In a speech via video on the evening of January 26, President Zelensky said he assigned Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi to command the battle-strategic group of Khortytsia. This group has the scope of responsibility, including most of the eastern Front of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke at a press conference in Kyiv (Ukraine) on January 25
“These are the most fierce fighting areas,” Zelensky emphasized that he had discussed the change of commander in a meeting with the Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, according to Reuters.
The appointment of Mr. Drapatyi will help combine the combat of the Ukrainian army with the training of the brigade appropriately, according to Mr. Zelensky.
The US stops military aid to Ukraine
Mr. Drapatyi will replace Major General Andriy Hnatov, in charge of the Khortytsia war-strategy team from June 2024. Mr. Hnatov will become Deputy Chief of Staff to run training and communication. This is the third time President Zelensky instead of the Khortytsia commander in less than a year, according to Reuters.
Russian forces have continuously entered the Donetsk area in eastern Ukraine towards Pokrovsk, trying to cut off the supply routes for the Ukrainian army. Pokrovsk is one of Ukraine’s main defense cities in the Donetsk area and is the focus of fierce fighting for months.
Washington asked USAID to stop projects in Ukraine?
In another development, Ukraine Suspilne TV network on January 26 quoted a source in the US International Development Agency (USAID) revealed that Washington asked USAID to stop projects in Ukraine after the freezing bosses of foreign aid. In 90 days made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The command takes effect from January 24, causing many aid agencies to fall into precarious when they are asked to stop the work for existing projects while Washington audits foreign aid programs.
At first, the senior diplomats at the Department of Europe and Eurasian issues under the US Department of State proposed the application of aid-freezing command to USAID activities in Ukraine, with the reason. concerns about national security. However, an unnamed USAID employee told Suspilne that USAID was still ordered to stop projects in Ukraine and spend on those projects.
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There is no information on Kyiv’s reaction as well as Washington about the disclosure.
USAID, one of the world’s largest official aid agencies, has greatly participated in Ukrainian wartime needs and has provided more than US $ 2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, 5 billion USD to support development. And $ 30 billion supported the budget directly since Russia started the military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 The Kyiv Independent.
The compromising order has caused hundreds of foreign aid contracts, worth more than 70 billion USD in the fiscal year 2022, falling into a precarious state when the review process takes place in the next 85 days, according to the sheet, according to the sheet, according to the sheet, according to the sheet Financial Times.
Ukrainian non -governmental officials and organizations warn that this temporary suspension may be dangerous to important initiatives, including support for schools, hospitals and infrastructure development.
However, the command of the aid for 90 days does not affect the military aid to Ukraine, according to President Zelensky, confirmed at a press conference with President Moldova Maia Sandu on January 25.
