Starmer Arrives in Ukraine Hours After Russian Missile Strike
Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Ukraine for his final overseas visit as Prime Minister hours after Russian missiles struck Kyiv, killing 14 people and damaging multiple districts across the capital.
The embattled Labour leader is making his 49th and last foreign trip in office before handing over the premiership to Andy Burnham on Friday, according to Peter Stevens writing in GB News. During the high-security visit, Starmer will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to assure him that Britain’s support will continue under new leadership.
The visit comes against a backdrop of intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian targets. Early Thursday morning, Russian missiles struck at least two districts in Kyiv, triggering multiple fires across the capital.
Russian Strikes Cause Widespread Damage
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that two warehouses west of the city centre were directly hit, with debris falling along the banks of the Dnipro River. Fires erupted in both locations, and a school sustained damage in the bombardment.
Images from the scene showed firefighters battling a massive blaze as emergency services worked to contain the destruction.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed the operation targeted military manufacturing facilities in the Ukrainian capital that produce long-range missiles and drones. Ukraine’s air force reported that one ballistic missile and 25 drones struck 17 separate locations, with falling debris reported in 10 areas.
Recent Casualties Mount
The latest assault follows Tuesday night’s missile strikes, which killed 14 people across Ukraine, underscoring the ongoing brutality of Russia’s military campaign.
Starmer’s visit represents a final diplomatic gesture aimed at reinforcing the UK’s commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty as Labour prepares for its leadership transition. Burnham, who will assume the role of Prime Minister and Labour leader this Friday, is expected to maintain Britain’s staunch support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
With information from GB News
