Home Blog Page 54

Ronaldo’s World Cup Journey Ends In Tears As Martinez Steps Down Amid Criticism

Cristiano Ronaldo’s long pursuit of a World Cup title has come to a close after Portugal fell 1-0 to Spain in the last 16, with Mikel Merino netting a stoppage-time winner in Dallas. The 41-year-old forward was visibly emotional as the final whistle confirmed Portugal’s exit.

Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and five-time Champions League champion, holds the record for most career goals in football history. He has now featured in a record six World Cups, but his best result remains reaching the semi-finals back in 2006. He had already confirmed this would be his last World Cup appearance, though he stopped short of announcing international retirement, saying he’d discuss his future with family first.

Debate has intensified over whether manager Roberto Martinez should have continued starting Ronaldo throughout the tournament. BBC pundit Chris Sutton was particularly scathing, accusing Martinez of favoritism toward the veteran star and suggesting Ronaldo’s declining mobility contributed directly to Portugal’s early exit.

Martinez, however, defended his approach, announcing his resignation after the match and describing Ronaldo as a footballing icon who deserved gratitude for his efforts at the tournament.

A Squad Full of Talent, Questions Over Selection

Portugal’s roster featured several Champions League winners from PSG’s recent title runs, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves plus Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, the Premier League’s reigning Player of the Year. Critics questioned why striker Goncalo Ramos saw limited playing time given the depth of talent available.

Statistically, Ronaldo remained productive in front of goal finishing with three goals and 18 shots, more than all but four other players in the tournament. But his overall involvement dropped sharply elsewhere: he created just one chance for a teammate across five matches, and hundreds of players touched the ball more often than he did despite him playing almost every available minute.

Messi Comparisons Resurface

With Ronaldo’s World Cup story now finished without a title, comparisons to long-time rival Lionel Messi have resurfaced. Messi lifted the trophy in 2022 and currently sits as this tournament’s joint top scorer. Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney praised his legacy, acknowledging his disappointment but calling him one of the game’s true greats.

Ronaldo leaves the World Cup stage holding a few historic marks the only player to score in six different tournaments, and one of just two (alongside Messi) to appear in six. His 11 career World Cup goals place him ninth all-time.

Martinez Exits Following World Cup Failure

Martinez, who previously led Belgium to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 before a group-stage exit in 2022, took charge of Portugal in 2023 and won the Nations League last year. He confirmed his departure immediately after the loss to Spain, stating his contract had concluded and that continuing without achieving his stated goal of winning the World Cup didn’t make sense.
Sutton was highly critical of Martinez’s overall tenure, arguing he failed to maximize the talent at his disposal with both Belgium and Portugal.

Police Arrest Adeyemi’s Father As Alleged Fake PFIPC Agency Scandal Takes New Twist

0

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested the father of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the man at the centre of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal that has continued to generate controversy across the country.

The arrest, carried out on Monday at the family’s residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has sparked concerns among legal practitioners and human rights advocates over the legality of detaining relatives of criminal suspects.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, confirmed the development, alleging that police officers stormed the residence and took Adeyemi’s father into custody. Falana argued that there was no legal justification for the arrest, especially as the suspect had already indicated his readiness to appear before the court.

The latest development comes as Adeyemi is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

The Federal Government alleges that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), organisations it insists were never legally established.

The case has attracted renewed public attention following reports that the disputed council appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite earlier statements by government officials disowning the organisation.

The revelation has raised fresh questions about how the alleged council was able to operate within government circles and reportedly obtain official recognition.

Investigators allege that Adeyemi used forged government documents to secure official privileges, including the opening of bank accounts and access to government facilities. Authorities maintain that the agencies he claimed to represent never existed under Nigerian law.

The arrest of Adeyemi’s father has further intensified the controversy, with legal experts questioning the action of the police.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, alongside other legal practitioners, has maintained that Nigerian law does not permit the arrest or detention of family members solely to compel a suspect to surrender unless such relatives are directly linked to the alleged offence or are themselves under investigation.

As court proceedings continue, the controversy surrounding the alleged fake agency is expected to remain in the spotlight, with increasing calls for a thorough investigation into how the organisation allegedly operated and whether any public officials played a role in its activities.

Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs To 3,535 As Thousands Remain Missing

The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed to 3,535, while more than 16,700 people have been injured, according to updated figures released by authorities on Monday.

The powerful earthquakes, which struck on June 24, caused widespread destruction across La Guaira State, north of the capital, Caracas, reducing entire communities to rubble and leaving thousands of families displaced.

Government officials said 16,740 people sustained injuries during the disaster, while more than 17,000 residents have been left homeless.

