**Ukraine Abolishes Medical Commission System**
The Ukrainian parliament has voted to dissolve the system of medical examination commissions. The decision was made on December 19, after a number of officials were accused of corruption and falsifying disability certificates.
**Corruption Exposed**
In October, President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree to disband the commissions after several officials were charged with crimes related to the sale of fake disability status certificates. The SBU security service had exposed corruption schemes at medical examination commissions in 2024, resulting in the cancellation of over 4,000 fake disability certificates.
**New System Introduced**
Starting from January 1, Ukraine will introduce new expert commissions in major hospitals for assessing people’s medical status based on a modern system. This is expected to create a more transparent procedure for assessing the needs of applicants and reduce administrative burden.
**Other News**
* Russia has built a 40-kilometer-long bridge between the city of Taganrog and occupied Mariupol.
* The US State Department spokesperson said that sanctions against Russia are having an effect, but they are not the key factor in limiting Russia’s power.
* Ukraine says at least 100 North Korean troops have been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine.
* Ukrainian air defenses shot down 45 drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles launched overnight.
**Ukraine Seeks Support**
President Zelensky visited Brussels on December 18 to seek more air defense support from Western allies. He also discussed the potential deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine with European leaders.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com