Latest news with #Klitschko
Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Zelensky and Kiev mayor ‘at war'
Vladimir Zelensky's longstanding feud with Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has escalated into 'war,' The Times has reported. The Ukrainian leader has 'forced' the former world champion heavyweight boxer – who is said to harbor presidential ambitions – into a 'political clinch,' the British daily wrote on Friday. Zelensky is reportedly seizing power from the capital's civilian government, having taken control of its military administration away from Klitschko in the early months of the conflict. Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau has made seven arrests among Klitschko's subordinates, with a further three under investigation, The Times wrote. In turn, the Kiev mayor has accused the Zelensky administration of paralyzing the city council with 'raids, interrogations, and threats of fabricated criminal cases' that prevent his team from meeting the legal quorum required for decision-making. 'This is a purge of democratic principles and institutions under the guise of war,' The Times cited Klitschko as saying. 'I said once that it smells of authoritarianism in our country. Now it stinks.' The dispute is as much personal as it is political, according to the newspaper. Zelensky made personal attacks against Klitschko after the mayor criticized his approach to peace negotiations. The Kiev mayor has accused Zelensky of overreach, playing into fears that his use of wartime powers has come at the expense of democracy, The Times said. Despite his presidential term expiring last May, the Ukrainian leader has repeatedly postponed elections, citing martial law. Klitschko said that Zelensky is also usurping power from other mayors in the country, but that his celebrity status grants him some protection. While boxing champion has brushed off allegations against him as mudslinging, arrests in the Kiev administration are real manifestations of corruption in the capital, the Times wrote, citing analysts. Kiev's flourishing corruption would be 'impossible without the city government,' Zelensky-appointed city military administration head Timur Tkachenko told The Times. Corruption has been a serious and long-standing issue in Ukraine. Top officials in Washington, which has been Kiev's biggest military sponsor, have expressed concern that US aid has been systematically misappropriated during the Ukraine conflict.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Boxer turned Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko lands major blow as he blasts ‘authoritarian' Zelensky
KYIV's mayor and former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko stepped into the ring with Volodymyr Zelensky - accusing him of "authoritarianism". The former heavyweight blasted the Ukrainian wartime leader for paralysing his city with "raids, interrogations and threats of fabricated criminal cases". Advertisement 8 Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko has slammed Zelensky Credit: Getty 8 The Ukrainian President was accused of authoritarianism Credit: Getty 8 Ukrainian boxer Vitali Klitschko (L) with his arm around his brother, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko (R) Credit: Getty Klitschko said the president's decision to use martial law to appoint a rival military administration in Kyiv stopped his city from making progress. The 53-year-old mayor's claims come after ex-comedian The Don tripled down on his criticism of Zelensky in a And just days after that, a Advertisement READ MORE WORLD NEWS Klitschko's allegations towards Zelensky of authoritarianism come as his Kyiv administration faces a string of arrests. Some of Klitschko's deputies have been purged by the national anti-corruption bureau under an operation called Clean City. The probe has exposed widespread corruption under the mayor's watch - and seven of his subordinates have so far been arrested, with another three under investigation. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Breaking The former athlete has now lashed out at Zelensky, saying that the work of his city council has been plagued by fake criminal cases and threats. He says that these hampered the ability of Kyiv authorities to make key decisions. Kyiv's mayor told The Times: 'This is a purge of democratic principles and institutions under the guise of war. Sky documentary reveals feud between Ukraine's president and Kyiv's mayor over child's death 'I said once that it smells of authoritarianism in our country. Now it stinks.' Advertisement He also accused President of using military administrations across the country to take power from elected mayors. This is not the first time ex-sportsman Klitschko - who is also said to have presidential ambitions - has called out his rival Zelensky. The Kyiv mayor called out the Ukrainian President in February amid stalling peace negotiations. Zelensky then hit back at the boxing champ, saying: "Klitschko is a great athlete, but I didn't know he was a great speaker." Advertisement 8 It comes after Trump clashed with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in front of the world's press 8 Vitali Klitschko said his celebrity status protected his criticism Credit: Getty 8 Vice President JD Vance was also involved in an unseemly war of words with Zelensky Klitschko said that his recent criticism of Zelensky has been protected by his celebrity status. Advertisement 'Many of the mayors are intimidated, but my celebrity status is a protection," he explained. "You can fire the mayor of Chernihiv, but it is very difficult to fire the mayor of the capital who the whole world knows." He added: 'That is why everything is being done to discredit and ruin my reputation.' Political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko said that the conflict betwene the two rivals goes deeper. Advertisement The expert said it reflected concern about abuse of city funds in wartime, calling it a "response to manifestations of corruption in the