Although authorities have yet to release an official figure for those still trapped or missing beneath the rubble, the United Nations estimates that as many as 50,000 people remain unaccounted for.

Thousands of survivors are currently taking shelter in temporary camps established on streets, public parks and parking lots as relief efforts continue.

Search and Recovery Operations Continue

As emergency operations transition from rescue efforts to recovery and rebuilding, several international search-and-rescue teams have begun concluding their missions and departing Venezuela.

Meanwhile, families continue searching for the remains of loved ones in hopes of giving them proper burials.

Authorities Begin Mass Burial of Unidentified Victims

On Sunday, officials commenced the burial of dozens of unidentified victims in a mass grave at La Esperanza Cemetery in La Guaira.

Rows of simple white crosses, each decorated with small bouquets, now mark the individual graves of those whose identities remain unknown.

Every grave bears the same date of death: June 24, 2026.

Who Is Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew? The Alleged Fake PFIPC Agency DG

0

Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew is at the centre of the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), one of Nigeria’s most unusual governance scandals in recent years. The Presidency has maintained that the council was never established by the Federal Government, despite Adeyemi publicly presenting himself as its Director-General.

Court documents, official correspondence and statements released by government agencies indicate that the alleged council interacted with several federal institutions, secured office accommodation, obtained a budget code, received provisional self-accounting status and even had requests processed by government agencies before questions emerged about its legitimacy.

The Presidency has accused Adeyemi of forging official documents and falsely presenting himself as the head of a federal agency. He has since been arraigned on multiple criminal charges, including forgery and impersonation. Adeyemi, however, has consistently denied the allegations, insisting he acted lawfully and would clear his name before the court.

As legal proceedings continue, the case has drawn national attention because of the number of government institutions that allegedly processed requests linked to the organisation before it was eventually disowned.

Who Is Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew?

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew became known nationally after introducing himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation he claimed had presidential approval to promote foreign investment and coordinate international economic engagements on behalf of Nigeria.

Before the controversy became public, Adeyemi attended official meetings, interacted with diplomats, met senior government officials and represented the purported council at several engagements.

According to publicly available records, he held meetings with diplomatic missions and also interacted with senior officials, including the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmed, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.

His public activities eventually attracted scrutiny after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sought clarification from the Presidency regarding his status.

How The Alleged PFIPC Gained Government Recognition

One of the biggest questions raised by the controversy is how an organisation the Presidency says never existed was able to process official requests through several federal institutions.

Available records show that government agencies acted on correspondence they believed originated from a legitimate federal agency.

Among the agencies that reportedly processed requests linked to the PFIPC were:

  • Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
  • Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF)
  • Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

According to official records, requests linked to the organisation included office accommodation, financial approvals, staff deployment and banking arrangements.

The developments have sparked wider conversations about document verification procedures within government institutions.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry Raised The Alarm

The controversy began to unravel in October 2025 after the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested clarification regarding Adeyemi’s status.

The ministry’s request followed his meeting with members of the diplomatic community without the involvement of the ministry.

The ministry stated:

“It should be noted that this act contravenes extant rules and regulations guiding diplomatic practices globally.”

It further added:

“Consequently,y it has become necessary to seek clarification on the status of Prince Adeyemi to enable the ministry to appropriately respond to some diplomatic missions requesting information on the council and the Director-General, following the receipt of the invitation extended to the members of the diplomatic community.”

The request prompted an official response from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

Presidency Disowns The PFIPC

Responding to the enquiry, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the council being referenced was not recognised by the Presidency.

He wrote:

“In future, it is advised that any letter supposedly issued by the Chief of Staff to the President should be cleared from this Office before further action is taken.”

Following the response, security agencies commenced investigations into the activities surrounding the organisation.

Questions Over The Appointment Letter

A major aspect of the investigation concerns an appointment letter dated March 8, 2024, which allegedly conveyed Adeyemi’s appointment as Director-General.

The letter reportedly stated:

“His Excellency, as well as the good people of Nigeria, expects that you will discharge your duties with absolute loyalty, dedication and diligence.”

The Presidency has maintained that the appointment was never approved and has alleged that the document was forged.

Government officials also stated that presidential appointment letters are ordinarily issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation rather than the Office of the Chief of Staff.

Office Space, Budget Code And Self-Accounting Status

Official records show that requests linked to the PFIPC extended beyond correspondence.

The organisation reportedly requested office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat.

It also sought self-accounting status from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

One of the letters stated:

“The institution has been assigned the Administrative Code Number 0111062001 in the National Chart of Accounts for budgeting, accounting and reporting of financial returns to the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and other relevant agencies.”

