Ukraine’s government undergoes major reshuffle. Ukraine is set for a major government reshuffle this week, with over 50% of the Cabinet expected to be replaced. Davyd Arakhamia, head of the “Servant of the People” faction, announced that the final list of ministers stepping down would be decided on September 4. Parliament is expected to vote on the changes on September 4-5, marking a significant overhaul as Ukraine continues to address its wartime challenges. Later in the evening on September 4, Arakhamia reported that government personnel changes were discussed in a September 4 meeting with President Zelensky. A comprehensive plan for rotations was developed. Andriy Sybiha is expected to replace Dmytro Kuleba as Foreign Minister, pending parliamentary approval.
Olga Stefanishyna is likely to become Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration following Denys Malyuska’s resignation. Nataliya Kalmykova will lead the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and Mykola Tochytskyi will be set to head the Ministry of Culture. Vitaliy Koval is anticipated to take over the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, though his dismissal as head of the State Property Fund failed in the Rada. Matviy Bidnyi will lead the Ministry of Youth and Sports, while Svitlana Hrynchuk will assume the role of Environment Minister after Ruslan Strilets’s resignation. Herman Smetanin, currently head of Ukroboronprom, will lead the Ministry of Strategic Industries. Oleksandr Kamyshin, the outgoing Strategic Industries Minister, and Iryna Vereshchuk will transition to the President’s Office roles.
Russian missile attacks on Lviv and Kryvyi Rih. In Lviv, Russian forces have conducted a missile strike that struck civilian areas, causing extensive damage near the city’s centre. Lviv’s Mayor, Andriy Sadovyi, reported that the assault ignited fires in residential buildings, leading to the closure of several schools due to structural damage. As of 21:00 local time, the attack had claimed the lives of at least seven individuals and left 64 others injured. This incident is a stark continuation of Russia’s persistent assault on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, according to Lviv’s Mayor Sadovyi. Similarly, in Kryvyi Rih, Russian forces struck a civilian area, destroying a hotel from the first to third floors and causing damage to several other buildings. The attack injured at least six people, including a child, and damaged four schools, shops, and cars. This comes after a pattern of strikes targeting hotels in Ukraine, including a recent attack in August that killed two people, according to Governor Serhiy Lysak.
Ireland’s Prime Minister visits Kyiv. During a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, who is currently visiting Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasised that Ukraine’s ability to strike military targets within Russia using long-range weapons hinges on the decisions of four key nations—the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. “This does not depend on the broader coalition of friendly partner countries around the world; it rests with these specific nations. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—at present, only these four either provide or have the capability to provide the long-range weapons that could help us drive the Russian Federation from our territory and safeguard civilian lives across our cities,” Zelensky remarked. Additionally, Harris and Zelensky signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries. Ireland will provide non-lethal military assistance to Kyiv, train Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, and assist with demining efforts.
Bloomberg: Germany is to deliver 17 IRIS-T systems to Ukraine. On the international stage, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz revealed a significant arms agreement aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defences, announcing the delivery of 17 IRIS-T air-defence systems. Scholz emphasized that four of these systems have already played a critical role in intercepting over 250 Russian missiles and drones, safeguarding countless lives in the process. Germany’s commitment extends to eight medium-range and nine short-range systems, with additional deliveries scheduled by the end of this year and into 2025. This move further underscores Germany’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s defence efforts, as reported by Bloomberg.