Kyiv city administration". He told The Times: 'During the war money should go primarily to defence, to protect the country, yet there is all this construction." Questioning the corruption in Kyiv, he added: "In some other cities, even stadiums are being built. "In the Donbas there are large landscaping projects. The frontline is near by, and the money is not going to defensive structures, but to greenery." Advertisement Kyiv locals have been baffled as luxury flats keep popping up instead of shelters or schools — often built on public land using a dodgy 'toilet loophole'. This starts with setting up a par-per-use toilet for example, to then receive something similar to squatters' rights. Many of the ten Kyiv officials under investigation have been charged with corruption relating to the approval of these land permits. Klitschko's ex-deputy has been charged with taking bribes to help war conscripts escape, while a former city councillor accused of embezzlement has fled to Austria. Advertisement He responded to claims of corruption under his watch, saying that he had sacked eight of the officials being investigated. "I have 4,500 employees in this building alone and about 300,000 employees working for the city," he said. "Corruption cases sometimes happen, but we react harshly and quickly." He added: "We co-operate with law enforcement, provide all the necessary information and hope for an impartial investigation of all cases." Advertisement Klitshcko's main rival in Kyiv, Tymur Tkachenko, has slated the mayor for showing 'weakness' during wartime. Tkachenko told The Times: 'Mr Klitschko could not close the brothel in the basement of the same building where he lives." He was referring to Tootsies, a notorious strip club raided and shut down by the security service last month as part of an investigation into sex trafficking. Klitschko hit back at claims he was tied to the strip club which is near a hotel complex he owns, calling it a 'lie' meant to smear him. Advertisement 8 Former world champion heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko (L) and Wladimir Klitschko Credit: Getty 8 It comes as the war in Ukraine rages on Credit: AFP
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Business Standard
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Massive Russian drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 7
A massive Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted Ukraine for a second consecutive night, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, officials said early Sunday. The attack took place on the third day of a planned prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, the only tangible outcome from peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month which have so far failed to produce a ceasefire. The exchange has been a rare moment of cooperation between the warring sides. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said there are already 10 injured in the capital as of 3 am Sunday. Soon afterward, Ukraine's emergency service said four people were killed and 16 were injured, including 3 children, just in the Kyiv region. Klitschko said a student dormitory in Holosiivskyi district was hit by a drone and one of the building's walls was on fire. In Dniprovskyi district, a private house was destroyed and in Shevchenkivskyi district, windows in a residential building were smashed. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia's defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday, a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Further releases expected over the weekend are set to make the swap the largest in more than three years of war. We expect more to come tomorrow, Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. Russia's defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details. Hours earlier, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital overnight. In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month - the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion - Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Hill
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Massive Russian drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 7 people, officials say
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A massive Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted Ukraine for a second consecutive night, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, officials said early Sunday. The attack took place on the third day of a planned prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, the only tangible outcome from peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month which have so far failed to produce a ceasefire. The exchange has been a rare moment of cooperation between the warring sides. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 'there are already 10 injured in the capital' as of 3 a.m. Sunday. Soon afterward, Ukraine's emergency service said four people were killed and 16 were injured, including 3 children, just in the Kyiv region. Klitschko said a student dormitory in Holosiivskyi district was hit by a drone and one of the building's walls was on fire. In Dniprovskyi district, a private house was destroyed and in Shevchenkivskyi district, windows in a residential building were smashed. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia's defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday, a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Further releases expected over the weekend are set to make the swap the largest in more than three years of war. 'We expect more to come tomorrow,' Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. Russia's defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details. Hours earlier, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital overnight. In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month — the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion — Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.
