05:38 Orthodox Church with Moscow connection to be banned
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in his evening video address on Saturday that he plans to "strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence." This suggests that the country's leadership is considering banning the Moscow-linked branch of the church. Since the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, the number of members of other independent churches has been growing, but the minority church linked to Moscow maintains its influence. The Ukrainian government accuses it of supporting the invasion and attempting to poison public opinion.
03:50 ISW: Ukrainians holding their positions and advancingGeolocated footage and Russian reports from yesterday indicate that Ukrainian forces are largely holding their previously reported positions in the Kursk region and have made some advances beyond their previously confirmed positions, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
01:51 Russia: Injured by Ukrainian missileAt least 13 people were injured, two seriously, in the Russian city of Kursk after debris from a downed Ukrainian missile struck, according to the acting governor of the border region.
00:27 Explosions in Ukrainian capital KyivSeveral explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. According to AFP journalists, the explosions were heard in the center and east of the city. The Ukrainian air force reported that two Russian missiles were targeted at the capital, while the Kyiv military administration reported the activation of air defense systems on the Telegram online service.
00:11 Ukraine awaits "with anticipation" decisions from the USA, UK, and FranceUkraine may be able to expect the delivery of more long-range weapons to maintain its defense against Russian aggression. In his evening video address, President Zelenskyy said: "We also await with anticipation the decisions of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France regarding long-range capabilities - decisions that will bring us closer to a fair peace." For a long time, Ukraine has been trying to convince Germany to supply Taurus long-range missiles, but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected this.
22:17 Ukraine suspects 28 officials of embezzling defense budget fundsThe Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, together with the State Investigation Bureau, the National Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine, conducted a special operation to expose the organizers and participants in criminal schemes to embezzle funds from the Ukrainian defense budget. This was reported by the Prosecutor General's Office. According to the report, the total damage to the state amounts to over 1.5 billion Hryvnia, approximately 33,000 Euros. The investigation involves employees of the Ministry of Defense, military units, joint ventures, regional military administrations, and city councils, as well as directors of companies in many regions of Ukraine. As a result of the investigation, 28 people were identified as suspects, including 9 as members of organized criminal groups.
20:57 Ukrainian forces reportedly entered BelgorodUkrainian troops appear to have entered the Russian region of Belgorod while the incursion into the Kursk region continues, according to Ukrainian media citing a video. In the video, five uniformed men with blue armbands are seen standing in front of a building, with one of them saying, "I wish you health. The 252nd Battalion is in the village of Poroz, Belgorod region. Glory to Ukraine!" The soldiers in the video hold the battalion's flag and a Georgian flag, and a sign behind them reads "Porozovsky Village Club". According to the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, the video was confirmed by the fact-checking project VoxCheck to have been filmed in Poroz, three kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
20:22 Zelenskyy aims to put pressure on "the aggressor" with Kursk offensiveA few days after the start of Ukraine's push into Russian territory in Kursk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly addresses the attack for the first time. He said that Defense Minister Oleksandr Syrskyi had reported to him about "advancing the war into the territory of the aggressor," adding that Ukraine is proving "its ability to uphold justice and build the necessary pressure - pressure on the aggressor." Neither Zelenskyy nor the military in Kyiv provided further details on the current status of the Ukrainian troops' push into Russian territory. In recent days, Zelenskyy had only made indirect references to the attack towards Kursk.
19:44 Russia to receive hundreds of ballistic missiles from IranRussia is set to receive hundreds of Fateh-360 and other ballistic missiles from Iran in the near future, following a December 2023 agreement between Moscow and Tehran, according to intelligence sources cited by Reuters. The sources say that dozens of Russian military officials are currently being trained in Iran on the Fateh-360 short-range ballistic missile system. Iran is one of Russia's closest allies, and the two countries have strengthened their military and political cooperation since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Notably, Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones since the beginning of the war. In February, Reuters also reported that Tehran had sent "a large number of high-performance ballistic ground-to-ground missiles" to support Moscow's invasion.
