Russia Strikes Ukrainian Ports as Protests Over Defence Shake-Up Continue

Russian forces launched fresh attacks on Ukraine's southern regions on Friday, killing at least four people and damaging key port infrastructure, while protests continued across the country over President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's controversial dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

According to Ukrainian officials, Russian drones struck port facilities in Mykolaiv, damaging three foreign-registered vessels. Two Ukrainian crew members aboard one of the ships were killed in the attack.

Separate Russian strikes also claimed the lives of a woman in Kherson and a man in Odesa, while several others were injured.

The latest attacks come as both Russia and Ukraine intensify drone and missile operations in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, critical routes for grain exports. Russia said it had targeted 24 Ukrainian military vessels over the past week, while Ukraine claimed its forces struck 12 Russian vessels, including two tankers, and hit an oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl region.

Meanwhile, political tensions remain high in Ukraine following Zelenskyy's decision to remove Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov during a cabinet reshuffle. Fedorov, widely credited with helping modernise Ukraine's military, has publicly criticised military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and questioned his leadership.

For a second consecutive day, demonstrators gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv, demanding Fedorov's reinstatement. Similar protests were reported in several other Ukrainian cities, with protesters urging the government to "listen to the people."

In response to the reshuffle, President Zelenskyy appointed SBU security service chief Yevgeniy Khmara as acting defence minister, citing his extensive experience in modern warfare, while former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko was named head of Ukraine's Defence and Security Council.

The developments highlight both the growing military pressure from Russia and increasing political divisions within Ukraine's leadership as the war continues.

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