Russia launched missile attacks on western Ukraine, resulting in the death of an 8-year-old boy, according to local officials. Drones, which Russian officials believe were operated by the Ukrainian military, targeted Moscow for the third consecutive day but caused no significant damage.
In response to the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired all the heads of regional military draft boards as part of his anti-corruption initiatives. The missile that killed the boy struck a house in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region, near the Polish border. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted Russia’s attack on Kyiv, the capital, but debris from the intercepted missiles fell on residential areas, including a children’s hospital.
Moscow also experienced a drone incident as a drone fell in western Moscow after being stopped by Russian air defense systems. No one was injured in the incident. This was the third consecutive day that Vnukovo airport in Moscow had to halt flights due to drone attacks, causing disruptions.
President Zelenskyy announced the firing of all draft board directors in Ukraine’s regions. He stated that war veterans, including those with injuries, should be given these positions. This decision came after Ukrainian security services presented details of numerous criminal cases against draft board officials suspected of bribery and corruption.
Zelenskyy’s actions against corruption in Ukraine’s military have demonstrated his commitment to addressing this longstanding issue. The issue of corruption in the draft system gained significant attention last year when media reports surfaced about a regional draft commissar’s alleged involvement in illegal activities.
The State Bureau of Investigation and Security Service detained multiple draft board staff members suspected of bribery and corruption following the investigation. Zelenskyy’s continued efforts to tackle corruption have sent a clear message to Ukraine’s Western allies, who have been providing significant military aid, that the government is serious about fighting graft.