Ukrainian parliament prepares for defense vote amid political strain and missile strikes

Ukrainian lawmakers are preparing to vote on confirming Yevhenii Khmara as the country's new defense minister following the sudden dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov has intensified political pressure on the administration by publicly urging the establishment of a legal framework to conduct elections during wartime, asserting that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia." The political tension coincides with anti-corruption investigations directed at figures associated with the presidency.

Meanwhile, Russian forces executed a large-scale combined missile and drone bombardment across several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the overnight strikes killed at least 13 people and wounded 40 others. Ukrainian forces retaliated by launching a wave of drones toward Moscow, several of which were intercepted over Russian territory.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.