Ukraine

The BES exposed a criminal group selling counterfeit e-cigarettes and hookah tobacco in Kyiv. Over 20 thousand packages of products worth over UAH 15 million were seized.

In 2024, domestic companies will provide 70% of the value of arms supply contracts for the Armed Forces. The Defense Procurement Agency has signed more than 20 contracts with global arms manufacturers from 10 countries.

Law enforcement officers conducted 30 searches and found a cache of counterfeit tobacco. Almost 19 thousand packages of hookah tobacco and more than 2 thousand disposable e-cigarettes without excise stamps were seized.

Pope Francis called on the faithful to pray for Ukraine, Myanmar and Sudan. The pontiff also asked to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East and to eliminate discrimination in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Russian z-bloggers and local publics report that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have seized the town of Sudzha and a gas distribution station in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian government does not officially comment on the situation, and the military calls for the information not to be disseminated.

In occupied Crimea, there are calls for the deportation of those who are waiting for the return of the Ukrainian government. A representative of a pro-russian organization proposes to legislate the term "waiting" and start deporting such citizens.

SBI exposed a scheme to evade military service in Odesa region. The deputy commander of the unit and accomplices registered more than 20 people, receiving up to UAH 20 million. The suspect faces up to 12 years in prison.

The Ukrainian Oscar Committee is accepting applications for films to be considered for the 97th Academy Awards from August 8-28. Dmytro Sukholytkyi-Sobchuk was elected chairman of the committee out of 14 members of the Ukrainian Film Academy.

A meeting of the Defense Council was held in Sumy region. The head of the RMA, Volodymyr Artyukh, said that the Armed Forces are in control of the situation, are provided with everything they need and are fulfilling their tasks.

A former NATO official said that neighboring countries might want to return some of the Ukrainian territories that used to be part of those states. The Center for Strategic Communications called this a fake, pointing to official denials from the governments of these countries.

In eight months, Ukrainians have re-registered more than 150,000 cars through the Diia online service. The system automatically checks cars and users, preventing the sale of stolen vehicles.

The President has signed a law implementing European Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial pollution. The law will come into force in 12 months and will help improve the environmental situation and the transition to green technologies.

While walking in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, a man found an object that looked like a mortar shell. The police reminded Kyiv residents of the safety rules for detecting suspicious objects and urged them to be careful.

Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Ihor Zhovkva met with the new Ambassador of India Ravi Shankar. They discussed preparations for the second Peace Summit, the implementation of the Peace Formula and bilateral cooperation.

Putin said that Ukraine had carried out a large-scale provocation in the Kursk region of Russia. He accused Kyiv of indiscriminate shooting at civilian targets and promised to provide assistance to local residents.

The head of the OP, Andriy Yermak, condemned the trip of French director Gaspard Noé to Moscow. He emphasized the importance of cultural isolation of Russia because of its aggression against Ukraine.

Ukrainian athlete Maria Povkh has qualified for the semifinals of the 2024 Olympics in the 500-meter kayak single. In the quarterfinals, she finished third with a time of 1:52.09, and the semifinals will take place on August 10.

A Russian court has rejected a petition for the release of seriously ill Crimean political prisoner Tofik Abdulgaziyev. Due to improper detention, he lost 40 kilograms and contracted pulmonary tuberculosis.

Russian propagandists are spreading false information about the appearance of "black transplantologists" in Sumy region. The AntAC refutes these fakes, which are part of a hostile campaign to discredit Ukraine.

The President of Ukraine planned to visit Israel, but the visit was postponed at the initiative of the Ukrainian side. Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said that Israel would be happy to see Zelenskyy at any time.

China's Special Representative Li Hui suggested that Indonesia work together to resume dialogue on Ukraine. Indonesia praised China's role in facilitating a political settlement of the "crisis in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Ishchenko, a prisoner of war of the Azov Brigade, died in Russian captivity due to blunt force trauma to his chest. The deputy commander of the brigade called on the international community to pay attention to the violation of the Geneva Convention.

Mexico has invited Putin to the inauguration of newly elected President Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1. Mexico has ratified the Rome Statute and should arrest Putin if he arrives, as the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for him.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU has provided €108 billion in aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion. She assured that the EU will support Ukraine as long as it is needed.

Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kirill Budanov said that an international tribunal over Russia is unlikely without its strategic defeat. He emphasized that the process of establishing the tribunal could take a long time, just like the Nuremberg trials after World War II.

On the 16th anniversary of Russia's aggression against Georgia, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned the occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Ukraine calls on Russia to withdraw its troops and revoke the recognition of these regions as "independent states.

The 53-year-old construction worker passed information about the location of Ukrainian troops in Mykolaiv to the FSB. He was preparing coordinates for an attack with drones and missiles, for which he faces up to 12 years in prison.

On August 3, Ukraine attacked Crimea, allegedly sinking the Russian submarine Rostov-on-Don. British intelligence believes that the attack will force Russia to reconsider plans to deploy significant naval forces on the peninsula.

Watermelon prices in Ukraine have fallen by 30% due to increased supply. The price is 3-8 UAH/kg, which is 60% lower than last year. Experts do not predict a significant improvement in the market.

The arrival of the F-16 in Ukraine could lead to the creation of new service companies, the expert believes.