War

Missiles over Ukraine, 2 dead in Kiev region. Zelensky: 'Sbu intelligence chief resigned'

Today new meeting of the heads of state of Ukraine's allies; tomorrow the coalition of the willing in Paris, with Meloni

5 January 2026

Il Presidente dell'Ucraina Volodymyr Zelenskyy parla durante un briefing a Kiev, Ucraina, sabato 3 gennaio 2026. (Foto AP/Danylo Antoniuk)

3' min read

Translated by AI

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Key points

Zelensky: "Sbu intelligence chief resigned"
Zelensky: "Russians hit Kiev hospital, 165 drones launched"
Kiev: "Raid on aid distribution centre, one dead and 2 injured"
Kiev: "Raid causes severe damage to energy infrastructure in Kharkiv"
EU, "first loan disbursement 90bn by second quarter"
Russian drone hits US factory in Dnipro

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

During the night, missile alerts over the whole of Ukraine, with 2 dead in the Kiev region.

Medvedev takes advantage of the blitz in Caracas to provoke Zelensky: the Ukrainian president 'could end up like Maduro', says the Moscow hawk.

"I don't think Kiev hit Putin's residence," says Trump.

Ucraina, 1.403° giorno di guerra
Photogallery11 foto

Today new meeting of the heads of state of Ukraine's allied countries; tomorrow the coalition of the willing in Paris, with Meloni.

Zelensky: "Sbu intelligence chief resigned"

Vasyl Maliuk has resigned as head of the Ukrainian Security Service (Sbu), but will remain with the agency to focus on operations against Russia. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding that Maliuk "knows how to do it best and will continue to work within the Sbu system. Together we discussed candidates for the new leadership of the Security Service'. For his part, Maliuk said he will remain on duty to carry out what he described as world-class asymmetric operations aimed at inflicting "maximum damage" on Moscow. Despite having led some of Ukraine's most important operations against Russia, Maliuk's tenure has been marked by controversy, particularly due to his actions against anti-corruption bodies. The decision, after months of speculation, is part of the broader reshuffle announced by Zelensky in recent days after the recent corruption scandal in the Ukraine.

Zelensky: 'Russians hit Kiev hospital, 165 drones launched'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on X that the Russians hit a hospital in Kiev, '"unfortunately one person died" and "patients had to be evacuated".

Zelensky explains that the affected hospital had 'a functioning in-patient ward' and now 'all those who need assistance are receiving help'.

Zelensky added that 'of course the Ukrainians will restore this hospital. We are such people: Ukrainians always rebuild what has been destroyed'.

Moreover, he added, 'likewise, repair teams and energy specialists are working in the regions where the Russians have caused new damage and power outages. During the night, 165 attack drones were launched, about 100 of them Iranian-made 'shahed' drones.

Kiev: "Raid on aid distribution centre, one dead and two injured"

The governor of the Ukrainian region of Kherson, Oleksandr Prokudin, accuses Russian troops of having 'attacked a humanitarian aid distribution point with drones' resulting in the death of one man and the wounding of two others, the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reports. Prokudin claims that the attack took place 'in one of the community centres in Darivka'.

Kiev: 'Raid causes severe damage to Kharkiv's energy infrastructure'

The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, accuses Russian troops of hitting energy infrastructure in five missile raids causing 'very significant damage': the online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reports this, adding that according to the governor of the north-eastern Ukrainian region, Oleh Syniehubov, no casualties are reported at the moment.

EU, "first loan disbursement 90bn by second quarter"

The European Commission expects that the first disbursement of the EUR 90 billion loan for Kiev, agreed at the December European Council, will be disbursed "in the second quarter of 2026 at the latest". This was stated by Maciej Berestecki, spokesman for the European Commission, at the daily press briefing, taking stock of the ongoing procedure. "The European Council agreed the loan on 18 and 19 December on the basis of enhanced cooperation. The proposal for a Council decision was transmitted on 22 December and will be voted on by qualified majority in the coming weeks, subject to the assent of the European Parliament. At the same time, we are working on a proposal for a regulation on the conditions of the loan and the amendment of the Multiannual Financial Framework regulation to allow loans to third countries, with adoption expected in January," the spokesperson explains.

Russian drone hits US factory in Dnipro

Three hundred tonnes of sunflower oil spilled onto a street in Dnipro after a Russian drone attack hit a factory belonging to the American group Bunge, the city's mayor Borys Filatov announced. "Public services are clearing and spreading sand, but traffic on Naberezhna will be impossible for two or three days," he added, referring to the road that runs along the south bank of the Dnepr river. According to Bunge, the site is a sunflower oil processing, refining and bottling plant.