Kyiv vows to step up counteroffensives against Russia: Live

Key Points

• Ousted Ukraine military chief says his troops captured 700 sq km from Russian forces
• Zelensky names new commander-in-chief and vows ‘deep strikes’ on Moscow will continue
• Two killed in Zaporizhzhia and nine injured in latest Russian attack on residential building
• Russia's Wildberries says warehouses attacked again and several injured
• Military reshuffle in Ukraine celebrated in Russia
• Ukraine to export drones to the US as part of drone dominance programme

Russia won’t stop attacks on Black Sea shipping despite Indian protest

Russia has refused to back down in an argument with India over a deadly strike on a cargo vessel in the Black Sea, saying it will not stop targeting shipping to and from Ukraine.

Four Indian sailors were killed in a suspected Russian cruise missile attack on a ship leaving Ukraine’s Odesa port earlier this week, prompting New Delhi to summon a Russian envoy in a rare display of discord between the two long-time allies.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian forces would continue targeting ships they suspected of transporting weapons for Ukraine, adding that Moscow had explained its position to Delhi.

Russia says it won’t stop attacks on Black Sea shipping despite Indian protest

Who is Mykhailo Drapatyi, Ukraine's new army chief?

Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi was named the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces late on Tuesday as President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to reset his military strategy in the war with Russia.

Drapatyi, the commander of the joint forces responsible for the Ukrainian defences in the northeastern direction, is described by his colleagues as a general of a new generation whose career was shaped in combat against Russian troops.

During his 26 years in the army, he rose through the ranks from a tank lieutenant to one of Ukraine's most effective combat commanders. Last week, in a rare public post, he said the Ukrainian army needed changes and new rules.

Drapatyi has fought Russian troops in Ukraine for more than a decade. He became famous in 2014 during fighting in the Donbas when he shouted “Go!” at the driver of an armoured fighting vehicle in Mariupol and tore through a Russian barricade on a mission to rescue besieged police officers. That same year, he led an encircled force that fought its way through Russian territory to freedom.

After Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Drapatyi became the go-to commander for areas of the front where the situation was most dire and in need of a swift turnaround. In summer 2024, he stopped a Russian incursion near the city of Kharkiv, stabilised the front line, and soon after became the youngest-ever commander of the Ukrainian land forces, one of the most senior posts in the Ukrainian army.

The latest: Ukraine ramps up attacks on Russian business amid military leadership shakeup

Ukraine renewed its strikes on Russian business on Wednesday, injuring several people, amid a widening drone campaign causing massive disruption deep behind enemy lines.

Tatyana Kim, the head of Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, said on Wednesday that warehouses in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk had been attacked. Social media footage showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the air in Krasnodar.

Regional governor Veniamin Kondratiev also said that 10 people were wounded in an attack on a storage complex, while drone debris has damaged two high-rise apartments in Krasnodar, where no one was injured.

Blackouts were meanwhile reported across occupied Crimea after two electric substations in Masandra and Yalta were hit by Ukrainian drones, according to Telegram monitoring channel Supernova Plus.

Power outages were reported in occupied Alushta, to the south, after being hit by Ukrainian forces, the Kyiv Independent reported. Strikes on energy infrastructure in recent weeks have left much of the peninsula with limited access to food, running water and electricity.

Behind the scenes, Ukraine’s military leadership was still battling a fresh political crisis after Volodymyr Zelensky late on Tuesday sacked the head of the armed forces and named his successor.

Major protests have swept the country following last week’s decision to sack defence minister Mykhailo Federov, credited with modernising the army.

Why did Zelensky let go of Ukraine's top military commander?

Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday sacked his top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, following days of protests across the country calling for his removal.

He has now named General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his replacement, a move he says will help Ukraine pile pressure onto Russia on the battlefield.

The shakeup came amid mounting pressure over the decision last week to get rid of ex defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, who advocates credit with modernising the military.

Protesters have since threatened nationwide demonstrations if he is not reinstated to the role before a given deadline of Friday.

Fedorov has since been offered a senior government role, but has not accepted it.

The move to replace him was part of a wider government reshuffle last week. Parliament then appointed Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister.

Zelensky has not given a clear reason for the sacking, but has acknowledged clashes between Fedorov and Syrskyi, who many protesters have directed their anger towards.

How sacking defence minister has plunged Ukraine into chaos

Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday sacked his top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, following days of protests across the country calling for his removal.

