The Ukrainian parliament descended into chaos today as two MPs brawled before voting to restore the independence of the country’s anti-corruption agencies.
Volodymyr Zelensky submitted the bill last week in an embarrassing U-turn after parliament pushed through a controversial bill that removed the independence of the organisations.
MPs voted 331 to 0 in favour of the bill today in Kyiv’s 450-seat legislature to restore their independence.
Mr Zelensky, who is expected to sign the bill into law this evening, backed the U-turn in the hope of bringing to an end the largest political crisis of his presidency so far. Thousands of protesters descended onto the streets of Kyiv, and there was mounting pressure from top European officials.
The controversial bill removed the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and its partner organisation the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sapo), placing them under the control of the General Prosecutor’s Office which is led by Zelensky loyalists and mistrusted by many Ukrainians.
Mr Zelensky had resisted calls from Ukraine’s key allies, including Emmanuel Macron and US officials, to dissuade him from doing so.
Donald Trump has warned a senior Russian official he is “entering dangerous territory” in an escalating war of words.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former president of Russia who now sits on the security council, had criticised Mr Trump’s threat to impose sanctions on Moscow in 10 days if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire.
“Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe road!” Medvedev said earlier this week.
Mr Trump warned Medvedev, who he described as the “failed former President of Russia”, to “watch his words”.
“Tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!” the US president posted on Truth Social.
The Ukrainian parliament has voted to restore the independence of anti-corruption agencies in the country.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s government had pushed through a law critics said would strip the country’s two key anti-corruption agencies of their autonomy, prompting angry protests on the streets.
The Ukrainian president was forced into an embarrassing U-turn after thousands of protesters descended onto the streets of Kyiv to demand that the president back down amid widespread international condemnation.
The U-turn was finalised this afternoon when Ukraine approved legislation overturning the law.
Last week, two Russian drones exploded above the home of Sergei, 72, and Iryna, 64, in Shostka, northern Ukraine.
After the first drone hit, they managed to escape as their house burned, grabbing only their passports and other vital documents, which had been packed away in an emergency bag.
They ran towards their neighbours’ cellar, at which moment they heard a second drone exploding, destroying what was left of their homes.
Within just two hours, 28 Shahed drones and six guided bombs attacked that neighbourhood.
The couple told the Telegraph that “in an instant, everything that we had acquired our whole life was turned to ashes. We have nothing left for our old age. Our only hope is [local Jewish community] Hesed, who would never abandon us in our time of need”.
Their home had only been repaired a year ago by World Jewish Relief, a humanitarian agency which works in Ukraine.
Paul Anticoni, chief executive of humanitarian agency World Jewish Relief, said: “We had just repaired their home a year ago — now it’s all gone. This tragic incident offers yet another reminder of the pain and misery faced by millions of Ukrainians caught in this brutal conflict.”
The death toll from Russia’s overnight attacks against Kyiv has risen to seven, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Among those killed was a six-year-old boy.
Volodymyr Zelensky has said the world should push for “regime change” in Russia, arguing that Vladimir Putin would otherwise continue to destabilise its neighbours.
“I believe Russia can be pushed to stop this war,” the Ukrainian president told a conference marking 50 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act on respecting borders and territorial integrity.
“It started it, and it can be made to end it, but if the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, that means even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilise neighbouring countries.”
Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the confiscation of Russia’s financial assets, following the latest deadly strike by Moscow on Kyiv.
“We need to fully block Russia’s war machine … put every frozen Russian asset, including the stolen wealth of corruption to work defending against Russian aggression,” the Ukrainian president told a Helsinki conference in an online address.
“It’s time to confiscate Russian assets, not just freeze them, confiscate them and use them to serve peace, not war.”
The Ukrainian army has denied Russia’s claim that it had captured the eastern stronghold of Chasiv Yar.
“I always advise not to consider the Russian Ministry of Defence as a source of information. They simply lie systematically, and the very approach of having us comment on their latest lies every time is wrong,” Viktor Tregubov, a spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces said.
A resident in Kyiv filmed the moment a Russian drone exploded in a wave of overnight attacks.
A large fireball can be seen engulfing the skyline before smoke and sparks fill the air.
Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia must be forced to make peace after its latest wave of attacks killed six people, including a six-year-old boy.
“Today, the world once again saw Russia’s response to our desire for peace, shared with America and Europe. New, showcase killings,” the Ukrainian president said.
“That is why peace without strength is impossible. But forcing Moscow to make peace, compelling them to come to a real negotiating table — all the tools needed for this are in the hands of our partners.”
Russian missiles and drones struck hit Kyiv overnight, killing at least six people and wounding dozens, according to Ukrainian officials.
A six-year-old boy is understood to be among the dead after the attack targeted 27 locations across the capital, including the children’s ward of a hospital in Shevchenkivsky district.
Since the night hours, our rescuers, firefighters, medics, and all the necessary emergency services have been working at the sites of Russian missile and drone strikes. The Dnipro, Poltava, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv regions have been affected. The capital was the primary target of… pic.twitter.com/Cn8VMXoijE
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Ukraine-Russia war live: Ukrainian MPs brawl as anti-corruption bill passes – The Telegraph
