More SBU personnel decisions coming after senior officials dismissed over criminal gang involvement, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on November 7 that more personnel decisions are coming in the Security Service of Ukraine following the dismissal of senior officials allegedly involved with criminal gangs. He described recent developments involving the SBU as “disturbing, truly disgraceful, [and] absolutely unacceptable,” confirming that dismissals had already taken place and that additional changes would follow.
The comments come after Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies on November 5 charged five members of an alleged criminal group accused of protecting scam call centers, drug trafficking, and currency counterfeiting. The case implicates senior law enforcement officials, including police and SBU personnel, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. Zelensky noted that the criminal network linked to the group known as Khimprom has already begun operations in Poland and plans to expand the sale of synthetic drugs into Germany.
Zelensky said Ukraine needs support from allies to fully resolve the matter and confirmed that Kyiv has already held discussions with the United States at the appropriate level. Media reports have identified alleged leaders of the groups as Andrii Osipov and Yehor Burkin, referred to in NABU recordings as “Criminal” and “Mexican.” The broader investigation has already led to the resignation of former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who fled the country in September.
Zelensky directs the Prime Minister to implement a free transport scheme in Kyiv, due to Russian attacks on bridges
President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi to develop a free overground transportation program to help residents move around Kyiv in the event of metro disruptions and bridge closures caused by Russian attacks. According to presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, details of the plan could be presented as early as Monday.
Travel across the capital has become increasingly difficult as Russian forces target bridges spanning the Dnipro River. The Northern Bridge was struck again during the overnight attack of November 6–7, when Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region. Zelensky said authorities are currently determining the required number of vehicles and planning traffic reorganization in affected parts of the city.
The initiative comes as Russia has intensified strikes on bridges since early October, frequently forcing civilians to cross on foot when vehicle and rail traffic is halted by damage or air raid alerts. Zelensky also met with regional administration heads to review urgent needs amid ongoing attacks. Kharkiv, which already provides free public transport, has been repeatedly cited by the president as a positive example of wartime organization. The proposal arrives against the backdrop of what officials describe as Ukraine’s most difficult budget situation since 2022.
Forty-five people still missing following Russian strike on Komyshuvakha
As of November 8, forty-five people remain missing following the Russian airstrike on Komyshuvakha in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on November 2. Search-and-rescue teams have recovered 55 bodies from the rubble, of which 29 have been identified, according to Mykhailo Semikin, head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration.
Semikin said some of those still listed as missing are likely among the recovered bodies that have not yet been identified. Relentless Russian drone attacks continue to hinder the operation, forcing rescuers to suspend work periodically. It remains impossible to predict when the search will conclude.
On the morning of November 8, a Russian drone struck State Emergency Service workers at the site, damaging equipment. The prolonged recovery effort underscores the scale of the destruction caused by the guided aerial bombs, including a heavy FAB-3000, that hit the school used as a humanitarian aid and shelter facility.