18:36 Iskander missile system reportedly killed 15 Ukrainian commanders at the borderAccording to the Russian news agency TASS, the Iskander-M missile system struck a unit of the 22nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the border of Kursk, killing 15 members of the unit's command staff. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the attack was carried out by a calculation of the operational-tactical missile system Iskander-M, which hit a reconnaissance post where the command post of a unit of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the AFU was located in the border area of the Kursk region. As a result, the command staff of the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the AFU, consisting of 15 people, was destroyed.
17:55 Russia Evacuates 76,000 Civilians in KurskFacing heavy fighting as Ukrainian forces advance into Russian territory, the regional civil defense has already evacuated tens of thousands of people. Around 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from the border region and accommodated in other Russian regions, the civil defense agency reports, according to the state news agency Tass. No details were provided by either Russian or Ukrainian sides about the actual combat situation. Ukrainian intelligence reports that Russia has begun moving a marine infantry brigade from the occupied Crimean Peninsula to the Kursk region, with part of the convoy destroyed en route. These reports cannot be independently verified. An air raid alert has been sounded throughout the Kursk region. The acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, warns of potential dangers on the Telegram platform and urges the population to seek shelter as much as possible.
17:28 Minsk Accuses Kyiv of 'Criminal Acts'After the alleged incursion of Ukrainian combat drones into Belarusian airspace, the Foreign Ministry in Minsk has warned of an escalation of the conflict. Such "criminal acts" could lead to a radical escalation of the situation, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry says, according to the state news agency Belta. They are also a "dangerous attempt to expand the current conflict zone in our region." Belarus will use its right to self-defense and respond appropriately to any provocation or hostile actions. Leader Alexander Lukashenko had previously reported the supposed downing of several Ukrainian aerial targets. The air defense has been put on full alert because about ten aerial objects from Ukraine had entered Belarusian airspace in the east of the country in the Kostyukovichy region, Lukashenko says about the incident the previous evening.
17:00 Zelensky Thanks for 'Filling the Exchange Fund'Many questions remain unanswered around the advance of Ukrainian troops into Russian territory. President Zelensky has now spoken out and thanked the soldiers who had taken prisoners. Ukraine needs them for future exchange deals with Russia.
16:27 Ukraine Attacks Gas Platform in Black Sea, Killing 40 Russian SoldiersUkrainian naval forces have reportedly killed about 40 Russian soldiers in an attack on a gas platform in the Black Sea. Forces from the navy and military intelligence attacked the location where the enemy had gathered personnel and equipment, Ukrainian media reports, citing the naval command. The occupiers were reportedly using the platform to disrupt navigation signals via satellite, endangering civilian maritime traffic. "We cannot allow this," said Dmytro Pletenchuk of the online newspaper "Ukrayinska Pravda." There were no civilians on the gas platform, which is out of operation, it is reported. The rocket and artillery units of the coastal forces carried out the strike. A heavy explosion was seen in a published video. The authenticity of the footage could not be verified by an independent source. Pletenchuk says this was not the first operation of this kind. The enemy had previously used the platform to disrupt the navigation of grain carriers, for example.
15:49 NATO Interceptors Scramble Due to Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft Over Baltic SeaA Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea region has prompted fighter jets from several NATO countries to take to the skies. Alert fighters from Rostock-Laage in Germany, Sweden, and the NATO mission Air Policing Baltikum ascended to secure the alliance's airspace and escorted the Russian reconnaissance aircraft IL-20M, the German Air Force announced on the short messaging service X. "The aircraft was flying without a flight plan and without contact with civilian air traffic control," it added. Russia uses international airspace for military flights in accordance with existing air law. Previously, the German Armed Forces have stated that Russian military aircraft almost always fly without a transponder signal, making them invisible to civilian air traffic control. These aircraft approach NATO airspace without violating it. It is assumed that reactions to such flights are also being tested.
