Zelensky fires more aides in cabinet reshuffle as Russia launches drones and missiles across Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired a longtime aide and several advisers Saturday in an ongoing cabinet reshuffle as Russia unleashed new attacks overnight.

Zelensky fired his top aide, Serhiy Shefir, from the position of first aide, where he had worked since 2019. The Ukrainian president also let go of three advisers, and two of the president's representatives who oversee volunteer activities and soldiers' rights.

No explanation was immediately given for the latest changes in a widespread staff shake-up in recent months. The decision included the dismissal of Oleksiy Danilov, who served as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Valery Zalozny from the position of Commander of the Armed Forces on February 8. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Advance this month.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Saturday that Russia launched 12 Shahed drones overnight, nine of which were shot down, and fired four missiles at eastern Ukraine.

Russia launched a barrage of 38 missiles, 75 airstrikes and 98 attacks from multiple rocket launchers in the past 24 hours, Ukraine's armed forces said in social media posts.

The Ukrainian energy company Centernergo announced on Saturday that the Zmiev Thermal Power Plant, one of the largest thermal power plants in the eastern Kharkiv region, was completely destroyed after the Russian bombing last week. Power outage schedules remain in place for about 120,000 people in the region, with 700,000 people losing power after the plant was bombed on March 22.

Russia escalated its movements Attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine In recent days, causing major damage in several areas.

Officials in the Poltava region said on Saturday that an infrastructure facility had been subjected to “several strikes,” without specifying whether it was an energy facility.

Meanwhile, the toll from Friday's mass bombing of 99 drones and missiles hitting areas across Ukraine came to light on Saturday, with local officials in the Kherson region announcing on Saturday morning that one civilian had been killed. A resident of the Dnipropetrovsk region died in hospital from his injuries, according to the region's governor, Serhiy Lysak.