Denys Shmyhal

The Ukrainian government has decided to finance the purchase of electronic warfare equipment for critical infrastructure and to allocate additional funds for fortifications and border defense to protect against drone attacks.

The government is working in three areas to address energy problems: rapid repair and restoration of facilities, decentralization of the energy system through small cogeneration plants and cooperation with partners, and strengthening air defense of critical infrastructure.

Russia's goal is to achieve a complete blackout in Ukraine through massive attacks on the energy system, but they have not yet achieved this, as the system is working steadily despite significant damage.

This year, regions close to the war zone will receive UAH 2. 5 billion from the state budget to build shelters in schools.

The Ukrainian government has allocated an additional UAH 3. 88 billion for the further construction of defense borders, primarily in Kharkiv and Sumy regions, including UAH 1.7 billion for Kharkiv and UAH 1.5 billion for Sumy.

The Ukrainian government has established an additional payment of UAH 70,000 for military and police officers performing combat missions on the front line. The one-time payment will be charged for every 30 days of such missions.

During the massive Russian attack, thermal power plants and other energy facilities were attacked in many regions of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed with the G7 ambassadors the urgent need to increase air defense systems to protect lives and critical infrastructure from Russian shelling.

In 2024, Ukraine received $10. 2 billion in external financing from international partners, including the US, EU, Japan, Canada, IMF, UK, and Norway.

Lithuania's Minister of National Defense Laurinas Kasciunas arrives in Ukraine, meets with President Zelenskyy, and presents him with an expanded support package, including plans to deploy combat drones and a coalition for demining.

The Verkhovna Rada invited Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Anatoliy Bargylevych and Commander of the Joint Forces Yuriy Sodol to speak before the consideration of the law on mobilization.

Ukraine's main challenge remains securing external budget support for the second half of 2024 and beyond, despite receiving USD 9 billion in external financing in March.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky asked to remove the provision on demobilization from the government's law on mobilization, which was agreed upon by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The National Security and Defense Committee has prepared the final version of the draft law on mobilization without provisions for rotation and demobilization, including restrictions on consular services and driving for men aged 18-60 without a military ID, compensation for military personnel, and increased payments for combatants.

Provisions on demobilization and rotation of servicemen in connection with the expected Russian offensive in May are planned to be excluded from the government bill on mobilization, as demanded by the military leadership and the Cabinet of Ministers.

At the request of the Ministry of Culture, less than two thousand specialists who are critical to the operation of enterprises were exempted from mobilization. The ICIP emphasizes that culture and media are critically important to the state in times of war.

More than 500 applications from victims of Russian aggression were received on the first day of the International Register of Damages, launched in The Hague as part of the International Compensation Mechanism.

The Ukrainian government has expanded the functionality of the register of property damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian aggression.

Ukraine plans to use maximum innovations and set up mass production of equipment so that the process of clearing 26% of its territory of Russian minefields takes years, not decades.

The Cabinet of Ministers has allocated almost UAH 24 million for the overhaul of the Chernihiv Central District Hospital's outpatient clinic to restore the medical infrastructure damaged by the enemy.

The government is focusing on repair work, attracting international assistance, decentralizing generation, and strengthening air defense to ensure energy security and minimize risks to the energy sector amid Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal instructed the relevant ministries to introduce an updated resolution on the reservation of persons liable for military service and to define an exhaustive list of critical infrastructure facilities and enterprises to ensure fair and rational reservation of employees for the functioning of the economy and infrastructure supporting military operations.

Russia has enough missiles for one or two more major attacks in the coming weeks.

Ukraine proposes to ban air transit to Russia and Belarus to prevent Russian businesses and tourists from using EU airspace and to increase sanctions pressure on the aggressor.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian and Estonian UAV manufacturers will cooperate.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonite said that Western military instructors could go to Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers if proper air defense is provided, and that experts could help with cybersecurity, demining, and border protection.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda to discuss continued defense cooperation, sanctions and confiscation of Russian assets, humanitarian aid, and Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO.

Ukraine proposes to ban air transit to russia and belarus to limit economic potential and increase sanctions pressure on the aggressor.

Lithuania will allocate 15 million euros for rehabilitation programs for wounded Ukrainian soldiers and purchase 3,000 drones for Ukraine.

The prime ministers of Lithuania and Ukraine discussed further sanctions against Russia, preventing the bypassing of the Belarusian or other schemes, and confiscation of frozen Russian assets in favor of Ukraine.