Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed a high-ranking Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) official responsible for state secrets protection in the wake of a reported shootout between security forces in Kyiv, also indicating further personnel changes are forthcoming. This development follows earlier reports of an internal conflict involving the SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), and the alleged 'kidnapping' of Stepan Kaplunov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps for Combat Work.

On the economic front, the Ukrainian parliament's failure to support crucial decisions for cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) threatens to block access to $30 billion in funding and could trigger a budget crisis. This comes amidst broader discussions about food hoarding by citizens and ongoing financial scrutiny of institutions like Sense Bank, where the former chairman of the supervisory board, Mykola Hladyshenko, had his powers terminated by the Cabinet of Ministers due to non-compliance with independence requirements.

The country continues to face widespread Russian aggression, with a residential high-rise in Odesa sustaining damage and 17 people injured in a new attack. Additionally, Russia struck Ukraine's largest pharmaceutical warehouse near Kyiv, potentially incurring losses in the billions. President Zelenskyy has stated that Russia shows no signs of de-escalation, with destruction reported across 13 regions, and has announced a new system of 'yellow' and 'red' air raid alerts with distinct sound patterns.