He has now named General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his replacement, a move he says will help Ukraine pile pressure onto Russia on the battlefield.

The shakeup came amid mounting pressure over the decision last week to get rid of ex defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, who advocates credit with modernising the military.

Protesters have since threatened nationwide demonstrations if he is not reinstated to the role before a given deadline of Friday.

Fedorov has since been offered a senior government role, but has not accepted it.

The move to replace him was part of a wider government reshuffle last week. Parliament then appointed Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister.

Zelensky has not given a clear reason for the sacking, but has acknowledged clashes between Fedorov and Syrskyi, who many protesters have directed their anger towards.

In full: Ukraine to export drones to the US as part of drone dominance programme

Ukraine is said to have agreed to export drones to the United States to participate in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance programme.

The agreement comes as Kyiv and Washington have been negotiating a wider drone deal for Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, whose success in the war against Russia has driven high demand from other countries to learn from their experience.

Six Ukrainian companies have received permission to export about 100 drones each, a source told Reuters on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

There was no immediate official comment from Kyiv or Washington on the matter.

Ukraine has already signed drone deals with a number of European and Middle Eastern states. Kyiv has also moved to loosen wartime restrictions on its arms exports, although the government still retains a tight hold on what is sent abroad.

Drone Dominance is a billion-dollar competition run by the U.S. Department of Defense, in which small attack drones from dozens of manufacturers participate in challenges designed to simulate battlefield adversity.

Ukrainian forces to ramp up counteroffensives, says new commander-in-chief

Ukraine's armed forces have been tasked with stepping up counteroffensive actions, the country's new commander in chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, said on Wednesday.

"The President of Ukraine has set clear objectives for us: to continue and intensify offensive operations in all domains, to plan new operations behind enemy lines, to develop our military and its technologies, and to build up the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he said on Facebook.

Watch: Two killed in Zaporizhzhia and nine injured in latest Russian attack on residential building

What happens now after sacking of popular defence minister?

What happens now?

Zelensky met with Fedorov on Tuesday and offered him what he called a respected position in government to unify the country’s tech sector. It was not immediately clear whether Fedorov had accepted the role, or exactly what it would consist of.

Fedorov did cool tempers by praising the appointment of Drapatyi, calling it a “new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice” and “a voice for change that could not go unheard”.

Protesters have nonetheless given Zelensky until Friday to reinstate Fedorov as defense minister. It remains to be seen whether they accept the role offered to Fedorov.

What does it mean for the military?

Zelensky is expecting Drapatyi and other commanders to present an updated defense strategy, including continued reform of the corps system, faster weapons and drone deliveries, stronger air defense against Russia strikes, and a clearer mobilization plan.

Ukraine has now developed a vibrant defense industry and integrated drones across the military, and is unlikely to renege on the progress ushered in under Fedorov.

Ukraine continued to strike targets deep inside Russia on Wednesday, piling pressure onto Vladimir Putin to end the war.

Zelensky says military leadership has determined new role for ousted military commander

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says in a lengthy post on social media that decisions on Ukraine’s military leadership will be formalised today.

“Together with [new commander-in-chief] Mykhailo Drapatyi and [interim defence minister] Yevhenii Khmara, we determined that Major General Ihor Skybiuk will become the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he says.

“He is a highly experienced officer who defended Ukraine shoulder to shoulder with the new Commander-in-Chief. It is important that all components of our Armed Forces continue to function in complete coordination.

He says they have also determined “how Oleksandr Syrskyi and Andrii Hnatov will continue serving in the defense of our country”, without elaboration.

Zelenskyy on Tuesday fired Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, following days of mass protests in Kyiv and other cities nationwide demanding his removal.

There was no mention of ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, amid protests calling for his return.

Zelenskyy met with Fedorov on Tuesday and offered him what he called a respected position in government to unify the country’s tech sector. It was not immediately clear whether Fedorov had accepted the role, or exactly what it would consist of.

What does the sacking of popular defense minister mean for Ukraine?

Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked a major political crisis in Ukraine after sacking his popular defense minister just as Kyiv appears to be turning the tide on Moscow.

Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, was dismissed on 15 June during a wider shake up of the government, and amid reports of clashes with Ukraine’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Protests have broken out across the nation in the days since, with critics framing the dismissal as a vote for the staid, Soviet-era command structure of Syrskyi over the modern and inventive approach of Fedorov, who had helped transform Ukraine’s defence forces through technology, incentives and by cutting bureaucracy.