15:26 Lukashenko Orders Deployment of Iskander Missile Systems and Rocket Artillery to BorderAlexander Lukashenko, the ruler of Belarus, has ordered the reinforcement of troop groupings in the tactical regions of Gomel and Mozyr on the border with the Ukrainian oblasts of Kyiv and Chernihiv. The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reports this, citing statements by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. "The Commander-in-Chief [Lukashenko] has given the order to reinforce the grouping of forces in the tactical regions of Gomel and Mozyr. Special forces, ground troops, and rocket units, including Polonez multiple rocket launchers and Iskander missile systems, have been tasked with moving to the designated areas," Khrenin said. Previously, Lukashenko had claimed that "several targets coming from Ukraine" had been shot down over Belarus.
14:49 At Least Two Children Among Dead After Russian Attack on SupermarketSince Friday, at least 18 people, including two children, have been killed and 60 more injured in several Russian attacks on Ukraine, regional authorities report. Most of the victims were in the city of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region, where a Russian missile hit a supermarket on Friday. By 10 a.m. local time this morning, at least 14 people had been killed, including two children aged 9 and 11, and 43 more were wounded, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Telegram. In other settlements in the Donetsk region, two people were killed and one more wounded in Russian attacks on Friday, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported early in the morning. More than 30 houses, an apartment building, an agricultural facility, and civilian infrastructure were damaged. In the Kharkiv region, a 80-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were killed, and four people aged 32 to 67 were injured in Russian attacks, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
14:21 Interior Ministry Warns of Russian Influence on State ElectionsThe Federal Interior Ministry warns of potential manipulation attempts by Russia ahead of the upcoming state elections in Eastern Germany. "We must assume that all elections in our country are a potential target of illegitimate influence," a ministry spokesperson told the "Handelsblatt". Russia is attempting to "illegitimately influence the public debate and political decision-making in Germany" this way. Since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, there has been an increase in disinformation from Russian official bodies, state and state-affiliated media, and government-affiliated accounts on social networks. "They use false information to heat up emotionally charged discussions and deliberately play societal groups against each other," the spokesperson said.
13:42 Air Force: Russian IL-20M Reconnaissance Aircraft Spotted Off RügenA Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. German and Swedish air force machines, as well as NATO air traffic control in the Baltic region, took off on Friday evening and escorted the Russian aircraft of the IL-20M type. The reconnaissance aircraft was traveling in the airspace off the island of Rügen "without a flight plan and contact with civil air traffic control." Reports of non-communicating Russian military machines in international airspace over the Baltic Sea have been almost weekly in recent times, an air force spokesperson said. However, this is not followed up in most cases if they do not behave unusually or quickly return to Russian airspace. In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
13:06 Lukashenko: Objects Fired from Ukraine Over Belarus DestroyedAccording to Belarussian reports, the armed forces of the country have destroyed several flying objects over Belarussian territory. It is presumably drones that started from Ukraine, as reported by the Belarussian news agency Belta, quoting Alexander Lukashenko, the president of the country allied with Russia. In the past, Lukashenko has repeatedly spoken of alleged incursions from Ukraine and then given the all-clear. Belarus claims not to be involved in the fighting in Ukraine.
12:43 Ukraine: Three Civilian Deaths After Russian Attacks in Eastern UkraineAccording to Ukrainian reports, three people have died in Russian missile attacks in eastern Ukraine. One person was killed in an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. There were also several injured, the governor of the region, Vadym Filaschkin, wrote on Telegram. The missile hit a building of critical infrastructure and severely damaged it. Two people died in an attack on a private house in the Kharkiv region, as the police reported.
