Four dead after Russian kamikaze drone strikes near Kyiv

Four people have been killed following a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, officials have said.

The State Emergency Service said on the Telegram messaging app that five Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones hit two accommodation blocks, and an educational facility in the riverside town of Rzhyshchiv south of the capital overnight.

Ukrainian officials said 16 drones were shot down before they hit in what Volodymyr Zelensky said was a “murderous attack”.

“Over 20 Iranian murderous drones, plus missiles, numerous shelling incidents, and that’s just in one last night of Russian terror against Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky said on Twitter.

In an apparent reference to Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia this week, he added: “Every time someone tries to hear the word ‘peace’ in Moscow, another order is given there for such criminal strikes.”

Despite the attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian forces launched a counter offensive west of Bakhmut where Vladimir Putin’s army has yet to claim the town, British defence chiefs said on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the fate of the town in eastern Ukraine was still in the balance and that the Russian regular military, and Wagner Group, could still seize it.

In its latest intelligence update, the MoD said: “Over recent days Ukrainian forces initiated a local counterattack to the west of the Donetsk Oblast (province) town of Bakhmut, which is likely to relieve pressure on the threatened H-32 supply route.

“Fighting continues around the town centre and the Ukrainian defence remains at risk from envelopment from the north and south.

“However, there is a realistic possibility that the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained, partially because some Russian MoD units have been reallocated to other sectors.”

Separately, the Russian president hosted his Chinese counterpart this week where the two pledged further economic cooperation.

The two leaders “shared the view that this relationship has gone far beyond the bilateral scope and acquired critical importance for the global landscape and the future of humanity,” a statement released by China said.

As Mr Xi departed he told Putin: “Now there are changes that haven’t happened in 100 years. When we are together, we drive these changes.”

“I agree,”the Russian president said, to which Xi responded: “Take care of yourself dear friend, please.”