In a shocking turn of events, Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, has resigned amid allegations that numerous officials acquired disabled status to evade military service. Following a security council meeting focused on addressing draft dodging, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “The prosecutor general must take political responsibility for the situation in the prosecution bodies of Ukraine.” Shortly after, Kostin described the circumstances as “clearly amoral,” agreeing with the president that his resignation was the appropriate course of action.
Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, reported that 64 members of medical commissions are being investigated for criminal activity related to the issue, with nine already convicted. In his evening address, Zelenskyy expanded on the problem, noting, “It’s not just prosecutors involved. There are hundreds of cases of obviously unjustified disability statuses among customs and tax officials, in the pension fund system, and in local administrations… All this must be dealt with carefully and promptly.” As a result, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has dismissed the leadership of the central commission overseeing military fitness assessments and key officials within the health ministry, while Zelenskyy has instructed his cabinet to urgently draft legislation to dissolve existing medical commissions and reform the disability assessment system.
Compounding the situation, a man sought for evading military service reportedly took his own life after being apprehended by police in Poltava and taken to an army recruitment center. The center revealed that he refused a military medical examination, and his body was later found in a technical room, displaying clear signs of suicide. This incident underscores the sensitivity of military mobilization in Ukraine, where most working-age men are restricted from leaving the country and those over 25 are subject to enlistment.
In another significant development, Ukrainian military intelligence anticipates the arrival of North Korean soldiers in Russia’s southern Kursk region, with Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov stating, “We are waiting for the first units tomorrow in the Kursk direction.” While the number of troops and their equipment remain unclear, discussions in South Korea suggest a potential direct supply of weapons to Ukraine as a countermeasure to the growing military ties between North Korea and Russia.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb commented on the potential deployment of North Korean troops, labeling it a sign of Russian desperation. He remarked, “It relies on Iranian weapons, it relies on North Korean soldiers. How much worse can it get?” Stubb is set for a state visit to China next week, where he intends to stress that no peace deal can be reached without Ukraine’s involvement, urging Beijing against supporting Russia, especially with dual-use materials.
As anticipation builds around UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, controversy has arisen due to Guterres’s perceived support for the Russian leader amid international warrants for his arrest related to the Ukraine conflict. Guterres’s deputy spokesman confirmed that the UN chief intends to meet multiple leaders during the Brics summit in Kazan and will restate his positions on the conflict while outlining conditions for a “just peace.”
On the ground, Russian forces made advances over a crucial waterway in Chasiv Yar, marking a setback for Ukrainian defenders in this strategically significant location. Reports indicate ongoing fierce fighting as Ukrainian officials assure that despite the breach, they are not on the verge of losing control.
Tragically, Russian drone and artillery strikes on residential areas in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Sumy and Donetsk resulted in five fatalities, including a child. Additionally, local officials from Donetsk reported two more casualties due to sustained shelling in Myrnograd, while Moscow claimed the capture of Novosadove, an abandoned frontline settlement.
The humanitarian crisis continues, with the UN population fund revealing a significant population decline in Ukraine—approximately eight million people since the onset of full-scale invasion in 2022, and around 10 million since 2014.
On the financial front, the U.S. is poised to contribute $20 billion to a G7 loan package for Ukraine, totaling $50 billion, as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced potential new sanctions targeting Russian arms procurement. Yellen clarified that the loans will be financed through profits accrued from frozen Russian assets after the invasion. G7 leaders are set to discuss this matter shortly, with Yellen emphasizing, “This is not the American taxpayer,” as they prepare to unveil strong new sanctions against those supporting Russia’s military operations.
