A massive Russian drone and missile barrage struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, resulting in civilian casualties and significant damage to residential buildings. The attack marks another brutal chapter in the ongoing conflict, now in its 1,375th day.
Overnight Assault on the Capital
Authorities in Kyiv confirmed that one man was killed and seven people were wounded, including a child, during the overnight assault. Loud explosions reverberated through the city around midnight as air defence systems engaged multiple targets on the capital's outskirts.
Mayor Vitaly Klitschko urgently warned residents to remain in shelters throughout the attack. The assault caused damage to residential buildings in several districts and to numerous cars. Of the seven injured, four required hospitalisation for their wounds.
The governor of the Kyiv region, Mykola Kalashnyk, stated that the enemy was heavily attacking the region with missiles and drones, explicitly targeting residential areas and people's homes.
Political Shockwaves and Anti-Corruption Move
In a significant political development coinciding with the military attack, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff and closest ally, Andriy Yermak, has resigned. The abrupt departure came after Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies conducted searches at his apartment on Friday.
President Zelenskyy announced the resignation in a social media video, praising Yermak but emphasising that "there should be no reason to be distracted by anything other than the defence of Ukraine". The president confirmed that Yermak had submitted his resignation and that the powerful Office of the President would be reorganised as part of the search for a successor.
The timing is particularly sensitive as Yermak had been leading delicate peace negotiations with the US. A senior official, speaking anonymously, revealed that Ukrainian negotiators are still scheduled to visit the US this weekend for talks on Washington's plan to end the war, though Yermak will no longer be participating.
Broader Conflict and International Incidents
On the front lines, Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that Ukrainian forces continue to defend their positions and hunt sabotage groups in the north-eastern city of Kupiansk. This contradicts Moscow's claims of full control, with Syrskyi stating that Ukrainian soldiers "continue to conduct both defensive and search and strike actions" daily to stabilise the situation.
In a related international incident, two tankers from Russia's shadow fleet were rocked by explosions in the Black Sea near Turkey's Bosphorus strait on Friday. The Kairos and the Virat, both subject to sanctions over Russia's invasion, caught fire, prompting rescue operations for those on board.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch vowed to continue investigating Russia's actions in Ukraine despite being declared an "undesirable" organisation by Moscow, a move that effectively criminalises its work within Russia.
In a separate development from South Africa, a daughter of former president Jacob Zuma resigned as an MP after being accused of tricking 17 South African men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine under false pretences.
