Russia carried out several deadly attacks on Ukrainian ports, including an assault that reportedly killed two Ukrainians aboard a foreign vessel in Mykolaiv, as protests against the removal of the defence minister entered their second day. The attacks underscore the ongoing intensification of hostilities in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov regions.

These assaults on port infrastructure come amid significant domestic political tension in Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov, 35, had been instrumental in modernizing the ministry and was partly credited with recent military successes, making his ousting a subject of considerable debate.

In Mykolaiv, Russian drones struck port infrastructure on Friday, damaging three foreign-registered vessels, according to local prosecutors. Two Ukrainian crew members were killed in one of the ship attacks. Separately, a Russian drone attack in Kherson killed a woman and injured six others. In Odesa, Ukraine's largest seaport, a Russian attack claimed the life of one man, local officials reported.

The escalating attacks on maritime assets and port facilities highlight the strategic importance of these areas for Ukraine's vital grain exports and for Russia's military objectives. Both nations have increased missile and drone strikes in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov over the past week, disrupting shipping routes.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of intensifying attacks on vessels. Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed to have hit 24 vessels used by the Ukrainian military in the past week. In response, Ukraine's drone forces commander stated that Ukraine struck 12 Russian vessels in the Black Sea on Friday, identifying two as Russian tankers. Ukraine's military also reported striking a Russian oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region.

The domestic unrest surrounding Defence Minister Fedorov's dismissal has exposed divisions within Ukraine's military establishment. After his forced resignation, Fedorov reportedly voiced criticism of military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and questioned Ukraine's chances of defeating Russia under his command.

Protesters gathered for a second consecutive day outside President Zelenskyy's office in Kyiv, calling for Fedorov's reappointment. Similar demonstrations supporting Fedorov were reported in other Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, Ternopil, Mykolaiv, Chernivtsi, and Lutsk, according to Ukrinform news agency.

Valeriia Balenko, a 29-year-old protester, expressed hope that the authorities would heed the public's demands. The ongoing conflict and the internal political dynamics create a complex and challenging environment for Ukraine's defence and foreign policy.