Political news from Kyiv region, government decisions and Ukraine politics
On the Slovyansk direction, the National Guard has already replaced vehicles with horses in logistics — and this is not an experiment, but a response to the "death zone" at a depth of 15–25 km created by FPV-drones.
# Commander of Apache Unit Refutes Rumors About Critical Weak Point on Slovyansk Direction A commander of the Apache unit has denied reports about a critical weak zone on the Slovyansk front. Here's what is actually happening on this section of the front line.
Classified assessments by American intelligence contradict the White House's public statements: Iran has restored operational access to 30 of 33 missile facilities near the Strait of Hormuz and continues to control most mobile launching systems.
On the night of May 13, drones struck an enterprise in the village of Volna near the port of Taman and an industrial facility in Yaroslavl. For Taman, this is at least the third strike in half a year — and each time Moscow explains the fires as "debris from destroyed drones."
The former head of the Presidential Office claimed the suspicion against him was unfounded and criticized pressure on law enforcement. The real question is: how independent were those same law enforcement agencies while he was leading the Presidential Office.
# Search of vehicle of Presidential Office Chief Andriy Yermak uncovers document titled "SBU: Maximum Program" During a search of a vehicle belonging to the driver of Presidential Office Chief Andriy Yermak, law enforcement seized three pages containing text titled "Security Service of Ukraine: Maximum Program." The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has not disclosed the contents of the document, but the mere existence of such material raises questions about who and how personnel policy is being shaped at the country's chief intelligence agency.
# Klimkin Refutes Key Narrative of Mendel's Carlson Interview: If Putin Sought to Control All of Ukraine at the Start of the Invasion, the Donbas Question Could Not Have Been a Priority in Istanbul. This Is Not a Defense of Zelensky — It's a Different Logic for Reading 2022 Events.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Prosecutor General's Office accuse the former head of the Presidential Office of laundering $8.9 million through elite construction in Kozyn. Klimkin says: partners have long known about it — but the internal balance in negotiations is now different.
The State Department and Ukraine's embassy have agreed on a draft memorandum on defense cooperation in the field of drones — but between the initial step and an actual agreement stands the Pentagon, which remains silent for now.
# NABU Director Separates President from "Midas: Dynasty" Operation NABU Director Semen Krivonos clarified at a briefing that the president is not involved in the "Midas: Dynasty" operation — an investigation in which former head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak has already been served a notice of suspicion for laundering over 460 million hryvnias through the construction of elite residences near Kyiv.
Sergiy Savych opened fire in the executive committee building, where employees and visitors were present. Two people were wounded, police are conducting an arrest — but Savych's public account of events differs sharply from the official version.
# Head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Signs Mandatory Evacuation Order for Nikopol and Surrounding Areas The head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Honcharenko signed an order for mandatory evacuation from nearly 100 streets in Nikopol, three villages, and one street in Marhanets. The order's distinctive feature is a built-in compensation mechanism for those who remain in the city but relocate to safer districts.
While Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodriguez was defending her country's territorial sovereignty at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague, Donald Trump told Fox News in an interview that he is "seriously considering" turning Venezuela into the 51st U.S. state — and cited the main argument: oil worth $40 trillion.
A Spanish investigation has established that a Russian vessel was transporting reactor housings for submarines to North Korea. It has not been officially confirmed who damaged the hull — the United States, NATO, or whether it was a technical malfunction.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) announced suspicions against six participants in the "Midas: Dynasty" scheme, including former Vice Prime Minister Chernysho and businessman Mindych. According to the investigation, 460 million hryvnias that were laundered were supposed to materialize as five private residences near Kyiv for the highest-ranking state officials.
Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen notes a shift in Russia's behavior under sanctions and military pressure — but warns that declaring interest in negotiations and making real concessions are two different things.
The Verkhovna Rada has passed on first reading a draft of a new Civil Code that replaces the Soviet-era concept of "moral foundations of society" with "good faith." The authors say this is a standard norm in Europe. Critics argue it is subjectivity without limits.
After seven people were killed in Holosiivskyi District, the National Police is changing its training standards — the first group of platoon, company and battalion commanders from all regions is already undergoing a two-week training program based on a military model.
Sweden has officially seized the shadow fleet vessel Caffa, which will remain in Trelleborg pending a court decision on whether to hand it over to the requesting state. According to the investigation, the ship transported stolen Ukrainian grain from occupied Sevastopol under a false Guinean flag.
On May 11 in Brussels, the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children convened — and that very day London and Ottawa announced new sanctions. This was no coincidence, but a coordinated diplomatic action with specific names, figures, and financial measures.
The Kremlin is planning large-scale expansion in Africa, but a shortage of personnel and money being funneled into the meat grinder on the front lines are turning ambitions into a staffing dead end. The Security Service of Ukraine is recording that current recruitment rates are sufficient only to cover losses in Ukraine.
Former judge Alexei Tandir, who is already being tried for a fatal drunk driving accident at a checkpoint, is now suspected of organizing a criminal group that seized five apartments of deceased persons through forged debt lawsuits and compliant state bailiffs.
The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council held talks with Vance and Kushner on three tracks: prisoners of war, a peace format, and Drone Deals. The result was agreed-upon frameworks, rather than specific commitments.
# SBU Suspects Former Lawmaker of Justifying and Denying Russian Aggression: What This Means Legally and Why Murayev's Case Matters Beyond One Person The Security Service of Ukraine has opened a case against a former member of parliament, accusing him of justifying and denying Russian aggression. This investigation raises important questions about the legal framework behind such charges and the broader implications for Ukrainian society and rule of law during wartime. The case centers on allegations that the former lawmaker publicly made statements that either justified Russia's military actions or denied that Russian aggression was taking place—positions that contradict Ukraine's official position and the widely documented evidence of the invasion. Under Ukrainian law, such conduct can constitute a criminal offense, particularly under legislation designed to protect national security and prevent the spread of pro-Russian propaganda. What makes this case significant extends beyond the individual involved. It reflects Ukraine's efforts to enforce laws protecting the integrity of public discourse during an existential conflict, while simultaneously raising questions about the balance between national security and freedom of expression. The case serves as a test of how Ukraine's legal system applies such laws and whether safeguards exist to prevent abuse. This situation underscores broader concerns about maintaining democratic principles while defending against information warfare—a central component of Russia's campaign against Ukraine.
Finland's President Calls on Europe to Act Independently — Before Washington Assigns It a Seat at the Negotiating Table. But Five Key EU Countries Have Yet to Agree Even on the Format.
Hungary had blocked Ukraine's European integration for years over a list of 11 demands regarding minority rights. Orbán is gone — but the list remains. Now Sybiga publicly states that Kyiv has a "package of proposals."
Court hearings in Lviv are being postponed due to the lawyer's illness, the defendant's hunger strike, and his attempted suicide — but the prosecutor's office refuses to publicly assess whether this constitutes deliberate delays.
The Security Service of Ukraine reports Moscow's plans to increase its presence in Africa by 12,000 personnel by year-end. Behind the figures lies a systemic strategy, not merely military expansion.
A state visit to China on May 14-15 is not diplomatic courtesy, but an attempt to force Xi Jinping to choose between Iranian oil and American markets. Beijing is currently choosing both.
Incidents in Odesa region are not isolated failures but part of a trend: in 2025, attacks on territorial recruitment center workers have been recorded twice as many as in the three previous years combined.