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Ukraine suffers port attacks amid protests over defense shake-up

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Russia launched deadly attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure, killing at least two people aboard a foreign vessel and others in Kherson and Odesa.
  • The attacks occurred as protests continued for a second day against President Zelenskyy's dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
  • Ukraine and Russia have escalated attacks on Black Sea vessels, with Kyiv claiming to have struck Russian tankers and an oil refinery.

Russian drone attacks struck port infrastructure in Ukraine's southern city of Mykolaiv on Friday, damaging three foreign-registered vessels and killing two Ukrainians on board, local prosecutors reported. In Kherson, a Russian drone attack killed a woman and injured six others, while an attack in Odesa claimed another life, according to local officials.

"The aggressor continues to terrorise civilians," Serhii Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, posted on Telegram. Both Ukraine and Russia have intensified missile and drone attacks on vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, vital routes for grain exports. Russia's Ministry of Defence stated its forces hit 24 Ukrainian military vessels over the past week, while Ukraine's drone forces commander claimed Kyiv struck 12 Russian vessels, including two tankers, and a Russian oil refinery.

The aggressor continues to terrorise civilians.

— Serhii Lysakhead of the Odesa City Military Administration, commenting on Russian attacks.

The strikes coincided with ongoing domestic tensions in Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's controversial dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov's ousting, seen by some as a move to modernize the ministry and credited with recent military successes, has exposed divisions within the military establishment. After his forced resignation, Fedorov sharply criticized military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, with whom he had disputes, and questioned Ukraine's ability to defeat Russia under Syrskyi's command.

Protesters rallied for a second day outside Zelenskyy's office in Kyiv, demanding Fedorov's reappointment. Supporters also demonstrated in other cities. "I truly believe and hope that the authorities will, after all, listen to the people – that it will heed the people’s demands," said Valeriia Balenko, a 29-year-old protester, to Reuters. "Because this is what the people want, for the sake of our soldiers’ lives and for the sake of the civilians."

I truly believe and hope that the authorities will, after all, listen to the people – that it will heed the people’s demands.

— Valeriia Balenkoa 29-year-old protester, speaking to Reuters about demands for the defense minister's reappointment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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