Ukraine’s new Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on Wednesday that 200,000 Ukrainian soldiers are officially considered as absent without official leave (AWOL), meaning they have left their positions without permission to do so.

Ukraine's chief of defense estimated Wednesday that 200,000 soldiers have gone absent without official leave during an address to parliament.

President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France was now providing two-thirds of intelligence information to Ukraine, largely replacing the United States, which until last year had delivered the bulk of those services.

Ukraine's new defense minister says wide-scale desertions and draft-dodging are major challenges as Russia's invasion continues.

Fates of Kupiansk and Huliaipole highlight Kyiv’s reliance on a shrinking pool of experienced, reliable soldiers

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis' populist right-wing government won a parliamentary confidence vote on Thursday, taking power with an agenda of scaling back support for Ukraine, opposing EU environment policies and pausing the previous administration's austerity drive.

Ukraine anti-corruption bureau releases video showing U.S. cash seized allegedly from ex PM's office. (Credit: NABU YouTube page)

Context: The EU has not added a member since Croatia’s 2013 accession. Nine countries are officially candidates to join. Following Russia’s invasion, Ukraine became one of those and Brussels changed its rhetoric making enlargement a geopolitical priority.