Why is there backlash?

Fedorov emerged as Ukraine’s first minister of digital transformation in 2019 and became an advisor to Zelensky before the war. In January 2026, he was appointed defense minister and led a series of urgent reforms around fairness and retention in the military.

He is credited with modernizing the armed forces through drone-first warfare (making drones a core component rather than a niche capability), slashing red tape by bringing commercial tech firms into the fold on procurement, and championing Ukraine’s domestic defence industry.

Crucially, this comes at a time when Ukraine’s tactics appear to be working, despite talk of clashes in leadership behind closed doors. In the last few months, Ukraine has recaptured 700km2 of land from Russia and continues to pile pressure on with long-range strikes on energy infrastructure deep behind enemy lines.

Zelensky had appeared to back Fedorov’s rival, commander in chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, until protests sweeping the nation appeared to be getting out of hand. On Tuesday, he replaced Syrskyi with Mykhailo Drapatyi following meetings with military commanders.

Critics said Syrskyi represented the old, Soviet-style command culture, in contrast to Federov’s forward-thinking tactics.

Zelensky names Skibyuk as new head of general staff

Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that major general Ihor Skibyuk will be the new head of Ukraine’s general staff.

Skibyuk previously commanded the air assault forces from February 2024 until June 2025.

Two very different men are at the heart of Ukraine's political crisis

One is a tech-savvy drone innovator with no military experience who became Ukraine’s youngest defense minister six months ago and was credited with contributing to successes in defending against Russia's 4-year-old invasion.

The other is a seasoned, Soviet-trained general more at home with traditional top-down command culture who led Ukraine’s armed forces.

When their personalities and policies clashed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided one of them had to go as part of a wider government reshuffle. He dismissed the popular young upstart, sparking protests across the country.

Read the full story:

Two very different men are at the heart of Ukraine's political crisis

In pictures: Smoke rises from a Wildberries warehouse on fire after an attack in Krasnodar

Who is Mykhailo Drapatyi, Ukraine's new army chief?

Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi was named the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces late on Tuesday as President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to reset his military strategy in the war with Russia.

Drapatyi, the commander of the joint forces responsible for the Ukrainian defences in the northeastern direction, is described by his colleagues as a general of a new generation whose career was shaped in combat against Russian troops.

During his 26 years in the army, he rose through the ranks from a tank lieutenant to one of Ukraine's most effective combat commanders. Last week, in a rare public post, he said the Ukrainian army needed changes and new rules.

Drapatyi has fought Russian troops in Ukraine for more than a decade. He became famous in 2014 during fighting in the Donbas when he shouted “Go!” at the driver of an armoured fighting vehicle in Mariupol and tore through a Russian barricade on a mission to rescue besieged police officers. That same year, he led an encircled force that fought its way through Russian territory to freedom.

After Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Drapatyi became the go-to commander for areas of the front where the situation was most dire and in need of a swift turnaround. In summer 2024, he stopped a Russian incursion near the city of Kharkiv, stabilised the front line, and soon after became the youngest-ever commander of the Ukrainian land forces, one of the most senior posts in the Ukrainian army.

Ukraine agrees to export drones to the US

Ukraine has agreed to export drones to the United States to participate in a drone dominance program, a source tells Reuters.

The agency is reporting that six Ukrainian firms have been given permission to export to the US.

Ukraine widens strikes on 'logistics hubs' in push to disrupt Russia's war effort

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Kyiv has struck what he described as logistics hubs in Russia's Krasnodar and Stavropol regions involved in supplying Russian military with drone components and other equipment.

An oil depot, a tanker and four cargo ships from Russia's "shadow fleet" were also hit in Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, Zelensky added.

Separately, the head of Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, said another attack on its warehouses had injured serveal people.

Tatyana Kim said the warehouses in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk had been attacked. Social media footage showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the air in Krasnodar.

Krasnodar ​regional governor Veniamin Kondratiev also said that 10 people were wounded in an attack on a storage complex, while drone debris has damaged two high-rise apartments in Krasnodar, where no one was injured.

The attacks on a company so central to the consumer economy appear to mark a widening of Kyiv's strategy of using long-range drones to disrupt Russia's war effort and pressure the Kremlin to make peace.

