Armed law enforcers were seen near the residence of Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, as reported by journalist Yuriy Butusov. Klitschko, who was out for a morning workout, returned to address the situation, suggesting it might be part of a political pressure campaign against the city's authorities. His press secretary, Oksana Zinovyeva, confirmed that no search was being conducted in the mayor's apartment at the time. Sources from Ukrayinska Pravda indicated that the SBU security service was planning to conduct a search. Klitschko stated his administration's openness and transparency, and his belief that those behind the pressure would be held accountable.

Ukraine has proposed to NATO the idea of holding joint military exercises as a response to Russia's military buildup near the Ukrainian border. Deputy Head of the President's Office, Roman Mashovets, discussed the situation with NATO's Alexander Vinnikov, emphasizing the need for a joint response and the advancement of Ukraine's NATO integration. Vinnikov offered condolences for Ukraine's recent losses and assured that information about the security situation would be relayed to NATO's headquarters.

During a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), the situation in Donbas was highlighted as a priority, according to President Zelensky.

Ukrainian MP Iryna Herashchenko reported that many Ukrainians liberated from captivity in Donbas had been victims of sexual violence by militants. She discussed this on the Right to Power panel show on 1+1 TV and mentioned that she had provided the new prosecutor's office with translated texts on sex crimes in the conflict zone. Herashchenko also highlighted the absence of such reports in international human rights documents and called for a class-action lawsuit.

Jim Kovpak, an American with Ukrainian heritage, expressed his desire to join the Ukrainian military in an interview with UNIAN. Having lived in Russia for over a decade, Kovpak observed a shift in Russian attitudes due to Kremlin propaganda, particularly hostility towards the West. Kovpak, who writes under a pseudonym for Western media and has a blog, has been working as a journalist and visited Ukraine's Donbas region. He criticized the Russian portrayal of the conflict as a civil war, instead calling it a Russian invasion. Despite his military background from the U.S. Army, Kovpak faced obstacles in joining the Ukrainian forces due to medical reasons and bureaucracy. He discussed the differences between the U.S. and Ukrainian militaries, the concept of 'Total Resistance', and the need for Ukraine to engage in information warfare. Kovpak also commented on the lack of sufficient U.S. support for Ukraine, criticizing both the Obama and Trump administrations for their approaches to the conflict.

Alexander Hug, Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine, discussed the challenges faced by the mission in monitoring the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. He clarified that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's resolution for a peacekeeping operation is not binding, as decisions are made by the Permanent Council in Vienna. Access to conflict areas is often restricted, affecting the mission's ability to verify compliance with the Minsk agreements. Hug highlighted the difficulties in monitoring the Ukrainian-Russian border, which is not under government control, and the risks faced by monitors, including aggression and electronic jamming of their equipment. He emphasized the importance of investigating violations against the mission and the need for the sides to remove any security threats. Hug also addressed the presence of Russian monitors in the mission and the criticism it draws. He stressed the ongoing risks along the contact line, the readiness for battle on both sides, and the severe impact of the conflict on civilians. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with the mission facilitating aid delivery when possible. Hug concluded by calling for an end to the conflict and a return to normal life for the affected civilians.

The article discusses the transformation of the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine into hubs for illegal arms production and smuggling, particularly to the Middle East. These regions, once highly industrialized, have had their facilities repurposed post-occupation to service military equipment and produce weapons like small arms, explosives, and ammunition. The article mentions the use of a local production facility for assembling portable MLRS Grad-P systems, originally designed for Soviet allies. It also touches on the use of these weapons by militants in the Middle East, including Hamas and ISIL, and suggests that these arms may be originating from the occupied Ukrainian territories and shipped through Crimea. The piece raises concerns about the Kremlin's potential role in arming terrorists while simultaneously calling for a coalition against terrorism.

The article discusses the recent protests in Russia, sparked by an investigation into Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's alleged corruption conducted by the Anti-Corruption Foundation, led by Alexei Navalny. It highlights the lack of coverage by Russian media and the government's heavy-handed response to the protests. The piece questions why President Vladimir Putin is not the focus of similar hashtags and suggests that the political elite is protected from repercussions. It also touches on the murders of opposition figures and the case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, suggesting that any real opposition to Putin's regime is systematically crushed. The article speculates on the upcoming elections and Navalny's potential candidacy, hinting at the possibility that Putin may allow some opposition to appease the public.

