Search at museum
This morning, police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have raided the Revolution of Dignity Museum dedicated to the 2013-2014 anti-government protests. The searches, which were also conducted at the museum director's flat, on the eve of the anniversary of the protests, also known as Maydan or Euromaydan, caused an outrage in society.
The presidential office expressed concern about the timing of the searches and the reaction it caused. "Was it really necessary to hold these searches now even if investigators deem them necessary? Clearly, this does not benefit public peace in the state. Law enforcers must take these things into account when there is no urgency for investigative actions," it said.
Police said the searches were conducted as part of an investigation into financial abuse at the Revolution of Dignity Museum, which has inflicted almost 4m hryvnyas in losses on the state. The investigation allegedly concerns a general contractor which was to build a memorial complex and had received an advance payment of 111m hryvnyas. Although construction has not started yet, the account balance is only around 10m hryvnyas.
Also today, the State Investigation Bureau has summoned Euromaydan leaders for questioning in the "coup" case initiated on the request of former prosecutor-general and effective MP of pro-Russian Opposition Platform-For Life party, Renat Kuzmin.
Coronavirus
Ukraine has registered a new record-high number of 13,357 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours. Some 7,400 patients recovered and 257 died. The case total has reached 583,510.
The first batch of coronavirus vaccines under the COVAX facility will include 1.2 million doses, according to Health Minister Maksym Stepanov. Doctors will be the first to be vaccinated.
The State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection has cancelled a 32.4m-hryvnya tender on the modernisation of a satellite communication system at the president's Airbus A-319-115 and decided to channel this money towards anti-coronavirus efforts.
According to an updated model by the Kyiv School of Economics, from 17,000 to 33,000 people in Ukraine may die from the coronavirus by the end of year. Its experts said that the situation would not improve unless Ukraine goes into a month-long lockdown.
A repeat coronavirus test of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned positive again.
Donbas
The Russian occupying authorities will block a prisoner exchange until the trilateral contact group – and later the Ukrainian parliament – approve a roadmap on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, a representative of the Donetsk separatist authorities, Darya Morozova, has told the media.
A Ukrainian serviceman sustained a fragmentation wound as a result of a separatist attack with small arms and a grenade launcher near Avdiyivka, the Joint Forces Operation HQ has said.
Chornobyl
The first container with nuclear waste fuel containing 93 spent fuel assemblies was placed into a new waste storage facility at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant on 18 November, the State Nuclear Regulation Inspectorate has said.
NABU
During a video link, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has assured G7 and EU ambassadors that Artem Sytnyk will continue as director of the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine. He once again criticised the Constitutional Court's ruling invalidating some provisions of the anticorruption legislation.
Crime
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has exposed state export control officers who planned to smuggle military-purpose goods abroad. The goods in question are units, spares and part to the Osa-AK-M missile system which were to be sent to a Middle East country, the SBU said.