Following subsequent correspondence, provisional self-accounting status was reportedly granted.

CBN Banking Arrangements

Another significant aspect of the controversy involved banking facilities.

Correspondence between the OAGF and the Central Bank of Nigeria reportedly led to the creation of domiciliary accounts linked to the organisation.

Records indicate the accounts were opened under:

“Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council World Investment Summit.”

The existence of the accounts has become one of the issues under investigation.

Recruitment And Staff Deployment

Documents also show that requests were made for the deployment of accountants, auditors and other personnel to the organisation.

Additional correspondence reportedly requested officers from the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President.

The controversy later deepened after some civil servants confirmed they had indeed been posted to work with the organisation.

The Criminal Charges

Following investigations, the Federal Government filed multiple criminal charges against Adeyemi.

The Presidency alleges that he forged official documents, falsely represented himself as the head of a federal agency and used allegedly fabricated correspondence to obtain official approvals.

The charges are currently before the Federal High Court.

If convicted on all counts, the penalties could be substantial under Nigerian law.

Adeyemi Maintains His Innocence

Despite the allegations, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew has consistently denied wrongdoing.

He insists the allegations are politically motivated and has accused senior government officials of attempting to silence him.

He has repeatedly stated that the courts not public opinion should determine the facts of the case.

With the matter now before the Federal High Court, the legal process is expected to determine whether the allegations against him can be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Until then, the PFIPC controversy remains one of the most closely watched governance and document-authentication cases in recent Nigerian history.

Belgium Crush USA 4-1 To Reach World Cup Quarter-Finals

Belgium ended the United States’ FIFA World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion on Monday with a commanding 4-1 victory, booking a place in the quarter-finals where they will face Spain.

Charles De Ketelaere starred with a brace, while Hans Vanaken capitalised on a costly goalkeeping error before substitute Romelu Lukaku added a late fourth goal. The result ended the hopes of the tournament co-hosts of reaching their first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years.

The encounter at Seattle’s Lumen Field was also overshadowed by the controversy surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun, whose surprise reinstatement by FIFA after an initial one-match suspension sparked widespread debate before kick-off.

Balogun, who was named in the starting line-up by US coach Mauricio Pochettino after FIFA overturned the suspension following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, struggled to make an impact throughout the match.

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans admitted the controversy served as motivation for his teammates.

“Let’s be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news,” Tielemans said.

“We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That’s what we did today. I’m very proud of the team,” the Aston Villa midfielder told Belgium’s RTBF broadcaster.

Pochettino acknowledged that the United States failed to perform at the required level.

“Today we were not the same team that we have been during the tournament,” Pochettino said. “It was a very bad day — it wasn’t our day in a collective and individual way.”

Belgium made a dream start when De Ketelaere opened the scoring after just nine minutes. The United States briefly restored hope when Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick found the net in the 31st minute.

However, Belgium regained the lead only two minutes later through De Ketelaere’s header before Vanaken extended the advantage in the 57th minute after US goalkeeper Matt Freese lost possession while attempting to clear the ball outside his area.

Lukaku completed the rout deep into stoppage time to seal a convincing victory.

The defeat concluded a dramatic 24 hours for the United States after FIFA’s decision to reverse Balogun’s suspension generated criticism across the football world.

Belgium football authorities also challenged Balogun’s eligibility shortly before kick-off, but FIFA dismissed the appeal.

“There was a sense of injustice within the squad,” Belgium’s Nicolas Raskin said. “We were determined to respond on the field.”

Belgium to Face Spain in Quarter-Finals

Belgium will now meet Spain in Los Angeles on Friday after the European champions edged Portugal 1-0 in another last-16 encounter.

Spain secured victory through substitute Mikel Merino, who scored in the first minute of stoppage time to eliminate Portugal at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The defeat marked the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey, with the 41-year-old making his sixth and final appearance at the tournament.

Although Ronaldo had hoped to crown his illustrious career with a World Cup title, Portugal struggled to threaten Spain, managing only two shots on target compared to Spain’s six.

Speaking after the match, Ronaldo confirmed it was his final World Cup while leaving his international future open.

“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life,” Ronaldo said.

“That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised his side’s display despite the narrow scoreline.

“It was a fantastic match — a final played early — and, inevitably, we had to sweat it out until the very end,” de la Fuente said. “We put in a complete performance.”

Crude Prices Fall After OPEC+ Agrees To Raise Output Targets

Oil prices fell Monday after OPEC+ agreed to further increase its output targets from August.

Exports from key producers via the Strait of Hormuz are also recovering, potentially adding to global supplies.

