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UK summons Russian ambassador after overnight attacks on Kyiv
UK foreign secretary David Lammy has now confirmed that the British government has summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK Foreign Office.
In a brief post on X, he said:
“Putin’s strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv.
We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop.”
Key events
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Closing summary
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18 dead, 48 injured after Kyiv strikes as Meloni criticises ‘senseless’ Russian attacks
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US envoy Kellogg criticises Russia’s ‘egregious’ attacks on Kyiv
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‘Until Russia takes real steps towards peace, pressure must be intensified,’ Zelenskyy says after call with EU’s von der Leyen
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Germany’s Rheinmetall opens new ammunition factory, largest in Europe when running at capacity
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All Nato countries expected to hit 2% spending target this year – new data
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Kyiv resident films moments after rocket hits residential building – video
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Russia ‘showed its true face last night,’ Germany’s Merz says
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Putin ‘must come to negotiating table,’ EU’s von der Leyen says after calls with Zelenskyy, Trump
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UK summons Russian ambassador after overnight attacks on Kyiv
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Kyiv attacks show Russia’s contempt for peace negotiations, Czech foreign minister says
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Russian ambassador to UK to be summoned by UK’s Foreign Office — Sky News
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CCTV footage shows overnight strikes on Kyiv – video
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British Council Kyiv’s office guard injured in strike, remains in hospital
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Russia still interested in peace talks, but continue with ‘military operation,’ Kremlin says
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EU summons Russia’s top diplomat in Brussels over attack on EU delegation
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Russian overnight strikes on Kyiv – video
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Russian attacks on Kyiv cannot ‘remain without consequences,’ German foreign minister says
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EU to push for new sanctions, measures on Russian frozen assets, EU’s von der Leyen says
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British Council Kyiv office ‘severely damaged,’ organisation says
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France’s Macron calls out Russia’s ‘terror and barbarism’ after attacks on Kyiv
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Ukrainian PM criticises ‘horrific, deliberate killing of civilians’ after Russian strikes on Kyiv
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UK PM Starmer condemns ‘senseless’ strikes on Kyiv, confirms British Council’s building damaged
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EU leaders condemn Russian overnight attacks on Kyiv
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‘This is Moscow’s true answer to peace efforts,’ EU ambassador to Kyiv says after overnight attack
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EU’s Costa condemns overnight strikes, claims Russian hit on EU delegation was ‘deliberate’
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EU delegation staff safe after overnight attack, von der Leyen says
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Death toll of Kyiv attacks rise to 14 as Zelenskyy calls for ‘firm’ response with sanctions on Russia
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British Council’s Kyiv office appears to have been hit by Russian strikes overnight
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Overnight Russian attack on Kyiv – in pictures
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Morning opening: ‘Massive’ Russian attack hits Kyiv, EU delegation building
Closing summary
Jakub Krupa
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
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The UK and European Union have summoned their Russian envoys after overnight missile strikes on Kyiv killed at least 18 people and damaged the city’s British Council and EU offices (9:43, 10:19, 10:29, 10:27, 11:38, 11:52, 11:56, 13:23, 15:23).
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European leaders condemned the attacks, calling them “a blow” to peace efforts (11:04), and acts of “senseless” and “horrific” violence (11:18, 13:52), instisting they cannot “remain without consequences” (11:54, 15:16).
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko urged partners to ramp up pressure on Russia as they called for further sanctions against Moscow (11:24, 16:12).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
18 dead, 48 injured after Kyiv strikes as Meloni criticises ‘senseless’ Russian attacks
The latest death toll update from the Ukrainian authorities said that at least 18 people died, and 48 were injured after last night’s strike, Associated Press reported.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni was the latest European leader to respond to the attacks, saying that they “demonstrate who stands on the side of peace and who has no intention of believing in the negotiating path.”
“Our thoughts go to the Ukrainian people, to civilians, to the families of defenceless victims, including children, of the senseless Russian attacks,” she said.
US envoy Kellogg criticises Russia’s ‘egregious’ attacks on Kyiv
In a first US reaction to overnight strikes, Donald Trump’s special peace envoy Keith Kellogg called them “egregious” and warned that they “threaten the peace that [Trump] is pursuing.”
He pointedly said that the target of the attacks were “not soldiers and weapons, but residential areas in Kyiv – blasting civilian trains, the EU & British mission council offices, and innocent civilians.”
So far, there has been no public reaction from Trump himself.
‘Until Russia takes real steps towards peace, pressure must be intensified,’ Zelenskyy says after call with EU’s von der Leyen
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now offered his readout from his call with the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen (15:13), thanking for “the condolences and solidarity with our people” after last night’s massive strikes on Kyiv.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said:
“Last night was one of the largest attacks on Ukraine. The Russians chose Kyiv as their main target. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing. We are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine now and does not remain silent.”
He added that during his call with von der Leyen, the pair “discussed our diplomatic efforts to stop the killings, to end this unprovoked Russian aggression, and to guarantee real security for our people.”
“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. Ursula shared updates on the preparation of the 19th EU sanctions package and coordination with other partners,” he said.
He also added that they touched upon the on-going accession process, as Ukraine continues to work towards joining the EU.
Germany’s Rheinmetall opens new ammunition factory, largest in Europe when running at capacity
Deborah Cole
in Berlin
With growing discussions about Europe’s defence capabilities, weapons manufacturing giant Rheinmetall has opened a new ammunition factory in the north of Germany yesterday, which will be the largest in Europe when it reaches full capacity.
