Society & Culture

For the third consecutive year, Ukraine is among the top three in the Open Data Maturity rating with a rate of 97%. The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine reported this on Telegram, citing the rating data, Ukrinform reports. “This year, the level of open data maturity in Ukraine is 97%, while the average across Europe is 83%. And since 2020, we have risen in the rating from 17th place to 3rd — this is the result of the constant work of our team,” the statement reads. As the Ministry emphasizes, Ukraine is among the top 3 countries in terms…

Since the start of the firearm declaration process, Ukrainians have registered over a thousand firearms and more than 80,000 rounds of ammunition with the police. This was reported on Telegram by the Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, according to Ukrinform. "Three weeks have passed since the launch of the procedure for declaring firearms found by citizens. During this period, Ukrainians have declared more than 1,000 firearms (including over 350 automatic rifles and 470 smoothbore shotguns) and more than 80,000 rounds of ammunition with the National Police," the statement reads. It is noted that additionally, 59 firearms…

Starting next year, the Available Medicines program will provide a range of medications for children either free of charge or with a small co-payment, including a first-line antibiotic. This was announced in an interview with Ukrinform by the Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko. "Starting next year, Available Medicines will expand to include 30 new nomenclature items, as well as specific drugs for treating children. In particular, we are introducing a basic antibiotic into the reimbursement program for the first time. This addresses several issues. First, it is a first-line, basic antibiotic, introduced to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. This…

The Regional Human Rights Protection Center has commenced operations in Zaporizhzhia. It is the first such center in Ukraine to be located in the premises of the regional council. Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets announced this at the opening ceremony, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “This is the first center that has such conditions for communication, and the first to be established on the basis of municipal premises belonging to the regional council. The necessary repairs and equipment were purchased using funds from the local regional budget. This is the first region to recognize that building such a…

Russia is holding over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians captive, with 168 of them having been released. Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said this during his visit to Zaporizhzhia, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "We have a separate list, and according to preliminary data, more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are being held in Russian prisons," the ombudsman said. He also recalled that international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions do not allow for the exchange of civilian prisoners for prisoners of war. "This exchange procedure is reserved exclusively for prisoners of war. However, we have managed to release 168…

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and United Nations Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations Giles Duley visited one of the rehabilitation centers for military personnel and veterans in the Kyiv region.   Shmyhal wrote this in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "The rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers returning from the frontline is a crucial aspect of the government's strategy for reintegrating them into civilian life. Therefore, the development and support of this area are among the government's key priorities. We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of opening modern rehabilitation centers for military personnel…

Scheduled inspections of pharmacies will resume on January 1, 2025. This will also apply to pharmacies operating on the territory of hospitals.   Health Minister Viktor Liashko said this in an interview with Ukrinform. “Until now, there had been a moratorium on inspections. However, the government has decided, and as of January 1, 2025, the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control will resume scheduled inspections of pharmacies. Previously, we responded to citizen appeals regarding violations at specific pharmacies on an individual basis. Furthermore, the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control had the authority to…

Videos of prisoners of war being interrogated by the Russians emerge as part of the ongoing information war, aiming to demoralize Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. That’s according to the Air Force press service, Ukrinform reports. “Enemy videos of interrogations of captured Ukrainian servicemen are part of the information war waged by the aggressor. When circulated, such materials are used to demoralize the Ukrainian servicemen and the civilian population in order to influence public opinion, both within Ukraine and beyond,” the statement warns. As noted by the Air Force, through such interrogation videos, the enemy seeks to spread propaganda narratives, creating…

The main goal of Russia's malign information attacks over the past year and a half is to disrupt military draft in Ukraine. This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by Maryna Vorotyntseva, a senior expert at NATO StratCom COE. "One of the key goals of Russian disinformation over the past 18 months has been the disruption of Ukrainian mobilization. In addition to actually undermining mobilization, it is also very important for the aggressor to undermine the morale of those already serving in the army. This Russian campaign was aimed at hitting a key point in Ukrainian security," Vorotyntseva said.…

In a prayer voiced during a visit to Corsica, Pope Francis referred to the peoples of Ukraine and Russia peoples as "cousins". This was reported by Vatican News, Ukrinform reports. "They are brothers, cousins. Let them come to an understanding! War is always a defeat. Peace to the whole world!" the publication quoted the head of the Catholic Church as saying. Read also: Ukrainian bishop elevated to Catholic Church Cardinal It is noted that Pope Francis said these words during a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the "long-awaited peace for the Ukrainian people and the Russian people". As…