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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/aug/28/uk-summons-russian-ambassador-over-british-council-missile-damage-in-kyiv
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| UK summons Russian ambassador over British Council missile damage in Kyiv | UK summons Russian ambassador over British Council missile damage in Kyiv |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Incident marks the first time British government property has been caught up in Moscow’s war with Ukraine | Incident marks the first time British government property has been caught up in Moscow’s war with Ukraine |
| UK politics live – latest updates | UK politics live – latest updates |
| Europe live – latest updates | Europe live – latest updates |
| The Foreign Office has summoned the Russian ambassador after missile strikes on Kyiv killed at least 17 people and damaged the city’s British Council office. | The Foreign Office has summoned the Russian ambassador after missile strikes on Kyiv killed at least 17 people and damaged the city’s British Council office. |
| The ambassador, Andrey Kelin, was summoned at 1pm in London, in direct response to the severe damage inflicted on the building, government sources said. | |
| The incident marks the first time British government property has been caught up in a Russian attack. | The incident marks the first time British government property has been caught up in a Russian attack. |
| “Putin’s strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv,” the foreign secretary, David Lammy, posted on X. | |
| “We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop.” | “We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop.” |
| The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has condemned the attacks as “senseless” and accused Russia of “sabotaging hopes of peace”. | The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has condemned the attacks as “senseless” and accused Russia of “sabotaging hopes of peace”. |
| While the British Council’s offices suffered significant damage, they are not believed to have been directly hit by Russian strikes, but struck by shrapnel. | |
| They are in the same block as the EU delegation offices, which were also damaged by Russia’s overnight attacks. | |
| Starmer said on X: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the senseless Russian strikes on Kyiv which have damaged the British Council building. | Starmer said on X: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the senseless Russian strikes on Kyiv which have damaged the British Council building. |
| “Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. This bloodshed must end.” | “Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. This bloodshed must end.” |
| The British Council’s offices are seen as a representation of Britain’s soft power in Ukraine. For the last 30 years the organisation has worked as a bridge between London and Kyiv, offering academic links, arts programmes and English courses. | |
| A spokesperson for the British Council said: “Following last night’s attack, our British Council office in Kyiv has been severely damaged and will remain closed to the public until further notice. | A spokesperson for the British Council said: “Following last night’s attack, our British Council office in Kyiv has been severely damaged and will remain closed to the public until further notice. |
| “Thankfully, our colleagues are all safe and our work with our Ukrainian partners in education and culture will continue uninterrupted.” | “Thankfully, our colleagues are all safe and our work with our Ukrainian partners in education and culture will continue uninterrupted.” |