Latest news with #AlinaSmutko
The Star
09-08-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers, Zelenskiy says
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to Ukrainian Muslim service members before sharing an iftar with them, a meal to break their fast at sunset, during the holy month of Ramadan, in a mosque in Kyiv, Ukraine March 13, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo
The Star
02-08-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Ukraine says it uncovers major drone procurement corruption scheme
A student of the school for drone pilots practices during a lesson, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine, June 30, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Smutko KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies said on Saturday they had uncovered a major graft scheme that procured military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated prices, two days after the agencies' independence was restored following major protests. The independence of Ukraine's anti-graft investigators and prosecutors, NABU and SAPO, was reinstated by parliament on Thursday after a move to take it away resulted in the country's biggest demonstrations since Russia's invasion in 2022. In a statement published by both agencies on social media, NABU and SAPO said they had caught a sitting lawmaker, two local officials and an unspecified number of national guard personnel taking bribes. None of them were identified in the statement. "The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices," it said, adding that the offenders had received kickbacks of up to 30% of a contract's cost. Four people had been arrested. "There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. Zelenskiy, who has far-reaching wartime presidential powers and still enjoys broad approval among Ukrainians, was forced into a rare political about-face when his attempt to bring NABU and SAPO under the control of his prosecutor-general sparked the first nationwide protests of the war. Zelenskiy subsequently said that he had heard the people's anger, and submitted a bill restoring the agencies' former independence, which was voted through by parliament on Thursday. Ukraine's European allies praised the move, having voiced concerns about the original stripping of the agencies' status. Top European officials had told Zelenskiy that Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for European Union membership by curbing the powers of its anti-graft authorities. "It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption," Zelenskiy wrote on Saturday after meeting the heads of the agencies, who briefed him on the latest investigation. (Reporting by Max Hunder; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Straits Times
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine says it uncovers major drone procurement corruption scheme
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A student of the school for drone pilots practices during a lesson, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine, June 30, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Smutko KYIV - Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies said on Saturday they had uncovered a major graft scheme that procured military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated prices, two days after the agencies' independence was restored following major protests. The independence of Ukraine's anti-graft investigators and prosecutors, NABU and SAPO, was reinstated by parliament on Thursday after a move to take it away resulted in the country's biggest demonstrations since Russia's invasion in 2022. In a statement published by both agencies on social media, NABU and SAPO said they had caught a sitting lawmaker, two local officials and an unspecified number of national guard personnel taking bribes. None of them were identified in the statement. "The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices," it said, adding that the offenders had received kickbacks of up to 30% of a contract's cost. Four people had been arrested. "There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. Zelenskiy, who has far-reaching wartime presidential powers and still enjoys broad approval among Ukrainians, was forced into a rare political about-face when his attempt to bring NABU and SAPO under the control of his prosecutor-general sparked the first nationwide protests of the war. Zelenskiy subsequently said that he had heard the people's anger, and submitted a bill restoring the agencies' former independence, which was voted through by parliament on Thursday. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw names 6 law firms taken to task over involvement in property deals Singapore Police reopen access to all areas in Marina Bay after crowd congestion eases at NDP Preview area Singapore Opening of Woodlands Health has eased load on KTPH, sets standard for future hospitals: Ong Ye Kung Asia KTM plans new passenger rail service in Johor Bahru to manage higher footfall expected from RTS Singapore HSA investigating teen allegedly vaping on MRT train Asia 4 workers dead after falling into manhole in Japan Singapore New vehicular bridge connecting Punggol Central and Seletar Link to open on Aug 3 Singapore New S'pore jobs portal launched for North West District residents looking for work near home Ukraine's European allies praised the move, having voiced concerns about the original stripping of the agencies' status. Top European officials had told Zelenskiy that Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for European Union membership by curbing the powers of its anti-graft authorities. "It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption," Zelenskiy wrote on Saturday after meeting the heads of the agencies, who briefed him on the latest investigation. REUTERS
The Standard
11-07-2025
- The Standard
Trump says US to supply weapons to Ukraine via NATO
Firefighters work at a site of an apartment building, damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 10, 2025. (REUTERS/Alina Smutko)
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
'We go on living': Kyiv embraces city routines after nights of terror
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Women sit at a bus stop damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 10, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo KYIV - At night, Kyiv's skies are lit by fire and boom with explosions, but by day its streets thrum in a style familiar to any European capital, as Gen Z teens on ride-share scooters speed past impeccably dressed executives en route to work. The city of 3 million people has endured several consecutive weeks of escalating deadly Russian drone and missile attacks. But many of its residents are determined to hold on to some normality. They are living their daily routines vividly. Shortly after dawn on Thursday, Lycra-clad joggers and cyclists emerged from homes near a downtown apartment block hit hours before by a Russian bomb. Firefighters who worked through the night to extinguish the blaze packed up their hoses. Street sweepers cleared away a carpet of glass and shrapnel. Around the corner, a hip, third-generation coffee shop opened its doors, part of a coffee scene that has thrived in the three and a half years since Russia's full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour. A young businessman stopped in for a morning brew. Adorned in stylish sunglasses and a fluffy white dog in her arms, 66-year-old Antonina stood near the charred building. "I came, I looked around, I cried a bit," she said. But she said, she was ready for the day. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Up to 90% of air-con units can be recycled, including greenhouse gas refrigerant Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty Sport World Aquatics C'ships Singapore 2025 declared open by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore CPF Board uses AI to improve call centre services, prioritise help for less tech-savvy users "We go on living." Across the street from the charred apartments, business owner Dmytro Yatsenko surveyed the damage to his nail salon, whose plate glass windows had been shattered by the blast. Black and white CCTV video he showed Reuters captured the moment shards exploded into his shop. "It was just about coming here right away to fix everything and getting back to work," said Yatsenko, 40, who said he was relieved none of his workers were hurt. Other Kyiv residents expressed resignation over the steady rhythm of attacks that has increased since diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fourth year, stalled. Many said they were grateful to the country's soldiers for making it possible for life and work to continue in Kyiv. In Thursday's bombardment, Russia launched around 400 drones and 18 missiles at Kyiv and several other regions, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Two people were killed, 25 wounded and damages were reported in nearly every district in Kyiv. A day earlier, Russia had fired a record 728 drones at Ukraine. "I took a cold shower, drank two coffees, sat and thought for a bit, realised that for now I can't change anything, then went to work," said 24-year-old translator Kateryna, waiting at a bus stop. "That's it." REUTERS
