Andy Burnham has arrived in Kyiv to honour Ukraine’s Independence Day, just hours after at least three people were killed in a Russian attack on the outskirts of Kharkiv.
It is the first overseas visit for the British prime minister, more than a month after entering Downing Street, and it comes as Kyiv and Moscow continued to exchange devastating attacks overnight.
He is set to announce that Britain has agreed to allow European missile manufacturer MBDA to release classified information on UK-made components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile, according to his office.
"Ukraine's security is our security," Burnham said in a statement, adding that Britain would stand by Ukraine "for as long as it takes".
In Kharkiv, emergency services have rescued and evacuated eight people, some of whom were injured, governor Oleh Syniehubov said, adding the search was ongoing to identify any other possible casualties.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian attacks have targeted another online retailer, setting fire to Ozon's logistics hub in Makhachkala in the Russian republic of Dagestan.
Kyiv has repeatedly targeted facilities belonging to Russia's largest online shop Wildberries, accusing it of providing logistics support to Vladimir Putin's armed forces.
Ozon said it also paused operations at two warehouses in the nearby regions of Stavropol and Adygeya in the North Caucasus amid a drone attack alert.
Earlier, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Putin intends to draft 300,000 new troops to join the war from next month in a bid to seize territory.
Zelensky said that the Russian leader would start the drive after elections in September, as Moscow pursues its main goal of capturing the rest of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
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Key Points
- Russian attack kills three near Ukraine's Kharkiv
- Two children killed as drone attack hits logistics hub in Krasnodar
- Zelensky says wartime election would 'destroy' Ukraine
- Andy Burnham to give Ukraine blueprints for long-range missiles as he visits Kyiv
- Putin facing domestic pressure over fuel shortages
Why is the SCALP missile so important for Ukraine?
08:45 , Gergana.KrastevaThe SCALP missile is the French-manufactured version of the prized British Storm Shadow.
It is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile, designed to hit high‑value fixed or fortified targets with precision and low observability.
It has a strike capability of over 155 miles , which means that it would potentially allow Ukraine to attack targets deeper into Russian territory.
This will be a massive boost to Ukraine in its efforts to target military sites in Russia.
Downing Street said the decision will allow France and Ukraine to go ahead with assembly of the missile on Ukrainian territory.
It follows efforts by the two countries to expand local production of long-range weapons, so it does not have to rely entirely on deliveries of complete missiles from abroad.
Britain was the first country to provide Ukraine with Western long-range strike missiles when it supplied Storm Shadow back in 2023.
In photos: PM Andy Burnham arrives in Ukraine
08:06 , Arpan Rai
Minister says Ukrainian elections are ‘internal matter for the people of Ukraine’
08:00 , Athena StavrouA UK government minister has insisted whether to call an election on Volodymyr Zelensky premiership is an “internal matter for the people of Ukraine”.
Zelensky has faced pressure to call an election in recent weeks after sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for a contest.
Defence minister Luke Pollard told Sky News: “When to have an election is an internal matter for the people of Ukraine, the government of Ukraine.
“If I look at the parallel with the United Kingdom during the Second World War, while there was war waging in Europe, we didn't have elections, but that will be a matter for them. B
“But having spoken to both President Zelensky and the former defence minister you mentioned in the past, I know that both of them are committed to the defence of their nation and seeing through their nation to get to a peaceful conclusion to the conflict. It is up to them and their system about how they handle those internal affairs.”
Germany's Wadephul to urge Rubio to take more active role on Ukraine
07:55 , Arpan RaiGerman foreign minister Johann Wadephul plans to speak to his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, by phone today to urge him to become more personally involved in diplomatic efforts related to the war in Ukraine, he told radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.
Wadephul, who was recently in Ukraine, told the broadcaster that US diplomacy had so far been handled largely by presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Negotiations between Russia and the US to bring about an end to the conflict in Ukraine have largely stalled amid the war in Iran, and the Kremlin said last week that it had no information yet on a possible next visit by Kushner and Witkoff.
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov had said in an interview on Friday that Russia was ready to listen to Rubio's new ideas and continue dialogue with Washington.
"I may be able to encourage him (Rubio) myself to do more there," the German minister said, adding that Berlin was pursuing other channels to help restart negotiations.
