Russian forces have unleashed a major attack on Ukraine in the early hours today, with multiple ballistic missiles targeting the capital Kyiv.
At least five people were killed and 23 have been injured in the strikes, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said, as witnesses reported more than a dozen explosions.
Poland said it was activating a range of defensive measures in response to the strikes unfolding across the border, describing them as "preventive military aviation operations".
A children’s hospital in Kyiv was struck in the attack, Klitschko said, while people were trapped in one destroyed residential building and fires broke out in multiple locations.
The attack comes hours after president Vladimir Putin admitted that Ukrainian attacks were causing Russia harm, in statements made on Wednesday.
"Of course, such attacks have not caused, and could not cause, critical consequences. However, they do inflict damage; this is obvious, and we fully understand and acknowledge it," he told a conference of ministers and business leaders on the economy.
Ukraine has upped its long-range attacks on critical energy infrastructure over the last few months.
Read MoreBurnham hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks
Ukraine’s ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
Moscow warehouse burns as Ukraine drone crews prepare to strike again
Key Points
- Major Russian attack on Ukraine kills five and injures 23
- In photos: Skies turn orange as missiles tear buildings apart in Kyiv
- Poland starts preventive military aviation operations as Russia hits Ukraine
- Russians ‘withdraw billions’ from banks amid fears Putin could seize money
- Ukraine's ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
Watch: Zelensky condemns Russian ‘terror’ after deadly strikes across Ukraine
05:12 , Arpan RaiIn photos: Skies turn orange as missiles tear buildings apart in Kyiv
04:40 , Arpan Rai
Poland starts preventive military aviation operations as Russia hits Ukraine
04:16 , Arpan RaiPoland has launched preventive military aviation operations to protect its airspace amid Russian strikes on Ukraine in the early hours today, the Polish army said in a post on X.
Russia launched ballistic missiles on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the early hours today, killing at least five people.
Major Russian attack on Ukraine kills five and injures 23
03:53 , Arpan RaiAt least five people were killed and 23 have been injured in Russian ballistic missiles strikes on Kyiv in the early hours today, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The attack has damaged buildings and left parts of the Ukrainian capital without power. A fire broke out after Russia attacked the upper floors of a nine-story residential building, Klitschko said, and people were trapped in another place as Moscow hit non-residential and apartment facilities, warehouses and a children's hospital.
A Reuters witness reported hearing more than a dozen explosions.
In the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital, another person was killed, a local official said separately on Telegram.
The drones that the UK supplies Ukraine following Russia’s threat
03:00 , Maira ButtRussia has warned of “consequences” following reports that British-built drones were deployed to hit targets on its mainland for the first time.
Ukrainian army sources told The Times that drones made by two British companies have been used in the past six months to attack targets including oil refineries in Volgograd and near Moscow and logistics hubs.
Russia’s embassy to the UK said in a statement on Monday that the reports “confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis” and accused Britain of “seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy”.
The drones that the UK supplies Ukraine following Russia’s threat
Moscow warehouse burns as Ukraine drone crews prepare to strike again
02:00 , Maira ButtA massive retail logistics centre on the outskirts of Moscow remained in flames on Sunday morning following an overnight strike by waves of Ukrainian drones, sending thick dark smoke into the sky.
Hundreds of miles from the scene, Ukrainian drone operators had barely paused after their night operations before preparing for another attack.
In a sunflower field in southern Ukraine, a small unit of troops gathered around 20 small, plane-like drones packed with explosives, swiftly launching them towards targets in Russia.
Moscow warehouse burns as Ukraine drone crews prepare to strike again
Watch: UK minister hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks
01:00 , Maira ButtUkraine's parliament approves Yevhenii Khmara as new defence minister
Thursday 20 August 2026 00:01 , Maira ButtUkraine's parliament approved the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara as new defence minister on Wednesday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy nominated Khmara, whom he had earlier appointed as acting minister, after the ousting of Mykhailo Fedorov in July.
The appointment was backed by 312 lawmakers, with 226 needed for a majority.
Who is Mykhailo Fedorov? Everything you need to know about Ukraine’s sacked defence minister
Wednesday 19 August 2026 23:00 , Maira ButtMikhail Fedorov, 35, is the last remaining minister to have held positions in all of Zelensky’s governments, with the tech-savvy reformer remaining close to the president since his election in 2019.
Who is Ukraine’s sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov?
Zelensky dismisses deputy head of presidential office amid corruption probe
Wednesday 19 August 2026 22:00 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his deputy head of the presidential office Iryna Mudra on Wednesday, according to a decree published on the president’s website.
A reason was not given for the dismissal but Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies had said earlier in the day that they had identified a group including a deputy head that they suspected of money laundering.
Ukrainian man arrested over undersea explosions that damaged gas pipelines in 2022
Wednesday 19 August 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtA Ukrainian man was arrested Wednesday in Croatia in relation to undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany in 2022, Germany’s federal prosecutor said.
Ukrainian national Vladimir Z., whose last name was not given in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in Pula, in Croatia, by local police carrying out a European arrest warrant.
