Ukraine-Russia war latest: UK to summon Russian ambassador after British Council struck in Kyiv missile attack

The Kremlin has said it is satisfied with the progress of a German investigation into attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in 2022 after Italy arrested a suspect wanted in Germany.

An Italian appeals court earlier this month confirmed the arrest of the 49-year-old Ukrainian man suspected by Germany of coordinating the attacks which largely severed Russian gas supplies to Europe.

The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, may now be extradited to Germany where prosecutors say he was part of a group of people who planted devices on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea.

Reporters on the ground have been speaking to residents and civilians in Kyiv on Thursday morning.

Oleksandr Khilko arrived at the scene after a missile hit the residential building where his sister lives. He told the Reuters news agency he heard screams from people who were trapped under the rubble and pulled out three survivors, including a boy.

“It’s inhuman, striking civilians,” he said, his clothes covered in dust and the tips of his fingers black with soot.

“With every cell of my body I want this war to end as soon as possible. I wait, but every time the air raid alarm sounds, I am afraid.”

Britain’s foreign office plans to summon the Russian ambassador to the UK following a large-scale Russian attack in Kyiv overnight that damaged the British Council building in the Ukrainian capital.

It is expected Andrey Kelin will meet officials, not ministers.

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter hosted Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in Bern for a courtesy visit on Thursday, the Swiss government said in a statement.

It follows a night of heavy attacks from Russia across the country, but particularly in its capital Kyiv.

The talks focused on the peace process and the reconstruction of Ukraine, the Swiss government added.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU will summon the Russian envoy in Brussels after the bloc’s delegation building was struck in an attack on Kyiv.

In a post on X, Kallas said she had spoken with colleagues in Kyiv following the Russian attack.

“No diplomatic mission should ever be a target,” she said.

Moscow’s Defence Ministry said that Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 102 Ukrainian drones overnight, which had targeted at least seven regions.

In the overnight attack, Ukraine’s forces attacked Afipsky and Kuybyshevskyi oil refineries, according to the Ukrainian drone forces commander.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Russia’s overnight attack on Kyiv, describing it as barbaric.

“Six hundred and twenty-nine missiles and drones in a single night over Ukraine: this is Russia’s idea of peace. Terror and barbarism,” wrote Macron on X on Thursday.

Pictures from Kyiv this morning show the devastation on the ground following Russia’s overnight attacks.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Russia’s attack on the British Council building in Kyiv.

He posted on X: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the senseless Russian strikes on Kyiv which have damaged the British Council building.

“Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. This bloodshed must end.”