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| Ukraine hits Russian nuclear site as Kyiv marks independence day | Ukraine hits Russian nuclear site as Kyiv marks independence day |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Servicemen raise Ukraine's flag in the capital Kyiv as independence day celebrations begin | Servicemen raise Ukraine's flag in the capital Kyiv as independence day celebrations begin |
| A fire has been put out at a nuclear power plant in Russia's western Kursk region and air defences have shot down a Ukrainian drone, Russian officials have said. | A fire has been put out at a nuclear power plant in Russia's western Kursk region and air defences have shot down a Ukrainian drone, Russian officials have said. |
| The drone detonated when it fell and damaged a transformer, but radiation levels were normal and there were no casualties, a post from the plant's account on messaging app Telegram said. | The drone detonated when it fell and damaged a transformer, but radiation levels were normal and there were no casualties, a post from the plant's account on messaging app Telegram said. |
| It comes as Ukraine is celebrating its independence day on Sunday, which marks the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. | |
| The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly called on both Russia and Ukraine to show maximum restraint around nuclear facilities in the war. | The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly called on both Russia and Ukraine to show maximum restraint around nuclear facilities in the war. |
| Ukraine has not commented on the Russian accusation regarding the nuclear site in Kursk, a region where Ukrainian troops briefly invaded in an unexpected military counteroffensive against the Russians last year. | |
| Kursk Nuclear Power Plant | Kursk Nuclear Power Plant |
| The UK government has announced that Ukrainian flags will appear above Downing Street on Sunday in recognition of the anniversary. | The UK government has announced that Ukrainian flags will appear above Downing Street on Sunday in recognition of the anniversary. |
| UK Defence Secretary John Healey has said Britain is "ramping up" its support for Ukraine "on this special day for the freedom and democracy of the Ukrainian people". | UK Defence Secretary John Healey has said Britain is "ramping up" its support for Ukraine "on this special day for the freedom and democracy of the Ukrainian people". |
| The Ministry of Defence has announced that British military experts will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers until at least the end of 2026, with an extension to Operation Interflex. | The Ministry of Defence has announced that British military experts will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers until at least the end of 2026, with an extension to Operation Interflex. |
| Operation Interflex is the codename given to the UK Armed Forces' training programme, which has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight their country's Russian invaders. | Operation Interflex is the codename given to the UK Armed Forces' training programme, which has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight their country's Russian invaders. |
| On Saturday, Russia said its forces in eastern Ukraine seized two villages in the Donetsk region. | On Saturday, Russia said its forces in eastern Ukraine seized two villages in the Donetsk region. |
| Russian forces have been advancing very slowly, and at great cost, in eastern Ukraine and they now control about 20% of Ukraine's territory. | Russian forces have been advancing very slowly, and at great cost, in eastern Ukraine and they now control about 20% of Ukraine's territory. |
| A full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched by Russia in 2022. | A full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched by Russia in 2022. |
| There has been intense diplomacy over the war this month, with US President Donald Trump meeting his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August. | There has been intense diplomacy over the war this month, with US President Donald Trump meeting his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August. |
| The summit was billed as a vital step towards peace in Ukraine. However, despite both leaders claiming the talks were a success, Trump has since shown growing frustration publicly over the lack of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. | The summit was billed as a vital step towards peace in Ukraine. However, despite both leaders claiming the talks were a success, Trump has since shown growing frustration publicly over the lack of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. |
| Trump has said he is considering either hitting Russia with further economic sanctions or walking away from peace talks. | Trump has said he is considering either hitting Russia with further economic sanctions or walking away from peace talks. |
| "I'm going to make a decision as to what we do and it's going to be, it's going to be a very important decision, and that's whether or not it's massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or we do nothing and say it's your fight," Trump said on Friday. | "I'm going to make a decision as to what we do and it's going to be, it's going to be a very important decision, and that's whether or not it's massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or we do nothing and say it's your fight," Trump said on Friday. |
| Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for an unconditional ceasefire and his European allies have also insisted on a halt in fighting. | Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for an unconditional ceasefire and his European allies have also insisted on a halt in fighting. |
| Zelensky has also accused Russia of "doing everything it can" to prevent a meeting with Putin to try to end the war. | Zelensky has also accused Russia of "doing everything it can" to prevent a meeting with Putin to try to end the war. |
| Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Putin was ready to meet Ukraine's leader "when the agenda is ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all", accusing Zelensky of saying "no to everything". | Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Putin was ready to meet Ukraine's leader "when the agenda is ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all", accusing Zelensky of saying "no to everything". |