logo
Russia launches major aerial attack on Kyiv

Russia launches major aerial attack on Kyiv

Irish Examiner21-07-2025
Russia has unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, only hours before the UK and Germany are to chair a meeting to discuss US President Donald Trump's plans for Nato allies to provide Ukraine with weapons.
The attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
In Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district, a drone struck the entrance to a subway station where people had taken cover.
A bus stop damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
Videos posted on social media showed the station platform engulfed by smoke, with dozens of people inside.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the station had to be ventilated in what he called an 'enhanced mode'.
The heaviest strikes hit Kyiv's Darnytskyi district, where a nursery, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire.
The hours-long drone and missile assault on Kyiv overnight into Monday underscored the urgency of Ukraine's need for further Western military aid, especially in air defence, a week after Mr Trump said deliveries would arrive in Ukraine within days.
The virtual meeting will be led by British Defence Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius.
Mr Healey said US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and Nato leader Mark Rutte, as well as Nato's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, will attend the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.
Moscow has intensified its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate as Russian drone production expands.
In a shift of tone towards Russia, the US president last week gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions.
A man near the broken windows in his house after a Russian attack in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
At Monday's meeting, Mr Healey was expected to urge Ukraine's Western partners to launch a coincidental '50-day drive' to get Kyiv the weapons it needs to fight Russia's bigger army and force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, the UK Government said in a statement.
Mr Trump's arms plan, announced a week ago, involves European nations sending American weapons to Ukraine via Nato – either from existing stockpiles or buying and donating new ones.
The US president indicated discussions were partly focused on advanced Patriot air defence systems and said a week ago that deliveries would begin 'within days'.
But last week various senior officials suggested no transfers had yet taken place.
Gen Grynkewich told The Associated Press on Thursday that 'preparations are under way' for weapons transfers to Ukraine while US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker said he could not give a time frame.
Germany has said it offered to finance two new Patriot systems for Ukraine and raised the possibility of supplying systems it already owns and having them replaced by the US.
But delivery could take time, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested, because 'they have to be transported, they have to be set up; that is not a question of hours, it is a question of days, perhaps weeks'.
Other Patriot systems could come thanks to Switzerland, whose defence ministry said on Thursday it was informed by the US Defence Department that it will 'reprioritise the delivery' of five previously ordered systems to support Ukraine.
Firefighters work at a destroyed apartment building after a Russian attack in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
While Ukraine waits for Patriots, a senior Nato official said the alliance is still co-ordinating the delivery of other military aid – such as ammunition and artillery rounds – which includes aid from the US that was briefly paused.
Mr Zelensky said on Saturday that his officials have proposed a new round of peace talks this week.
Russian state media on Sunday reported that no date has yet been set for the negotiations, but said that Istanbul would probably remain the host city.
The Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday that Russia is open to peace with Ukraine, but achieving its goals remains a priority.
The overnight Russian barrage of Kyiv began shortly after midnight and continued until around 6am.
Residents of the capital were kept awake by machine gun fire, buzzing drone engines, and multiple loud explosions.
It was the first major attack on Kyiv since Mr Trump's special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg arrived in the city last Monday.
Firefighters work in a destroyed apartment building in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
Russia halted strikes on Kyiv during his visit.
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 426 Shahed and decoy drones overnight into Monday, as well as 24 missiles of various types.
It said 200 drones were intercepted with 203 more jammed or lost from radars.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continued to deploy its domestically produced long-range drones.
Russia's Ministry of Defence said that its forces shot down 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, with almost a third of them destroyed close to the Russian capital.
Twenty-three drones were shot down in the Moscow region, the ministry said, 15 of which were intercepted over the city itself.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bill Clinton and ex-federal officials subpoenaed by Republicans over Epstein sex-trafficking operation
Bill Clinton and ex-federal officials subpoenaed by Republicans over Epstein sex-trafficking operation

Irish Times

time19 minutes ago

  • Irish Times

Bill Clinton and ex-federal officials subpoenaed by Republicans over Epstein sex-trafficking operation

