A deadly Russian assault using missiles and drones struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, resulting in one fatality and at least seven injuries, according to local authorities.
Details of the Overnight Assault
Loud explosions reverberated through the city around midnight as the attack commenced. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration, reported on Telegram that enemy drones were over the city and that air defence systems were actively responding. He later confirmed that the person killed was a man and that a child was among the wounded.
Mayor Vitaly Klitschko urged residents to remain in shelters during the barrage. The attack caused significant damage to residential buildings in several districts and to numerous cars. Klitschko stated that four of the seven injured individuals required hospitalisation.
The governor of the Kyiv region, Mykola Kalashnyk, emphasised the severity of the offensive, stating, "The enemy is heavily attacking Kyiv region with missiles and drones. Residential areas and people’s homes are under attack."
Political Fallout and Military Developments
In a significant political development on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resignation of his powerful chief of staff and closest ally, Andriy Yermak. This came after Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies conducted searches at his apartment.
Zelenskyy praised Yermak but stated that "there should be no reason to be distracted by anything other than the defence of Ukraine" at this critical time. Yermak, who had been leading delicate peace negotiations with the US, submitted his resignation. The president announced that the search for a successor would begin on Saturday and that the powerful office would be "reorganised" as part of the process.
Despite the political shakeup, Ukrainian negotiators are still scheduled to visit the US this weekend for talks on Washington’s plan to end the war, a senior official confirmed.
On the front lines, Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that Ukrainian forces are continuing to defend their positions and hunt sabotage groups in the north-eastern city of Kupiansk. He stated that soldiers are "holding designated lines and intensifying fire pressure to block the enemy’s supply routes."
Other International Incidents
In related news, a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma has resigned as an MP after being accused of tricking 17 South African men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
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 the Black Sea, two tankers from Russia's shadow fleet, the Kairos and the Virat, were rocked by explosions near Turkey's Bosphorus strait, causing fires and prompting rescue operations for those on board.