The article discusses the cultural and linguistic shift in Ukraine following Russia's invasion. It highlights the historical dominance of the Russian language in Ukrainian culture and the recent legislative efforts to promote the Ukrainian language. The 2017 education law and the 2019 law mandating Ukrainian as the state language are mentioned, as well as the ban on Russian books and music. Influencers and public figures like Olya Polyakova and Anton Ptushkin are shifting to Ukrainian, reflecting a broader societal change. President Zelensky's stance on language use is also covered, alongside reports of Russian suppression of the Ukrainian language in occupied areas. The article touches on the mixed reactions to these changes, with some advocating for a natural linguistic transition without bans. The impact of the war on language perception and the generational differences in language preference are also explored.

Russia has released a list of countries it deems 'unfriendly,' which currently includes the United States and the Czech Republic. The list is a response to actions perceived as hostile by these countries, including the expulsion of Russian diplomats and the imposition of financial restrictions. The Czech Republic has expelled 18 Russian diplomats in response to an ammunition depot explosion, while the U.S. has expelled 10 Russian diplomats and imposed borrowing restrictions due to various disputes, including the treatment of Aleksei Navalny.

The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a concept for the development of the Crimean Tatar language, as announced by the Ministry for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov highlighted the plan's 10-year scope and its role in creating a strategy for the language's development from 2022 to 2032. The concept aims to ensure generational language transmission, establish linguistic rights, and consider adopting the Latin script. It also includes initiatives like supporting the Crimean Tatar Wikipedia and proposing a language course to Duolingo. The strategy is to be presented at the Crimean Platform summit in August 2021.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Ukraine's Defense Minister Andrii Taran of continued support in the face of Russian aggression during a phone call initiated by the U.S. They discussed strengthening security and defense cooperation, with Taran briefing Austin on the situation in Donetsk, Luhansk, Crimea, and near Ukraine's state border. Austin condemned Russia's recent provocative actions and reiterated the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, mentioning over $2 billion in security assistance provided to Ukraine since 2014.

Ukraine has permitted foreign higher educational facilities to establish branches within the country, as part of its integration into the European educational space. This development, outlined in Cabinet Resolution No. 304, requires educational activities by foreign university branches to have a permit from the Ministry of Education and Science. Universities must rank within the top 3000 in international rankings such as QS, THE, or ARWU. Restrictions apply to entities with ties to aggressor or occupying states and in certain Ukrainian cities.

The article discusses Russia's strategy of distributing weapons to various states and non-state actors, drawing parallels with the USSR's tactics. It highlights Russia's interest in destabilizing regions to maintain its hydrocarbon export dominance, particularly in Syria, where it aims to prolong conflict to prevent competing oil pipeline projects. The article also mentions Russia's covert support of terrorists, including ISIS, to create chaos and buffer zones, as seen in Ukraine and Syria. This strategy is seen as contributing to the refugee crisis in Europe, which diverts attention from Russia's actions in Ukraine. Additionally, the article touches on Russia's recent military aid to Fiji, which is interpreted as a move to extend its influence in the Pacific and escalate tensions with the West, especially in light of the UK's Litvinenko report and potential sanctions against Russia.

The article discusses the impact of international sanctions on Russia's economy and the Kremlin's response, particularly in relation to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The annexation of Crimea and aggression against Ukraine led to the G8 members' refusal to attend a summit in Sochi, marking a significant political response. The SPIEF, despite its importance to Russia, is facing a decline in status due to the absence of key international participants, with many CEOs from major companies and countries expanding sanctions against Russia. The article highlights the double standards of Russia's government and questions the country's ability to be a reliable partner in international economic relations. It also notes the significant cost of the Forum to the Russian treasury and the shift in the Forum's status from 'World' to predominantly 'Asian and Arab' due to the refusals to participate.