Inaugurating the plant in the presence of Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, as well as Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius and vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said similar sites could be built at speed to create a “pan-European defence ecosystem”.
Papperger said countries like Lithuania and Britain were already developing such factories and that it was in Europe’s interest for Romania, Latvia and Ukraine to be “put in the position to produce urgently needed protective and defence equipment” at home.
Work on the Unterlüß plant began in February 2024 with a €500m investment. It is expected to employ 500 people and this year produce about 25,000 rounds of ammunition, rising to 350,000 artillery shells annually by 2027.
Construction on a production facility for rocket artillery is also to begin on the site.
Papperger’s name made international headlines last year when it emerged that US intelligence services had foiled a Russian plot to assassinate him in an apparent attempt at retaliation over Rheinmetall’s role in providing a large amount of armaments for Ukraine.
The plan to murder Papperger, as the head of Germany’s leading arms manufacturer was one of several Russian government schemes to kill defence industry executives in European countries that have been supporting Ukraine’s war effort, according to media reports.
Germany controversially scrapped borrowing limits earlier this year to allow a “bazooka” of defence spending after decades of neglect of its military.
The move was orchestrated by the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, even before he took office in May, while the Unterlüß factory was initiated under his predecessor Olaf Scholz, who introduced a Zeitenwende or turning point in security policy in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The German government placed a €8.5bn munitions order last year which the Rheinmetall site will now help fill.
All Nato countries expected to hit 2% spending target this year – new data
Jakub Krupa
All Nato members are expected to his the historical 2% defence spending target this year, the alliance said, publishing a new set of reported figures from its member states.
But as many as 19 countries are expected to meet the target by the tiniest of margins, with their expected expenditure within the range of 2.0 to 2.1% GDP, the data showed.
The data also show that only three top spenders are already in compliance with the Nato’s new, more ambitious 3.5% target adopted at this year’s summit in The Hague, the Netherlands. It will be further complimented by a secondary 1.5% GDP target for wider defence-related spending.
The alliance’s biggest spenders are all on the Eastern flank and neighbouring Russia, with Poland leading the pack (4.48%) ahead of Lithuania (4.0%), Latvia (3.73%), and Estonia (3.38%). The US is sixth at 3.22%.
A number of Nato countries have pro-actively revised their defence spending in recent years, responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the highest spenders looking to meet the 5% target already in the coming years, while others arguing they will need more time.
Kyiv resident films moments after rocket hits residential building – video
And we are getting more unique footage of the overnight strikes on Kyiv, recorded by a local resident and showing the immediate aftermath of the attack.
Russia ‘showed its true face last night,’ Germany’s Merz says
German chancellor Friedrich Merz also condemned the attacks on Kyiv, saying “Russia showed its true face again last night.”
In a post on X, he said:
“Russia showed its true face again last night. We condemn the severe attacks against the civilian population in the strongest terms.
The fact that the EU representation has now also come under fire testifies to the growing ruthlessness of the Russian regime.”
Putin ‘must come to negotiating table,’ EU’s von der Leyen says after calls with Zelenskyy, Trump
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US president Donald Trump today, discussing the last night’s attack on Kyiv.
She said that “Putin must come to the negotiating table,” as she reiterated the need for “a just and lasting peace for Ukraine” supported by “firm and credible security guarantees.”
Here is her statement in full:
“Just spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa, then @POTUS Donald Trump, following the massive strike on Kyiv which also hit our EU offices.
Putin must come to the negotiating table.
We must secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine with firm and credible security guarantees that will turn the country into a steel porcupine.
Europe will fully play its part.
Our defence instrument SAFE, for example, will be important to strengthening the brave Ukrainian armed forces.”
Dan Sabbagh
Svitlana Vodolaha, a spokeswoman for the state rescue service told the Guardian, 17 people had been killed at the residential block, including four children, and 11 were known to have been injured.
A further 10 were still unaccounted for but not all may have been in the building at the time, she added.
There were 200 rescuers and 59 rescue vehicles on site and the search and clean up effort expected to go on into the night.
Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call on Thursday that Ankara was ready to help any high-level talks between Ukraine and Russia take place, his office said in a statement.
Erdogan also told Zelenskiy that Turkey would continue to contribute to Ukraine’s security after peace was achieved, the Turkish presidency said.
Nato secretary-general 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.
Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov inspected the ‘Center’ group of Russian forces operating in Ukraine, his ministry said on Thursday.
Belousov was briefed on combat operations and drone projects, the ministry said.
UK summons Russian ambassador after overnight attacks on Kyiv
UK foreign secretary David Lammy has now confirmed that the British government has summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK Foreign Office.
In a brief post on X, he said:
“Putin’s strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv.
We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop.”
Kyiv attacks show Russia’s contempt for peace negotiations, Czech foreign minister says
Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavský also responded to the overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, saying it was “a horrific display of Russia’s contempt for peace negotiations.”
“Russian missiles struck several buildings, including the EU delegation. Shame on the aggressor. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Czechia will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine,” he said.
Russian ambassador to UK to be summoned by UK’s Foreign Office — Sky News
Sky News is reporting that the Russian ambassador to the UK will be summoned by the Foreign Office over the last night’s large-scale attack that “severely damaged” the British Council’s office in Kyiv.
We will bring you more on this if/when we get an official confirmation.
CCTV footage shows overnight strikes on Kyiv – video
British Council Kyiv’s office guard injured in strike, remains in hospital
In a separate statement on X, British Council Ukraine said that one of its guards was injured in the overnight strike that severely damaged its building and remains in hospital.
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