Soldiers abused in 211th Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces, Scholz faces vote of no confidence: highlights for December 16

Abuse of soldiers in the 211th Brigade

Journalists of Ukrainska Pravda found that the leadership of the 211th Pontoon and Bridge Brigade of the Armed Forces Support Forces abused soldiers, extorting money from them, beating them, and threatening to throw them “into meat assaults”. One of the soldiers said that he was tied to a wooden cross and physically abused.

As noted, Vladyslav Pastukh, the son of Chief of Staff Valerii Pastukh and godson of Brigadier Oleh Poberezhniuk, then a senior lieutenant, was behind the abuse.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, ordered a commission of the Military Inspectorate to be sent to the 211th Brigade. During the inspection, the commander of the military unit was suspended from his official duties.

Lavra comments on filming of program with Klopotenko

The chief director of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, Maksym Ostapenko, assured that the filming of an episode of the Real History program with chef Yevhen Klopotenko, which took place in the refectory hall of the monastery and caused criticism, was not prohibited by law.

In addition, he pointed to the use of the Lavra in pro-Russian propaganda “to incite disputes and divisions among Ukrainians” and called for beware of provocations.

Meanwhile, representatives of the UOC-MP sent a notice of a criminal offense for filming the show in the Refectory Church, as they believe that the filming incited religious hatred.

Vote of no confidence in Scholz

A vote of no confidence in the government of Olaf Scholz was announced in the Bundestag, but he will remain interim leader until a new government is formed. Now President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has to dissolve the parliament within 21 days.

After the dissolution of the parliament, elections are to be held within 60 days. Preliminary, they have been agreed to be held on February 23.

“Kvartal 95” showed a map of Ukraine without Crimea

The Kvartal 95 studio posted on its Instagram page an advertisement for a New Year's Eve concert, showing a map of Ukraine without the temporarily occupied Crimea.

Later, the studio published a new video in which Crimea was already visible, and wrote that “the betrayal is canceled” because the previous footage allegedly lacked contrast.

Suspect in Dnipro terrorist attack taken into custody

A man suspected of a bombing near an administrative building in the central district of Dnipro was sent to custody for 2 months without bail.

Law enforcement officials consider his actions to be a terrorist attack, for which he faces 10 to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment, with or without confiscation of property.

Trump speaks of progress in ending the war

US President-elect Donald Trump claims that there has already been “a little progress” in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. At the same time, he did not invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his inauguration on January 20, but would have received him “if he wanted to come”.

Other news of the day

• Metropolitan of the UOC-MP traveled with an icon along the coast of Odesa to prevent the landing of Russian troops, the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, said.
• Defense Forces' operation near Uspenivka is aimed at exhausting Russians and saving lives, Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops, said.
• Ukraine has its own laser weapon “Trident”, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vadym Sukharevskyi said.
• Boiko is planned to be recalled from the Human Rights Council Committee after his statement.
• Belarus wants a seat at the table of “peace talks” on the war in Ukraine.