Fresh Ukraine corruption probe adds to pressure on Zelenskyy ahead of key vote – Europe live

Morning opening: Fresh corruption probes add to Zelenskyy's problems ahead of key voteJakub KrupaUkraine’s anti-corruption agencies opened an investigation into unnamed lawmakers and presidential advisers just hours before a key vote in parliament, adding to pressure on president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The Nabu and Sapo agencies released no further details, Reuters noted, but their announcement comes just hours before the Ukrainian parliament is due to vote on a new defence minister, Yevhen Khmara, appointed after Zelenskyy sacked his popular predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov.Protesters carry placards as they march during a rally calling for a reform of the defence sector and the reinstatement of the young and tech-savvy defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was sacked a mounth ago, in central Kyiv. Photograph: Serhii Okunev/AFP/Getty ImagesOn Tuesday night, Fedorov called for a wartime presidential election in the most direct political challenge to Zelenskyy since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.As our defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh reported, “The politician, whose abrupt sacking last month triggered a wave of protests, said that Ukraine had to “restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war” in a video address released online late on Tuesday evening. “Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We are fighting precisely because we want to remain a free European state,” Fedorov said in his nine-minute speech.” Overnight, at least four people died in Russian attacks on Ukraine, after a drone hit a bus in the southern city of Kherson.Ukraine, meanwhile, sent hundreds of drones towards targets in Russia, with Moscow claiming it downed 453 of them.I will also keep an eye on the latest in Belgium, as the firefighting operation against the largest wildfire in the country’s recent history appears to be nearing an end.It’s Wednesday, 19 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.Key events19m agoZelenskyy blasts Russia's 'safari against our people' after deadly attack on civilian bus1h ago'No clear understanding' on how to safely conduct election in wartime Ukraine1h agoMorning opening: Fresh corruption probes add to Zelenskyy's problems ahead of key voteZelenskyy blasts Russia's 'safari against our people' after deadly attack on civilian busPresident Zelenskyy responded this morning to the overnight attack on a bus in Kherson, calling it a “vicious Russian safari against our people.”“Four people were killed and five others were wounded. All necessary services are at the scene, investigating the details,” he said.But Zelenskyy said “what is absolutely clear is that the bus was civilian.” “These are the realities of everyday life in Ukraine’s frontline regions. While partners hesitate over additional supplies of defence equipment, the Russians have long run wild. Pressure on the aggressor is needed. Support for those defending life is needed.” Meanwhile, ⁠Russian forces ⁠have ⁠struck a cargo ​vessel in ⁠the Black Sea ⁠near ​Ukrainian ‌port ‌of Odesa, Reuters reported via Russian ‌news agency Interfax, citing the defence ministry.The ​vessel was carrying ⁠a military ​cargo, the ​ministry ​said.'No clear understanding' on how to safely conduct election in wartime UkraineDan SabbaghDefence and security editorArtem Bronzhukov, a Ukrainian political analyst, questioned whether it would be practical to hold elections given that Russian bombing was continuing. “Today there is no clear understanding of how to ensure people’s safety in the context of a full-scale war.” There was, he added, “a fairly deep-rooted view within Ukrainian society” that elections are necessary but only after the hot phase of the war ends – and that the country remained “a warring democracy – confirmed precisely by the protests taking place after Fedorov’s resignation from the government”.Protest against Ukrainian president Zelenskyy’s decision to replace Fedorov as defence minister in Kyiv Photograph: Anatolii Stepanov/ReutersPolling conducted at the turn of the month reported the ex-minister would come third in the first round of a presidential election with 13.1%, behind Zelenskyy on 22.3% and the former head of the armed forces, who is now Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, on 21.4%.The same polling, conducted by the Socis Centre for Social Research, also concluded that Zelenskyy would then be defeated in the run-off election by both Fedorov and Zaluzhnyi. Ukraine uses a two-stage voting system.If Ukraine were to hold an election, it would have to contend with the fact that millions have been exiled and displaced since the start of the war, and that more than 1 million are serving in the armed forces, many on the frontline. About a fifth of the country’s territory is also under Russian occupation.Morning opening: Fresh corruption probes add to Zelenskyy's problems ahead of key voteJakub KrupaUkraine’s anti-corruption agencies opened an investigation into unnamed lawmakers and presidential advisers just hours before a key vote in parliament, adding to pressure on president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The Nabu and Sapo agencies released no further details, Reuters noted, but their announcement comes just hours before the Ukrainian parliament is due to vote on a new defence minister, Yevhen Khmara, appointed after Zelenskyy sacked his popular predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov.Protesters carry placards as they march during a rally calling for a reform of the defence sector and the reinstatement of the young and tech-savvy defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was sacked a mounth ago, in central Kyiv. Photograph: Serhii Okunev/AFP/Getty ImagesOn Tuesday night, Fedorov called for a wartime presidential election in the most direct political challenge to Zelenskyy since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.As our defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh reported, “The politician, whose abrupt sacking last month triggered a wave of protests, said that Ukraine had to “restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war” in a video address released online late on Tuesday evening. “Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We are fighting precisely because we want to remain a free European state,” Fedorov said in his nine-minute speech.” Overnight, at least four people died in Russian attacks on Ukraine, after a drone hit a bus in the southern city of Kherson.Ukraine, meanwhile, sent hundreds of drones towards targets in Russia, with Moscow claiming it downed 453 of them.I will also keep an eye on the latest in Belgium, as the firefighting operation against the largest wildfire in the country’s recent history appears to be nearing an end.It’s Wednesday, 19 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.