.

The Lviv Oblast Military Administration said that it was their employee who had already been fired.

Ukrainian lawmaker calls for the regulation of Telegram

The head of the Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Speech, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, believes that Ukraine should introduce stricter regulation of Telegram messenger before other countries do.

On the evening of August 24, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was detained at the Paris airport. According to investigators, Telegram's lack of moderation and cooperation with law enforcement makes it complicit in drug trafficking, crimes against children, and fraud.

Other news

• People gathered in the center of Kyiv and called for the release of Azov fighters.
• Zelenskyy revealed some details about the Palyanytsia drone missile, the development of which lasted one and a half years.
• Despite the ban, thousands of Moscow Patriarchate pilgrims arrived at the Pochayiv Lavra monastery "for God's blessing for Ukraine."
• Foreign journalists estimated that at least 247 Russian soldiers were captured in Kursk Oblast.