August M
From renewed Russian strikes and airspace violations to sweeping political resignations, EU-wide safety crackdowns and a major US immigration freeze, this weekend delivered a series of high-impact developments across multiple regions. Here are the five stories that shaped the global news cycle.
1. Russian strikes hit Kyiv again
Russian drone and missile attacks struck several districts of Kyiv early Saturday, leaving one person dead and at least 11 injured, according to officials cited by Reuters. Fires broke out across the capital after debris from downed drones crashed into residential areas.
City authorities reported damage at six locations, including apartment blocks in which firefighters recovered a victim from the rubble and rescued a child.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said another blaze erupted in a high-rise tower west of the city centre, while emergency crews tackled additional fires in central districts.
The assault was the second in four days, following a deadly barrage earlier in the week that killed seven people.
2. Massive EU crackdown targets dangerous fake toys
Authorities across Europe have seized millions of counterfeit toys in a coordinated effort aimed at stopping hazardous products from reaching children, according to Euronews.
The joint operations — known as LUDUS IV and V — involved up to 26 countries, with Europol, EUIPO and OLAF leading the investigations.
The latest figures show the scale of the problem: more than 8 million toy packages were confiscated in each of the past two cycles, with dozens of suspects reported to judicial and health authorities.
Officials warn that the risks go far beyond economic damage. Many seized items were found to pose choking hazards, chemical exposure risks or even the potential for hearing loss due to unsafe noise levels in electronic toys.
The toy sector, the report noted, loses an estimated EUR 1 billion annually to counterfeits.
3. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff resigns amid major corruption probe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, following early-morning anti-corruption raids on Yermak’s home and office, abc news reported.
The move removes Zelenskyy’s closest adviser and top negotiator with the United States at a moment when Kyiv faces heavy pressure over a new peace plan with Russia.
Yermak had become embroiled in a sweeping corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector that has already forced multiple ministers to step down.
Investigators from NABU and SAPO searched his properties on Friday as part of the widening inquiry known in Ukraine as “Mindich-gate,” which involves allegations of kickbacks tied to energy-infrastructure contracts.
Yermak has not been charged, but suspicion around him had been growing for months.
4. Moldova reports new Russian drone violation of its airspace
Moldova temporarily closed its airspace after authorities detected Russian drones crossing into the country during a major wave of strikes on Ukraine, according to Reuters. It was the third such airspace breach in just over a week.
Officials said two drones identified as Russian entered Moldovan territory before continuing toward Ukraine, prompting civil aviation to halt flights for more than an hour due to safety concerns. The incident occurred as Russian forces launched dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones across Ukraine, killing several people.
5. US halts asylum decisions after National Guard shooting
The Trump administration has ordered a nationwide pause on asylum rulings after two National Guard soldiers were shot in Washington DC, the BBC reported.
The move followed President Trump’s pledge to “permanently pause migration” from what he called “third world countries,” part of a sweeping series of measures that expanded sharply after Wednesday’s attack.
Officials have accused an Afghan national, who entered the US through a special programme for allies who worked with American forces, of carrying out the shooting.
Trump also vowed to end federal benefits for non-citizens and blamed refugees for what he described as “social dysfunction,” according to the BBC.
Sources:
Reuters – Reporting on Russian strikes in Kyiv and Moldova’s airspace violations
Euronews – Reporting on the EU’s counterfeit-toy crackdown (LUDUS IV & V operations)
ABC News – Reporting on the resignation of Andriy Yermak amid Ukraine’s corruption probe
BBC News – Reporting on the U.S. halt of asylum decisions following the National Guard shooting
CBS News – Additional reporting referenced via BBC on U.S. immigration actions