Ukraine hit Russian fighter aircraft and two vessels in Black Sea
07:27 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian military struck a Russian MIG-29 fighter aircraft and two Russian vessels in the Black Sea overnight, Ukraine's drone forces commander Robert Brovdi said on Monday.
Brovdi said on Telegram that one of the vessels attacked was a tanker, and the other was a bulk carrier.
Attack on another Russian logistics hub tanks company’s shares
07:22 , Arpan RaiShares in Ozon fell by as much as 12 per cent on the Moscow Exchange on news of the attack, while shares in its major shareholder, private equity firm AFK Sistema, fell by almost 13 per cent.
Ozon has become Russia's second e-commerce giant, after rival Wildberries, to be targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks. Work at a logistics centre in the Samara region was halted after the first Ukrainian strike on the company's facilities on 22 August.
Russia's Ozon says four logistics hubs targeted by Ukrainian drones
07:17 , Arpan RaiAt least four logistics hubs owned by Russia's second-largest online retailer Ozon in southern Russia were targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks, the company said on Monday, bringing the number of targeted facilities to six since 22 August.
Ozon said its logistics hub in Makhachkala, Dagestan, was on fire after a drone attack, while workers at warehouses in Adygeysk, in the Adygeya region, and Nevinnomyssk, in the Stavropol region, had been evacuated.
“According to preliminary information, several people were injured,” Ozon said in a statement, referring to the facility in Makhachkala, which had halted operations.
Russia downs 351 Ukrainian drones overnight
07:15 , Arpan RaiThe Russian defence ministry said on Monday its forces had intercepted and destroyed 351 Ukrainian drones overnight over a number of regions.
Officials said the attack has caused damage at the Russian online retailer Ozon's logistics hub in Makhachkala in Dagestan which was set ablaze.
Russia typically reports only how many drones its air defences say they downed, not how many Ukraine launched, and rarely discloses the full extent of damage unless civilians are killed or civilian sites are hit.
Russia says its forces hit tanker carrying fuel near Ukraine's Odesa
06:38 , Arpan RaiThe Russian defence ministry said it had hit a tanker carrying fuel and lubricants for Ukrainian troops in the port of Pivdennyi near Odesa, as well as port infrastructure facilities used for unloading and storing military cargo.
Wartime election would 'destroy' Ukraine, Zelensky says
06:19 , Arpan RaiHolding a wartime election in Ukraine while active fighting with Russia continues would “destroy” the country by splitting Ukrainians, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
His comments, released to reporters on Sunday, were Zelensky's first on the subject since ousted former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for a wartime poll in an address last week.
Fedorov's surprise dismissal last month sparked widespread protests, but supporters calling for his reinstatement later baulked at his call for an election - the first such demand by a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
“I believe that if we want to destroy the country, then we can move towards elections during this kind of war,” Zelensky said.
Burnham to give Ukraine blueprints for long-range missiles as he visits Kyiv
05:53 , Arpan RaiPrime minister Andy Burnham has agreed to provide Ukraine with blueprints to produce long-range missiles.
He is set to announce the move today during his first trip to Ukraine that he will allow European defence firm MBDA to declassify information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile – the French-produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow.
The “deep precision strike” missiles use shared French and British technology, and Ukraine and France are looking to set up local assembly lines to produce them in Ukraine.
The PM is visiting Kyiv on his first foreign trip to mark Ukraine’s independence day and signal the UK’s continued support for the country under his administration.
Burnham to give Ukraine blueprints for long-range missiles as he visits Kyiv
Russian attack kills three near Ukraine's Kharkiv
05:25 , Arpan RaiA Russian attack on the outskirts of Kharkiv in Ukraine's northeast killed three people, the regional governor said late last night.
Emergency services have rescued and evacuated eight people, some of whom were injured, governor Oleh Syniehubov said, adding the search was ongoing to identify any other possible casualties.
Russia's Ozon says Dagestan logistics hub on fire after drone attack
05:16 , Arpan RaiA logistics centre belonging to Russian online retailer Ozon is on fire in Makhachkala in Dagestan following a drone attack this morning, the company said.
Ozon has also temporarily shut down two warehouses in the nearby regions of Stavropol and Adygeya in the North Caucasus amid a drone attack alert, it said, though they were not damaged.
