Valeriy Kluchok summarizes the key political and military events of the day. Among the top stories is the incident involving Angelina Jolie’s driver during her visit to Ukraine. According to official statements, Jolie’s Ukrainian driver was stopped at a checkpoint near Yuzhnoukrainsk for lacking military documents and was subsequently mobilized, sparking considerable public debate.
Another focal point was the increasing pressure of sanctions: new US and UK measures have paralyzed the foreign operations of Russian oil giant Lukoil. These sanctions have already halted Lukoil’s activities in Iraq, Finland, and Switzerland and threaten thousands of jobs.
On the international scene, Ukraine has joined the Joint Expeditionary Force, a military partnership headed by the UK and comprising several Northern European countries. Ukraine receives an enhanced partner status, opening the way for joint exercises and access to advanced technology.
Other reported topics include nuclear rhetoric between Russia and the US, drone incidents in Europe, and domestic anti-corruption scandals in Ukraine.
For more in-depth coverage, see the afternoon’s news analysis.