Ukraine hit 13 Russian vessels in past 48 hours, drone force commander says

Ukrainian drones struck 13 Russian vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov in the past 48 hours, the commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi said on Wednesday.

Catch up: Ukraine's Zelenskyy fires military chief after protests and names a replacement

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday fired Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, following days of mass protests in Kyiv and other cities nationwide demanding his removal.

Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new army chief, according to a statement on social media.

“Our shared wish is one — victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace,” Zelenskyy said. He said “a significant path has been traveled, the defense of Ukraine continues, and every warrior deserves dignified treatment.”

Read the full story:

Ukraine's Zelenskyy fires military chief after protests and names a replacement

Italy aims to reach 5% Nato target in the next decade

Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani has set out a timeline for Italy to reach its Nato target of spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence.

He says the country wants to reach the target within the next decade.

How Ukraine's new commander-in-chief forged his reputation fighting Russia in 2014

The new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military forged his reputation as a daring and determined fighter in the early days of the country's battle against Russia, then spent a decade in combat assignments while steadily rising through the ranks.

His reputation was forged in 2014, early in Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine.

That May, as a major commanding a battalion of the 72nd Brigade, he led an armored column into central Mariupol to rescue police officers and territorial defence officials besieged by pro-Russian militants who had threatened to burn them alive.

When the column’s path was blocked by a barricade more than a metre high, Drapatyi, riding in the lead vehicle, ordered the driver to accelerate, and the vehicle bounced over the barrier as if off a ramp.

The moment, which was captured on video that circulated widely, is considered one of the most remarkable episodes in the early resistance.

It was a bold move for the Ukrainian army at the time, when decisive and independent moves by field officers were rare. The army was still poorly equipped, largely untested and wary of any action that might escalate tensions with Russia.

Military reshuffle in Ukraine celebrated in Russia

Russian war bloggers responded to Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal with glee, noting his role in masterminding long-range drone strikes on oil facilities that have caused a fuel crisis and midrange attacks that disrupted military logistics.

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the popular young upstart minister Fedorov last week, sparking protests across the country.

Bowing to the public pressure, Zelensky yesterday fired Ukraine’s commander-in-chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi and offered Fedorov a position in government that he said would unify the country’s technology sector.

It wasn’t clear if the offer was accepted and whether the latest moves would satisfy protesters.

Syrskyi, some noted with grudging respect, has built a string of defences that have stalled Russian advances.

Many Moscow commentators voiced hope that the controversy would fuel political infighting in Ukraine and weaken its military.

Zelensky names new military commander: Everything we know so far

Volodymyr Zelensky has named Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi to lead Ukraine’s war efforts as commander-in-chief and fired General Oleksandr Syrskyi following days of protests in Kyiv and other cities demanding his removal.

Drapatyi forged his reputation as a daring and determined fighter in the early days of the country's battle against Russia, then spent a decade in combat assignments while steadily rising through the ranks.

Aged 43, he represents a new generation of Ukrainian generals forged in the crucible of the country’s fight against Russia.

He has spent nearly his entire career in combat postings, including leading Ukraine’s Joint Forces, which direct day-to-day combat operations across branches of the army.

He is known as intensely disciplined and highly effective in combat, and has previously been sent in to stabilise the most critical sectors of the front.

He has rarely appeared in public but has nonetheless gained respect and popularity within the military and beyond for his past victories.

Ukraine hit 13 Russian vessels in past 48 hours, drone force commander says

Ukrainian drones struck ⁠13 Russian vessels in ⁠the ​Black ⁠Sea ⁠and ​Sea of ⁠Azov ‌in the past ‌48 ‌hours, the commander ⁠of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces Robert ‌Brovdi said ​this morning.

Russia attacks Ukrainian ports and says two vessels hit

The Russian defence ministry said this morning its forces attacked Ukrainian ports and military infrastructure in the Odesa region.

The ministry ​said ⁠two naval ‌vessels had been hit ‌as a result of ‌the strikes, as ⁠well as port infrastructure facilities used for unloading and storing military cargo ‌and fuel ​and ‌lubricant storage tanks ⁠in the ⁠port of ‌Odesa.

Ousted Ukraine military chief says his troops captured 700 sq km from Russian forces

Ukraine has recaptured 700sq km (270.3 square miles) of its territory this year, outgoing commander in chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said this morning.