Zelensky says Ukraine not behind Nord Stream blasts and cooperating with probe
05:01 , Arpan RaiUkraine played no role in blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines and is cooperating with an investigation into the matter, president Volodymyr Zelenksy said on Sunday.
“Ukraine has never officially taken part in any operations regarding the blowing up of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline,” he told reporters in Kyiv.
The Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines between Russia and Germany were damaged in explosions in September 2022, and two Ukrainian suspects are currently in custody on suspicion of involvement.
Norway announces £6.69bn for Ukraine in 2027
04:43 , Arpan RaiNorway plans to give another 85bn Norwegian crowns (£6.69bn) in financial support to Ukraine in the 2027 fiscal year, in line with the amount given in 2026, the Nordic country's government said in a statement on Sunday.
Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and leaders from across the Nordic and Baltic region visited Kyiv on Sunday in a show of support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Norway's donation will be for both military and humanitarian spending, Stoere was quoted as saying in the text of a speech released by the government in Oslo.
“Supporting and rebuilding Ukraine is not assistance alone. It is an investment in Europe's own security,” Stoere said.
Separately, Finland and Ukraine have signed a letter of intent on manufacturing and developing unmanned systems in Finland and memorandum of understanding for a joint venture to produce uncrewed surface vessels, among other documents, Zelensky's office said on X.
PM Burnham to visit Ukraine with plan to support long-range missile production
04:24 , Arpan RaiPrime minister Andy Burnham will visit Ukraine today on his first overseas trip since taking office, and will announce British support to help Kyiv improve its domestic production of long-range missiles.
Burnham will be in Ukraine to co-chair a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries backing Ukraine.
He is also due to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. He is set to announce that Britain has agreed to allow European missile manufacturer MBDA to release classified information on British-made components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile, according to his office.
That will help enable France and Ukraine to establish local assembly lines for the missile, which shares British and French technology, according to Downing Street.
“Ukraine's security is our security," Burnham said in a statement, adding that Britain would stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
Andy Burnham to double down on support for Ukraine in first foreign trip to Kyiv
Two children killed as drone attack hits logistics hub in Krasnodar
03:59 , Arpan RaiAt least two children were killed and another nine people, including seven children, were injured after drone debris hit a private childcare centre in southern Russia’s Krasnodar overnight, governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.
Debris fell on apartment buildings and warehouses caught fire in Krasnodar, Kondratyev said.
The attack caused a fire at a logistics hub of Russian online retailer Ozon, the company said on Telegram.
In Russia's Nevinnomysk, a chemical production area in the Stavropol region next to Krasnodar, a drone attack on an industrial area was repelled, governor Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram in the early hours this morning.
North Korea preparing further troop deployments in Ukraine war but no sign move imminent, says South Korea
03:55 , Arpan RaiNorth Korea is continuing preparations for an additional troop deployment to Russia, but had detected no signs that such a deployment was imminent, the South Korean defence ministry has said.
The ministry told lawmaker Yu Yong-weon that North Korea had continued to supply Russia with weapons systems, including short-range ballistic missiles, according to Yu's office.
The lawmaker's office, citing a South Korean Defence Intelligence Agency assessment, said North Korean missiles used in the war may have improved in accuracy through battlefield data, alongside Russian technical advice and component support.
The ministry also said the development of some North Korean ballistic missiles and multiple rocket launchers assessed as being intended for use in a conflict with South Korea was nearing completion.
North Korea is also estimated to have supplied Russia with more than 15 million rounds of artillery ammunition, measured in 152-millimetre shell equivalents.
Just last week, North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, rejected Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's claim that Pyongyang planned to send up to 50,000 more troops to Russia to fight for its ally.
Recap: Zelensky vows revenge after Russian double-tap strike on shopping mall in his hometown kills 16
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to retaliate after a double-tap drone strike on his hometown killed 16 people.
Rescuers are still searching for survivors in the wreckage of a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, which was hit twice by Russia on Friday.
More than 130 people were wounded in the daytime attack carried out in two waves, with the second strike targeting emergency workers at the scene of the first.
Zelensky called the attacks an “act of barbarism”, claiming the “absolutely cynical and despicable” second strike was a deliberate attempt to target emergency services.