12:00 Ukraine: Large Fire Rages in Kherson After Russian AttackDue to a Russian attack, a large fire has broken out in the southeastern Ukrainian region of Kherson, the regional administration of Kherson reported on Telegram. The fire started on an open area outside the city of Kherson. Due to strong winds, the smoke spread quickly and covered almost the entire city of Kherson. According to the regional administration of Kherson, the fire department is on site to extinguish the fire.
11:28 Mangott on arms supplies: Kretschmer "accepts that Ukraine might lose"Ukrainian soldiers have breached Russian territory. With their advance into Kursk, Ukraine aims to demonstrate that Russia "cannot protect its citizens in the border regions," says political scientist Gerhard Mangott. He also emphasizes that he does not believe Ukraine can sustain its presence in the region in the long term.
10:53 Video allegedly shows Russian troop strength in KurskThe Russian Ministry of Defense has published another video purporting to show a reinforcement of military presence in the region. The footage shows tanks taking up combat positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The authenticity of the footage cannot be independently verified. The ministry also reports numerous intercepted Ukrainian drone attacks in the Kursk area.
10:29 Russian nuclear corporation: Nuclear power plant in Kursk operating normallyFighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is taking place near a nuclear power plant in the Russian region of Kursk. Despite the ongoing battles, operations are "normal," according to the operator, Russian state-owned company Rosatom, in a statement to Reuters. Earlier, the nuclear corporation had withdrawn workers from the construction site of two new reactors at the Kursk nuclear power plant due to the advance of Ukrainian troops in the area.
09:57 Ukrainian intelligence: Magura V5 destroys Russian boat in Black SeaSoldiers of the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR have attacked the Russian navy off the northwest coast of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. The Ukrainian intelligence service reports that a sea drone of the Magura V5 type sank a Russian patrol boat of the type KS-701 "Tunets" off the coast near the settlement of Chornomorske in the west of Crimea. Three other Russian military boats were reportedly damaged. The Ukrainian intelligence service has posted a video of the attack on social media.
09:19 ISW: Russia not redeploying frontline units from Eastern Ukraine to KurskThe Russian military may not be redeploying its forces from the front in Eastern Ukraine to the contested Russian border region of Kursk to avoid disrupting its own offensive in eastern Ukraine, according to the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). ISW analysts suggest it would likely take additional time for these units to arrive in the Kursk region. Instead, the Russian military appears to be relying on the troops already stationed in Kursk to halt the Ukrainian advance. Additionally, the Russian military is reportedly deploying conscripts from the military intelligence agency Glawnoje Raswedywatelnoje Uprawlenije (GRU) and special forces, including the Wagner mercenary group and the Kadyrovtsy, according to reports cited by the analysts.
08:35 Ukraine Publishes Figures on Russian LossesThe Ukrainian General Staff has published new figures on Russian troop losses in Ukraine. According to these figures, Russia has lost approximately 589,700 soldiers in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,160. A report from Kyiv also states that seven tanks, 69 artillery systems, and two air defense systems were destroyed in the past 24 hours. Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has reportedly lost 8,441 tanks, 16,605 artillery systems, 366 aircraft, 327 helicopters, 13,325 drones, 28 ships, and one submarine. Western estimates suggest lower casualty figures, but these are likely to be minimum values.
07:40 Russia: Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Strikes Ukrainian Forces in Russian KurskA Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has reportedly struck Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region of Kursk, according to the Russian Defense Ministry's Telegram channel. The air strike was carried out using an ODAB-500 bomb, and the Russian forces continue to repel the Ukrainian surprise advance in the Kursk region. The air strike was intended to push back the Ukrainian offensive, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A video showing the fighter jet in action was published on the Telegram channel.
06:48 Kyiv Accountant Stopped with Millions in CashUkrainian investigators have discovered over 4.7 million euros in undeclared cash in the trunk of a company accountant's car. The woman could not explain the source of the money, according to the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau in Kyiv. Photos show investigators standing by an open trunk filled with cash bundles. The company in question had supplied food worth over 320 million euros to the Ukrainian army in 2022 and 2023, with tax liability reduced through a fictitious loan. Investigations are ongoing for money laundering and large-scale tax evasion, with penalties of up to eight years in prison.
