{
  "id": 1897966,
  "title": "+++ Ukraine-Krieg +++: Korruptionsermittlungen in Ukraine vor Votum zu Verteidigungsminister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/ukraine-krieg-korruptionsermittlungen-in-ukraine-vor-votum-zu",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T08:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/ukraine-krieg-korruptionsermittlungen-in-ukraine-vor-votum-zu-verteidigungsminister/27982126.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian financial backers have contributed billions of dollars to the national budget, according to a media report. As of August 15, a total of 383.69 billion rubles (approximately 3.9 billion euros) had been donated voluntarily to the government's coffers, which is nearly double the amount for the entire year of 2025. The majority of this money came after a call in March to businesses, according to the report citing the Russian Ministry of Finance. Apart from large corporations, individuals, company or family foundations could also contribute, said Alexander Schochin, head of the Russian Industrialists and Entrepreneurs' Union. The precise use of the funds is unclear. However, the Russian government may introduce an additional tax on financial institutions in the fall to generate more revenue. In the Crimean port city of Odessa, at least nine people were injured by Russian attacks. According to regional Military Administrator Oleh Kiper, the enemy continues to terrorize the civilian population in the Odessa region through its drone strikes. A Russian court sentenced prominent Russian opposition figure and critic of the war, Lev Schlosberg, to eleven years and one month in a penal colony for allegedly insulting the Russian military. The judge found Schlosberg guilty of defamation of the Russian Armed Forces, among other things. The verdict, which fell short of the prosecutor's request for twelve years and one month, Schlosberg's liberal opposition party Jabloko said they would appeal. The Russian state development bank VEB reportedly fired its chief economist after he made critical remarks about the economy and the war in Ukraine. Two sources confirmed the dismissal to Reuters. Andrej Klepatsch had previously stated in May that Russia was falling behind in competition with the West and China due to the war and was experiencing increasing economic damage. The bank confirmed Klepatsch's dismissal without providing a reason. Klepatsch, who revealed his departure on the Nikitski-Club website, an forum for economists and government officials, stated earlier this week that Russia was not only losing to China and the USA, but also to Ukraine. This is due to the financial support provided by the West to Kyiv. Klepatsch argued that they would not win the competitive war in Ukraine, as their costs were rising.",
  "summary": "Vier Tote nach russischem Drohnenangriff +++ Selenskyj empfängt neuen deutschen Botschafter +++ Ukrainischer Ex-Minister Fedorow ruft zu Wahlen im Krieg auf +++ Der Newsblog.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "+++ Ukraine-Krieg +++: Lawrow: Könnten Großbritannien als Kriegspartei in der Ukraine betrachten",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/ukraine-krieg-lawrow-konnten-gro-britannien-als-kriegspartei-in-der",
        "published": "2026-08-18T19:03:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}