A series of Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv overnight has left at least six people dead, including a six-year-old child, and over 30 others injured, among them nine children.
The strikes caused widespread damage across 27 locations, with one nine-story apartment building partially collapsing under the bombardment.
The explosions echoed through the city for hours, depriving residents of sleep and heightening tensions ahead of a critical parliamentary vote scheduled for Thursday.
This vote concerns a new legislative proposal aimed at reinstating the independence of two of Ukraine’s principal anti-corruption agencies.
The agencies are the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
The move seeks to reverse a controversial law passed just last week that significantly weakened their powers, sparking a political crisis.
The decision to curb these agencies’ independence had provoked rare wartime public protests against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Critics accused his administration of attempting to shield influential allies from anti-corruption investigations.
In response to domestic pressure and international criticism, Zelenskyy pledged to introduce new legislation to undo the damage.
On Wednesday evening, despite persistent rain, around 2,000 protesters gathered again in Kyiv to demand that parliament support the revised bill.
Many of the demonstrators were young people, holding up humorous and satirical placards, singing the national anthem, and chanting slogans like “Cancel the law!”
The protesters made it clear that they do not intend to ignite a political revolution.
On the other hand, they emphasized that their actions reflect a healthy democratic spirit, even in a country operating under martial law and without regular elections.
The Ukrainian parliament is expected to debate the new proposal on Friday.
Some lawmakers within Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party have voiced frustration.
They argue that they are now being pressured to reverse legislation they were compelled to support just a week earlier.
This division raises doubts about whether the bill will be smoothly passed.
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed optimism on Wednesday.
Sybiha stated that the government is working to rectify the issue and that the relevant parliamentary committee has already approved the new draft.
“We anticipate the vote tomorrow.
“We are getting this fixed,” he said.
The two institutions at the heart of the dispute, NABU and SAPO, operate independently from traditional law enforcement bodies and are focused on tackling high-level corruption.
Speaking from his office, SAPO’s head, Oleksandr Klymenko, expressed hope that parliament would pass the new law quickly and allow it to be enacted without delay.
He suggested that the attempt to undermine these agencies was retaliation for their investigations into high-profile figures, including 31 current members of parliament.
Klymenko also emphasized the deterrent effect of their work, arguing that the fear of exposure had significantly reduced corruption among top officials.
President Zelenskyy had earlier justified the legislative changes by claiming concerns over potential Russian infiltration in the anti-corruption bodies.
He also voiced out the need for enhanced coordination between law enforcement agencies.
However, many Ukrainians and foreign observers dismissed this explanation as a pretext.
The backlash reached the international stage, with several European leaders urging Zelenskyy to find a resolution.
A Western diplomat in Kyiv noted that it was important for Zelenskyy to receive direct feedback from his peers.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, criticized the rollback of NABU’s independence as a significant regression.
Her comment highlights that both NABU and SAPO are vital to Ukraine’s aspirations for EU membership.
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions persist as the war grinds on.
U.S. President Donald Trump has recently adopted a firmer tone toward Russia, shortening his ceasefire deadline from 50 to just “10 or 12 days.”
This was while accusing Vladimir Putin of lacking any real commitment to ending the conflict.
Following the deadly strikes on Kyiv, President Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s allies to increase pressure on Moscow.
“Once again, the world sees how Russia responds to our calls for peace with more violence.
“Peace without strength is impossible,” he wrote on Telegram.
On the battlefield, Russia continues its slow advances.
The Russian defense ministry claimed on Thursday that its forces had captured the town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine, a location that has seen intense fighting for over a year.
Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm this claim.