06:10 Ukraine Evacuates 28 Villages near Sumy BorderVolunteers in the northern border region of Sumy are helping residents and their pets leave the border area. According to local governor Vladimir Artyukh, 28 villages in a ten-kilometer-wide zone along the Russian border are being evacuated. Ukrainian police report that 20,000 people are being forced to leave their homes.
05:30 Kyiv Inscribes "Glory to Ukraine!" on New BanknotesThe Ukrainian Central Bank is supplementing the design of all Ukrainian banknotes with the national motto "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!". Money is not just a standard of value and means of payment, but also a symbol of the state that everyone holds daily, says Central Bank chief Andrij Pyshnyi according to a statement in Kyiv. "To honor the resilience of our people and this turning point in the birth of the Ukrainian nation that we live in today, we are adding our motto to all banknotes, which is heard throughout the world," says Pyshnyi. The change is to commemorate the upcoming 33rd Independence Day on August 24, it is reported. It will begin with the banknotes for 1000 (around 22.3 Euro) and 500 Hryvnia. The remaining denominations of 200, 100, 50, and 20 Hryvnia will follow. The motto will be placed in the upper right corner of the banknotes, leaving the rest of their appearance unchanged. The patriotic motto "Glory to Ukraine!" dates back to the emerging Ukrainian national movement at the end of the 19th century. It has a complex history. In the form "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!", it was used by Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with the Nazis. The greeting remained present in the Ukrainian independence movement against the Soviet Union.
04:37 Report: Russia Plans to Block WhatsAppIn its actions against internet services (see entry 22:33), Russia is reportedly planning to block WhatsApp, according to the news site "Kyiv Independent". Moscow has allegedly made preparations to block the messaging app. The messenger could be blocked in Russia in the fall, reports the independent Russian publication Verstka, citing sources at the Russian IT company VK, which is developing an application to replace WhatsApp. The Kremlin-linked media outlet Gazeta.ru reported in July that the Russian government was planning to fully block YouTube in September. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denied these alleged plans.
04:05 USA Approves Additional Military Aid to Kyiv Worth $125 MillionThe USA is providing additional military aid to Ukraine worth $125 million (around $114 million). The aid package underscores "our unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression," says John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, to journalists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explains that the aid will include air defense interceptors, ammunition for rocket systems and artillery, multi-purpose radars, and anti-armor weapons, and will come from US stockpiles. The equipment "will help Ukraine protect its troops, its population, and its cities from Russian attacks and strengthen its capabilities across the entire front," Blinken further explains.
03:19 Russia Claims to Have Issued 2.2 Million Passports in Occupied RegionsRussia claims to have issued 2.2 million passports in the Ukrainian regions occupied by its invasion. Since October 2020, these have been distributed in Saporischschja, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Cherson, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs explains. These claims cannot be independently verified. In the past, there have been repeated reports that Russian authorities have systematically forced people to accept these passports.
02:30 IAEA warns of nuclear accident at Kursk NPP due to fighting in regionThe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns of potential fighting near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in western Russia following Ukraine's large-scale offensive in the region. "At this point, I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident that could have potentially severe radiological consequences," says IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He is "in personal contact with the relevant authorities of both countries." The Kursk NPP is located near the city of Kursk, approximately 100 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. The state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the press service of the power plant, that "everything is functioning normally" with usual radiation levels. In Kursk itself, residents are currently without power. According to regional governor Alexei Smirnov, a power plant caught fire due to falling debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones.
01:55 Russia implements anti-terror measures in Kursk, Belgorod, and BryanskRussian media reports that Russia is implementing anti-terror measures in three regions bordering Ukraine. According to a report by the RIA news agency, these measures include possible evacuations of residents, traffic restrictions in certain areas, increased security at sensitive locations, and wiretapping of phones and other communication devices. According to local authorities and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, these anti-terror regulations apply to the regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, the news agency reports.
