Two people were killed and 37 were injured by a Russian drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital that cut power to the western half of the city, leaving at least 500,000 residents without electricity.<\/p>\n
Nearly 600 drones and 36 rockets were fired into the country in an attack that its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said highlighted Ukraine\u2019s need for western help with air defence, as well as other financial and political support.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must work without wasting a single day to ensure that there are enough missiles for our air defence systems, and that everything necessary for our protection and for pressure on Russia is in place,\u201d Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n
A third person was killed in the surrounding Kyiv region, officials said. Two waves of attacks could be heard across the capital, the first starting at about 1am and the second around 7am before an all-clear was given just before 9.30am.<\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s military said it had struck the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, one of the largest in southern Russia, causing a fire at the plant. The site supplies diesel and jet fuel to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Russia is engaged in a campaign to break Ukraine\u2019s civil resistance this winter by attacking its energy infrastructure as the war heads towards its fourth year. The attacks come as a series of key Ukrainian political figures have been embroiled in a corruption scandal.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Andriy Yermak, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy\u2019s chief of staff, was forced to resign after his flat was searched<\/a> by anti-corruption officials investigating a kickback scheme. Two other ministers have already been fired and the scheme\u2019s alleged architect, an old friend of Zelenskyy, has fled the country.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy said on Friday that he would restructure the office of the president \u2013 which Yermak ran as a gatekeeper to the leader \u2013 amid speculation as to who might lead it or how it could be reorganised.<\/p>\n An opposition MP called for the president to appoint Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine\u2019s ambassador to the UK and the former head of the armed forces. Liudmyla Buimister, a Ukrainian politician, wrote in a social media post that \u201ca man trusted by the military, citizens and international partners is exactly what we need now\u201d.<\/p>\n Zaluzhnyi has been considered a potential political challenger<\/a> to Zelenskyy, though allies of the ambassador said on Saturday they were unsure he would agree if asked.<\/p>\n Overnight, Yermak told the New York Post: \u201cI\u2019m going to the front and am prepared for any reprisals.\u201d However, it was unclear how he might serve the military. \u201cI am an honest and decent person,\u201d he added in a text message.<\/p>\n Yermak led Ukraine\u2019s negotiating team over the past fortnight as Kyiv responded to a pro-Russia 28-point plan released by the White House. It demanded that Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk province and agree to a general amnesty, and that the west drop sanctions imposed on Russia.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to This is Europe<\/p>\n The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans \u2013 from identity to economics to the environment<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com<\/a> to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Talks stalled this week during the US Thanksgiving holiday, but are expected to restart shortly. A Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the country\u2019s national security council, has set out for Washington, Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n Ukraine has submitted a 19-point counter proposal, which has been shared with Moscow. Next week, Trump\u2019s special envoy Steve Witkoff is due to arrive in the Russian capital, though few expect a breakthrough, since last week the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, described the Ukrainian leadership as illegitimate.<\/p>\n Kyiv\u2019s position is weakened by the corruption scandal, easily the most serious domestic political crisis of Zelenskyy\u2019s presidency, while Russia hopes its continued bombing and a potential financial crisis for Ukraine will wear it down.<\/p>\n