Ukrainian president's top aide targeted in assassination attempt

KIEV - Serhiy Shefir, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, survived an assassination attempt on Wednesday when his car came under attacks by unidentified assailants, the National Police of Ukraine has said.

Shefir was unharmed in the assault, which took place near the village of Lesniki, about 20 km from the Ukrainian capital Kiev, but his driver was wounded, the national police's press service said Wednesday.

Adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (OPU) Mikhail Podolyak, in a commentary to the local news agency Interfax-Ukraine, said the OPU associates the attempt on Shefir with Zelensky's campaign against the oligarchs.

Zelensky, who is currently in New York, was promptly informed about the assault, according to the president's press service.

Criminal proceedings have been opened regarding the fact of the attack, and the national police have launched a special operation to search for the criminals.