Latest news with #VitaliiKlitschko
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kyiv mayor accuses Zelenskyy of authoritarianism amid corruption scandal
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko has accused President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of power centralisation, claiming that Ukraine now "stinks of authoritarianism". Source: Klitschko in a comment to the Times Details: The Times posted a comprehensive article about "the most famous Ukrainian politicians in the international arena", noting that at the outset of the war, Zelenskyy, leveraging martial law, appointed a military administration in Kyiv, which overlaps with the mayor's authority. Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), through its Clean City operation, uncovered widespread corruption within Klitschko's circle, leading to the arrest of seven of his subordinates. Klitschko stated that the Kyiv City Council's operations have been disrupted by "raids, interrogations and threats of fabricated criminal cases", preventing councillors from achieving a quorum for decision-making. Quote from Klitschko: "This is a purge of democratic principles and institutions under the guise of war. I said once that it smells of authoritarianism in our country. Now it stinks." The Times reports that this conflict is not only political but also personal. Klitschko portrays the situation as an attempt by the president to centralise power, reflecting growing concerns that Zelenskyy's consolidation of authority during the war is undermining democracy. He accused the president of using military administrations to strip powers from democratically elected mayors. Quote from Klitschko: "Many of the mayors are intimidated, but my celebrity status is a protection. You can fire the mayor of Chernihiv, but it is very difficult to fire the mayor of the capital who the whole world knows." Background: On 6 February 2025, it was revealed that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau was investigating businessman and former Kyiv city councillor Denys Komarnytskyi. Later, the NABU press office announced that the Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office "are conducting a large-scale operation" called Clean City "to expose a criminal organisation involved in land corruption in the Kyiv City Council". As part of the case, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court ordered the two-month detention of Petro Olenych, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, setting his bail at UAH 15 million (approx. US$361,300). A similar preventive measure was imposed on Mykhailo Terentiev, Head of the Land Commission, who was also placed in custody for two months with bail set at nearly UAH 20 million (around US$481,700). Komarnytskyi was discovered abroad by Ukrainska Pravda. On 26 March, it was reported that three police officers had been fired in connection with Komarnytskyi's departure from the country. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia attacks Kyiv with drones: 11 injured, residential buildings damaged
Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on the city of Kyiv on the night of 24-25 May. Debris from downed drones injured at least 11 people and damaged residential buildings in several districts of the capital. Source: Tymur Tkachenko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, on Telegram; Kyiv City Military Administration Quote from Tkachenko: "In the Holosiivskyi district, drone debris fell on a five-storey residential building. The site suffered partial destruction, and a fire broke out. Information on casualties is being confirmed." Details: Updated information from Kyiv City Military Administration indicates that four people sought medical treatment after debris hit the five-storey building. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported damage to a house in the Dniprovskyi district where medical personnel are currently examining one injured person. Another wounded person received treatment on the spot in the Desnianskyi district. Quote from Klitschko: "Medics provided first aid to four people on the spot in student accommodation in the Holosiivskyi district. A piece of drone debris hit the building. The external cladding of one wall caught fire." The aftermath of the Russian attack Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Update: At 02:24, Klitschko reported that another person had been wounded in the Desnianskyi district and taken to hospital. Debris from a downed drone damaged windows in a residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Remnants of the drone were also found in the area around the building. Medics are examining another wounded person. "As of now, seven people have been injured in the capital. Six received medical assistance at the scene," said Klitschko. At 03:02, he confirmed the number of injured had risen to ten. The aftermath of the Russian attack Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine The aftermath of the Russian attack Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Quote from Klitschko: "Two of them have been taken to hospital. Six received medical treatment at the scene. Two others are currently being examined in the Shevchenkivskyi district." Details: As of 04:00, Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed 11 people had been injured, ranging in age from 18 to 62. The aftermath of the Russian attack Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Background: Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Kyiv and the oblast on the night of 24-25 May. Dozens of Russian drones were recorded in the sky. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Kyiv residents dash for shelter after latest large-scale Russian missile attack
