Verkhovna Rada

Ukraine is preparing to launch the Defence City joint arms production program with international partners by September. The program includes 21 initiatives for localizing production in Ukraine and up to 10 projects abroad, particularly in Denmark and the United Kingdom.

The company "Alakor City", whose owner has Russian citizenship, is participating for the second time in the ARMA tender for the management of the "Gulliver" shopping mall. This could lead to reputational risks for the system of managing arrested property.

Ukrainian aircraft manufacturers in Kharkiv called on the authorities to preserve tax benefits for the strategic industry. The head of the VRU finance committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, proposed to study the Defense City bill.

The Polish Sejm voted in favor of the country's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, allowing the use of anti-personnel mines. The Minister of Defense stated that the country cannot have restrictions in protecting itself from a Russian invasion.

The Center for Countering Disinformation refuted the fake about the alleged ban on women aged 18-27 from traveling abroad. The video with Olga Stefanishyna's "proposal" turned out to be a deepfake created by AI.

The Cabinet of Ministers has allocated over 300 million hryvnias in subsidies for the purchase of equipment and modernization of food units in 23 schools in Ukraine. This is part of a public investment project for 2025 aimed at improving nutrition in educational institutions.

The government has approved a bill that increases responsibility for unwarranted parking in places for drivers with disabilities. Fines may increase to UAH 5,100 and will be required to use a distinctive sign.

The Cabinet approved a number of personnel decisions, appointing Taras Lozynskyi as the First Deputy Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development, and Volodymyr Feshchenko as the First Deputy Head of the State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone. Dmytro Hryshchak was also dismissed, and appointments to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regional State Administrations were approved.

The Ukrainian government has allocated over 700 million hryvnias to 35 energy projects that are critical for getting through the winter, including reconstruction in the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy regions.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law on amendments to the 2025 state budget, which provides for an increase in expenditures by UAH 449 billion, of which UAH 412 billion will go to finance the Security and Defense Forces. Funding has also been allocated to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved amendments to the state budget for 2025, increasing defense and security expenditures by UAH 412 billion. The draft law provides for an increase in budget revenues by UAH 147.5 billion and the attraction of UAH 250 billion in debt operations to finance these changes.

There is no unified position in the Verkhovna Rada committee regarding the draft law on the activities of the Deposit Guarantee Fund for Individuals, despite previous agreements. MP Nina Yuzhanina stated that the Fund refused the compromise option agreed upon earlier.

The competition commission has identified Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi, the head of the NABU detective unit, as the sole candidate for the position of Director of the Bureau of Economic Security. The government has 10 days to officially appoint him.

Hetmantsev's bill, which significantly changes the principles of the Deposit Guarantee Fund for individuals, has drawn criticism due to potential violations of depositors' rights and contradictions with the Constitution of Ukraine.

In Khmelnytskyi, home pension delivery for people with disabilities was stopped without warning. Dmytro Lubinets, the VR Human Rights Commissioner, took personal control of this issue and appealed to "Ukrposhta" to resume delivery.

The Center for Countering Disinformation debunked a fake about payments of 24,000 hryvnias to citizens who did not leave Ukraine after February 24, 2022. Scammers are spreading disinformation through TikTok, using a fake design of the Verkhovna Rada website and urging people to follow suspicious links.

Leading Ukrainian environmentalists claim that the head of the Ministry of Environmental Protection has failed almost all key areas of work, conducts non-transparent personnel policies, and instead of dialogue with the public, engages in harassment of representatives of the environmental community.

The Supervisory Board of NEC Ukrenergo elected the chairman of the company's board. Vitaliy Zaichenko, who previously was the company's chief dispatcher, became him.

The "Batkivshchyna" party blocked the signing of the ARMA reform bill, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, by submitting a draft resolution on the repeal of the decision. This jeopardizes Ukraine's receipt of the next tranche of financial aid from the EU within the framework of the Ukraine Facility program.

From June 1, 2026, the rules for calculating and paying a single social contribution for persons deprived of their personal freedom due to Russian aggression will change in Ukraine. These changes provide a mechanism for the Pension Fund of Ukraine to calculate and submit reports on the SSC for such persons.

ARMA reform does not guarantee protection from corruption without team renewal, believes political scientist Vitaliy Kulyk. He emphasizes the need for transparent staff selection and audit.

Today, June 20, Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange, bringing home servicemen who have severe injuries or serious health problems, among them defenders of Mariupol. The oldest released is 60 years old, and all of them will receive necessary medical assistance and rehabilitation.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov's business trip has been approved until the end of the week. This comes amidst a scandal involving the detention of Chernyshov's associates due to alleged corruption and his presence abroad during searches.

Minister of Health Viktor Liashko stated that the company "RIOLA-MODUL LTD", which won the tender for the repair of the "Okhmatdyt" hospital, is not involved in criminal proceedings. The decision on selecting the contractor is also controlled by donors.

Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko expressed hope that the Verkhovna Rada will vote for changes to the state budget at the next session. The Cabinet of Ministers is preparing a comprehensive law on changes that will concern additional defense needs.

Ukraine's energy system is operating stably, but the situation remains complex due to unprecedented attacks. Such strikes can affect electricity generation and distribution.

Specialists discussed the critical problem of the Ukrainian aviation industry's dependence on Soviet components. Spare parts stocks are being depleted, and domestic manufacturers require state support for modernization.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill that updates the tools of public-private partnership. The law is designed to attract investment for the reconstruction and development of the defense industry complex.

Ukraine will need to agree to many compromises for accession to the European Union, which could positively affect citizens. In particular, the transport sector will face changes to European standards, but the language issue for the Hungarian minority may not be as difficult.

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a bill on ARMA reform, which will increase the transparency of the agency's work and unblock assistance from the EU. The document introduces transparent selection of the head and asset management.