Russian drones struck the downtown of Kharkiv: five injured

ive civilians were injured after Russian forces launched three Shahed drones at central Kharkiv early on November 12, hitting a manufacturing plant and nearby residential buildings, according to local officials.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said emergency services were working at the scene and that four of the injured were taken to the hospital. Two residents trapped in their apartments were rescued by emergency crews.

The attack sparked fires in two buildings — one was extinguished and the other brought under control. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the strike caused significant damage to a civilian enterprise and nearby homes.

“All necessary services are on site, and cleanup operations are underway,” Syniehubov said.

The UK attempted to establish contact with Putin, but was unsuccessful

According to the Financial Times, the initiator was National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

At the beginning of the year, he called Putin's foreign policy assistant Ushakov to convey to the Russians the position of Great Britain and European countries.

The interlocutor noted that the telephone conversation "was unsuccessful" and did not lead to further communication.

The article says that some allies considered the call premature, before sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation increased. Others feared that the actions of the British adviser could anger the White House, which is making efforts for peace talks.

Two ministers resigned due to the massive energy corruption scandal

Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk resigned on November 12 amid a widening corruption scandal involving state nuclear power company Energoatom. President Volodymyr Zelensky also called for Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko to step down, saying that officials under investigation cannot remain in office during wartime.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko suspended Halushchenko the same day and appointed Lyudmila Suhak as acting justice minister. Later, she informed that Halushchenko had also resigned.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau is investigating Halushchenko over alleged kickbacks linked to businessman Tymur Mindich, a close associate of Zelensky. According to investigators, Halushchenko, referred to as “Professor” in leaked audio recordings, allegedly took part in dividing bribes with other suspects.

Prosecutors claim Mindich used his influence over Halushchenko to manipulate Energoatom’s operations. NABU tapes also suggest Zelensky called Halushchenko during one of Mindich’s meetings, which prosecutors say shows Mindich’s political reach. The President’s Office has not commented.

Zelensky condemned corruption amid the war, saying it is unacceptable while Ukrainians face Russian attacks and power shortages.

Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are cut off from humanitarian aid

Delivering humanitarian aid to Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast is currently impossible, as the cities remain under constant Russian attacks, regional governor Vadym Filashkin said on national television.

He said civilians trapped there are surviving only thanks to assistance from Ukrainian soldiers. “We cannot deliver water, food, or medicine. Only our defenders are helping the people who remain,” Filashkin said.

According to him, around 1,250 residents remain in Pokrovsk and about 1,350 in Myrnohrad, where the situation is described as “extremely difficult.”

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