“I am handing over ⁠to my successor ​an ⁠army that ‌is not only holding the defence ‌but is also ‌on the offensive,” Syrskyi said in a ⁠statement on Telegram, confirming he was leaving the top military job.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that a young major general, Mykhailo Drapatyi, would replace Syrskyi after days of street protests.

Watch: Two killed in Zaporizhzhia and nine injured in latest Russian attack on residential building

EU envoys meet to negotiate 21st Russia sanctions package

Top EU officials are set to meet today in the hopes of reaching ‌a compromise with Greece and passing a 21st package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, EU diplomats said.

The package lists about 215 individuals and entities including 94 financial institutions. Close to 90 of these are banks, taking the total number of sanctioned banks to over 100, or more than half of Russia's 213 internationally connected lenders.

A European state intelligence service report, seen by Reuters, ​warned in June that Russia ​risked an "explosive" banking crisis ⁠and a new sanctions package targeting banks could trigger an economic shock.

Russian authorities have dismissed warnings of a looming crisis.

EU diplomatic sources said the aim of the ​listings was to discourage third countries from dealing with these Russian lenders, given ​any EU ties ⁠are now minimal or non-existent.

Russia's Wildberries says warehouses attacked again and several injured

Another attack on warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries has injured several people, said Tatyana Kim, the head and co-founder of the company, this morning.

Kim said warehouses ‌in Krasnodar and ⁠Nevinnomyssk had been attacked.

A previous strike by Ukrainian drones on Saturday ‌killed eight workers, ​sparked ‌fires ⁠and disrupted ⁠operations at Wildberries.

New UK defence secretary calls Russia's military exercise off the UK coast 'irresponsible'

Britain's new defence secretary Wes Streeting said it was "irresponsible" for Russia to have conducted a live-fire weapons exercise off the English coast.

“We should see yesterday's ⁠events as ​performative ⁠and irresponsible," Streeting told reporters when asked ⁠about the incident.

"It's not the first time that Russia has behaved like this, and frankly, it's the tip of the iceberg of the daily threats that this country faces and our allies face.”

Earlier, a government minster confirmed that a Russian naval vessel had conducted a "brief live-fire weapons exercise" in international waters approximately ‌40 nautical miles south ​of Plymouth in ‌southwest England.

The ⁠defence secretary said standard maritime ⁠safety procedures were followed during ‌the ​drill.

Kremlin says Russian online retailer Wildberries suffered losses in warehouse attacks

Online retailer Wildberries, Russia's answer to Amazon, ​and the merchants who trade through it are grappling with losses in the wake of Ukrainian attacks on warehouses ‌operated by the retailer, the Kremlin said yesterday.

Drones targeted two large logistics hubs in the cities of Kotovsk and Elektrostal on Saturday. The strikes killed eight workers, sparked fires and disrupted operations at Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, which can handle over 20 million orders per day.

Asked ⁠about the attacks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists: “The situation is indeed difficult because of the losses suffered both by the company ​itself and by representatives of small and medium-sized businesses.”

He denied accusations from Ukraine that Wildberries handles military supplies.

Watch: Zelensky names new commander-in-chief and vows ‘deep strikes’ on Moscow will continue

Ukraine will continue its deep strikes on Russia under new general, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed that Ukraine will continue to carry out strikes deep inside Russia under its new commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.

"The operations of the Ukrainian Defence Forces are ongoing and must continue steadily. Ukraine's plan for long-range sanctions and our program ​of middle-range strikes will be carried out with absolute precision," Zelensky said as he introduced Drapatyi.

Drapatyi is a respected and experienced commander who led Ukraine's land forces from 2024 to 2025 and is described as a general of a new generation.

Zelensky names new military commander: Everything we know so far

Volodymyr Zelensky has named Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi to lead Ukraine’s war efforts as commander-in-chief and fired General Oleksandr Syrskyi following days of protests in Kyiv and other cities demanding his removal.

Drapatyi forged his reputation as a daring and determined fighter in the early days of the country's battle against Russia, then spent a decade in combat assignments while steadily rising through the ranks.

Aged 43, he represents a new generation of Ukrainian generals forged in the crucible of the country’s fight against Russia.

He has spent nearly his entire career in combat postings, including leading Ukraine’s Joint Forces, which direct day-to-day combat operations across branches of the army.

He is known as intensely disciplined and highly effective in combat, and has previously been sent in to stabilise the most critical sectors of the front.