“Vladimir Z. is a trained scuba diver who was part of a group of individuals who planted explosives on the ‘Nord Stream 1’ and ‘Nord Stream 2’ gas pipelines near the (Danish) island of Bornholm in September 2022,” prosecutors said.
Ukrainian man arrested over undersea explosions that damaged gas pipelines in 2022
Burnham says he backs Ukraine 100% after Moscow’s threat over use of UK drones
Wednesday 19 August 2026 20:00 , Maira ButtPrime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK is continuing to “support Ukraine 100%” after Moscow threatened consequences for the reported use of British drones for strikes deep into Russia.
Russia accused the UK of deliberately escalating the conflict and said the deeper the country’s involvement became, “the higher the price it will pay”.
During a visit to Wolverhampton bus station, Mr Burnham was asked what his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was in response.
Burnham says he backs Ukraine 100% after Moscow’s threat over use of UK drones
Watch: Ousted Ukraine defence minister calls for presidential election during war
Wednesday 19 August 2026 19:20 , Maira ButtIn pictures: Putin holds meeting in Moscow
Wednesday 19 August 2026 18:50 , Maira Butt
Russia fires top economist after warning over Ukraine war costs: ‘We are falling behind’
Wednesday 19 August 2026 18:20 , Maira ButtThe chief economist of a Russian state development bank has been fired after reportedly drawing comparisons between Russia’s present day economy with the 1917 revolution.
Andrei Klepach, one of Russia's most prominent macroeconomists who worked for VEB, made the remarks to a financial forum in May. They were reported by Russian media only last week
He warned that the country was falling behind the West and China and suffering mounting economic damage from the war in Ukraine, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Russia fires top economist after warning over Ukraine war: ‘We are falling behind’
Watch: UK minister hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks
Wednesday 19 August 2026 17:50 , Maira ButtComment: Putin’s empty threats to the UK are the last gasp of a dying Russia
Wednesday 19 August 2026 17:20 , Maira ButtLast weekend, Ukraine sent another wave of attack drones into the heart of Russia's war economy. The targets were oil refineries, coal depots, military logistics and other critical sites.
Until now, the drones Ukraine sent deep into Russia were almost all home grown. This time was different. Among them were drones built in Britain. According to The Sunday Times, they included the Nyan, a jet-powered strike drone made by Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems, used against oil refineries in Volgograd and Yaroslavl. A second British-built drone was used too. Its manufacturer has not been named, for security reasons.
Yesterday, the Russian embassy in London responded with a warning of “serious consequences” for Britain arming Ukraine with offensive weapons. Within minutes my phone lit up with messages from many people asking what I made of it.
Putin’s empty threats to the UK are the last gasp of a dying Russia
Full story: Ukraine’s ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
Wednesday 19 August 2026 16:50 , Maira ButtUkraine’s former defence minister has called for wartime elections in a direct challenge to president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, whose ouster as defence chief in July triggered major protests in the country, issued the call in a video address shared on YouTube.
“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war," he said.
Mr Zelensky has refused to hold elections in wartime, saying a vote can only be held once a ceasefire is agreed with Russia and Ukraine has “necessary security guarantees” in place.
Ukraine’s ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Zaporizhzhia
Wednesday 19 August 2026 16:20 , Maira Butt
Putin admits Ukrainian attacks having impact but 'no critical consequences'
Wednesday 19 August 2026 15:50 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukrainian attacks are causing Russia harm, in statements made on Wednesday.
"Of course, such attacks have not caused, and could not cause, critical consequences. However, they do inflict damage; this is obvious, and we fully understand and acknowledge it," he told a conference of ministers and business leaders on the economy.
Ukraine has upped its long-range attacks on critical energy infrastructure over the last few months.
Moscow's fuel stations limit sales amid shortages
Wednesday 19 August 2026 15:20 , Maira ButtFuel stations in Russia’s capital Moscow have imposed restrictions on fuel sales amid shortages linked to Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries, according to Reuters witnesses and fuel suppliers.
Shortages have been steadily worsening since May and spread to most Russian regions by July.
Comment: Putin is an open threat to the UK – will his admirer Nigel Farage finally say so?
Wednesday 19 August 2026 14:50 , Maira ButtVladimir Putin is displeased. British drones have been used by Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory. The Russian embassy has warned that “London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer”.
It said: “The deeper its involvement in the conflict, and the greater its support for Kyiv’s terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay.”
Andy Burnham has responded robustly. He said today: “We support Ukraine 100 per cent against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin. We are providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself, and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict.”
John Rentoul reports:
Putin is an open threat to the UK – will his admirer Nigel Farage finally say so?
Russians ‘withdraw billions from banks over fears Putin will seize deposits for war’
Wednesday 19 August 2026 14:30 , Maira ButtRussian citizens are withdrawing billions of roubles from the country’s banks over fears that the Kremlin could seize deposits to fund the war in Ukraine.
Analysts say fears that the Kremlin could confiscate private savings to bankroll the conflict have triggered widespread panic, with more than 286.4bn roubles (£2.5bn) pulled from Russian banks during the first two weeks of August alone.
A staggering £5.3bn was reported to have been withdrawn in July on top of a further £3.32bn in June, according to Central Bank data.
Russians ‘withdraw billions from banks over fears Putin will seize deposits for war’
