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\u2019s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed a bill that removes the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office (SAPO). President Zelenskyi signed it into law late on Tuesday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a post to X, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called the new law \u201ca serious step back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSeriously concerned over today\u2019s vote in the Rada. The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU\u2019s independence is a serious step back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndependent bodies like NABU and SAPO, are essential for Ukraine\u2019s EU path,\u201d Kos added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine Crisis Media Center (UCMC), like many other civil society organizations, issued a statement criticizing the passing of the bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Ukrainian government has lately put to test national unity and determination to uphold reforms on Ukraine\u2019s path toward the EU amid Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By reversing the reforms, the government plays into the enemy\u2019s 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\u2019s recent history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA smaller authoritarian country will not win over a larger authoritarian state,\u201d it says. At the heart of Ukraine\u2019s victory are the devotion, patriotism and sacrifice by Ukraine\u2019s 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\u2019s partners are key to the country\u2019s victory over Russia. Inspired by Ukraine\u2019s heroism, the partners envision a \u201cjoint bright future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUkraine has a unique historic chance that cannot go wasted. It\u2019s 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. (\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n We urge [the government] not to play into the enemy\u2019s attempts to undermine Ukraine from the inside! <\/p>\n\n\n\n We urge [the government] to reinforce and not to weaken Ukrainian reforms and democratic institutions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We urge [the government] to unite the nation instead of testing its resilience with decisions that hamper reforms! <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We urge [the government] not to turn away from the European and Euro-Atlantic path!\u201d UCMC\u2019s statement says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019 positions and populated areas. It also conducted a missile strike with a single missile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Russian forces made 5,686 attacks, including 39 with the use of multiple launch rocket systems, and deployed 3,579 kamikaze drones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the past day, Ukrainian aircraft, missile troops and artillery units struck 13 areas where Russian troops and weapons massed. They also hit Russia\u2019s artillery system, a command post and two electronic warfare systems, the General Staff said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI held a meeting on the outcomes Ukraine needs from the negotiation efforts,\u201d Zelenskyi said in a post to X on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUkraine 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\u2019 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine-Russia talks at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul will begin at 7p.m. local time, Ukrinform said, citing a Turkish presidential source. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/original-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUkrainian troops hit 13 areas where Russia amasses forces, weapons<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine, Russia to hold talks in Istanbul on Wednesday<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n