He has rarely appeared in public but has nonetheless gained respect and popularity within the military and beyond for his past victories.

Military reshuffle in Ukraine celebrated in Russia

Russian war bloggers responded to Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal with glee, noting his role in masterminding long-range drone strikes on oil facilities that have caused a fuel crisis and midrange attacks that disrupted military logistics.

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the popular young upstart minister Fedorov last week, sparking protests across the country.

Bowing to the public pressure, Zelensky yesterday fired Ukraine’s commander-in-chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi and offered Fedorov a position in government that he said would unify the country’s technology sector.

It wasn’t clear if the offer was accepted and whether the latest moves would satisfy protesters.

Syrskyi, some noted with grudging respect, has built a string of defences that have stalled Russian advances.

Many Moscow commentators voiced hope that the controversy would fuel political infighting in Ukraine and weaken its military.

In one of Kyiv's most frequently bombed neighborhoods, residents choose to stay

Residents of Kyiv’s historic Lukianivka neighborhood share a dark joke: Russian strikes hit the area so frequently, they ought to be issued military service documents as though they are living on the front line of the war.

Real estate agent Dmytro Zhekov acknowledges the danger up front when he tries to draw prospective renters to one of the Ukrainian capital's most frequently bombed areas. In his sales pitch on social media, he highlights the neighborhood’s many virtues: affordable rents, easy access to the city center, a well-connected metro line and historic landmarks.

“From the beginning I tell them, ‘This is a place in the danger zone. It gets hit regularly. If you are all right with that, then we can see it,’” he said.

The district includes a Soviet-era weapons plant that has become one of Russia’s most frequent targets in Kyiv, with its roof blackened by repeated strikes. Across the street, the Lukianivka metro station, which gives the neighborhood its name, has been hit at least eight times. During air raids, it also serves as a shelter for residents. Craters have become a permanent part of the urban landscape.

Read more here:

In one of Kyiv's most frequently bombed neighborhoods, residents choose to stay

Domestic fuel market in Russia partly stabilised, says Moscow's deputy PM

The domestic fuel market in Russia has partly stabilised, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

He did, however, say the situation was still difficult in some regions.

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries in recent months have disrupted fuel supplies, leading to long queues at pump stations, excessive gasoline prices and rationing in several regions.

Watch: Kyiv shares footage of attack on Russian airbase

Russian forces seize village in Kharkiv region, says Moscow

Russian forces have taken control of the village of Volokhivske in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, news agencies cited the Defence Ministry as saying.

The agencies also said Moscow had continued to hit infrastructure used by Kyiv's military in the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield reports.

Kremlin: Moscow in touch with New Delhi after four Indians killed in Black Sea

We heard earlier from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said Moscow was in touch with its partners in India after a missile strike killed four Indians on a Black Sea cargo ship as it was leaving the port of Odesa in Ukraine.

Kyiv said Russia hit the Golden Leo – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship manned by a crew from India and Syria – with three cruise missiles on Sunday, killing 10 people including four Indians.

New Delhi summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires over the incident.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Russia will continue to hit vessels involved in supplying the Ukrainian military.

Zelensky bows to pressure to sack military chief

President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces following days of mass protests in Kyiv and other cities nationwide demanding his removal.

Mr Zelensky appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new army chief, according to a statement on social media.

"Our shared wish is one — victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace," he said.

The Ukrainian leader said he made the decision after a series of meetings with military commanders. They began shortly after protests broke out demanding the reinstatement of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, seen by demonstrators as a driver of military modernisation, and the removal of Syrskyi, who they said embodied the army's old, Soviet-style command culture.

Watch | 'I was Russia’s Michael McIntyre': Russian comedian Sasha Nezlobin on his new life in America

Recap: Burnham speaks to Zelensky and Trump in first calls after taking office

Andy Burnham has spoken with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump as part of his first set of phone calls with world leaders as prime minister.

Burnham promised that Britain's support for Ukraine would remain unchanged under his leadership, just hours after he replaced Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.

Zelensky confirmed the call on his Telegram channel and said the two sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and agreed to speak on bilateral cooperation in the near future, including within the Anti-Ballistic Coalition.

"I was happy to speak with Andy Burnham and congratulate him on taking office as prime minister of the United Kingdom. I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast," he said.

Zelensky thanked Burnham for “warm words of respect for the Ukrainian people and for your condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in Russia's recent attacks”.