Ukrainians across the country protest against a new law that weakens anti-corruption efforts. Ukrainian troops hit 13 areas where Russia amasses forces and weapons. Ukraine and Russia will hold a new round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Ukrainians across the country protest against new law that weakens anti-corruption efforts
Hundreds of Ukrainians took to the streets of Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, Sumy and elsewhere across the country on Tuesday night to demand that the president veto the law no. 12414. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed a bill that removes the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). President Zelenskyi signed it into law late on Tuesday night.
In Kyiv, the rally took place on the square in front of the Ivan Franko theatre which the Office of the President overlooks. No official went out to speak to the protestors.
In a post to X, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called the new law “a serious step back.”
“Seriously concerned over today’s vote in the Rada. The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU’s independence is a serious step back,” she said.
“Independent bodies like NABU and SAPO, are essential for Ukraine’s EU path,” Kos added.
Ukraine Crisis Media Center (UCMC), like many other civil society organizations, issued a statement criticizing the passing of the bill.
“The Ukrainian government has lately put to test national unity and determination to uphold reforms on Ukraine’s path toward the EU amid Russia’s full-scale invasion,” the statement reads.
By reversing the reforms, the government plays into the enemy’s expectations for Ukraine to fail. This scenario would see its democratic institutions and national unity collapse. UCMC particularly warns against backsliding on the anti-corruption, local self-governance and public administration reforms. It also points to the lessons of Ukraine’s recent history.
“A smaller authoritarian country will not win over a larger authoritarian state,” it says. At the heart of Ukraine’s victory are the devotion, patriotism and sacrifice by Ukraine’s best daughters and sons fighting in the frontlines. They protect not just their country, but also entire Europe from yet another aggressive invasion. Solid democratic institutions and support by Ukraine’s partners are key to the country’s victory over Russia. Inspired by Ukraine’s heroism, the partners envision a “joint bright future.”
“Ukraine has a unique historic chance that cannot go wasted. It’s paramount to not just endure and win against the enemy, but to also picture what the victory entails, what country we are building and how Ukraine will develop. (…)
We urge [the government] not to play into the enemy’s attempts to undermine Ukraine from the inside!
We urge [the government] to reinforce and not to weaken Ukrainian reforms and democratic institutions!
We urge [the government] to unite the nation instead of testing its resilience with decisions that hamper reforms!
We urge [the government] to be honest and well-trusted partners to those who are helping Ukraine with weapons, funds etc. and expect of Ukraine to live up to its commitments that are also backed by its people.
We urge [the government] not to turn away from the European and Euro-Atlantic path!” UCMC’s statement says.
Ukrainian troops hit 13 areas where Russia amasses forces, weapons
There were 167 combat engagements in the past day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a morning update on Wednesday. Russia launched 167 air strikes, dropping 113 glide bombs on Ukrainian troops’ positions and populated areas. It also conducted a missile strike with a single missile.
Russian forces made 5,686 attacks, including 39 with the use of multiple launch rocket systems, and deployed 3,579 kamikaze drones.
Russia launched air strikes at the villages of Yastrubyne and Hrafske in Sumy region, the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region as well as at the villages of Kamyanske and Novoandriyivka in Zaporizhzhia region.
In the past day, Ukrainian aircraft, missile troops and artillery units struck 13 areas where Russian troops and weapons massed. They also hit Russia’s artillery system, a command post and two electronic warfare systems, the General Staff said.
Ukraine, Russia to hold talks in Istanbul on Wednesday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation that will head to Istanbul for talks with Russia on Wednesday. The group will be chaired by Rustem Umerov in his new capacity of the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. Representatives of the Office of the President, Foreign Ministry, Armed Forces, Security Service, intelligence and the parliament were listed as delegation members.
“I held a meeting on the outcomes Ukraine needs from the negotiation efforts,” Zelenskyi said in a post to X on Tuesday.
“Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to secure the release of our people from captivity and return of abducted children, to stop the killings, and to prepare a leaders’ meeting aimed at truly bringing this war to an end. Our position is fully transparent. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it started,” he added.
The talks are to take place just over a week after the U.S. president, Donald Trump, threatened new sanctions on Russia and countries that buy its exports unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days.
Trump has said that he is disappointed but not done with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in an exclusive phone call with the BBC on July 15.
Ukraine-Russia talks at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul will begin at 7p.m. local time, Ukrinform said, citing a Turkish presidential source.
