Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv Russian oil depots hit after Putin launches ballistic missile attack on Kyiv – UK Times

Crowds of protesters gathered in Kyiv and other cities Saturday evening to protest President Volodymyr Zelensky’s dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

The firing of the popular defense minister after only six months in office sparked public outrage, with soldiers and veterans hitting out at the move,

Protesters have two demands: reinstate Mr Fedorov, and fire the army’s most senior commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

For the first time in years of war, the Russian regime looks as if it is on the verge of an internal split as the Kremlin’s political managers struggle to reconcile the voracious military need for money with maintaining social and economic stability. But there is extreme danger when an opponent is backed into a corner, writes Owen Matthews.

The overnight Russian attack on Kyiv included 41 missiles and 125 attack drones, Ukrainian officials have said.

The attack began at around 1:30 a.m. local time and continued for several hours, with explosions echoing across the capital.

The strikes on Kyiv sparked fires in five districts of the city, damaging residential buildings, office and industrial sites, a dormitory and vehicles, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

Viktoria Shejko, 32, was taking shelter in the corridor of her apartment block with her seven children and husband when they heard the loud explosions.

“When the alarm started, we checked that there were ballistics, then went into the corridor. Then it started exploding one missile after another,” she said.

“It’s very difficult psychologically, because lately they’ve been firing ballistic missiles at us very often. It used to be once a week or even more rarely, but now if not every day, then every other day,” she added.

Ukrainian forces have struck three oil depots and a fuel facility in Russia’s southern Stavropol region, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said

“SSU units ⁠struck three oil ​depots ⁠in the ‌Stavropol region at once, while units ‌of our Armed ‌Forces hit another fuel facility in ⁠the same region,” he said on X, referring to Kyiv’s security service.

He added that ‌three Russian ​tankers from ‌the “shadow ⁠fleet” had also been ⁠struck in the ‌Black ​Sea.

One person was killed and 16 others were wounded after Russia launched a major overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The assault began at around 1.30am local time and lasted several hours, with explosions echoing across the capital. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said fires broke out in five districts, damaging homes, office and industrial buildings, a dormitory and vehicles. Rescue workers pulled residents from burning buildings as firefighters battled multiple blazes.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 41 missiles and 125 drones overnight. It said air defences intercepted 18 missiles and 108 drones, but 23 missiles and 10 drones still struck 20 locations, with Kyiv the main target.

Acting foreign minister Andrii Sybiha described it as “the largest number of ballistic missiles since the start of the war”, saying Russia launched “around four dozen” ballistic missiles at the capital.

“We urge appropriate and strong responses. We need devastating pressure on Moscow to end this terror,” he wrote on X. “Everyone who is holding back these vital protection tools from delivery should know that the cost of delay is measured in human lives.”

Russia’s defence ministry said the strikes targeted facilities linked to Ukraine’s military, including sites it claimed produced drones and Neptune missile components.

More Russians are reportedly relying on cash as repeated mobile internet shutdowns, imposed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, disrupt card payments and add fresh strain to the country’s slowing wartime economy.

A BBC report found that cash in circulation has risen by 1.56 trillion roubles since the start of the year – the biggest increase for the same period outside the Covid-19 pandemic.

The surge has coincided with frequent internet blackouts, which have left shoppers unable to pay by card in some areas.

The trend is also making it harder for the Kremlin to collect tax revenue as it grapples with a widening budget deficit and the rising cost of the war. Businesses facing higher taxes and weaker economic growth are increasingly encouraging customers to pay in cash, allowing some transactions to stay off the books.

One Moscow resident told the BBC: “Having cash on hand gives you some sense of control and security. If there’s an emergency in the city, I know I’ll still be able to buy basic necessities, even if the mobile network goes down.”

Ukraine said its air defences intercepted 18 of the 41 missiles fired by Russia overnight, but dozens of projectiles still broke through as Moscow launched what Kyiv described as its biggest ballistic missile assault since the full-scale invasion began.

According to Ukraine’s air force, another 23 missiles and 10 drones struck 20 locations across the country, with Kyiv the main target.

Air defences also destroyed 108 of the 125 drones launched by Russia.

Acting foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow had fired “around four dozen” ballistic missiles at the capital in what he called “the largest number of ballistic missiles since the start of the war”.

He urged Ukraine’s allies to step up pressure on Russia, saying: “We need devastating pressure on Moscow to end this terror.”

Ukraine’s military said it struck two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea in an overnight attack.

In a statement on Sunday, Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces also hit a floating crane in the Sea of Azov, adding that all three vessels were being used to support Russia’s war effort.