You can read more below:
Zelensky vows revenge after Russian attack on shopping mall in his hometown kills 16
Watch: Putin says Ukrainian strikes cause losses but won't turn tide of war
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia expanding secret bases that can launch drones deep inside Nato territory: report
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia has built secret bases from which it will be able to launch long-range suicide drones deep into Nato territory, according to a report.
The Kremlin has built and expanded at least 10 new bases with at least 59 new launch rails, according to an investigation by The Telegraph using satellite imagery and leaked documents.
The bases are designed to fire large numbers of jet-powered drones that can overload Ukrainian air defences as Moscow bombards military and civilian targets across the country.
But situated along its borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the hi-tech drones will also be able to reach Kyiv’s allies in Nato, the report said.
You can read the full report below:
Russia expanding secret bases that can launch drones deep inside Nato territory
Analysis: Putin is threatening Britain again – this time he could be cornered enough to do something reckless
Monday 24 August 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIt isn’t the first time the Kremlin has warned of consequences for the UK over its support for Ukraine. From arson to sabotage, Russia has been testing Britain’s defences for years. But desperation could lead to a real attack, and it is something we are in no way prepared for, writes Owen Matthews.
Putin is threatening Britain again – this time he could do something reckless
Recap: Ukrainian arrested over Nord Stream blast ‘detained on Hollywood movie set’
Sunday 23 August 2026 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOne of the main suspects in the 2022 Nord Stream explosions was arrested while reportedly acting as a consultant on a Hollywood film which dramatises the gas pipeline attack, according to German media.
Volodymyr Zhuravlev was arrested by police in Pula, Croatia, under a European arrest warrant put out by Germany, which is seeking his extradition.
German prosecutors accuse him of being a member of a team of Ukrainian divers that allegedly planted explosives on the Baltic Sea energy link between Russia and Germany which destroyed three of the four pipelines in 2022. They describe Zhuravlev as a professional and experienced scuba diver.
You can read the full report below:
Ukrainian arrested over Nord Stream blast ‘detained on Hollywood movie set’
Ukraine and Norway sign defence pact
Sunday 23 August 2026 22:34 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine and Norway signed a new defence pact on Sunday as Norway pledged around $9 billion for Ukraine in 2027.
“Together with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre @jonasgahrstore, we signed an Agreement on defence and security cooperation under the Drone Deal format and a Declaration on a Strategic Partnership – the Ellisiv Accord, named after the daughter of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who became Queen of Norway.,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X.
“These documents strengthen the foundation of the long-term partnership between our countries in defense, energy, and the resilience of our people.
“I am especially grateful for the decision to maintain a high level of support and allocate around $9 billion for 2027. I thank Jonas Gahr Støre, the government, and the entire Norwegian people for their support since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
Zelensky asked US for 5% of its remaining Patriots, former VP says
Sunday 23 August 2026 22:00 , Sam RkainaUkraine’s president Zelensky asked the US for 5 percent of its remaining Patriot missiles, former vice president Mike Pence has claimed.
During a visit to Kyiv, Donald Trump’s former VP told CNN the request was made to “get them through the winter”.
“One of the things President Zelensky made clear to me is that he fully expects that as winter approaches, sooner than later, that Putin will start to strike not just children’s schools and hospitals as he did this week, not just a shopping mall taking more than a dozen lives, but that he’ll start to strike that energy infrastructure to try and essentially impose the deep winter cold on the people of Ukraine,” Pence said.
Putin facing domestic pressure over fuel shortages
Sunday 23 August 2026 20:48 , Sam RkainaEarlier this week, we reported on the domestic pressure Vladimir Putin is facing over the war on Ukraine.
Russian police have arrested citizens complaining of fuel shortages at the pump, as Ukraine’s drone campaign sparked fighting at petrol stations and rationing.
Moscow and its surrounding regions have been forced to reimpose purchase limits on fuel, capping sales at between 50 and 60 litres per vehicle.
As Ukraine intensifies its “deep strike” campaign, hitting another major oil refinery on Wednesday, the strain on Russia’s domestic energy grid continues to grow.
Across at least 12 regions, miles of gridlocked traffic now stall forecourts, with motorists waiting up to 30 hours only to find the pumps empty.