Brent crude futures fell 41 cents, or 0.57%, to $71.71 a barrel in early trading after settling 0.45% higher on friday. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude was at $68.32 a barrel, down 37 cents, or 0.54%. There was no settlement for WTI on Friday as U.S. markets were closed ahead of the independence day holiday on Saturday.

Both contracts were little changed last week after mostly falling over the past few weeks, as investors kept a close eye on talks between the U.S. and Iran over the fate of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while keeping tabs on the recovery in gulf oil exports.

OPEC and their allies including Russia agreed on Sunday to further increase output targets by 188,000 barrels per day from August, on top of similar increases for June and July.

Sierra Leone’s Fishermen Say Illegal Foreign Trawlers Destroying Livelihoods

On Sherbo Island off Sierra Leone’s coast, local fishermen haul in their nets the traditional way — with a dozen or more hands pulling together to bring the catch ashore. But residents say hauls have been shrinking for years, and they point to one consistent cause: large foreign fishing vessels encroaching on their waters.

Marie Pierre, who sorts sardines on the beach, says international trawlers are entering an officially protected coastal zone in growing numbers despite rules meant to keep them out. Fisherman Musa Gassimo goes further, alleging that trawlers deliberately sabotage local gear at night, cutting fishing lines that cost as much as $250 to replace.

A Regional Crisis

The problem extends well beyond Sierra Leone. West Africa is considered the world’s hotspot for illegal fishing, with roughly 40% of the globe’s unlicensed catch traced back to the region, according to a 2024 study. That report estimated the practice costs West African countries a combined $10 billion in lost revenue and threatens the food security of millions — and observers say little has changed since.

Thomas Turay, head of Sierra Leone’s Fishermen’s Union, says catches among his members have dropped by around 40%. Speaking near Freetown, he described trawlers anchoring just outside the seven-mile exclusion zone before moving in nearly every night. Fishermen he introduced shared accounts of cut nets and a collision with a larger vessel that damaged a local boat.

Chinese Vessels Named as the Main Culprits

Steve Trent, head of the Environmental Justice Foundation, says that while vessels from South Korea, Taiwan, and Europe have been implicated in the past, the ships now dominating the waters off West Africa are overwhelmingly Chinese. Local fishermen say their complaints to Sierra Leone’s Fisheries Ministry go unanswered, with Turay alleging that officials are being bribed to look the other way.

Government Pushes Back

Sheku Sei of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Fisheries rejected the corruption claims, saying illegal fishing was once a major issue but has since been curbed through measures like mandatory transponders on foreign vessels and regular inspections. He maintained that penalties for entering the exclusion zone act as a real deterrent, though he could not cite a single case of that penalty being enforced in the past ten years, and he denied that vessels in Sierra Leone’s waters switch off their transponders to avoid detection — a tactic seen elsewhere in global shipping.

China’s Chamber of Commerce in Sierra Leone did not respond to requests for comment, but Beijing’s Foreign Ministry issued a broad denial last month after similar illegal-fishing accusations surfaced in Latin America, describing China as a responsible fishing nation that strictly regulates its distant-water fleet.

Calls for Greater Accountability

Trent dismissed China’s position as untenable, arguing that subsidies and weak oversight are effectively enabling the very overfishing Beijing denies responsibility for. He argues the fix lies in better vessel tracking and stronger international pressure, including from everyday consumers who ultimately buy the fish taken from West African waters — often without realizing where or how it was caught.

 25 Killed, 100 Injured in Sri Lanka Prison Clashes

At least 25 people have died and roughly 100 more were injured following clashes between two groups of inmates at a prison in Negombo, Sri Lanka, according to two police sources and a hospital source who spoke to Reuters.

The violence broke out Sunday between convicted prisoners and those held in pre-trial detention at the facility, located about 35 km (20 miles) north of the commercial capital, Colombo. What sparked the fighting remains unclear.

Police said parts of the prison were still being cleared as of Monday, with officials working to confirm the full number of dead and injured. Army spokesman Brigadier Waruna Gamage said the military has been asked to assist police but remained on standby for now.

Footage from Derana TV showed a heavy police presence outside the prison gates as a bus carrying injured inmates, some lying on its floor, left the facility. Other visuals showed prisoners being transferred by bus to another facility following the clashes.

Balogun Red Card Reversal Sparks Controversy Over Trump-FIFA Involvement

FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-match ban handed to USA striker Folarin Balogun has thrown the World Cup’s disciplinary system into confusion, raising serious questions about political interference from the Trump administration. Balogun, sent off during the USA’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, is now free to play in Monday’s Round of 16 clash with Belgium — making him only the second player in World Cup history to avoid serving a red-card suspension.

