Ukraine’s military defending sovereignty amid renewed ICBM and drone warfare
Ukraine has seen mass protests after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has removed Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister and named SBU chief Yevhen Khmara as acting minister. Fedorov had clashed with commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi over modernisation and digital reforms. Demonstrations have continued in Kyiv and other cities and political tensions are rising during ongoing Russian strikes.
Laura Loomer has publicly changed her position on the Ukraine conflict after visiting Kyiv and witnessing the aftermath of Russia’s actions, citing firsthand accounts of war crimes and the propaganda she previously believed. Zelensky’s office has welcomed the shift as validation of experiencing events firsthand.
The Times of Israel reports that the IDF has disciplined troops after a mass walkout by the Givati Brigade’s Tzabar Battalion. Soldiers left Sde Teiman after a battalion commander removed decor or signs, with footage showing protests and disordered equipment. Most have returned; a subset faces disciplinary action and on-base confinement as leadership vows a strict standard.
Missile and drone attacks hit Kyiv and surrounding regions, leaving multiple fatalities and injuries. Authorities report damage to residential areas, a medical facility, and a school; NATO and neighboring states warn of heightened tensions as Russia's campaign and Ukraine's response continue.
Ukraine faces renewed Russian strikes targeting energy infrastructure as Western warnings about an energy ceasefire rhetoric surface. Kyiv reports casualties and power outages across multiple regions; Trump’s ceasefire claim has added confusion to the crisis.
Foreign nationals have been detained by Russia’s FSB on mercenary or espionage charges amid a string of arrests linked to Ukraine conflicts. A German veteran says he joined Ukraine in 2025, claiming pay issues led to desertion. Other cases include a Swedish national and a Japanese journalist; Washington and Moscow discuss prisoner exchanges.
Drones have blurred traditional battle lines in Ukraine, forcing soldiers into a kill zone where months-long rotations replace brief missions. Droned surveillance and precision strikes have altered tactics, logistics, and civilian risks, while mine clearance and air-defence networks struggle to adapt.