Russia to crack down on troops using phones in Ukraine combat

Source: Reuters
Going to jail over a mobile phone? Russia’s lower house of parliament, the Duma, has proposed disciplinary detention for up to 10 days for its troops figthing in Ukraine in cases of unauthorized use of mobile phones that have photo, video, and geolocation functions in combat zones such as Ukraine, according to a report by Russia’s state TASS news agency.
Green-lit by the State Duma Defence Committee,  a draft law will resrict the use of such electronic devices while in the combat zone in Ukraine, and violation of this policy will be classified as gross disciplinary offence.
If approved, the policy will allow military commanders of military units to punish soldiers with 10 days’ arrest.
A 2024 report by Enea cybersecurity software firm has revealed that mobile phones are easily tracked on the battlefield in numerous ways in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.

The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.

In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.

Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.

Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.