Ukraine-Russia struggle newest: Putin’s forces launch drone assault on Kyiv as Starmer visits to signal ‘100-year deal’
Vladimir Putin’s troops have attacked Kyiv as British prime minister Keir Starmer made a surprise visit to the war-torn city on Thursday.
Ukrainian air defences rushed to down a Russian drone as explosions were reported throughout the Ukrainian capital during Sir Keir’s visit.
There were no casualties as a result of the day-time attack, but a car was damaged by falling debris, according to a city official.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer vowed to uphold a 100-year partnership he will sign with Ukraine in a visit to the city.
He said the relationship between UK and Ukraine was “closer than ever” and the partnership would take the friendship of the two countries to the next level.
As he was struck by the “grim reminder” of war while visiting a burns hospital unit in Kyiv, he pledged more military and economic aid, as well as drone technology and healthcare.
Meanwhile, the UK is considering sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after any potential deal to end the conflict, reports say. The idea would see British and French soldiers deployed to the country and has been championed by French president Emmanuel Macron.
Ukraine claims hit on Russian oil depot
Ukraine‘s military said on Thursday it hit a Russian oil depot in the Voronezh region of Russia overnight.
At least three drones hit a target, causing a fire, Ukraine‘s general staff said on Telegram. It added that the depot stored fuel used by the Russian military.
It comes as Russian forces launched a drone attack on Kyiv during Sir Keir Starmer’s visit.
Ukraine claims hit on Russian oil depot
Ukraine‘s military said on Thursday it hit a Russian oil depot in the Voronezh region of Russia overnight.
At least three drones hit a target, causing a fire, Ukraine‘s general staff said on Telegram. It added that the depot stored fuel used by the Russian military.
It comes as Russian forces launched a drone attack on Kyiv during Sir Keir Starmer’s visit.
Starmer’s agenda in Kyiv
It’s a busy day for the UK prime minister who arrived at Kyiv railway station this morning on a surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital.
During the visit, Starmer and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky laid flowers at a wall of remembrance for those killed in the war. The wall outside St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, a Kyiv landmark, is covered in photos of the slain, stretching for a city block.
It has become a place of pilgrimage for families paying tribute to their lost loved ones. Sir Keir also visited a Kyiv hospital specialising in burn treatment. While Sir Keir was later meeting with Mr Zelensky at the presidential palace, a car and a building were damaged elsewhere in Kyiv by debris from Russian drones shot down by Ukraine’s air defenses, according to city adminstration chief Tymur Tkachenko.
We expect to hear more from Sir Keir following his meeting today.

Russia attacks Kyiv during Starmer visit
Vladimir Putin’s troops have attacked Kyiv as British prime minister Keir Starmer walked around the war-torn city on Thursday.
Ukrainian air defences rushed to down a Russian drone after explosions were reported throughout the Ukrainian capital during Sir Keir’s visit.
There were no casualties as a result of the day-time attack, but a car was damaged by falling debris, according to a city official.

Analysis: Visits send signal to Trump
The Italian defence chief was also in Kyiv on Thursday, two days after Germany’s defence minister visited and three days after Zelenskyy talked by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron.
These visits are intended to reassure Ukraine but also signal to the US that Europe is getting serious about defending Europe, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes.
Trump’s recent demand that Nato nations should spend 5 per cent off the Gross Domestic Product on defence is being seen as difficult, but not unreasonable.
There are also signs that the Europeans don’t fully trust Trump in dealing with Russia over Ukraine and fears that he might favour the Kremlin over America’s long term allies.
Britain says its 100-year pledge is part of that assurance and will help ensure that Ukraine is “never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia”.
This bilateral agreement is intended to offset any decline in multilateral Nato support. The UK will be committed to work with Ukraine in defence, especially in the Black Sea, and drone technology.
Analysis: Starmer pledges aid as ‘threat is real’
Keir Starmer joining the rush of European leaders to Kyiv to offer support for Ukraine and, in Britain’s case a 100 years of defence cooperation is because the threat is real, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes.
Donald Trump has signalled that he’s sympathetic to Vladimir Putin’s reasons for invading the sovereign nation and unsympathetic to its plans to join Nato.
Europe is, too late, waking up to the fact that soon US aid to Ukraine may be strangled off. Under Joe Biden, military aid of about $60 billion helped keep the Russian invaders at bay.
But it was restricted and only recently have the Ukrainians have been able to use what little they have been given to fight off the Russians with attacks inside their enemy’s national borders.
Starmer will sign a “100-Year Partnership” treaty in Kyiv covering areas including defence, science, energy and trade on his visit.
Pictured: Starmer looks at war damage in Kyiv

What is the 100-year partnership?
The 100-year “historic partnership” signed by the UK and Ukraine will see the flow of more military and economic aid to Kyiv.
It will also include increased military collaboration on maritime security and drone technology, as well as healthcare, Downing Street said.
Technology partnerships in areas such as agri-tech, space and drones will also be included, according to the prime minister’s office.
“From working together on the world stage to breaking down barriers to trade and growth and nurturing cultural links, the mutually beneficial partnership will see the UK and Ukraine advocate for each other to renew, rebuild and reform for generations to come,” No 10 said.
Starmer vows 100-year partnership with Kyiv
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to uphold a 100-year partnership with Ukraine as he visited the war-torn country on Thursday.
Sir Keir said the UK and Ukraine were “closer than ever” and the partnership would take the friendship of the two countries to the next level during his surprise visit to Kyiv.
As he was struck by the “grim reminder” of war while visiting a burns hospital unit in Kyiv, he pledged more military and economic aid, as well as drone technology and healthcare.
Source: independent.co.uk