Christopher Miller

'Andriy Yermak is not Ukraine’s president. But he often acts like one,' writes the FT's Christopher Miller: https://on.ft.com/4l9Cf4Z

And yet another grim update on Russia’s missile and drone attacks on Kyiv yesterday: President Zelensky reports 31 people have been confirmed dead, including 5 children. The youngest was just two years old.

The death toll from the Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv on Thursday, July 31, has risen to 28, including 3 children, after rescuers recovered more bodies beneath the rubble, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Another 159 people were injured, including 16 children.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s moves against anti-graft bodies had chilling effect, warns official Whistleblowers stop co-operating after president’s attempt to undermine independence of anti-corruption agencies, Oleksandr Klymenko says

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s moves against anti-graft bodies had chilling effect, warns official—Oleksandr Klymenko, head of Ukraine’s Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sapo), in an interview… www.ft.com/content/bdb9... @christopherjm.ft.com @financialtimes.com

Update: It’s now law. NABU and SAPO have had their independence restored. Zelensky says he has signed the bill after it passed in parliament today.

Ukrainians can count their protests over Zelensky stripping their anti-corruption bodies of independence–and then his U-turn–as another street victory. And proof Ukraine remains a burgeoning if imperfect democracy, despite creeping authoritarian tendencies of its leaders, and in contract to Russia.

Ukraine restores independence of anti-graft agencies Parliaments adopts new law after presidential U-turn following mass protests and backlash from western allies

News: Ukraine’s parliament voted to restore the independence of the country’s anti-corruption agencies, reversing a push to place them under the authority of a presidential appointee that triggered rare wartime protests and criticism from western partners.
www.ft.com/content/0289...

Six killed in seven-hour Russian drone and missile assault on Kyiv Attack comes days after Donald Trump demanded Vladimir Putin agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face tighter sanctions

Waves of Russian drones and missiles hit Kyiv overnight into Thursday, killing at least six people and injuring dozens, in an attack that came days after Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Moscow and narrowed the window for agreeing to a ceasefire.
www.ft.com/content/ccdf...

Ihor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov, the former oligarch owners of Ukraine’s largest bank, were ordered to hand over almost $2bn in assets by England’s High Court in a fraud case that had become a test of Kyiv’s commitment to tackling corruption.
www.ft.com/content/3740...

Ukraine anti-graft chief warns of political pressure despite Volodymyr Zelenskyy U-turn Presidential moves ‘undermined’ independence of corruption agencies and have had a chilling effect, Oleksandr Klymenko says

Ukraine's top anti-corruption prosecutor says his agency will face more political pressure & smear campaigns, despite Zelensky’s U-turn on its independence after rare wartime protests & backlash from allies.

I spoke with SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko before tomorrow's vote
www.ft.com/content/bdb9...

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s unforced error Abortive attempt to control Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies has damaged trust at home and abroad

@financialtimes.com Editorial Board: "Zelenskyy will need to repair the damage with his own people. Ukrainians... need to be sure they are fighting not just for an independent Ukraine, but one that will be governed by democracy and the rule of law." www.ft.com/content/3bfa...

Breaking news: Donald Trump has given Russia a shorter window of 10 to 12 days to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine or face tighter sanctions, as his frustration with his Russian counterpart escalates. https://on.ft.com/4l3yDl8

Breaking news: Donald Trump’s administration has denied permission for Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te to stop in New York en route to Central America, after China raised objections with Washington about the visit https://on.ft.com/4kXt3k7

Donald Trump says Russia has 10 to 12 days to agree ceasefire in Ukraine [FREE TO READ] New deadline marks shortening of 50-day window that US president gave Moscow last month to avoid sanctions

Donald Trump has given Russia a shorter window of 10-12 days to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine or face tighter sanctions, as his frustration with Putin boils over. “There’s no reason in waiting I want to be generous, but we just don’t see any progress being made.”
on.ft.com/44PhE19

Gotcha. Thanks!

