**Assassination Attempt on Zelensky Resulted in Deaths**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that an attempt to assassinate him at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 resulted in people being killed inside the Presidential Office. In an interview with The Guardian, Zelensky said: “There were people who wanted to kill (me), there were gunshots, and more. Some people were killed here, inside the Presidential Office, others were defending us.”
**Multiple Assassination Attempts on Zelensky**
This was not the first or last reported attempt on Zelensky’s life. At least three assassination attempts were made against him in 2022 as Russian forces pushed towards Ukraine’s capital before being defeated in the battle of Kyiv. A team of elite Chechen soldiers was eliminated after Ukraine was tipped off by members of Russia’s Federal Security Bureau (FSB). Another attempt was thwarted in May 2024, with two colonels accused of leaking classified information to Russia.
**Ukraine Loses Troops and Equipment**
Russia launched a missile attack against Kyiv on February 12, killing one person and injuring four others. Ukrainian forces also reported significant losses, including the destruction of naval bases and damage to vessels. Air defenses intercepted six out of seven missiles targeting the cities of Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih.
**Ukraine’s Military Strength**
The war has taken a toll on Ukraine’s military strength. Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa announced that Ukraine will no longer form new military brigades due to losses suffered during the conflict.