Growing Influence of Andriy Yermak Sparks Concern Among NATO and Donors

The growing influence of Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, is raising concerns among Western allies. Yermak, a former movie producer, is seen as a key decision-maker in the Ukrainian government, with control over everything from foreign policy to military planning. His presence alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in official photos and his role as a coordinator are seen as signs of his increasing influence. However, Yermak insists that he only plays a coordinating role and emphasizes his ability to get results. The personnel changes in the Ukrainian government have raised concerns among NATO allies and international donors, as transparency is a key condition for financial support. Yermak's involvement in the dismissal of key government officials and his role in diplomatic activities, such as Ukraine's peace plan, have further solidified his position as a influential figure.

Oleksandr Ishchenko, a prisoner from Azov, died in a pre-trial detention center in Russia

Oleksandr Ishchenko, a 55-year-old defender from the Azov regiment, has died while in Russian captivity. Ishchenko had been held in a detention center in Rostov-on-Don for the past year. His death was reported by the Russian media outlet Mediazona.

Mediazona noted that Ishchenko's death became known during a session of the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don, where the trial of Ishchenko and 23 other captured Ukrainians is taking place. However, the pre-trial detention center had not yet provided official documentation of his death to the court, and the Russians did not disclose the date and cause of death.

On July 30, Ishchenko’s daughter Kristina announced his death on Instagram, revealing that he had been deceased for nine days. She wrote, "9 days since you were gone, nine days since you are still not in your native land. My beloved dad, how we fought for you, how you fought, and how you waited to meet us. You always encouraged us."

Before the full-scale invasion, Ishchenko worked as a sailor. After February 24, 2022, he joined the Azov regiment and served as a military driver. In the spring of 2022, he and 23 other Ukrainians were captured by Russian forces. He was held in detention centers in occupied Donetsk and later in Rostov-on-Don. His family learned of his capture from media photographs. In June 2023, the Russians began the so-called trial of Ishchenko and the other captured Ukrainians. Ishchenko faced charges under two articles of the Russian Criminal Code: participation in the activities of a terrorist organization and attempting to seize power by force. According to Mediazona, the trial includes nine women employed as cooks.

Ukraine estimates 700,000 people will leave country in 2024-2025

Ukraine anticipates that 400,000 more people will leave the country in 2024 and 300,000 in 2025, according to the National Bank of Ukraine's (NBU) inflation report published on August 1.

The NBU's updated estimates reflect an increase in expected emigration compared to its previous predictions in the April report. Over 6 million Ukrainians remain abroad after fleeing due to Russia's full-scale war, exacerbating the country's economic and demographic challenges.

The NBU attributes the predicted surge in emigration to the difficult energy situation, uncertainties about the upcoming winter, and the slow stabilization of economic processes due to safety concerns.

In 2023, approximately 200,000 people left Ukraine. The NBU also projects that Ukrainian refugees are likely to start returning to Ukraine in 2026, although this is expected to be a gradual process. The report estimates that 400,000 Ukrainians will return by 2026, citing difficult living conditions in Ukraine, particularly power shortages, and the successful adaptation of Ukrainians abroad as factors limiting return rates.

Demographic decline has been a persistent issue for Ukraine, predating the full-scale invasion. The country's population has decreased from over 50 million in the early 1990s to over 37 million by January 2024. According to a U.N. projection, the population could fall to 15.3 million by 2100.