Ukraine suffers port attacks as protests persist over defence shake-up
Russia conducted multiple attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels, killing at least five people across Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa. The attacks coincided with ongoing protests in Ukraine over President Zelenskyy's removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, with demonstrators demanding his reinstatement across several cities.
Russian military operations targeted Ukrainian port infrastructure and vessels in the Black Sea region on Friday, resulting in multiple casualties. Drone strikes in Mykolaiv damaged three foreign-registered ships and killed two Ukrainians aboard one vessel, according to local prosecutors. Separate attacks in Kherson killed a woman and injured six others, while an assault on Odesa, Ukraine's primary seaport, resulted in one fatality. Officials characterized the operations as part of a broader campaign of civilian intimidation.
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have escalated their use of missiles and drones against shipping in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, waterways critical for grain export operations. Russia's Ministry of Defence reported striking 24 vessels attributed to Ukrainian military use over the preceding week. Ukraine's drone command, led by Robert Brovdi, claimed strikes on 12 Russian vessels in the Black Sea on the same day, including two identified as tankers, and reported hitting a Russian oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region.
Domestically, Ukraine faced significant political turbulence following President Zelenskyy's decision to remove Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, age 35, as part of a broader cabinet reorganization. Fedorov, credited with modernizing the defence ministry and contributing to recent military achievements, had been engaged in disputes with military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Following his forced resignation, Fedorov publicly criticized Syrskyi and expressed doubts about Ukraine's capacity to prevail under his command.
Public demonstrations erupted for a second consecutive day outside Zelenskyy's central Kyiv office, with citizens demanding Fedorov's reinstatement. Support rallies occurred simultaneously in Kharkiv, Ternopil, Mykolaiv, Chernivtsi, and Lutsk. Protester Valeriia Balenko, 29, expressed hope that authorities would respond to public pressure, citing concerns for soldier safety and civilian protection from ongoing air operations.
Zelenskyy appointed Yevgeniy Khmara, head of Ukraine's SBU security service, as acting defence minister, citing his extensive background in technological military operations.
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