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Deadly missile and drone attacks hit Kyiv for second night
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Russia launches deadly drone and missile attack on Kyiv
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Britain's foreign office has summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK after a large-scale Russian attack in Kyiv overnight that killed at least 18 people and damaged the British Council building.
The British Council said its offices in the capital were “severely damaged” in the missile and drone attack overnight that left four children dead.
It is the first major attack by Moscow on Kyiv since Vladimir Putin met with US president Donald Trump in Alaska, though the Russian leader has since stalled any efforts to kickstart peace talks.
A spokesperson for the British Council said the office would be closed until further notice, adding: “While there may be some delays in our responses, our work with our Ukrainian partners in education and culture continues.”
Scott McDonald, the chief executive of the Council, said a guard was injured in the attack and was “shaken but stable”. The EU delegation building in the Ukrainian capital was also damaged in the attack.
Russia used a combination of decoy drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's city administration.
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4 hours ago
Full story: Putin accused of ‘sabotaging peace’ after devastating airstrike on Kyiv kills 19 and hits British Council building
Russia killed at least 19 people including four children in a massive wave of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s capital that has drawn international condemnation.
Sir Keir Starmer accused Vladimir Putin of ‘sabotaging hopes of peace’ with the attacks that took place in the early hours of Thursday and saw more than 600 drones and over 30 missiles launched. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strike, the second largest attack since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, was Moscow's answer to diplomatic efforts to end its war.
Moscow claimed it only hit military targets but the UK summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office in London to receive an official complaint after the British Council building in Kyiv was struck by a missile. The death toll from the overnight attacks continued to rise on Thursday with at least 38 more people wounded.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Putin accused of ‘sabotaging peace’ after Russian airstrike on Kyiv kills 19
Four children are among the dead after a massive wave of drone and missile attacks
Tara Cobham28 August 2025 17:45
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British Council Ukraine chief refuses to be drawn on whether Russia deliberately struck Kyiv building
The director of the British Council Ukraine declined to speculate whether Russia deliberately struck a British Council building in Kyiv, but said Moscow is targeting education and cultural buildings.
Colm McGivern told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "I don't want to speculate on whether or not it was deliberate and intentional for the Russians to attack the British Council.
"But what I do think was deliberate, and what I do think is intentional, is Russia's continued attacks on education and cultural infrastructure in Ukraine, attacking schools, attacking theatres, forcing children to learn from bomb shelters, preventing universities from opening fully and teaching their young learners.
"And the British Council is absolutely determined, steadfastly determined, that we will continue to support education and cultural expression, education and cultural links for Ukraine with the UK, in order to keep those sectors strong."
Mr McGivern also said: "The blast damage has severely damaged our offices there, making it impossible for us to open them today and they'll be closed until further notice."
Tara Cobham28 August 2025 17:35
4 hours ago
Lammy: 'The killing and destruction must stop'
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has slammed the strikes that hit Kyiv overnight.
In a post on X, he said he had summoned the Russian Ambassador, writing that “the killing and destruction must stop”.
Nicole Wootton-Cane28 August 2025 17:30
4 hours ago
Ukraine summons Hungarian envoy over 'discrimination' against ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, Kyiv says
Ukraine's foreign minister said on Thursday that Kyiv had summoned Hungary's ambassador over what he called his government's "discrimination" against ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.
"He was given a protest note in response to Hungary's discrimination against the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, particularly our Hungarian-descent defender who was banned from entering the country of his ancestors," Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.
Sybiha was referring to the commander of Ukraine's drone forces, an ethnic Hungarian who Budapest said on Thursday it was blocking over his role in attacking the Druzhba oil pipeline, through which Russia supplies Hungary and Slovakia.
"We urge Hungary to further refrain from unfriendly actions and instead engage in constructive dialogue, for which Ukraine remains ready," he said.
Tara Cobham28 August 2025 17:25
5 hours ago
Zelensky and von der Leyen discuss efforts to end the war
Zelensky and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen have discussed efforts to end the war on a call following strikes in Kyiv, the Ukrainian President said.
“We discussed our diplomatic efforts to stop the killings, to end this unprovoked Russian aggression, and to guarantee real security for our people,” he wrote in a post on X.
“There is much work being done at various levels precisely for this purpose. But until Russia takes real steps toward peace, the pressure on it must be intensified.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane28 August 2025 17:00
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Nato boss contacted EU after Russian strike on diplomatic base in Kyiv
Nato boss Mark Rutte has been in contact with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about Russia's attack on a building housing the EU's delegation in Ukraine, he said on Thursday.
Rutte, speaking at a meeting of German government parties in the southern city of Wuerzburg, added that he could not speak to the latest rumours about Russian espionage in Europe.
Nicole Wootton-Cane28 August 2025 16:30
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UN chief condemns Russia's missile, drone attacks on Ukraine
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns Russia's deadly missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.
Guterres again called for a ceasefire leading to peace "that fully upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity," Dujarric said.
In a post on X, Guterres wrote attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must end “immediately”.
Nicole Wootton-Cane28 August 2025 16:00
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US envoy labels Russian attacks 'egregious'
US envoy on Ukraine General Keith Kellogg has blasted the Russian attacks as “egregious”.
In a post on X he wrote: “Last night Russia launched the second largest aerial attack of the war with 600 drones and 31 missiles. The targets? Not soldiers and weapons but residential areas in Kyiv—blasting civilian trains, the EU & British mission council offices, and innocent civilians.
“These egregious attacks threaten the peace that @POTUS is pursuing.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane28 August 2025 15:45
6 hours ago
ANALYSIS: Trump’s Ukraine peace plans have failed - it's time for Europe to show leadership
Russia’s devastating overnight strikes on Kyiv show Trump’s peace plans have failed, says The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley.
He says it is now time for Europe to stand up and show leadership.
“The latest Russian set of attacks and Donald Trump’s ongoing support for Vladimir Putin, are proof, as if it were needed, that Europe’s leaders must prepare their nations for a long fight, increased taxation, and inflation as a result of increased fossil fuel prices,” he writes.
“They must accept that the good times so lavishly enjoyed by Boomers and Gen X are over.”
Read his full analysis below.
Russia’s devastating attack on Kyiv proves Trump’s Ukraine peace plans have failed
Starmer and EU leaders may express outrage but they need to take more drastic action to help Ukraine beat Putin, writes World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley
Nicole Wootton-Cane28 August 2025 15:30
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Russian defence minister inspects troops in Ukraine
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Belousov was briefed on combat operations and drone projects, the ministry said.
Steffie Banatvala28 August 2025 15:00
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