As Russian drones targeted port cities in southern Ukraine, the replacement of the defense minister at home turned into a political crisis. According to the local prosecutor's office, three foreign-flagged ships were damaged in an attack on port infrastructure in Mykolaiv, and two Ukrainian sailors lost their lives.
In Kherson, a woman was killed in a Russian drone attack and six others were injured. In Odesa, Ukraine's largest port, a man lost his life. Serhiy Lisak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, said on Telegram that the attacker continues to terrorize civilians.
Russia's Defense Ministry announced that it had struck 24 ships used by the Ukrainian army in the past week. In response, Ukraine's Drone Forces Commander Robert Brovdi said they had hit 12 Russian ships in the Black Sea, including two tankers. The Ukrainian military also reported targeting a Russian oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region.
Defense Ministry shake-up triggers protests
As these clashes on the military front continued, political tensions in Ukraine also rose. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as part of a cabinet reshuffle. The 35-year-old Fedorov was known for his efforts to modernize the ministry and his role in Ukraine's recent military successes.
Fedorov's dismissal brought deep divisions within the military to the surface. Fedorov harshly criticized Chief of General Staff Oleksandr Syrskyi, with whom he had disagreements, questioning whether Ukraine could defeat Russia under his command.
Protesters gathered outside the presidential office in the capital Kyiv, demanding Fedorov's reinstatement. According to the Ukrinform news agency, Fedorov supporters also took to the streets in Kharkiv, Ternopil, Mykolaiv, Chernivtsi, and Lutsk.
According to Reuters, 29-year-old Valeria Balenko, who attended the protest in Kyiv, said, "I truly believe and hope that the authorities will listen to the people." Balenko added, "Because this is what the people want for the lives of our soldiers and the well-being of civilians living under air strikes every day."
On Thursday, Zelenskyy appointed Yevheniy Hmara, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), as acting defense minister, saying Hmara has "unprecedented experience in technological combat operations." Zelenskyy also appointed former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
