Verkhovna Rada
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.
The Verkhovna Rada now has 398 people's representatives after Oles Dovgyi was stripped of his mandate. The reduction in staff is due to the ban of OPZZh and the refusal of mandates.
From 2025, a law "On Preschool Education" is in effect in Ukraine, which defines the fundamentals of the preschool education system's functioning. The law establishes new rules for educators and parents, and also defines new types of educational activities.
The Verkhovna Rada supported the decision to deprive Oles Dovhy of his deputy mandate. 244 people's deputies voted for this decision.
Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov did not appear in the Verkhovna Rada at the summons of MPs.
The Ministry of Defense is developing a draft resolution on monetary rewards for military personnel for innovative developments. This will stimulate research and protection of intellectual property rights in the defense sector.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy supported the draft resolution on recognizing the DPRK as a state-aggressor. The document provides for an appeal to international organizations regarding sanctions against the DPRK for supplying weapons to Russia.
The Verkhovna Rada has approved a bill that establishes the maximum court fees for individuals and private entrepreneurs. The bill also defines cases for deferral or installment payments of these fees.
The Verkhovna Rada postponed until January 1, 2026, the responsibility for gas stations for not adding 5% bioethanol to fuel. This applies to the norms of the law "On Alternative Fuels".