Russian drones strike Ukrainian city of Odesa, underlining challenges for even limited truce
The strike came shortly before Czech Republic President Peter Pavel visited Odesa early Friday morning and held meetings with the city's leaders and officials from other southern regions.
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Ukrainian officials arrested in ‘large scale' drone bribery scheme
At least four Ukrainian officials have been arrested in a 'large-scale corruption scheme' involving the purchase of drones designed to defend Kyiv against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Just three days after Zelensky restored the independence of Ukrainian's top anti-corruption agencies following fierce public backlash, the prez said the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office unveiled a plot by a sitting lawmaker, two local officials and several national guard service members to skim money meant to defend their nation. 'The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices,' the agencies added Saturday in a statement, noting the kickbacks to the officials were up to 30% of the contracts' inflated costs. Advertisement 4 At least four Ukrainian officials were arrested in an alleged kickback scheme involving the government's purchase of drones. Getty Images 4 The charges came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center) and lawmakers were pressured to restore the independence of Kyiv's top two anti-corruption agencies. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images The plot involved heads of district and city military civil administrations who allegedly helped cook the books on the purchases of drones and electronic jamming equipment — vital tools used to intercept the ever-escalating bombardments from Ukraine's Russian invaders. Drones have proven to be key to Ukraine's attacks on Moscow, too, with the majority of Ukrainian attacks on Russian military assets involving UAVs, including a recent overnight strike on an oil depot. Advertisement 'Unfortunately, these corruption schemes involved the procurement of electronic warfare systems and FPV drones. … There must be full and fair accountability for this,' Zelensky said on social media. 'There can only be zero tolerance for corruption. Clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence,' he said. 4 The scheme involved a Ukrainian lawmaker, two local officials and National Guard Service members, authorities said. REUTERS Advertisement While Ukrainian officials did not name the suspects in the case, the president said four people have been arrested so far. Ukraine's Interior Ministry added that the National Guard personnel implicated in the scheme were removed from their positions as the prosecutor's office moves forward with the case. The arrests come after the independence of NABU and SAPO were secured Thursday following nationwide protests over Zelensky ratifying a bill that would have put a political appointee in charge of the agencies. 4 The procurement of the jamming equipment used to defend Ukraine from Russia's ever-escalating missile and drone attacks also was involved in the bribery plot. via REUTERS Advertisement While Zelensky initially defended the move as a means to weed out Russian influence in the agencies, he later agreed to let the agencies operate as they were. NABU and SAPO were born following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity in 2014, which called for a major clean up of Kyiv after ousting pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, whose administration was marred in corruption. The agencies have previously targeted some of Zelensky's close allies, including former Deputy Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, with the cases often causing major shakeups in Kyiv while its leadership tries to focus on the war. Critics have warned Zelensky that ongoing corruption undermines Ukraine's ability to fight back against Russia, as well as threatens the country's hopes of joining the European Union. With Post wires
an hour ago
Trump admin live updates: Trump, Schumer trade barbs over Senate nominations
The Senate voted on some of Trump's nominations before the August recess. 2:17 The Senate on Saturday considered some of President Donald Trump's nominations before the August recess. Earlier this week, Trump issued an executive order slapping tariffs on many of America's trading partners but the new duties are set to go into effect in seven days. Trump also continues to face questions over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and his relationship with the accused sex trafficker. Latest headlines: 3 minutes ago Johnson makes last-minute visit to Israel 57 minutes ago Greer suggests Aug. 12 tariff deadline for China could slide 1 hour and 37 minutes ago Texas state House set to consider new congressional maps on Monday Here's how the news is developing. 46 Updates Jul 28, 2025, 10:00 AM EDT Trump says he is 'allowed' to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, but it's 'inappropriate' to discuss When asked by reporters if he would pardon Ghislaine Maxwell -- the convicted associate of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein -- President Donald Trump said he is "allowed to give her a pardon" but "nobody's approached me with it." "Nobody's asked me about it. Right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it," Trump said on Monday. He said he hasn't been "overly interested" in the Epstein files, and called the 'whole thing a hoax' in regard to whether his name is in the files. Jul 28, 2025, 9:56 AM EDT Starmer says he has a 'very good relationship' with Trump British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he has a "very good personal relationship" with President Donald Trump, emphasizing that the United Kingdom and the United States have "always stood together." In terms of best interests for the two countries, Starmer added that he and Trump have a "huge amount of common ground." Trump says he is 'not interested in talking' to Putin President Donald Trump said he has "always gotten along" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but on Monday, he said he is "not interested in talking" to him. "Russia could be so rich right now. But instead, they spend everything on war. I really thought this was going to end. Every time I think it's going to end, he kills people," Trump said. Earlier on Monday, Trump said he would reduce the 50-day window for Russia to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine. Jul 28, 2025, 9:37 AM EDT Trump says Powell 'has to' cut interest rates While meeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Donald Trump said Fed Chair Jerome Powell "has to" cut interest rates. "He should cut. A smart person should cut," Trump said. This comes after Trump visited the Federal Reserve on Thursday, repeating calls for lower interest rates while standing alongside Powell.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Ukrainian drone attack sets Russian oil depot on fire; Zelensky announces prisoner swap
An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi sparked a major fire, Russian officials said Sunday, as the two countries traded strikes and the Ukrainian president announced a prisoner exchange. More than 120 firefighters attempted to extinguish the blaze, ignited after debris from a downed drone struck a fuel tank, Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram. Videos on social media appeared to show huge pillars of smoke billowing above the oil depot. Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily stopped flights at Sochi's airport. Farther north, authorities in the Voronezh region reported that four people were wounded in another Ukrainian drone strike. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 93 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea overnight into Sunday. Meanwhile, in southern Ukraine, a Russian missile strike hit a residential area in the city of Mykolaiv, wounding seven people, according to the State Emergency Services, The Ukrainian air force said Sunday that Russia had launched 76 drones and seven missiles against Ukraine. It said 60 drones and one missile were intercepted, while 16 others and six missiles hit targets across eight locations. The reciprocal attacks came at the end of one of the deadliest weeks in Ukraine in recent months, after a Russian drone and missile attack Thursday killed 31 people, including five children, and wounded more than 150. The continued attacks come days after President Trump moved up his self-declared deadline — to Aug. 8 — for Russia to show progress on peace efforts. Trump said Thursday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners after their latest round of negotiations in Istanbul in July. 'There is an agreement to exchange 1,200 people,' he wrote on X, saying that the lists of individuals to be swapped were being settled and that his government was working to 'unblock the return of our civilians.' There was no immediate comment from Russia. Zelensky also said he discussed with top Ukrainian officials 'the negotiation track — specifically, the implementation of the agreements reached during the meetings with the Russian side in Istanbul, as well as preparations for a new meeting.' Each of the three rounds of talks between the countries this year has resulted in prisoner exchanges but yielded no breakthrough toward a ceasefire.
