Russia reports Ukrainian drone strike near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Russia has accused the UK of "deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis" following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in strikes on targets in Russia. "In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks," the Russian Embassy to the UK wrote in a statement. "London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer," it said, adding that the deeper its involvement in the conflict, "the higher the price it will pay".In response, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told BBC News that Britain stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine."Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies," said the spokesperson in a statement.The UK, they added, was "committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's illegal invasion".Built by two separate British companies, the drones in question have been used inside Russia in widespread and successful targeting of military and industrial targets, including refineries and warehouses of the online retailer Wildberries.Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the company, known as Russia's version of Amazon, and says that seven out of 10 of the largest Wildberries logistics centres have been "disabled".A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones had been used in the attacks, which are said to have caused more than £35bn in economic damage.Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory.Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said drones using UK components and configurations were used to attack Russian territory, including a fuel depot in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region.Moscow's warning to the UK comes after a wave of Ukrainian strikes on Russia. In the latest attacks overnight, Russian officials said some 620 drones had been flown towards the region surrounding Moscow. Russian air defences destroyed more than 180 of the drones but several people were left wounded, the officials said. An attack the night before saw nine people killed and 23 injured, including a child.On Saturday night, Ukraine fired some 822 drones towards Russia, with 600 aiming for Moscow, according to its regional governor, who said the Russian capital had suffered "one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory". Seven deaths were reported across Russia.On the same night, Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least seven people and injured more than 39.In April, the MoD announced it would supply Ukraine tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike devices, in its biggest ever package.

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv strikes rocket fuel plant after launching largest drone attack of 2026 The Independent Ukraine launches 600 drones at Russia, one of its largest aerial attacks of the war France 24 Ukraine strikes major Russian rocket factory with cruise missiles Ars Technica Ukraine hits Russian Starlink-style network, Moscow tracks arms package Al Jazeera Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv faces missile barrage after Zelenskyy targets Russian satellite network The Guardian

At least seven people have been killed in Russia after what officials called the "largest-scale" attack launched by Ukraine this year.Some 822 drones were used - 600 aiming for Moscow, according to its regional governor who said the Russian capital had suffered "one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory". A warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries was hit.Russian attacks on Ukraine also killed at least seven people and injured more than 39.Russia has intensified missile attacks across Ukraine in recent weeks, with Kyiv also stepping up drone strikes deep inside Russia. Five people died in Russia's south-western region of Rostov following overnight strikes, its governor said.Officials in Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, said a woman was killed after a civilian bus was struck, while an 83-year-old man died in a drone attack in the Moscow region, according to Governor Andrey Vorobyov.A Wildberries warehouse in Koledino, 25km (15.5 miles) from the centre of Moscow, was hit in an attack, injuring three, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Videos shows a fire and a large plume of smoke over the warehouse.Wildberries, known as Russia's version of Amazon, has been repeatedly targeted since July. Kyiv said at the time it was targeting logistics hubs used by Russians to buy military equipment and disrupting supplies to the Russian army.Ukraine's defence ministry said the latest attack meant that seven out of 10 of the largest Wildberries logistics centres had been "disabled".Both warring sides accuse each other of targeting civilians. In Ukraine, a 66-year-old man and 64-year-old woman died after a private house was hit by a guided aerial bomb in the Zaporizhzhia region, officials said. Two more people were killed in Kryvyi Rih, a city in Dnipropetrovsk.Officials in Sumy, Donetsk and Kherson also reported one death in each region, including a 51-year-old killed in a drone strike in Sumy.In Kyiv, air-raid sirens sounded four times overnight as the Ukrainian capital came under Russian attack. At least six people, including a child, were reportedly injured, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.Russia said its attacks on Kyiv on Saturday night targeted a FirePoint facility producing parts for Ukrainian Flamingo missiles and a factory making components for drones.A book market in the city's Pochayna district was damaged in the strikes. Burnt books could be seen lying on the ground, while firefighters continue to douse the flames.Sixty-nine-year-old Valentina's husband owned a market stall. Looking through the rubble, she told the BBC: "All these books in the street were from my husband's stall in the market - I recognise them on the floor."She added: "You never think that it will happen to you."Vinyl store owner Luba, 42, said she has lost 500,000 hryvnias (£8,262) worth of stock."This business was my baby - many of the vinyls destroyed were rare and irreplaceable," she told the BBC. "I want Russia to disappear from this Earth."

Ukraine targets Moscow in mass drone attack as Russia bombards Kyiv Al Jazeera Ukraine attacks Russia with hundreds of drones in one of Kyiv’s largest aerial assaults of the conflict CNN ‘Massive’ Ukrainian drone attack on Russia kills at least six, says Moscow The Guardian Ukraine launches one of its largest aerial attacks of the war, killing at least 6 people in Russia AP News Ukrainian drones strike Moscow region, killing one Reuters

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv uses Flamingo missile to bomb space centre and Russian jets The Independent Ukraine attacks Russia’s Samara industrial site as Kyiv ramps up long-range strikes NBC News Ukraine hits Russian Starlink-style network, Moscow tracks arms package Al Jazeera OSINT analysts show damage to plant in Russia's Samara where rockets for military satellite launches are equi Українська правда Ukraine Targets Russian Rocket Facility In Major Overnight Attack Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