US House Republicans have subpoenaed the justice department, former president Bill Clinton and nearly a dozen other former federal officials for information about the late financier Jeffrey Epstein 's sex-trafficking operation, setting up a potential confrontation with the Trump administration. US president Donald Trump and his top aides have faced a firestorm over their handling of the Epstein case, with supporters and critics alike demanding they release documents, financial records and information about Epstein's sex-trafficking operation and who may have committed crimes against underage girls. Even as the House subpoena swept in Mr Clinton and his wife Hillary , Democrats' 2016 presidential nominee, the move threatens to douse fresh accelerant on an issue that has bedevilled Mr Trump and Republicans over the last several weeks. [ Donald Trump could be swallowed up by an Epstein conspiracy he helped create Opens in new window ] Democrats made life so politically painful for House Republicans over Epstein that speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home early for its August break to avoid votes on publicly releasing the Epstein files. Democrats had repeatedly offered amendments to legislation to compel the administration to make the files public and Republican leaders halted work on significant legislation. READ MORE Mr Trump has acknowledged he had a personal relationship with Epstein long ago and attended social gatherings with him, but has denied knowing anything about his sex-trafficking operation. The Wall Street Journal stoked new controversy over Mr Trump's relationship with Epstein with a story last month that said the president once sent a suggestive birthday letter to Epstein. Mr Trump denied the story and sued the news organisation. House oversight committee chairman James Comer , a Trump ally, demanded in a letter Tuesday to attorney general Pam Bondi the 'full, complete, unredacted Epstein files', including information about his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in sexually abusing underage women. He also issued subpoenas for depositions from an array of former high-ranking FBI and justice department officials, including former FBI director James Comey. The panel gave the justice department until August 19th to turn over records related to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 as he faced sex-trafficking charges. A justice department spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did a spokesperson for the Clintons. Bill Clinton, who has acknowledged travelling on Epstein's private plane, has previously denied knowing anything about the financier's sex trafficking. Mr Comer's panel already subpoenaed Maxwell for an August 11th deposition. But her lawyers have demanded criminal immunity in return for her testimony and Mr Comer hasn't agreed to the request. The justice department has asked federal courts to unseal grand jury materials related to Epstein's case, but hasn't voluntarily released information in its possession. The department has indicated in court filings that the grand jury material is limited and probably will not shed new light on what is already publicly known about Epstein's operation. In comparison, the department has a huge collection of documents and files obtained during the investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, including interviews with witnesses and victims. The subpoena to the department seeks all documents and communications related to seven different categories, including the criminal cases against Epstein and Maxwell and information about Epstein's death. – Bloomberg

Donald Trump makes bizarre gesture and yells 'nuclear missiles' at White House
Donald Trump makes bizarre gesture and yells 'nuclear missiles' at White House

Irish Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Donald Trump makes bizarre gesture and yells 'nuclear missiles' at White House

Donald Trump made a peculiar gesture whilst taking a stroll on the White House roof - moments after seemingly declaring his intention to position nuclear missiles there. Journalists assembled on the White House lawn called out questions to the President, who had been conducting an inspection of the building's rooftop. He's plotting major refurbishments to the legendary residence and administrative headquarters. His initial alteration involved concreting over the renowned Rose Garden - a move that has provoked outrage amongst detractors. The subsequent scheme he's revealed involves adding an enormous ballroom to the East Wing's exterior - blueprints bearing striking resemblance to the ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, reports the Mirror. On this occasion, he answered enquiries about his future construction plans by seemingly yelling "missiles. Nuclear missiles." President Donald Trump talks to the press as he surveys the White House grounds from the roof on Tuesday. (Image: AP) He gestured towards the White House roof below him, then executed a rigid-armed motion, repeating it twice. It appears probable that the President was simply mimicking a missile launch. However, following the controversy surrounding a comparable gesture Elon Musk made at a celebration for his inauguration, his opponents will likely highlight the movement's resemblance to a Nazi salute. Trump seemed to be surveying multiple locations including the press briefing room roof and the Rose Garden. Dressed in a suit paired with a crimson tie, Trump toured the space alongside several companions, whilst someone amongst them captured photographs. Trump might have been casting an eye over the ongoing refurbishments and building works at the White House. He's made a comeback to the Oval Office with ambitious plans to transform the premises, including proposals to concrete over the Rose Garden and erect an opulent ballroom. After surveying the scene from atop the White House, Trump meandered to a spot above the press briefing room, where he exchanged a few words with the journalists assembled beneath him. When quizzed about his rooftop venture, Trump remarked he was "taking a little walk" and dropped a hint about the "ballroom on the other side." In the previous month, it was publicised by the White House that come September, work would commence on a grandiose new $200 million ballroom – marking the first major architectural addition to the Executive Mansion since the Truman balcony in 1948. Amongst the entourage accompanying him was a figure believed to be James McCrery, the architect spearheading the project. "Just another way to spend my money for this country," Trump quipped. "Anything I do is financed by me." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.

Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the US after migrant deal with UK collapsed
Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the US after migrant deal with UK collapsed

Irish Examiner

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the US after migrant deal with UK collapsed

Rwanda on Tuesday became the third African nation to agree to accept deportees from the United States under the Trump administration's plans to send migrants to countries they have no ties with to get them off American soil. Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press in a statement that the East African country would accept up to 250 deportees from the US, with 'the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement' under the agreement. Ms Makolo did not provide a timeline for any deportees to arrive in Rwanda or say if they would arrive at once or in several batches. She said details were still being worked out. The US sent 13 men it described as dangerous criminals who were in the US illegally to South Sudan and Eswatini in Africa last month and has said it is seeking more agreements with African nations. It said those deportees' home countries refused to take them back. Those approved (for resettlement in Rwanda) will be provided with workforce training, healthcare and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade The US has also deported hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama under President Donald Trump's plans to expel people who he says entered the US illegally and are 'the worst of the worst'. Rwanda attracted international attention and some outrage when it struck a deal in 2022 with the UK to accept migrants who had arrived in the UK to seek asylum. Under that proposed deal, their claims would have been processed in Rwanda and, if successful, they would have stayed there. The contentious agreement was criticised by rights groups and others as being unethical and unworkable and was ultimately scrapped when Britain's new Labour government took over. Britain's Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the deal was unlawful because Rwanda was not a safe third country for migrants. The Trump administration has come under scrutiny for the African countries it has entered into secretive deals with to take deportees. It sent eight men from South Sudan, Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan in early July after a US Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for their deportations. They were held for weeks in a converted shipping container at an American military base in Djibouti as the legal battle over their deportations played out. South Sudan, which is tipping towards civil war, has declined to say where the men are being held or what their fate is. The US also deported five men who are citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini, where the government said they will be held in solitary confinement in prison for an undetermined period of time. A human rights lawyer in Eswatini said the men are being denied access to legal representation there and has taken authorities to court. Eswatini is Africa's last absolute monarchy. The king rules over government and political parties are effectively banned. Both South Sudan and Eswatini have declined to give details of their agreements with the US. Rwanda, a country of some 15 million people, has long stood out on the continent for its recovery from a genocide that killed more than 800,000 people in 1994. It has promoted itself under long-time President Paul Kagame as an example of stability and development, but human rights groups allege there are also deadly crackdowns on any perceived dissent against Mr Kagame, who has been president for 25 years. This agreement enhances Rwanda's strategic interest of having good relationships with the Trump administration Government spokesperson Ms Makolo said the agreement with the US was Rwanda doing its part to help with international migration issues because 'our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation'. 'Those approved (for resettlement in Rwanda) will be provided with workforce training, healthcare and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade,' she said. There were no details about whether Rwanda had received anything in return for taking the deportees. Gonzaga Muganwa, a Rwandan political analyst, said 'appeasing President Trump pays'. 'This agreement enhances Rwanda's strategic interest of having good relationships with the Trump administration,' he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store