A Russian Official's Sudden Downfall and Ukraine's Ongoing Struggles

A high-ranking Russian official, Roman Starovoit, was found dead in a car near Moscow. He had been fired by President Putin just hours before. The official story says he took his own life, but the full details are still unclear. Starovoit had been in charge of Russia's transport ministry since May 2024. Before that, he was the governor of the Kursk region. Some people blame him for not doing enough to protect the area from Ukrainian attacks. There are also reports that he was being investigated for stealing money meant for building defenses. His death came at a time when Russia's air travel was facing major disruptions. Hundreds of flights were canceled, diverted, or delayed. The government said this was due to "external interference, " which likely means Ukrainian attacks. In fact, Ukraine admitted to hitting a chemical plant near Moscow that makes parts for drones. Meanwhile, Ukraine is also facing heavy attacks. At least 12 civilians were killed, and over 90 were injured in just one day. In the city of Kharkiv, drones hit homes, a kindergarten, and shops, injuring many, including children. The Ukrainian military says it shot down most of the drones and missiles Russia sent their way. Russia has also been targeting Ukrainian recruitment offices with drones. Six offices have been hit in just over a week, killing at least two people and injuring many more. This seems like an attempt to stop Ukraine from getting new soldiers.