Resignation of Foreign Minister and Changes in Half of Ukraine's Cabinet; Seven Killed in Russian Attack on Lviv

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister and a prominent figure in the country on the international stage, submitted his resignation on Wednesday ahead of potential cabinet changes. Meanwhile, Russian attacks, one day after one of the deadliest missile strikes since the war began, resulted in at least 7 deaths in the city of Lviv, Ukraine. According to the Associated Press, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, wrote on his Facebook page that Kuleba, 43, did not provide a specific reason for his resignation, which will be discussed at the next legislative session. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that imminent cabinet changes were underway as he seeks to strengthen the government 2.5 years after the war began. During the war between Russia and Ukraine, Kuleba has been the second most prominent figure after Zelensky in conveying Ukraine's messages and needs to the international community, whether through social media posts or meetings with foreign dignitaries. Kuleba visited China as the highest-ranking Ukrainian official in July; a trip that took place after the onset of Russia's large-scale invasion in February 2022. He has served as the country's Foreign Minister since March 2020. Davyd Arakhamia, the leader of Zelensky's party in the Ukrainian Parliament, stated that more than half of the current cabinet will undergo changes. He mentioned that ministers will resign on Wednesday and new appointments will be made on Thursday. Meanwhile, Russian attacks resulted in at least 7 deaths and 35 injuries in a nighttime assault on Lviv. Among the dead were a child and a medical personnel, and some of the injured are in critical condition. A nighttime attack also injured five people in Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky's hometown. This attack occurred one day after two ballistic missiles targeted a military academy and a hospital nearby in Poltava, Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, over 50 people were killed and more than 200 injured in this attack, making it one of the deadliest Russian assaults since the war began. This attack came as Ukrainian forces were trying to stabilize their positions in the border area of Kursk, Russia, following a surprise offensive by Ukraine that began on August 7, while the Russian army continued its advance deeper into eastern Ukraine. In response to these attacks, Zelensky urged Ukraine's allies to equip Kyiv with longer-range weapons so it could strike deeper into Russian territory. The deadliest Russian attack on Ukraine this year; Zelensky stated that his country will take revenge.