British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting affirmed the United Kingdom's unwavering support for Ukraine during his first visit to Kyiv, vowing to stand with the country "until they prevail." Streeting's visit on Wednesday came hours after Russia launched a wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks on the capital, which killed at least 17 people and injured 44.
"The prime minister and I both felt it was important to demonstrate very early on the unwavering and unequivocal support that this government has for Ukraine," Streeting said, acknowledging the heavy bombardment the city has recently endured. He pledged to understand what more the UK can do to support Ukraine through the challenging winter and beyond, stating that Ukraine's victory is in Britain's national interest as well as a matter of collective and moral good.
The latest Russian assault involved 24 ballistic missiles and 115 drones targeting civilian areas, including warehouses, a brewing company, and a train station. This attack was part of a pattern of large-scale Russian ballistic missile strikes that have become frequent over the summer.
Ukraine's air defenses, particularly the US-made Patriot systems, face challenges intercepting such large volleys, especially as Ukraine has increased its strikes on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure. Fires were reported in multiple locations, including warehouses in Brovary, Velyka Dymerka, Kvitneve, and Peremoha. A logistics facility in Bucha district also experienced a fire.
In the capital, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. Emergency crews extinguished fires in several districts, including Obolonskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Desnianskyi. Advisers to Ukraine's president have noted that the war of attrition has entered a new phase, with attacks targeting various civilian infrastructure indiscriminately.
This visit follows Ukraine's appeals to allies for more US-made Patriot missile interceptors to counter Russian ballistic attacks. Recent Russian attacks on Kyiv and its suburbs have resulted in fatalities and injuries, while Ukrainian drones have targeted Russian assets, including a container ship in the Black Sea and depots of the Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries.
