Western Ukraine’s cultural and administrative hub
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has carried out a surprise cabinet reshuffle that has removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, nominated Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister and named SBU head Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister. The moves have provoked mass protests in Kyiv and other cities, prompted at least one senior military resignation and raised questions about unity in Kyiv’s war effort.
Since late July, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged large-scale missile and drone strikes that have killed civilians on both sides, hit cities from Kyiv to Zaporizhzhia and reached deep into Russia. Kyiv has struck logistics hubs and Wildberries warehouses; a Russian cruise-missile attack on a grain ship leaving Odesa has killed foreign crew and prompted diplomatic protests.
Ukraine has replaced its commander-in-chief and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the armed forces amid political upheaval and protests over the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy says unity requires change, while protests demand Fedorov’s return; Drapatyi pledges intensified offensive planning and modernization.
Ukrainian drone strikes have damaged Russian oil infrastructure, triggering fuel shortages across the country. Authorities report production hiccups, rationing in some regions, and attempts to stabilise supplies amid heightened price pressures. The government has sanctioned imports and redirected shipments to mitigate the impact.
UN rights monitors document a sharp rise in civilian deaths and injuries in the first half of 2026 as Russia and Ukraine widen strikes. FPV drones are reshaping daily life near front lines, while attacks on shipping and oil depots widen the conflict’s reach.
Poland confirms an unidentified object has crashed near Tarnawa-Kolonia in Lublin province after a Russian strike on Ukraine. Tusk says indications point to a Russian Kh-101 missile; Ukraine and Poland are coordinating for a full assessment. No casualties reported; an emergency meeting is convened as authorities investigate.