00:36 Nouripour on heads of government: Cowardice does not bring peace in UkraineGreen Party leader Omid Nouripour criticizes the minister-presidents of Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony for their recent statements on Ukraine policy. Dietmar Woidke, Bodo Ramelow, and Michael Kretschmer are "running away from reality," says Nouripour to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "They act as if one can achieve peace by burying one's head in the sand. But: Cowardice does not bring peace." Woidke says he has good contacts with Russia and can mediate. However, "it's strange that this only occurs to him two and a half years after the start of the war and a few weeks before the state election," says Nouripour. Ramelow calls for a non-aggression pact with Russia. However, such a pact was initiated by Germany 85 years ago and brought great suffering to other European countries, the Green politician adds. Kretschmer, meanwhile, acts "as if he doesn't know that only Putin can end this war quickly." Kretschmer had called for a reduction in military aid to Ukraine and advocated for diplomatic initiatives in the Ukraine conflict.
00:13 July deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since October 2022According to the United Nations, more Ukrainian civilians have died from Russian shelling in July than in any other month since October 2022. "The high number of casualties in July continues an alarming trend since March 2024," the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports.
23:43 Construction Workers Pulled from Kursk NPPDue to the advancement of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, workers are being temporarily withdrawn from the construction site of two new nuclear reactors at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Atomstroiexport, a subsidiary of the state-owned Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, announced that the number of construction workers will be reduced. Other specialists continue their work as planned. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Kurtschatov has been repeatedly mentioned as a potential target of the offensive that began on Tuesday. However, it is located about 60 kilometers from the border. The farthest reported incursions of Ukrainian troops, which have not been confirmed, reached about 30 kilometers into Russia. After the announcement of the Ukrainian offensive, the Russian National Guard reportedly reinforced the protection of the power plant. Two reactors are being built to replace the two oldest, already decommissioned blocks of the plant. Two other reactors are currently in operation.
23:11 Ukraine Takes Control of Gazprom Facility in Kursk RegionAccording to a video published by Ukrainian media, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of a facility of the gas company Gazprom in the Russian region of Kursk. The facility in the city of Sudzha and the city itself have been captured, Ukrainian soldiers in the video claim.
22:33 Russia Blocks Encrypted Chat Service SignalIn its crackdown on foreign internet services, Russia has also blocked the encrypted chat service Signal, citing alleged legal violations. Signal is not complying with legal measures necessary to counter terrorism and extremism, the responsible authority Roskomnadzor in Moscow stated. Throughout the day, complaints from Signal users in Russia piled up that the messaging service was unavailable. Portals like Sboj.rf, which collect reports of outages, reported around 2000 complaints. Signal was developed in the US and is valued by its users for its high level of security. On Thursday, Russian users also complained that YouTube was working slowly and videos were difficult to download. The Russian authorities have not provided an official explanation for this. They have previously stated that they have the extremely popular video service in their sights because it supposedly refuses to remove extremist videos. Large social networks with US ownership like X and Facebook have already been blocked in Russia and can only be used via protected connections (VPN). Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow had made preparations for a possible internet shutdown in the country. Since the beginning of the war in 2022, Roskomnadzor has blocked thousands of websites that are not approved by the Russian authorities.
You can read all previous developments here.
The Ukrainian government is considering banning the Moscow-linked branch of the church, as it is accused of supporting the Russian military invasion and attempting to poison public opinion. The Commission, being a part of the Ukrainian government, may play a role in this potential ban.
The strength of Ukrainian spiritual independence is being strengthened by the Ukrainian President, as suggested by his announcement to do so. The Commission, as a representative of the Ukrainian government, could support and implement measures to foster this spiritual independence.
