Coronavirus
By the morning of 5 August, Ukraine has registered a record 1,271 new Covid-19 cases. The total count has thus reached 75,490, including 41,527 recoveries and 1,788 fatalities.
Controversial appointment
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Oleh Tatarov as deputy head of the presidential office. Tatarov is a former deputy head of the Interior Ministry's main investigations department under President Viktor Yanukovych. He is known for his controversial statements about killed Maydan protesters and the May 2014 events in Odesa.
Belarus
Zelenskyy and Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka have discussed Wagner private military company mercenaries detained in Belarus whose extradition Ukraine has requested. They noted that it is important to establish efficient cooperation between the relevant bodies of the two countries. Zelenskyy said that he hopes that the militants suspected of terrorist activities in Ukraine will be handed over to Kyiv for trial.
More appointments
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Kyrylo Budanov chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defence Ministry instead of Vasyl Burba. In spring 2019, a Russian saboteur allegedly planted a bomb under Budanov's car seat but was injured himself because of an awkward gesture.
The Cabinet of Ministers has agreed the appointment of Valeriy Mishchenko as head of the Kirovohrad regional state administration. He owns several agrarian companies in the region.
Donbas
Russia-backed militants made single shots from an under-barrel grenade launcher near Shumy last night, the Joint Forces Operation HQ said in its evening update. The 27 July ceasefire was fully observed in other areas.
Ukraine is currently developing an ambitious new economic strategy for the east of the country, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said in an article for the Atlantic Council think-tank. A key focus is on the development of the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions currently under Ukrainian control.