Putin unleashes one of his biggest attacks on Ukraine since start of war
Vladimir Putin has unleashed one of the largest-scale attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion – just days after the first in-person negotiations for a ceasefire.
Missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones ripped through the midnight sky over Kyiv, injuring eight people.
Fires rage across several districts, casting a hellish orange-yellow over the capital's skyline. Thick columns of smoke spiral high above.
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
MORE: Russian jet capable of carrying guided bombs performing 'dangerous maneuvers' near Nato territory
MORE: UK exposes Russian hacking unit targeting air traffic systems and Western defences
MORE: Ukrainian ex-Putin ally Andriy Portnov shot dead outside the American School in Madrid
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
38 minutes ago
- The Independent
Nuclear jets, home guard and tensions over spending: What we know about Starmer's defence review
One of Sir Keir Starmer 's first acts as prime minister was to order a 'root and branch' review of Britain's armed forces. The prime minister said the UK's military capabilities had been 'hollowed out' during 14 years of Conservative rule, warning that an urgent revamp was needed with the country facing an increasingly dangerous world. And 10 months on, Sir Keir will on Monday unveil the outcome of the so-called strategic defence review. The Independent looks at what we know about the defence review and what to expect. Led by Lord Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary and secretary general of Nato, it brought together experts from the military, industry and academia. Lord Robertson was tasked with considering 'the threats Britain faces, the capabilities needed to meet them, the state of UK armed forces and the resources available'. Announcing the review, Sir Keir said: 'We live in a more dangerous and volatile world. My government will forge a new clear-eyed approach to our national defences, equipping us to tackle international threats head-on while keeping the British people safe and secure.' It was desperately needed, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine highlighting the importance of new technologies such as drones in warfighting, while parliament's defence committee warned last year Britain would not be prepared to fight an all-out war. Alongside this, Donald Trump has been pressuring Sir Keir to hike Britain's defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP years earlier than planned, as the president seeks to wean Europe off dependence on the US for military support. And, adding to the urgency of an overhaul is Sir Keir's planned peacekeeping force, which would see thousands of troops sent to Ukraine in the event of Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin agreeing to a ceasefire. Ahead of the long-awaited review's publication, some insights have emerged, giving the public a taste of what to expect when it is fully unveiled. The UK is to expand its conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet, replacing seven boats with up to 12. They will be built under a joint deal with the US and Australia, known as Aukus. A separate fleet of nuclear-armed submarines will also receive a £15bn boost from a previously announced warhead programme, which ministers have put a price tag on for the first time. On Sunday the defence secretary John Healey also appeared to confirm reports he wants to purchase fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons, saying he could not comment on private discussions. Another key part of the review is a cyber command to counter a 'continual and intensifying' level of cyber warfare. Mr Healey has also announced plans to invest more than £1 billion into a new 'digital targeting web' to be set up by 2027, to better connect weapons systems and allow battlefield decisions targeting enemy threats to be made and executed faster. He said the intensity of the cyber attacks the UK is seeing from Russia has stepped up, adding that 'cyber is now the leading edge, not just of defence, but of contests and tension between countries'. Cyber experts are also expected to be sent to the frontline alongside regular forces, in a move designed to modernise the military. The review is also expected to put forward plans to establish a new home guard to protect key British infrastructure from attacks by hostile states and terrorists. The new force drawn from the civilian population would be sent to guard sites such as airports, power plants and coastal hubs where undersea internet cables join the shoreline. Ministers will also spend an additional £1.5 billion fixing up the military at home amid claims years of neglect have led to troops quitting. At the same time, another £1.5bn will be used to build at least six munitions and weapons factories, as part of an attempt to be ready for potential future conflicts. The review is also expected to warn of an "immediate and pressing" threat by Russia and draw heavily on the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. Despite some welcoming the early announcements and leaks, experts have raised concerns throughout the process of the review about delays caused by growing global tensions, whether it is ambitious enough, and whether Sir Keir's commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence would be enough. Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, said: 'The long-awaited strategic defence review can lead to significant change in the Armed Forces if it moves beyond previous platitudes and half-implemented ideas on innovation to rebuild the foundations of defence while also making recommendations for the big choices on technological transformation.' The strategic defence review is the latest overhaul of Britain's defence outlook, following an integrated review of security, defence, development, and foreign policy in 2021, which was then refreshed in 2023 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Strategic defence review: PM refuses to commit to date for 3% GDP target
Sir Keir Starmer said he was buoyed by the footage of Ukraine's mass drone attack in Russia overnight which is reported to have destroyed 40 Russian planes. '[It shows] Ukraine is not defeated,' he told the BBC. 'It shows they are still there and fighting . That is a tribute to Ukraine.' The prime minister said the three-year war between Ukraine and Russia had turned the Ukrainian army into one of Europe's toughest fighting forces. Sir Keir Starmer rejected suggestions his Labour government could not commit the extra £13 billion to reach the 3 per cent defence funding figure because it was being forced to back down on other measures such as the winter fuel allowance. The government is preparing to reverse its tough cuts to fuel subsidies for pensioners, but the prime minister said it would not come at the cost of defence and security. He said he had fixed the 2.5 per cent defence funding figure to 2027, but the 3 per cent figure would not be tied to a particular date. 'I am not going to indulge in the fantasy of plucking dates from the air,' he told the BBC. 