Ukraine August 2024-

4 September
Zelenskiy reshuffles Ukraine cabinet as Russian missile strike targets Lviv
President carries out biggest government shake-up since start of war as deadly attacks continue

Ukrainian foreign minister resigns ahead of expected reshuffling of government leaders
(AP) — Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, one of Ukraine’s most recognizable faces on the international stage, resigned Wednesday ahead of an expected reshuffling of government leaders. Russian strikes, meanwhile, killed seven people in a western city, a day after one of the deadliest missile attacks since the war began.
Kuleba, 43, gave no reason for stepping down. Four other Cabinet ministers tendered their resignations late Tuesday, likely making this reshuffle the biggest since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated last week that the reshuffling was imminent, with the war poised to enter a critical stage and to mark its 1,000th day in November.
He said Wednesday that Ukraine needs “new energy, and that includes in diplomacy.” He said during a Kyiv news conference with visiting Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris that he could not announce any replacements yet because he did not know whether the candidates would accept his invitation to join the government.

3 September
Russian attack in Ukrainian city of Poltava kills at least 50 people
Volodymyr Zelenskiy says more than 206 people injured as unconfirmed reports say strike targeted military ceremony
The strike has triggered anger on Ukrainian social media after unconfirmed reports said it had targeted an outdoor military ceremony, or roll call, with many blaming officials who allowed the event to take place despite the threat of Russian attacks.
Ukraine’s land forces confirmed that service personnel were killed in the strike and said an investigation was under way to establish whether enough was done to protect those in the facility. It said measures would be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Separately, it was announced on Tuesday evening that four Ukrainian cabinet ministers had resigned, ahead of an expected government reshuffle.

1 September
Ukrainian drone attacks hit power stations and refineries in Russia
Russia plays down overnight strikes as its forces make incremental gains in Donbas and launch missiles at Kharkiv

30 August
Zelenskiy fires head of air force after fatal crash of donated F-16 fighter jet
Mykola Oleshchuk’s dismissal thought to be linked to death of pilot and loss of plane newly delivered to Zelenskiy fires head of air force after fatal crash of donated F-16 fighter jet
“I have decided to replace the commander of the air forces … I am eternally grateful to all our military pilots,” Zelenskiy said in his evening video address on Friday, without giving a reason for the dismissal of Mykola Oleshchuk.
But Zelenskiy spoke of the need to “protect” the lives of those defending the country, suggesting the dismissal is probably related to the F-16 crash in which Lt Col Oleksiy Mes died.
The crash was more unwelcome news in a week when Russia has continued to make rapid advances in eastern Ukraine toward the key city of Pokrovsk, sparking public criticism of the Ukrainian military leadership and Zelenskiy even as the bold incursion into the Russian Kursk region continues.
For months, Russian forces have been attempting to seize Pokrovsk, a strategically important mining town with a prewar population of about 60,000, but their advance has gained considerable momentum in recent weeks.
Deep State, a Ukrainian group close to Ukraine’s defence ministry that tracks frontline activities, reported that Russian forces on Friday were less than 10km (6 miles) from the outskirts of Pokrovsk, where local officials have ordered a mass evacuation.
Russian pro-war military bloggers also reported on Friday that forces had entered the city of Selydove, south of Pokrovsk.