Ukrainian positions in the east of the country came under heavy fire from Russia-backed separatists. An RFE/RL correspondent embedded with Ukrainian government troops in Avdiyivka, near the city of Donetsk, captured footage of the attack on the night of June 22. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
Ukraine cuts key interest rate for third month:
Ukrainian monetary-policy makers have cut borrowing costs for a third month, citing a slowdown in inflation and a rebound of the national currency, and promised more easing to come in order to boost lending.
The National Bank of Ukraine announced on June 23 that it was trimming its benchmark interest rate to 16.5 percent from 18 percent.
"The central bank will continue easing monetary policy to support the economic recovery as long as it doesn't conflict with achieving the inflation target" of 12 percent in 2016, the bank said in a statement.
"Inflation pressure eased because of balanced monetary policy and hryvnia strengthening after a favorable environment on global commodities markets."
The step comes after the bank confirmed that the conflict-wracked country had pulled out of an 18-month recession.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's currency, the hryvnya, reached its strongest level since January on promises from the new government to resume a $17.5 billion bailout. (AFP, Bloomberg)
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
Ukrainian Tank Drills Simulate Eastern Attack
Ukraine is conducting 10 days of drills simulating an attack from the east in breach of the Minsk agreement with Russia and Russia-backed separatists. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
KGB Investigates 138 Suspected Belarusian Mercenaries
The chairman of Belarus's KGB says investigations have been launched into the activities of 138 Belarusian citizens who are thought to have been combatants in Ukraine's eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
KGB chief Valeriy Vakulchik said on June 23 that the suspects are thought to have fought alongside Ukrainian government forces as well as on the side of Russia-backed separatists.
Vakulchik said all 138 suspects will be charged with fighting in a foreign country as a hired mercenary.
In April, Belarus adopted a law that made it illegal for Belarusians to fight as mercenaries in foreign military conflicts.
Dozens of Belarusian citizens, along with hundreds of citizens from other former Soviet republics, have joined Russia-backed separatists or Ukrainian government forces as mercenary fighters in eastern Ukraine since Moscow's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014.
More than 9,300 people have been killed in the conflict in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.