A wave of overnight Russian missile strikes killed at least 12 people in and around Kyiv. Apartment blocks, warehouses and a children’s hospital were hit early on Thursday. Romania said a drone crossed into its territory from the northern border with Ukraine, prompting an air-raid alert.

BBBC News2026-08-20 06:59

A building was damaged in an overnight attack on Kyiv that killed at least six people and wounded 33 others.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-20 05:16

Ousted Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has urged wartime elections, saying the government is failing to address corruption. Conducting a vote during the war would be difficult and would bring a number of challenges.

RReuters2026-08-19 22:32

Ousted Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections, sharpening arguments over political accountability during the war with Russia. Although most Ukrainians oppose wartime voting, concerns about government accountability are increasing pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Kyiv protesters said the latest reshuffle showed people feel ignored.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-19 22:06

Ousted Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections during wartime, posing the most serious internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia’s invasion.

RReuters2026-08-19 19:48

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed senior aide Iryna Mudra, reportedly a target of a corruption investigation. Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections, which have been suspended since martial law was declared at the start of the war with Russia. About 200 people protested outside parliament in Kyiv against Fedorov’s replacement.

BBBC News2026-08-19 19:00

Ukraine’s popular former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections during wartime, widely viewed as the biggest challenge to Volodymyr Zelensky’s presidency since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine has been under martial law since the war began in 2022, suspending elections. Fedorov was unexpectedly dismissed last month, six months after his appointment, and Zelensky has not yet responded to the video.

BBBC News2026-08-19 18:00

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies said Wednesday they are investigating senior officials in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office. The announcement came a day after the recently dismissed defence minister called for national elections despite the ongoing war with Russia, creating an unwelcome political distraction for Zelenskyy.

FFrance 24 English2026-08-19 14:37

Ukraine’s lawmakers approved a new defence minister on Wednesday, a month after the dismissal of popular predecessor Mykhailo Fedorov prompted public backlash. A day earlier, Fedorov called in a video statement for steps toward elections delayed because of Russia’s invasion.

FFrance 24 English2026-08-19 14:34

Popular former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s call for elections during wartime is being viewed as a direct challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov last month amid a power struggle with the then Army chief. Ukraine cannot legally hold elections under martial law, so Zelenskyy’s presidential tenure has been extended.

DDW News2026-08-19 14:00

Waves of Ukrainian drones struck a huge logistics center outside Moscow overnight. The next morning, one of Russia’s largest retail warehouses was still burning, with dark smoke rising into the sky.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-19 14:00

Ukraine says a Russian drone attack on a civilian minibus killed at least four people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned what he called a “safari” hunt against Ukrainian civilians, while Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians.

Eeuronews2026-08-19 13:15

Ukrainians rallied in Kyiv to support former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s call for elections during wartime. They voiced backing for leadership renewal while questioning whether voting is practical during Russia’s invasion.

RReuters2026-08-19 12:40

Sacked Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for presidential elections. His video address came hours after Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally nominated Yevhen Khmara as defence minister, effectively ending Fedorov’s prospects of returning to government.

Eeuronews2026-08-19 09:39

Ukraine’s popular former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, dismissed last month, has called for moving towards elections delayed by Russia’s invasion. Ukraine imposed martial law after Russian forces crossed the border in February 2022, and military rule bars elections.

FFrance 24 English2026-08-19 09:29

Ousted Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov urged wartime elections in a video address, saying the country was facing a governance crisis. He described the move as the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia’s invasion.

RReuters2026-08-19 09:23

Ukraine’s ousted Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections despite the ongoing war with Russia, saying the country is facing a governance crisis. His break with President Volodymyr Zelensky is potentially the most serious internal challenge to Zelensky since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

FFrance 24 English2026-08-19 09:23

Recently ousted Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has urged the country to prepare for elections despite a law banning them during the war with Russia. In a social media video, he accused the government of a “systematic crisis of governance” and criticised what he called “wartime corruption”.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-19 01:44

Ukraine launched more than 600 drones at Moscow in what DW describes as one of its largest attacks since the war began more than four years ago. The barrage followed earlier strikes on the Moscow region, including Wildberries warehouses. A Russian attack on a village in the Kharkiv region reportedly killed 10 people.

DDW News2026-08-18 23:30

Russia has threatened the UK with “consequences” and said it will pay a price after British drones were confirmed to have been used by Ukraine in attacks on economic and military targets deep inside Russia. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain would continue to support Ukraine “100%” and would not be a fair-weather friend.

BBBC News2026-08-18 22:50

Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief Vadym Skibitsky tells the BBC that Kyiv must “destroy and disarm” Russian weapons production and logistics, including online retailer Wildberries, which Ukraine has accused of supporting Vladimir Putin’s war effort. The Kremlin says Ukraine sent more than 600 drones toward the Moscow region on Monday night; Russian air defences destroyed over 180, with several people wounded.

BBBC News2026-08-18 19:00

Russia has warned the UK of “consequences” after Ukraine was confirmed to have used British-made drones to strike targets in Russia. The Russian embassy in London accused Britain of deliberately escalating the Ukraine crisis and said the deeper its involvement, the higher the price. Prime Minister Andy Burnham reiterated that the UK “supports Ukraine 100%.”

BBBC News2026-08-18 18:00

At least 10 people were killed in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, according to the governor. Parts of the region are occupied by Russian forces, and it has been heavily hit since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Eeuronews2026-08-18 15:33

President Volodymyr Zelensky nominated Yevheny Khmara for parliamentary approval as Ukraine’s defence minister. Khmara had served as acting minister since the abrupt dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov in June, a move that triggered public outrage and a week-long political crisis for Zelensky.

FFrance 24 English2026-08-18 14:27