Софія Середа

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed former National Security and Defense Council secretary Rustem Umerov to lead Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, making him the service’s seventh head in seven years. The appointment is controversial because Umerov has faced criticism over management, military procurement and media communication, as well as questions connected to the Mindich corruption case. The article also highlights his lack of specialized intelligence training, the potential conflict between running an intelligence agency and participating in diplomatic negotiations, and the service’s weakened institutional continuity after repeated leadership changes. Zelenskyy expects Umerov to coordinate the Drone Deals initiative and take part in peace and international negotiations, but the key concern is that these tasks could distract the service from its core intelligence mission.

Thousands of people continue protesting near the Office of the President in Kyiv, demanding that Volodymyr Zelenskyy return Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister. The demonstrations continued after Zelenskyy replaced Oleksandr Syrskyi with the protesters’ preferred commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi, but Fedorov has rejected alternative positions reportedly offered by the president. Protesters have organized food distribution, charging stations, Wi-Fi, poster-making areas and other logistical arrangements, and say they will continue demonstrating for as long as necessary. Some signs now also call for the dismissal of Veterans Affairs Minister Vitalii Kim, while Zelenskyy’s team says discussions with Fedorov are ongoing.

Zelensky initiates major personnel reshuffles across Ukraine’s security and military leadership, replacing top officials in the Defence Ministry, SBU, Interior Ministry and NSDC amid internal conflicts and public pressure. Yevhenii Khmara becomes acting defence minister, Oleksandr Poklad temporarily heads the SBU despite tensions with Kyrylo Budanov, and Ihor Klymenko is redirected toward the NSDC after losing roles in both the Interior Ministry and the Defence Ministry. Possible diplomatic appointments for Rustem Umerov and Yuliia Svyrydenko remain unresolved, while the search for a replacement for Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi continues. Mykhailo Fedorov’s future remains uncertain as he rejects most offered positions, and internal disputes within the military and political leadership continue to shape decision-making ahead of a difficult winter.

The High Anti-Corruption Court set a bail of 10 million hryvnias for MP Mykola Tyshchenko in a case involving alleged bribe-taking for protecting illegal call centres, rejecting prosecutors’ request for detention and a higher bail amount. Tyshchenko staged a media‑focused appearance with symbolic items he claimed to have prepared for possible detention, while prosecutors detailed alleged extortion schemes and money‑laundering practices. His defence dismissed the evidence as unsubstantiated and called for his release under personal guarantees from fellow MPs and a veterans’ group representative. After the ruling, Tyshchenko’s supporters praised his character, while he continued interacting theatrically with the press.

A massive Russian overnight missile attack on Kyiv caused widespread destruction, dozens of injuries, and an increasing number of deaths. Eyewitnesses describe the explosions, damage to residential buildings, fires, and the fear experienced while sheltering. Residents recount narrowly avoided tragedies, loved ones trapped under rubble, and repeated strikes on the same neighborhoods. Amid devastation, people describe moments of relief when relatives were found alive and the surreal contrast between destruction and the calm of the summer morning. The attack is described as one of the largest against Kyiv since the start of the full‑scale invasion.