This photo provided by the family shows Robert Gilman and his sister, Lexie Hudson, in Lilburn, Ga., in 2019. Gilman family/via AP hide caption toggle caption Gilman family/via AP WASHINGTON — Russia released an American military veteran on Tuesday, allowing his return to the U.S. after four years of what his family and U.S. officials allege was wrongful incarceration and abusive treatment that left him near death. Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old Massachusetts teacher and former Marine, was freed after President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about his release, which Trump said was "very much on a Humanitarian Basis." "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Arrests of Americans have become increasingly common in Russia in recent years. Concern has risen that Russia could be targeting U.S. nationals to use later as bargaining chips in talks to bring back Russians convicted of crimes in the U.S. and Europe. Five other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia with deteriorating medical issues, according to a news release from Global Reach, a group that's been working to free them. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted a photo on social media of a gaunt-looking Gilman draped in an American flag and surrounded by his family aboard an airplane. "While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans," Rubio stated. Gilman will arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland outside of Washington on Tuesday evening, Trump said in his post. "I just spoke to him, and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands," Trump wrote. "I will take care of that!" Gilman is bound for a military hospital in Texas, where he will be medically and psychologically assessed and treated, Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, said in a statement. Gilman had his prison sentence extended three times Gilman was detained in 2022 on charges of beating a police officer after being taken off a train for causing a disturbance. He was convicted and handed a 3.5-year sentence. He later was convicted of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, beating an investigator and assaulting a guard. In October 2024, he was sentenced to eight years and one month. His sentence was extended in December to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards. Russian media reported that he pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized to the guards he was charged with assaulting. The business daily Kommersant said he explained his actions by saying he wanted to stay in the prison where he was serving his sentence and avoid being moved to another penitentiary. Gilman's father has disputed the charges against his son, while the State Department has said the U.S. determined that Gilman was wrongfully detained, Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, credited Trump and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts with bringing about his release. "There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action," said Hudson, who thanked Markey "for leading our advocacy efforts in Congress." "The Russians treated my brother so badly," Hudson said. "They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both an American and a Marine. What did they get out of this? Why did they do this to such a wonderful person?" Russian officials did not immediately comment on Gilman's release. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service did not respond to a request for comment on his health deteriorating behind bars. Gilman was hospitalized before his release Gilman's lawyer Irina Brazhnikova told the Russian news agency Interfax on Friday that Gilman was in a psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital, where he's been since early July. He was there "due to a psychiatric condition," and according to docto

President Donald Trump said a former US Marine held in a Russian prison, whose health was reportedly in extremely poor condition, has been released."After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that no prisoner swap took place.Robert Gilman, who is from Massachusetts, was arrested in 2022 for allegedly kicking a police officer while aboard a train. He had recently been moved from prison to a civilian hospital in Russia after going into a catatonic-like state.Gilman was on a flight back to the US accompanied by his mother, doctors, and members of the administration.Trump said he spoke to Gilman on the phone, "and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!" "During my Administration, we have prioritised bringing home Americans detained abroad, and have done so at a level never seen before," Trump added.Gilman is expected to later arrive at a US military hospital in Texas where he will be assessed and treated, his family said in a statement.His health was in "life-threatening condition" after he was subjected to "harsh and abusive treatment", the family said."The Russians treated my brother so badly. They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both and American and a Marine," his sister, Lexi Hudson, said in the statement."I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother's life," she added.Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey also helped secure her brother's release, she said.In a statement, Markey said: "Approximately 50 days ago, Robert was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor - a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat. " Kieran Ramsey, chief investigative officer for Global Reach, the advocacy group representing the former marine, told Reuters that Gilman was released because the Russian government realised "they're not losing any geopolitical power position by releasing him. This is a humanitarian release".Gilman served in the US Marines from August 2019 to August 2020.He was arrested for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk aboard a train to Moscow in January 2022 and was initially given a sentence of three and a half years.He was later found guilty of assaulting prison guards, after he allegedly attacked a prison inspector during a cell check. His sentence was then increased to 10 years.In Russian confinement, Gilman was subjected to repeated harassment, including forced exercise training sessions that lasted up to 16 hours and the administration of psychotropic drugs, Eric Lebson of Global Reach told CBS News, the BBC's media partner.The abuse was so severe that at one point Gilman had required a feeding tube in his nose, according to Lebson.He said five other Americans remain in Russia, each contending with medical issues. Their names are Aleksandr Antonov, David Barnes, Olga Jezler, Andre Khachatoorian, and Chuck Zimmerman."While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans," Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X."The President will not stop until all unjustly detained Americans are home," he continued.

Is the West at risk? The Independent North Korean missile deployment raises urgency of Ukraine’s Starlink plea Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Ukraine has struck two oil refineries in Russia, marking the latest attack where the targets have been deep inside Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was to limit oil revenues Moscow "uses to finance" its war. Attacks between Russia and Ukraine have intensified in recent weeks and mediation talks have not been fruitful. The BBC's Dan Johnson explains what Ukraine has been doing to effect ordinary business in Russia.