Ukraine news: UK PM Burnham arrives in Kyiv to show support

Ukraine news: UK PM Burnham arrives in Kyiv to show support Published August 24, 2026last updated August 24, 2026What you need to know - Andy Burnham visits Kyiv on his first overseas trip since becoming the UK's prime minister - Burnham is set to co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy - The meeting coincides with the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union - Ukraine hits facilities belonging to Russia's second-biggest e-commerce website Ozon Russia says it hit fuel tanker near Odesa Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces struck a tanker carrying fuel and lubricants for Ukrainian troops at the port of Pivdennyi near the southern city of Odesa. The ministry said the attack also hit port infrastructure used to unload and store military cargo. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the Russian claims. Ukraine stepping up attacks on Russian e-commerce giant Ozon Ukraine has struck warehouses belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Ozon on three consecutive days, with the company reporting another logistics center on fire. The attacks mark an expansion of Kyiv's campaign against Russian logistics infrastructure after weeks of strikes on Wildberries, the country's largest online retailer. Kyiv has accused Wildberries of supplying components to the Russian military. Ozon said a "major fire" broke out at one of its logistics centers in the southern Krasnodar region following a drone attack. "All systems operated as designed, and we promptly evacuated staff. Preliminarily, there are no casualties," the company said on Telegram. On Sunday, Ozon said a drone attack caused a fire at its logistics hub in the central Orenburg region, forcing the warehouse to suspend operations. That came a day after another Ozon center was hit in neighboring Samara, where the company said an unspecified number of employees were wounded. WATCH — Unwilling soldiers: A stealth mass draft starting in Russia? Russia has a growing manpower problem in its war against Ukraine. Rumors are spreading, and recent border queues near Georgia are drawing comparisons to the chaos of 2022. Is Russia quietly preparing another draft? DW's Shannon Redstall explains. Why is Ukraine struggling to defend itself against Russian air attacks? In recent weeks and months, Russia has intensified its airstrikes on Ukraine, regularly firing dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, often at civilian targets. To defend itself, Ukraine relies on advanced, foreign-made weapons systems — most importantly, US Patriot missiles. The US war with Iran has depleted its own stockpiles, and Washington has resisted providing Kyiv with large numbers of missiles, leaving Ukraine more exposed to Russian bombs. Even before the war with Iran, US support for Ukraine had wavered after Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025. Trump, who had an angry public spat with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, has sought to mend ties with Russia's Vladimir Putin, and ordered a pause of US military aid to Kyiv. Over the weekend, Zelenskyy revealed that deliveries of Patriot interceptors had dropped by 50% since 2023. "Over the entire year of 2023, Ukraine received 675 missiles, and over all of 2025 — 364, even though Russian missile strikes have increased," he said. "For 2026, as currently projected, it is 264." Debris from Ukrainian drone kills two children in southern Russia: governor Falling debris from a Ukrainian drone attack landed on a childcare facility in Krasnodar, southern Russia, killing two children, the regional governor said early on Monday. Seven other children and two adults were wounded in the attack, Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram. He added that a fire started at a warehouse after a drone fell on it. Ozon, a Russian e-commerce company, said there was a "major fire" at one of its logistics centers in Krasnodar as a result of a drone attack. Another Ozon logistics complex in Dagestan was also hit, sparking a massive fire, Ukrainian monitor Exilenova+ reported. If confirmed, it would be the third Ozon facility to be struck on Monday. Ukraine has also hit warehouses belonging to Russia's other major e-commerce website, Wildberries, in recent weeks. While Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure, it has also struck commercial hubs and warehouses, which are easier targets and less heavily defended than military or energy sites. The attacks have inflicted losses worth billions of dollars. Russian strike on Kharkiv kills 3 At least three people were killed after a Russian attack on the outskirts of Kharkiv, the local governor said on Telegram. Oleh Syniehuhov said eight people were rescued by the emergency services, which were still working to identify other potential casualties. Kharkiv is Ukraine's second-largest city, and lies around 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) from the border with Russia. IN DEPTH: Could Russia's growing fuel crisis help end the Ukraine war? Empty pumps, long waits: Attacks on oil refineries have left Russia increasingly short of fuel. Dissident Russian economists say growing anger about shortages among ordinary Russians could help end the war in Ukraine. Learn more about how Ukraine's drone strikes inside Russia are triggering a fuel crisis that could bring about the end of the war in this report. Ex-Ukrainian minister didn't call for elections until dismissed from government, lawmaker tells DW Dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for elections earlier this week, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy comes under unprecedented pressure domestically. Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia's full-scale invasion began more than four years ago. Zelenskyy has resisted holding elections while the country remains at war with Russia. Ukrainian Member of Parliament Yevheniia Kravchuk spoke to DW from Kyiv about the prospect of Ukraine holding elections while still fighting the Russian invasion. Here's what Kravchuk had to say about Fedorov's appeal for elections: "You know, Mykhailo wasn't speaking about elections when he was in the government for seven years, almost seven years. So, the first time he started to speak about it was when he basically lost his position in the government during the reshuffle." On the prospect of a wartime poll, she said: "War is not a normal situation for people, for elections — it's not normal to live. But we have to; it's been almost five years. Martial law does put restrictions, and these restrictions are there for a reason. And it is because Russians are throwing missiles at supermarkets." Watch this video for more of Yevheniia Kravchuk's interview with DW News, as well as insight from Harry Nedelcu, a geopolitics expert at Rasmussen Global consultancy in Brussels: EU pledges 'as much support as necessary' The European Union has pledged its continued backing for Ukraine as the country celebrates its 35th Independence Day on Monday. "We will continue to provide as much support as necessary, for as long as necessary — during the war, in peace negotiations and in reconstruction," EU Council President Antonio Costa said, according to an EU statement. Costa added that EU sanctions on Russia were impacting its war coffers, and pledged to "intensify the pressure" until Moscow ends its war of aggression. He also reiterated the bloc's position that Ukraine will one day become an EU member. "Ukraine’s future in the European Union is the best guarantee of security and long-term democratic stability — for Ukraine and for Europe as a whole." Costa will personally attend the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Kyiv on Monday. UK PM Andy Burnham to visit Kyiv in first trip abroad The United Kingdom's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, is visiting Ukraine on Monday, on his first international trip since taking office. Burnham, who will co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of Ukraine's foreign backers, is also set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Several other world leaders, including co-chairs German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as European Council President Antonio Costa and leaders from the Nordic and Baltic countries, will take part in the meeting, some of them in person and others remotely via video conference. The meeting comes as Ukraine marks the 35th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union (USSR). During his visit, Burnham will confirm that the UK has agreed to allow European weapons manufacturer MBDA to release classified information on British parts of the SCALP long-range missile to set up assembly lines in Ukraine, Downing Street said in a statement. "On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes," Burnham said in a statement. "Our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security," the British leader added. The UK has been one of Ukraine's strongest international backers since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Britain has pledged more than 25 billion pounds ($34 billion, €29 billion) in military and civilian support so far and was the first nation to provide long-range strike weapons to Ukraine for defensive purposes in 2023, Downing Street said. Burnham's trip to Kyiv comes after Zelenskyy traveled to the UK last month as the new prime minister's first foreign guest. Welcome to our coverage Follow this blog for updates on these stories and more developments from the war in Ukraine.