Latest news with #NationalSecurityandDefenceCouncil
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pro-Russian public figure Portnov coordinated case concerning alleged treason of Ukraine's 5th president
Ukrainska Pravda has reported that Andrii Portnov, a shadow handler of the courts and a lawyer close to the fugitive former president Viktor Yanukovych, has been coordinating investigators since December 2021 in the so-called "coal case" concerning the alleged treason of the fifth president, Petro Poroshenko. Source: Ukrainska Pravda article Without trial or investigation. What was Andrii Portnov doing on the eve of his murder? Details: The case was formally investigated by the State Bureau of Investigations under the leadership of Oleksii Sukhachov. However, as Ukrainska Pravda said, it was Portnov who coordinated the investigators' actions from the moment the case was activated at the end of 2021. This refers to a scheme first exposed by Ukrainska Pravda in 2016, whereby coal from occupied mines in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts was brought into Ukraine instead of coal from South Africa. Petro Poroshenko and Viktor Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian businessman and pro-Russian politician who is also known for his connections to Putin, were named as the initiators. After years of stagnation and imitation of investigative actions, the investigation suddenly intensified immediately after a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council, which approved sanctions against several political figures, including Petro Poroshenko. One of Ukrainska Pravda sources, familiar with the case, explained: "Portnov has been seeking personal revenge for years. His main target has always been Poroshenko – a political antagonist and a man who did not keep his promise to him at the time. The 'coal case' became his personal project." Quote from the article: "It was the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv – a key link in Portnov's vertical structure – that limited the time the defence had to study the case materials, which, according to Poroshenko's lawyer Illia Novikov, was a tool of pressure." Details: Despite the fact that the court that will hear the case has not yet been determined, Ukrainska Pravda sources indicate that control over its progress remains in the hands of the same judicial vertical formed by Portnov. Poroshenko's team also names Portnov as the main initiator and curator of most cases involving the fifth president. Previously: Portnov was shot dead on the morning of 21 May near an American school in Madrid, Spain. Ukrainska Pravda reported that Andrii Portnov visited Ukraine a few days before his murder in Madrid. There he met with Oleh Tatarov, Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, and Oleksii Sukhachov, Director of the State Bureau of Investigation. Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in an evening address on 12 February 2025 that the National Security and Defence Council would impose new sanctions but did not name any names. Sources close to Ukraine's fifth president and current MP, Petro Poroshenko of the European Solidarity party, and the National Security and Defence Council told Ukrainska Pravda that Poroshenko was among those targeted by the sanctions. The fifth president of Ukraine called the sanctions against him a colossal blow to internal unity. On 13 February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the NSDC's decision of 12 February to impose sanctions. In May, Ukrainska Pravda learned that the investigation against Poroshenko in the so-called "coal case" had been completed and that he was charged with high treason. The question of which court will hear the case is currently being decided. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
NDTV
11-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Ukraine's Zelenskiy Calls On Russia To Confirm Ceasefire Before Talks
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Russia on Sunday to confirm an unconditional ceasefire beginning on May 12, saying Ukraine would then be ready to meet for direct talks with Russia. On Saturday, Zelenskiy received the backing of Europe's major powers and US President Donald Trump for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded early on Sunday with a proposal for direct talks with Kyiv starting on Thursday in Turkey. "It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war ... And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire," Zelenskiy said on X. "There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire - full, lasting, and reliable - starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet." Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, said on Telegram, first there had to be a ceasefire, "then everything else". He said Russia should not disguise its desire to continue the war by playing with words. It was a sentiment shared by other Ukrainian officials. Andriy Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, wrote on the Telegram messenger: "A complete ceasefire, Russia must agree to something it is constantly trying to avoid." (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy signs decree imposing sanctions on Russians and companies from Iran, China and Uzbekistan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) against 58 Russian nationals and 74 companies, most of which are linked to Russia's defence-industrial complex. Source: Interfax-Ukraine Details: The sanctions list also includes three companies each from Iran and Uzbekistan, as well as one company from Hong Kong, China. The restrictions were approved by the NSDC and then enacted by a presidential decree. Of the 74 legal entities under sanctions, 67 are Russian companies involved in military technologies. Background: President Zelenskyy had previously enacted an NSDC decision to impose sanctions against Novatek, Russia's largest producer of liquefied natural gas and one of its biggest natural gas producers. He also enacted NSDC sanctions targeting companies involved in missile production. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unknown drones attack Zvezda space reconnaissance system in Russia
Drones have targeted a military space intelligence unit in Russia's southern Stavropol Krai, specifically the Zvezda facility, which serves as one of the key stations in Russia's space electronic intelligence system. Source: Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, on Telegram Quote: "Unidentified drones have successfully reached a military unit of Russian space intelligence, known as the Zvezda facility, in the Stavropol Krai." Details: Kovalenko stated that the Zvezda system dates back to the Soviet era of the early 1970s. It was developed for global interception of satellite transmissions, intercontinental communications, and the exchange of signals between foreign military installations. He added that the Zvezda facility operates as a space information analysis centre under the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia's General Staff. Its focus includes electronic surveillance of orbital signals and foreign satellite communications systems, including those in the commercial sector. Kovalenko emphasised that Zvezda is not merely a technical installation, but a strategic component of Russia's intelligence infrastructure. It monitors military zones and supports information and psychological operations, in addition to playing a role in cyber espionage. Background: Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that on the night of 1-2 May, its air defence units had destroyed 121 "Ukrainian drones" over occupied Crimea and several Russian regions. However, Telegram channels reported explosions in various settlements across Crimea. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy elaborates on latest sanctions imposed on Ukrainian public figures, including former advisor to President's Office
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the sanctions he imposed on Thursday 1 May are targeted at companies and individuals involved in servicing Russian military production, supplying Moscow's armed forces, and spreading propaganda. Source: Zelenskyy on social media Quote: "The first [package of sanctions imposed today] concerns 36 companies and 5 individuals operating in various jurisdictions – not only Russian – but catering to Russian military production. In particular, these are titanium suppliers, metallurgical enterprises, companies working in the energy sector and in mechanical engineering. Some of them are already under sanctions imposed by our partners. Overall, we are synchronising our sanctions pressure with the world's sanctions against Russia for the war. The second sanctions package today concerns 106 entities that actively support the presence of the occupier in our Crimea, and in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, and who are involved in supplying the occupation army." Details: Zelenskyy also elaborated on the seven Ukrainians included in the latest sanctions, stating that they "have aligned themselves with Russian state propaganda, justify the war, and conduct active information operations that harm Ukraine and our defence in this war". The Ukrainian leader has also ordered that further sanctions be prepared. Background: On 1 May, Zelenskyy enacted a decision of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council to impose personal sanctions on several well-known Ukrainians, including Oleksii Arestovych, former non-staff advisor to the head of the President's Office, political analyst Kostiantyn Bondarenko and blogger Myroslav Oleshko. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