'I take the defence and security of our country very seriously. It's the most important task I have.' The prime minister said he was hopeful of reaching the 3 per cent defence funding figure, but made no promises. Sir Keir Starmer said that all Nato countries needed to 'step up' to boost defence spending in the current geopolitical environment. He said that defence spending would reach 2.5 per cent by 2027-28, but denied it was 'wishful thinking' to hit 3 per cent by next parliament. 'Yes, that 3 per cent [is the target]. But I am not going to make a commitment to the exact date until we can make good on that commitment,' he told the BBC. Sir Keir Starmer said the defence strategic review was needed because the 'world has changed', especially since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'We have to recognise the world has changed and if the world has changed we have to be ready,' he told the BBC. If you want to deter conflict, then you have to prepare for conflict.' The prime minister played down the prospect of a future nuclear warfare, but said nuclear deterrence had been an effective tool since the end of the Second World War. 'We need to ask how Nato can preserve the peace for decades to come,' he said. Luke Pollard, the armed forces minister, has refused to guarantee that defence spending would reach 3 per cent of GDP, saying it would only happen when 'economic conditions allow'. Before the release of the strategic defence review today, Pollard said he hoped to top the 3 per cent figure by the next parliament. 'Well, we've set out that we are spending 2.5 per cent by April 2027 with the ambition to spend 3 per cent in the next parliament when economic conditions allow,' he told Times Radio. 'I agree with the defence secretary that thanks to the chancellor getting our economy back on track by having the highest growth in the G7 that I have no doubt, just as a defence secretary doesn't, that with the growing threats that we're facing that we will be spending 3 per cent in the next parliament.' Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Britain will build up to a dozen nuclear-powered attack submarines, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce as the government unveils its strategic defence review on Monday. The long-awaited review will set out the UK's defence plan for the next ten years. The boats will replace the UK's seven Astute class submarines, which are armed with conventional weapons, and will be in operation from the late 2030s, joining the four Trident submarines that carry the nation's at-sea nuclear deterrent.
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
UK to be 'war-ready' as Government to build up to 12 attack submarines
The UK will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest £15bn in its warhead programme, the Prime Minister will announce on Monday as the Government unveils its strategic defence review. Significant investment in the UK nuclear warhead programme this parliament and maintaining the existing stockpile are among the 62 recommendations that the Government is expected to accept in full. But questions were also raised about its commitment to defence spending after the Defence Secretary could not confirm the Treasury had guaranteed funding to bring it up to 3% of GDP by 2034. Building the new submarines, which is part of the Aukus partnership with the US and Australia, will support 30,000 highly skilled jobs into the 2030s as well as 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next 10 years, the Ministry of Defence said. Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. 'With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country.' PA Media Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK 'must act decisively to face down Russian aggression' (Yui Mok/PA). The £15bn investment into the warhead programme will back the Government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent, build a new fleet of Dreadnought submarines and deliver all future upgrades. From the late 2030s, the fleet of up to 12 SSN-Aukus conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will replace seven astute class attack submarines the UK is due to start operating. In response to the strategic defence review, the Government will also commit to: – Getting the armed forces to a stage where it would be ready to fight a war – Boosting weapons and equipment stockpiles and making sure there is capacity to scale up production if needed in a crisis or war – Buying up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons in a move due to support 800 defence jobs – Setting up a new cyber command and investing £1bn in digital capabilities – More than £1.5bn of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing. Sir Keir Starmer will say: 'From the supply lines to the front lines, this Government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation's freedom and security. 'National security is the foundation of my Plan for Change, and this plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country. 'This strategic defence review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our armed forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future.' The Conservatives and Lib Dems questioned Labour's commitment to funding the promises it was making. The Government has previously set out its 'ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament', after meeting its pledge to ratchet up defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027. Healey had said there was 'no doubt' the UK would reach 3% in an interview with The Times. But on Sunday, he sidestepped questions about whether he had any guarantee from the Treasury to provide the funding when asked on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. He said he does not expect to increase the number of people in the armed forces until the next Parliament amid a recruitment and retention crisis. Asked when the Army would reach the target of 73,000, Healey said: 'We've narrowed the gap, but we've still got more people leaving than joining. 'The first job is to reverse that trend and then I want to see in the next parliament our ability to start to increase the number.' Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: 'All of Labour's Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them. 'Whereas, far from guaranteeing the funding, John Healey has been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves. 'As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit 3%, but today he's completely backtracked. 'These submarines are not due to enter service till the late 2030s, so how can we have any confidence Labour will actually deliver them when they can't even sustain a policy on defence spending for more than 48 hours?' Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire said: 'This signals absolutely the right intent about the need to bolster the UK's defences in the face of Putin's imperialism and Trump's unreliability. 'But this must come with a concrete commitment and detail on full funding. 'Labour's mere 'ambition' rather than commitment to reach 3% of GDP on defence leaves serious questions about whether the money for these projects will actually be forthcoming. 'The 2034 timeline suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the Government. 'Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3% much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
