Russia strikes Kyiv with ballistic missiles again, killing at least 2, injuring 6

Russia Fires Ballistic Missiles at Kyiv Again

The Russian military launched another attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight using ballistic missiles, killing at least two people and injuring five others, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram that six people were injured in the attack. "Among them is a 16-year-old boy," he wrote. The drones reportedly struck in two districts.

Fires broke out in a warehouse in the western part of the city and an uninhabited house in an eastern district, Klitschko said. According to the Ukrainian air force, the Russian military fired at least eight missiles in two waves at the city of three million and its surrounding areas.

The new attacks came one day after the visit of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Kyiv. Explosions shook the capital shortly after midnight. Earlier, the Ukrainian air force had warned of the approach of several ballistic missiles. Bright flashes of light were visible in the sky over Kyiv, followed by half a dozen detonations, as journalists from the AFP news agency reported.

Since June, Kyiv has increasingly been the target of Russian attacks with ballistic missiles that are difficult to intercept. Ukraine especially lacks PAC-3 missiles for the US Patriot air defense systems, which are essential for intercepting ballistic missiles. Recently, several European states declared their readiness to produce a new defense system against ballistic missiles together with Ukraine.

Ballistic missiles are more difficult to defend against than cruise missiles due to their high speed. Cruise missiles can be better maneuvered by attackers and are not as easily detected by air defense radar due to their low flight altitude. While the Ukrainian air defense has a relatively high hit rate against Russian drones and cruise missiles, it is largely powerless against ballistic missiles. (afp/dpa)

Starmer Travels to Ukraine for Farewell Visit

Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to Ukraine on Thursday for a farewell visit. Starmer, who will most likely leave the official residence on London's Downing Street on Monday, will hold talks in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the British government announced. Starmer enjoys high international esteem, including for his commitment to the Ukraine conflict and his efforts for NATO.

Britain is one of the most vehement supporters of Ukraine in its defense against the Russian war of aggression that has lasted more than four years. It is expected that this will not change even after the change at the head of the British government. "Our unwavering support for Ukraine will always endure," Starmer stated according to a release from his office.

His designated successor Andy Burnham is likely to be elected the new Labour leader on Friday and take over the office of Prime Minister three days later, which in Britain is traditionally linked to the party leadership. Burnham is thus expected to replace Starmer as Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street next Monday. Burnham would be Britain's seventh Prime Minister in ten years – and the fifth since the beginning of the Ukraine war. (afp)

More Deaths After Russian Attacks in Zaporizhzhia

In the southeastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, at least five civilians have been killed by Russian attacks. In the regional capital of the same name alone, three people were killed and 15 injured, the governor of the region, Ivan Fedorov, announced on Telegram. Earlier, he had reported two men killed as a result of attacks with remote-controlled drones in the front-line city of Orikhiv. (dpa)

Russia Accuses Ukraine of Killing

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