Ukraine live: Zelensky fires deputy head of presidential office as corruption probe unfolds

Another suspect in Nord Stream case arrested in Croatia, German prosecutors say

⁠Germany’s ​federal prosecutors office ​said on Wednesday that another suspect ​had ‌been ⁠arrested related to ‌explosions damaging the ⁠Nord Stream gas pipelines in the ​Baltic sea.

In ‌its statement, the office ‌identified the ​Ukrainian national only as Vladimir Z., adding he ​was arrested ​in ​Pula, Croatia, by local ​police forces who acted on a European ⁠arrest warrant.

Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies say they uncovered laundering group including a presidential official

Ukraine’s ⁠anti-graft agencies ​said on Wednesday ​they had uncovered a group including a presidential official ​that ‌had laundered ⁠150 million hryvnias ($3.35 ‌million) used to pay for bail ⁠in an energy corruption scheme.

The NABU ​and SAPO ‌agencies said in a YouTube video the ‌group comprised a deputy head ​of the presidential office, a former lawmaker, heads of ​the management ​and supervisory boards ​of a state-owned bank and ​others.

They did not name the individuals, in accordance with Ukrainian law.

Russia says it downs 453 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia’s ​Defence ​Ministry ​said ‌on Wednesday ⁠that ‌it ⁠had downed 453 ​Ukrainian ‌drones ‌overnight over ​various regions.

Drone causes fire in industrial area in Russia’s Ufa, official says

Authorities ⁠were ​trying to put ​out a small fire after a drone ​fell ‌in ⁠an industrial area ‌in the city of ⁠Ufa in the Russian republic ​of Bashkortostan, the ‌republic’s head Radiy Khabirov said on ‌the messaging app ​Telegram.

Khabirov added that one of the drones ​hit an ​apartment building and ​a few cars ​in Ufa, an oil refining hub, leaving one person ⁠injured.

Ukraine anti-graft agencies investigate group involving presidential officials

Ukraine’s ⁠anti-graft ​agencies said ​on Wednesday they were carrying out ​an ‌operation ⁠to ‌uncover a «criminal organisation» ⁠which was run by ​current and ‌former lawmakers, and involving high ‌officials from ​the presidential office.

The agencies did not give ​the ​details of ​the investigation, but ​said more information would come soon.

Russia and Ukraine swap 103 prisoners of war each

Russia ​and Ukraine ​have exchanged 103 prisoners of war ​each, ‌Russia’s ⁠Interfax ‌news agency reported on Wednesday, ⁠citing the Russian Ministry ​of Defence.

The ‌two sides have traded ‌thousands of ​POWs at intervals throughout the four and a half year ​conflict, ​while remaining ​far apart on terms ​for any peace deal.

Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s Kherson bus kills four, governor says

A ⁠Russian ​drone attack ​on a bus in Ukraine’s southern city ​of ‌Kherson ⁠killed four ‌people on Wednesday morning, the ⁠regional governor said.

A further four ​women were ‌wounded in the attack ‌and have been taken ​to hospital, Oleksandr Prokudin said on the ​Telegram messaging ​app. He ​posted blurred photos ​of a yellow bus with bloodied steps and ⁠shattered windows.

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