British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated his belief that Ukraine will prevail in its war against Russia, delivering the message during his final official visit to Kyiv while in office. In an interview with Sky News on Thursday, Starmer told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: "I believe Ukraine will win this war." He added: "What they've shown is that it's not just the size of your army, it's how you fight a modern conflict. And so they are probably the most effective fighting machine in Europe."
UK reaffirms unwavering support
Starmer's visit occurred on his last full day as Labour leader, with the outgoing prime minister assuring that the upcoming change in UK leadership would not alter the bilateral relationship. "The fact that there will be a new prime minister in the United Kingdom, in the days to come, doesn't change that dynamic at all," he said. "The resolve of the United Kingdom remains the same, it will not waver."
During the trip, Starmer announced a €300 million funding package to help deliver a squadron of 16 advanced Swedish Gripen jets to Ukraine by 2029. The Gripen aircraft are capable of air-to-air combat, ground strikes, and reconnaissance missions, bolstering Ukraine's air capabilities.
Zelenskyy defends defence minister dismissal amid protests
Zelenskyy defended his decision to dismiss Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, confirming that relations had broken down between the ministry and the country's top army leadership. His backing of Armed Forces Commander General Oleksandr Syrskyi has sparked outrage among civil society. On Thursday, more than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv, holding placards in support of Fedorov. Ukraine's youthful defence minister was regarded as an innovator of the country's successful drone technology but had clashed with the traditional military establishment.
The personnel overhaul, which also included replacing the prime minister, could test Zelenskyy's political authority as Ukraine's fight against Russia's full-scale invasion approaches four and a half years. Zelenskyy has remained in office under martial law since wartime elections are prohibited, but he has periodically reshuffled his government.
Deadly attacks on both sides
Russian and Ukrainian attacks on civilian areas killed at least 12 people on Thursday, according to local officials. A Russian guided bomb attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia killed three people and wounded 15. Russian missiles struck the Black Sea port of Odesa, killing two and injuring six. Outside Kharkiv, near the Russian border, a drone attack killed one person. Earlier in the day, a drone attack near Kupiansk, farther east, killed three, while one person was killed in Donetsk region. On the Russian side, local officials in Belgorod Region said one person died when Ukrainian forces shelled a settlement near the border.
IAEA condemns killing of nuclear plant engineer
The head of the United Nations atomic agency denounced the killing of the chief engineer of Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in a drone strike, which no one has claimed. Russia blamed Ukraine for the death, but Kyiv described the accusations as "baseless" and said Moscow has failed to provide evidence. The head of Russian nuclear giant Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said on Wednesday that Aleksandr Yakovlev died when "a drone belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces" hit a service vehicle near the power station. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi "condemns the reported incident which he says represents an unacceptable attack on the plant and its management, seriously threatening nuclear safety," the watchdog posted on X late Wednesday.