Arab News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds more prisoners as another attack on Kyiv leaves 3 dead
KYIV: Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds more prisoners Saturday as part of a major swap that amounted to a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire. The exchange came hours after Kyiv came under a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack and authorities said another combined aerial attack that started Saturday night and stretched into Sunday morning had left three people dead in the 'Kyiv region,' according to Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the Kyiv regional military administration. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 'there are already 10 injured' is Kyiv as of 3 a.m. Sunday, adding that a student dormitory in Holosiivskyi district was hit a drone and the exterior of one of its walls was on fire. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday, a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Further releases expected over the weekend are set to make the swap the largest in more than three years of war. 'We expect more to come tomorrow,' Zelensky said on his official Telegram channel. Russia's defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details. Hours earlier, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital overnight. In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month — the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion — Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. 'A difficult night' Officials said Russia attacked Ukraine with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones overnight while Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and neutralized 245 drones — 128 drones were shot down and 117 were thwarted using electronic warfare. The Kyiv City Military Administration said it was one of the biggest combined missile and drone attacks on the capital. 'A difficult night for all of us,' the administration said in a statement. Posting on X, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it 'clear evidence that increased sanctions pressure on Moscow is necessary to accelerate the peace process.' Posting on X, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke of 'another night of terror for Ukrainian civilians.' 'These are not the actions of a country seeking peace,' Lammy said of the Russian strike. Katarina Mathernová, the European Union's ambassador to Kyiv, described the attack as 'horrific.' 'If anyone still doubts Russia wants war to continue — read the news,' Katarina Mathernová wrote on the social network. Air raid alert in Kyiv The debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least six Kyiv city districts. According to the acting head of the city's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, six people required medical care after the attack and two fires were sparked in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district. The Obolon district, where a residential building was heavily damaged in the attack, was the hardest hit with at least five wounded in the area, the administration said. Yurii Bondarchuk, a local resident, said the air raid siren 'started as usual, then the drones started to fly around as they constantly do.' Moments later, he heard a boom and saw shattered glass fly through the air. 'The balcony is totally wiped out, as well as the windows and the doors,' he said as he stood in the dark, smoking a cigarette to calm his nerves while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. The air raid alert in Kyiv lasted more than seven hours, warning of incoming missiles and drones. Kyiv's mayor, Vitalii Klitschko, warned residents ahead of the attack that more than 20 Russian strike drones were heading toward the city. As the attack continued, he said drone debris fell on a shopping mall and a residential building in Obolon. Emergency services were headed to the site, Klitschko said. Separately, 13 civilians were killed on Friday and overnight into Saturday in Russian attacks in Ukraine's south, east and north, regional authorities said. Three people died after a Russian ballistic missile targeted port infrastructure in Odesa on the Black Sea, local Gov. Oleh Kiper reported. Russia later said the strike Friday targeted a cargo ship carrying military equipment. Russia's defense ministry on Saturday claimed its forces overnight struck various military targets across Ukraine, including missile and drone-producing plants, a reconnaissance center and a launching site for anti-aircraft missiles. A complex deal The prisoner swap on Friday was the first phase of a complicated deal involving the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. It took place at the border with Belarus, in northern Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, the Russian Defense Ministry said. POWs arrived at the medical facility in the Chernihiv region for a second day on Saturday. But for many their arrival was bittersweet. Those who were not reunited with their loved ones took solace in the released POWs providing some information about when their relatives were last seen. Anna Marchenko, the daughter of a missing Ukrainian serviceman, was elated when a released POW said they had seen her father. 'This is such a big news. It's like a fresh breath of air,' she said. 'I didn't see him, but at least it's some news. At least it's news that gives us the opportunity to continue to breathe and live in peace.' However, the exchange — the latest of dozens of swaps since the war began and the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians so far — did not herald a halt in the fighting. Battles continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. After the May 16 Istanbul meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the prisoner swap a 'confidence-building measure' and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that there has been no agreement yet on the venue for the next round of talks as diplomatic maneuvering continued. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would give Ukraine a draft document outlining its conditions for a 'sustainable, long-term, comprehensive' peace agreement, once the ongoing prisoner exchange had finished. Far apart on key conditions European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he tries to press his larger army's battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. The Istanbul meeting revealed that both sides remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. Russia's Defense Ministry said that overnight and early on Saturday its forces shot down over 100 Ukrainian drones over six provinces in western and southern Russia. The drone strikes injured three people in the Tula region south of Moscow, local Gov. Dmitriy Milyaev said, and sparked a fire at an industrial site there. Andriy Kovalenko, of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said Saturday the drones hit a plant in Tula that makes chemicals used in explosives and rocket fuel.
