Political news from Kyiv region, government decisions and Ukraine politics
Premier Andy Burnham has appointed Ed Miliband as foreign minister. Among his stated priorities is continued support for Ukraine, and his brother David visited Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa on the eve of the appointment.
After six hours of negotiations with the president, Fedorov rejected the position on the National Security Council — and, judging by everything, is negotiating not over functions, but over a symbol.
The U.S. Senate updated its sanctions package against Russia — tariffs were reduced from 500% to 100%, but preserved the blow to key buyers of Russian oil and gave Trump the authority to suspend the restrictions. The real question is not about the figures, but whether the president will exercise this right.
Presidential Commissioner Vladislav Vlasyuk dismisses claims of a rift within the European Union over sanctions policy. The 21st sanctions package is expected by week's end, with the 22nd being prepared in parallel. However, the debate over the effectiveness of sanctions shows no signs of disappearing.
Poland's Defence Minister Kosinski-Kamysz has warned that Russia has accumulated captured Ukrainian drones and is capable of using them for false-flag provocations against NATO alliance members. Behind the scenes, there is already documented GPS spoofing infrastructure and a precedent incident in Latvia.
Laura Loomer, a blogger after whose visits to the Oval Office national security advisors were fired, has publicly admitted to retransmitting Kremlin narratives for years. Simonyan responded with mockery and reminded her about her columns for RT.
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok has signed the 17th amendment to the Basic Law, which prematurely terminates his own powers — and this is just one point in a large-scale dismantling of the Orbán system through the constitutional majority of the Tisza party.
Two young men, aged 19 and 20, are already fighting on the front lines. Botswana has become part of a system that, according to INPACT data, has affected 35 African countries and claimed over 300 lives.
Some ministers kept their seats, while others joined for the first time. We look into who is who in the renewed cabinet and what it means for state governance during wartime.
# Protests Against Defense Minister's Resignation Shift Focus — Street Now Demands Commander's Head Demonstrations against the defense minister's dismissal have rapidly changed target, with the public now calling for the removal of the commander-in-chief. According to the Financial Times, Zelenskyy is already conducting interviews with candidates, but there is one condition: a smooth transition of command along the 1200-kilometer front line.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight of July 19 with 41 missiles and 125 drones — none of the ballistic missiles were intercepted. The attack occurred on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, where Zelenskyy plans to push for supplies of interceptors.
The night of July 19 brought a fire to the industrial zone of the Vyazniki settlement — the same facility that caught fire on July 13. A repeated strike on the same location indicates that neither repairs nor protective measures were completed there.
The reorganization of seven government agencies is not just a rename: behind it stands 250 billion hryvnias in agricultural subsidies and 4.6 million displaced persons who for the first time received a separate ministry with their status mentioned in its name.
Kyiv announced five steps toward reconciliation with Warsaw, including declassification of SBU and IPN archives regarding the Volyn tragedy. Tusk responded warmly — however, a deep internal rift persists between the Polish prime minister and President Nawrocki.
The EU's new sanctions package targets not the final product, but the production chain — components, suppliers, intermediaries. Is this enough to slow down the Russian missile production line?
Russia's largest internet retailer's warehouses in Kotovsk and Elektrostal were used to transit sanctioned drone components — at least that's what Zelenskyy claims. A fuel depot in Noginsk is burning separately.
# Zelenskyy Appoints Former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as NSDC Secretary — One Day After He Failed to Become Defense Minister Over Mass Street Protests. Promotion or Compromise?
Prime Minister Koretsky has appointed new acting ministers of defense and foreign affairs. The reorganization of ministries has begun — but questions about control mechanisms remain open.
On July 8, 2026, Sandra Audkirk became the temporary chargé d'affaires of the United States in Ukraine — already the third person to hold this position in the last 14 months. Her predecessors resigned against the backdrop of disappointment with the Trump administration's policy toward Ukraine.
On July 17, the Polish parliament adopted a resolution honoring the victims of "genocide by Ukrainian nationalists," but rejected draft resolutions directly accusing Kyiv. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry responded with a formula of "taking note" and called for not turning the tragedy into an obstacle to partnership.
Following the "cardboard protests" on July 16, the command of the Unmanned Systems Forces called the medic of the "Wolves of da Vinci" to find out where the organizer of the rally was serving. The problem: he has been demobilized for a year.
Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kubelis directly called blocking EU sanctions blood money — and publicly pointed to specific countries for the first time. The issue is not about principles, but about money.
Kyiv is requesting up to 200 PAC-2 missiles from Greece, some of which have been in service for 23 years and are approaching the end of their operational life. NATO and EU allies support the request, but Athens has not yet responded.
Zelensky dismissed the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Timur Tkachenko seven months after his appointment. The decree was issued on the day of the formation of the new Cabinet of Ministers — and again without public reasons stated.
Newly appointed Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky submitted nominations to parliament for 18 Cabinet members — most of them retained their positions, but two key reshuffles are changing the logic of managing both the security and energy sectors simultaneously.
The Verkhovna Rada voted 264 times in favor of the new Cabinet of Ministers under Sergiy Koretsky. A person without a political party background and with unfilled government positions — is this a reset or just cosmetics?
# President Tasks Yevhenii Khmara with Temporarily Heading Defense Ministry. What We Know About the New Leader and What It Means for the Department's Reforms.
Russia used the death of the "chief engineer" at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, whom it appointed, to obtain a condemnation from the IAEA that effectively reproduces its version of events. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry characterizes this as deliberate pressure on the agency.
The Verkhovna Rada voted to appoint Sergiy Koretskyi, the head of NAK Naftogaz, as Prime Minister of Ukraine. 289 votes — above the minimum, but fewer than the coalition would have preferred.
# Restoration of Balance After Fedorov-Syrsky Conflict Costs Government One of Its Most Influential Ministers. In Exchange — Legendary Governor, EU Ambassador and Judge-Lawmaker