Logistics data shows Russia has depleted its once-vast stockpiles during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with shipments from military storage facilities to the front line now back down to pre-2022 levels. https://on.ft.com/3IOaL7N

To better understand Ukrainian top politics, read this 👇

The polarising power of Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s other wartime leader [FREE TO READ] President Zelenskyy’s right-hand man is fuelling concerns over creeping authoritarianism

There is a cap. But try this one and hopefully it will work: on.ft.com/410S3Ab The polarising power of Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s other wartime leader

The polarising power of Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s other wartime leader President Zelenskyy’s right-hand man is fuelling concerns over creeping authoritarianism

I do enjoy a big, nuanced magazine profile where the otherwise spotlight-enjoying subject has declined to participate. The FT's deep dive on Andriy Yermak, Ukraine's wartime green cardinal, from @christopherjm.ft.com does not disappoint

gift link
on.ft.com/4o9wSpa

Thanks! But he did participate! We did Three interviews and I followed him during some closed and open events, including the opening scene. He and Zelensky just declined to sit for another final interview and didn’t answer a lengthy list of further questions.

One in three Gazans goes multiple days without eating.

Malnourished mothers can no longer produce milk to breastfeed their children and hospitals have run out of nutritional supplements to treat gaunt babies https://on.ft.com/3H9L154

Software group Auterion to ship 33,000 AI drone ‘strike kits’ to Ukraine Pentagon-backed deal aims to help combat mass attacks by Russia

US-German software company Auterion will send 33,000 of its AI drone “strike kits” to Ukraine before the end of the year under a new contract with the Pentagon to help Kyiv combat mass Russian drone attacks, @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social and Laura Pitel report. www.ft.com/content/fe70...

Well, the info came literally from the party managers.

The polarising power of Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s other wartime leader President Zelenskyy’s right-hand man is fuelling concerns over creeping authoritarianism

If you want to understand how Ukraine is governed today, read this superbly informative article about @AndriyYermak - by @christopherjm.ft.com of @FT www.ft.com/content/4d61...

Zelenskyy MPs balk at restoring anti-corruption bodies over “revenge” fears MPs fearing prosecution refuse to vote on bill that restores independence of anti-corruption agencies

A political crisis looming? Up to 70 of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s MPs are potentially refusing to vote to restore the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, fearing the regained powers will be used by prosecutors to take revenge against them, @christopherjm.ft.com reports.
on.ft.com/40DlBn8

Under Siege From Trump and Musk, a Top Liberal Group Falls Into Crisis

Between Musk & the Trump administration, Media Matters has been squeezed to the brink. In settlement discussions, lawyers for X demanded the organization hand over all its cash and shut down — all because MM reported ads appeared on X next to antisemitic content. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/u...

Zelenskyy MPs balk at restoring anti-corruption bodies over “revenge” fears MPs fearing prosecution refuse to vote on bill that restores independence of anti-corruption agencies

Uh oh.

Scoop: Scores of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s MPs are potentially refusing to vote to restore the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, fearing the regained powers will be used to take revenge against them. www.ft.com/content/d8c2... via @financialtimes.com

Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks Europe to help boost wages of Ukrainian troops Beleaguered wartime president also seeks billions of dollars for drones and air defence against Russia

Zelensky's new draft bill that would restore independence to anti-corruption agencies NABU & SAPO would also require employees with relatives originating from or in Russia to undergo polygraph tests. Parliament will consider the bill during a session on July 31.
www.ft.com/content/5483...

Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks Europe to help boost wages of Ukrainian troops Beleaguered wartime president also seeks billions of dollars for drones and air defence against Russia

President Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had succeeded in slowing Russian momentum and the Russians were suffering huge casualties. But that assessment does not fully align with comments from military analysts or from his own troops on the front line.
www.ft.com/content/5483...

Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks Europe to help boost wages of Ukrainian troops Beleaguered wartime president also seeks billions of dollars for drones and air defence against Russia

Zelensky will also seek help from his western partners to secure an additional 7 Patriot air defence systems following confirmation from Germany & Norway that they'd send 3 to Kyiv to help defend against Russia’s escalating missile and drone bombardments. www.ft.com/content/5483...