Another night of explosions tore across Ukraine as Russia unleashed a fresh wave of drones and missiles, leaving four people dead — even as Ukrainian strikes hit back across Russian territory and Russian-occupied areas, killing five, officials said.
The barrage came just a day before Ukraine’s allies were due to gather in Paris for talks aimed at tightening pressure on Moscow to end a war now stretching beyond four years.
US-led diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting have faltered in recent months, as Washington has shifted its attention to its war with Iran.
At the same time, Moscow has intensified its ballistic missile campaign against Ukraine, killing dozens of people since July, including in the capital Kyiv.
In the southern city of Kherson, a separate drone strike killed a 48-year-old, according to mayor Yaroslav Shanko.
Officials also reported that Ukrainian attacks on the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region left four people dead, while a long-range Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s Samara region killed a man.
Repeated Russian ballistic missile attacks in recent weeks have increasingly tested Ukraine’s air defences, which have been forced to respond again and again under sustained pressure.
This week, the United States granted Ukraine permission to build US-designed Patriot air defence systems — weapons capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles — though it could take months before production begins.
Ukrainian government reshuffle
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had proposed replacing Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
“I am grateful to Yulia for her clear, steady, and effective work as Prime Minister, for her years of productive service on Ukraine’s team, and I have offered her the opportunity to lead a new and important area of relations with a key partner,” Mr Zelensky said on X.
“I expect that, together with MPs, we will make the corresponding changes in the government of Ukraine,” he added.
Mr Zelensky said the changes were needed to “ensure the implementation of an updated political strategy”, but he did not elaborate.
Ms Svyrydenko was appointed in July 2025.
It is believed Yulia Svyrydenko may be appointed as ambassador to the US
Mr Zelensky did not name Ms Svyrydenko’s next role or identify a successor for the prime ministership, but he said changes would also come among the heads of law enforcement agencies.
Opposition MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said Ms Svyrydenko was expected to become ambassador to the United States.
“That means she will leave the post of prime minister and the entire government will be reshuffled,” Mr Zhelezniak said on Telegram.
Under Ukrainian law, parliament must approve a prime minister’s resignation — and once it does, the entire government is required to step down as well.
Lawmakers have floated several potential successors, including Ms Svyrydenko’s predecessor, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal; Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov; and Serhiy Koretskyi, head of the state energy company, Naftogaz.