Machine guns and explosions were heard throughout Kyiv this morning - leaving residents injured as communities scrambled to find shelter in underground subway stations Kyiv residents were forced to scramble for shelter today after the city came under another huge Russian drone and missile attack. Explosions and machine guns were heard throughout the Ukrainian capital hours after the country began a major prisoner exchange with Russia, swapping hundreds of soldiers and civilians. It was supposed to be the first phase of a complex exchange designed to attempt to reach a ceasefire in the three-year war. But the cooperation did not last long, as debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least four city districts in the early hours of this morning. At least six people were taken to hospital with serious injuries, according to acting head of Kyiv military administration, Tymur Tkachenko. Prior to the attack, city mayor Vitalii Klitschko warned Kyiv residents of more than 20 Russian strike drones heading towards the city of more than 2.9million residents. Intelligence analysis had suggested this week Russia was massing assault units near embattled Kharkiv in readiness for a pre-summer bid to breakthrough defences. This morning's attack, it is feared, is the start of this onslaught. Debris fell on a shopping mall and a residential building in Obolon, Kyiv, one of today's worst-hit regions. The nature of the injuries suffered by at least six people is unclear at this stage. The prisoner swap Friday was the first phase of a complicated deal involving the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first phase brought home 390 Ukrainians, with further releases expected over the weekend that will make it the largest swap of the war. Russia's Defense Ministry said it received the same number from Ukraine. The swap 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. As the freed men entered the medical facility on Friday, people holding signs and photos of their relatives shouted names or brigade numbers, seeking any news of a loved one. Nataliia Mosych, among the gathered relatives, cried: "Vanya... My husband!" Yet battles have since continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) frontline. 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. After a two-hour conversation with Mr Putin, Donald Trump recently tried to take credit for attempted ceasefires.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Watch: Russia hits Ukraine's capital with drones and missiles, eight injured
Russia hits Ukraine with drones and missiles Russia attacked Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on Saturday with drones, missiles, and injured at least eight people, the city's mayor said. Images shared online captured thick smoke pouring from the rooftop of one apartment block, while flames erupted from another nearby building as emergency crews directed powerful jets of water at the blaze. A fiery orange glow illuminated the skyline, with dark plumes drifting across the city's horizon. Acting head of Kyiv's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, reported via Telegram that intercepted projectiles landed in four districts of the capital early Saturday. He confirmed six individuals needed medical attention, whilst two fires erupted in the Solomianskyi district. City mayor Vitalii Klitschko alerted residents about incoming Russian drones before the attack. He later reported that debris struck a shopping centre and residential building in the Obolon district, with emergency responders dispatched to the location. This followed the several days of Ukrainian drone attacks - some 800 attacks - on targets inside Russia, including capital Moscow. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had vowed on Friday to respond to those attacks and said the surge of Ukrainian drone attacks was "a direct consequence" of support for Ukraine by European Union countries whose leaders visited Kyiv in recent days. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 40대 이상이고 PC가 있으세요? 그럼 이 게임을 정말 좋아하실 거예요! Sea of Conquest 플레이하기 Undo "We are certain that they will be held accountable for their share of responsibility for these crimes," Lavrov said, referring to the European countries. "This is clearly an attempt to disrupt peace talks and undermine progress made in Istanbul following the agreements between the presidents of Russia and the United will continue this work no matter what provocations there may be."
Boston Globe
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Kyiv comes under large-scale Russian drone and missile attack with explosions heard throughout city
Firefighters worked on a site of a Russian attack on Saturday. Alex Babenko/Associated Press Advertisement Prior to the attack, city mayor Vitalii Klitschko warned Kyiv residents of more than 20 Russian strike drones heading towards Kyiv. As the attack continued, he said drone debris fell on a shopping mall and a residential building in Obolon district of Kyiv. Emergency services were headed to the site, Klitschko said. The prisoner swap Friday was the first phase of a complicated deal involving the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first phase brought home 390 Ukrainians, with further releases expected over the weekend that will make it the largest swap of the war. Russia's Defense Ministry said it received the same number from Ukraine. Advertisement The swap 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. As the freed men entered the medical facility Friday, people holding signs and photos of their relatives shouted names or brigade numbers, seeking any news of a loved one. The returning men inspected the photos, and a serviceman said he shared a cell with one of those on the sea of portraits held out toward him. 'Vanya!' cried Nataliia Mosych, among the gathered relatives, 'My husband!' Ukrainian prisoners of war get off a coach to return home after spending months in a Russian prison, in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Paula Bronstein/Getty The exchange, the latest of dozens of swaps since the war began and the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians at one time, didn't herald any halt in 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 Friday that there has been no agreement yet on the venue for the next round of talks to end the fighting as diplomatic maneuvering continued. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday night that 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. 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. Advertisement 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 it had shot down 788 Ukrainian drones away from the battlefield between May 20 and May 23. Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 175 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as a ballistic missile since late Thursday.
