It is President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's second Cabinet shakeup in a year. He faces criticism for dismissing reformist Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Follow DW for more.
What you need to know
Ukraine appoints Naftogaz chief Koretskyi as prime minister
Ukrainians protest ousting of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as part of a government shakeup
Ukraine hits six Russian tankers in Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Kyiv says
Ukraine hits six Russian tankers in Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Kyiv says
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Kyiv
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Kyiv
Here are some of the key developments in Russia's war in Ukraine on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google . Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed.
Ukraine receives 501 more war dead bodies from Russia
Ukraine and Russia have carried out another exchange of bodies of fallen soldiers.
Ukraine says it has received the bodies of 501 troops, while Russian media report that Moscow recovered the remains of 31 of its soldiers.
Since the start of 2025, Ukraine says it has brought back nearly 21000 bodies, compared with just over 600 returned to Russia.
The exchange comes as the war, now in its fourth year since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, continues with both sides keeping official casualty figures secret.
UK pledges €300 million to help Ukraine buy 16 Gripen fighter jets
The United Kingdom will provide €300 million ($345 million) to help Ukraine acquire 16 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
He made the announcement during his final trip to Kyiv before leaving office.
The funding follows a deal Ukraine signed last month with manufacturer Saab to purchase the aircraft in an agreement worth about $2.5 billion.
When asked whether he was disappointed that he would not see an end to the conflict before leaving No. 10, Starmer told reporters, "This isn't about me, it's about a country, Ukraine, that has faced an aggressor for now in the fifth year."
"Britain has always been, and remains, with Ukraine, and we value this immensely," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine awarded Starmer its "Order of Freedom" honor.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham appears set to become the UK's fifth prime minister since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2025.
Zelenskyy calls for unity after defense minister ouster
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for "unity" within Ukraine's military leadership as he faced criticism over the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had clashed with the head of the armed forces Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Rare protests broke out in Ukraine after Fedorov's removal, as a long-running dispute between the reform-minded minister and the commander-in-chief spilled into the open.
"A president in wartime should not have to choose in such a situation, honestly," the AFP news agency reported Zelenskyy as saying. "I would very much like unity."
In a scathing attack on the military chief, Fedorov accused Syrskyi of blocking ministry initiatives and refusing to address problems directly.
"Instead of working out how to defeat Russia, he has figured out how to split the country," Fedorov said.
Analysts said Zelenskyy appeared to side with his trusted military commander over the defense minister at a critical stage of the war.
Russia, Ukraine target shipping lanes
Russia and Ukraine are intensifying attacks on shipping in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, a key corridor for global grain exports, pushing wheat prices higher.
Ukraine says it has struck at least 11 Russian vessels, while Moscow reports hitting a Ukrainian boat and maritime targets near the Odesa region.
Kyiv's drone forces say recent strikes targeted oil tankers, cargo ships, and tugboats, bringing the number of vessels hit this month to nearly 150.
Ukraine is expanding its campaign from the Sea of Azov into the Black Sea, aiming to disrupt Russian military logistics and isolate Crimea.
Russia, meanwhile, is stepping up strikes on Ukrainian ports and infrastructure in Odesa, which are critical to the country's wartime economy.
Turkey renews offer to host Ukraine-Russia talks
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has made a renewed offer to host talks between Ukraine and Russia during a visit to Kyiv.
"There is simply no explanation for a war in Europe to continue for five years in the 21st century. We need peace more than ever," Fidan said.
Turkey has hosted multiple rounds of talks between Ukraine and Russia , both at the outset of the war and again in 2025.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said that President Volodymyr Zelensky would be ready to meet Putin in Turkey .
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov separately said, "There are no immediate prospects for resuming the negotiation process."
Starmer vows UK's 'cast-iron' support for Ukraine on final Kyiv visit
Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is making his final trip to Ukraine, vowing that the UK's "cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure."
Starmer held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
The two leaders also laid wreaths at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy thanked the "United Kingdom for their unwavering respect for our warriors."
Starmer announced his resignation on June 22 and will be replaced by Andy Burnham .
IN DEPTH: Why is Zelenskyy reshuffling Ukraine's government?
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has resigned, prompting a Cabinet reshuffle led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What comes next?
Find out more about what's behind Zelenskyy's latest government rejig in this report .
Protests in Kyiv over exclusion of popular defense minister from new government
In Kyiv, hundreds of protesters rallied as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy moved to dismiss his defense minister as part of a government reshuffle.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed on X late Wednesday that his tenure was ending after only six months.
He has been credited with cutting bureaucracy, boosting drone warfare and pursuing a data-driven strategy to exhaust Russian forces.
Fedorov previously led Ukraine's digital transformation efforts and gained public support for modernizing government services and advancing battlefield technology.
Zelenskyy has not formally confirmed the dismissal.
The current interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, is set to replace Fedorov, Ukrainian lawmakers said on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy's pick, Koretskyi, approved as Ukraine's prime minister
Ukraine's lawmakers voted Thursday to appoint President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nominee, Sergii Koretskyi, the chair of state energy company Naftogaz, as prime minister.
Koretskyi replaces Yulia Svyrydenko, who resigned this week as Zelenskyy seeks to make "necessary changes to the Ukrainian government."
Zelenskyy said Koretskyi was the most appropriate candidate for the government's priority of preparing Ukraine for another difficult winter, citing the Naftogaz chief's experience in the energy sector.
Welcome to our coverage
Ukraine's parliament will vote on a new wartime government, the second such overhaul under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a year.
The reshuffle includes the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, which has already sparked protests on the streets of Kyiv this morning.
Recent opinion polls show Ukrainians still have faith in Zelenskyy's wartime leadership, but the protests suggest that that support has its limits.
Last July, Zelenskyy responded to mass demonstrations against his stripping of anti-corruption agencies of their independence by reversing course, and he could take similar action this time should the protests grow.
In this blog, we will track these developments closely.