The only precedent dates back to 1962, when Brazil’s Garrincha was sent off in a semifinal but still played in the final, a ruling that was itself dogged by claims of political influence at the time. Unlike then, however, World Cup red cards today are supposed to be automatic and non-appealable.

No Explanation From FIFA

FIFA’s own disciplinary code calls for at least a two-match ban for serious foul play, and tournament rules don’t allow appeals against red cards. Yet FIFA gave no real justification for lifting Balogun’s ban beyond citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code — a broad provision that lets the organization suspend punishments without meeting specific criteria. It has never previously been invoked at a World Cup. FIFA also didn’t explain why Balogun’s suspended ban covers only one match rather than the required two.

When asked, BBC Sport was pointed only to the earlier case of Cristiano Ronaldo, who had two-thirds of a pre-tournament qualifying ban suspended after an elbowing incident — though FIFA did at least justify that decision by noting Ronaldo’s clean disciplinary record. No such reasoning has been offered for Balogun.

Trump’s Direct Involvement

According to sources who spoke to BBC’s US media partner CBS News, President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss the suspension, after which Infantino indicated the disciplinary committee would review the matter. White House World Cup task force director Andrew Giuliani also contacted Infantino, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was in touch with FIFA as well. Trump later thanked FIFA on Truth Social for correcting what he called an injustice.

The backlash had already been building before FIFA’s reversal — Secretary of State Marco Rubio had publicly criticized the original red card and called for an appeals process. Notably, FIFA’s ethics committee is separately investigating Infantino over claims he violated political-neutrality rules connected to Trump’s FIFA Peace Prize.

Belgium Furious, Pundits Call It a Farce

Belgium’s federation said it was stunned by the decision, arguing it directly contradicts tournament rules stating a sent-off player automatically misses the next match. Head coach Rudi Garcia was scathing in his response, comparing the timing to an April Fool’s joke. Former England defender and BBC pundit Micah Richards was equally critical, arguing the move undermines the competition and exists only to keep star players on the field.

The situation is further complicated by comparison to other players sent off at this tournament who received no such leniency — including Qatar’s Assim Madibo, who was hit with an extra three games on top of the standard ban despite BBC’s report suggesting his foul that broke an opponent’s leg may not have even been a genuine challenge.

Wider Implications

The episode raises uncomfortable questions for football’s disciplinary consistency more broadly. Because intent is no longer supposed to factor into red-card decisions — only the outcome of a challenge — some argue this sets a precedent that any accidental red card should now be open to reconsideration. Domestic leagues are also watching closely, given existing concerns about how VAR and new laws are being applied differently at the World Cup compared to club football.

For now, attention shifts to whether Balogun can make an impact against Belgium, a match now shadowed by questions over fairness, precedent, and the extent of political influence on football’s governing body.

Russian Strikes Kill At Least 11 in Kyiv for Second Time This Week

At least 11 people have died after Russia launched another wave of strikes on Kyiv, marking the second such attack on the Ukrainian capital in just a week, according to the city’s top military official, Timur Tkachenko. Around 46 people were wounded, including five children, and three additional deaths were reported in the broader Kyiv region.

Emergency crews were still working through more than 20 sites early Monday, with residential tower blocks in two districts among the buildings hit. Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said ballistic missiles struck multiple locations, sparking fires in several apartment complexes, and that warehouses and a vehicle repair garage also sustained damage.

The bombardment left a trail of visible destruction by Monday morning, with three apartment blocks partially collapsed after direct missile hits. Rescue teams worked to free people trapped in the wreckage while helicopters ferried river water to help extinguish the fires.

Residents once again fled into underground shelters overnight as air raid sirens sounded and Ukrainian air defenses engaged incoming fire. President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned earlier in the day that intelligence pointed to Moscow preparing a fresh large-scale assault on the capital, following the deadly strikes last Thursday that killed 30 people and drove huge numbers of residents into metro stations for safety.

Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians in these attacks. Russia, for its part, has said its strikes were aimed at military and energy infrastructure, framing them as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian power facilities. Ukraine has meanwhile ramped up its own strikes on Crimea, including causing a temporary power outage in Sevastopol, as part of an effort to push the Kremlin toward peace negotiations — though Moscow has instead intensified its bombing of Kyiv.

The attack comes just ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey, where Zelensky is due to meet with President Trump. He has called on allies to speed up deliveries of air defense missiles and pressed the US to authorize Ukraine to produce Patriot missile systems domestically, warning on social media that any delay in supplying air defenses costs lives and emboldens Russia to keep fighting.