Russian strikes on Kyiv kill six and leave 600,000 without power
Russian missile strikes on Kyiv killed six people and cut power to 600,000, as Ukraine reported reduced Starlink service and Zelensky was due in London.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Strikes and casualties
Russian missile strikes hit Kyiv overnight, killing six people and damaging energy infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities said. The attack was the latest in a series of overnight strikes on the capital and came with little or no advance warning, according to officials and residents.
An apartment block was hit and evacuated. Early reports said at least two people had been killed and 21 injured. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said rescue operations were ongoing and emergency services were on site. The death toll later rose to six, according to authorities in Kyiv. A thermal power plant was also hit, causing power cuts. President Volodymyr Zelensky said 600,000 people were left without power.
Warnings and intelligence
Ukraine relies heavily on Western intelligence, particularly from the United States, to detect incoming Russian attacks. For a second consecutive day, air raid sirens sounded only after missiles had hit, raising questions in Kyiv about the city's safety. Zelensky wrote on social media that there was once again no early warning from partners. He said the main target was energy infrastructure and accused Russia of breaching an energy ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump a few days earlier. Trump denied a suggestion that the US had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, saying he was still helping Ukraine and that it had the intelligence it needed. The cause of the warning gap was under investigation. Possible explanations included weather conditions, a technical issue or a new model of Russian missile. No explanation had been confirmed.
Starlink disruption
Ukraine also reported disruption to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system, which Ukrainian forces use to control drones. Officials said an unexpected reduction in service had disrupted combat drone missions. Reports from Ukraine said the system stopped working on devices travelling more than 100 miles an hour, meaning long-range drones could not reach their targets. Some sources suggested the disruption may have been coordinated between the White House and Musk, but there was no confirmation. Analysts said the combination of reduced intelligence sharing and Starlink restrictions, if confirmed, would leave a gap that Ukraine could not easily fill.
Diplomatic moves
Zelensky was due in London to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. It was his second visit since Burnham became Prime Minister. Number 10 said the visit underlined Britain's rock solid support for Ukraine and said the UK would accelerate delivery of critical air defence missiles to Kyiv. Burnham was expected to set out plans for further sanctions on Russia. The meeting came as Trump had eased sanctions on Russian diesel, and after the US struck a diesel deal with Russia. It followed a difficult weekend in diplomacy, in which Trump called on Zelensky to quit over Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities, according to reports.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 4 or more of 5 channels | |||||
| Downing Street said Andy Burnham would host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the next day. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Sky News | ||
| Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv, hitting a thermal power plant and causing power cuts, with Zelensky saying energy infrastructure was the main target. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by Sky News | |||
| Reported by a few · 2–3 channels | |||||
| Ballistic missile strikes were reported after midnight without warning, alongside unconfirmed speculation that US intelligence support may have been withdrawn. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | ||
| President Zelensky accused Russia of breaching the energy ceasefire announced by Donald Trump a few days earlier. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Ukraine reported that an unexpected reduction in Starlink service disrupted its combat drone missions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Sky News | ||
| Only on one channel | |||||
| Russian strikes reportedly killed at least two people and injured 21 in a Kyiv apartment block. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Trump denied that the US had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC News bulletins lead on the deadly strikes and the lack of advance warning for a second day. They give prominence to Trump's denial that US intelligence sharing has stopped, Zelensky's social media response and the diplomatic response in London. The coverage also includes expert analysis and notes the death toll rising to six.
- “At least two people have been killed and 21 injured in a high rise apartment block which has now been evacuated.”
- “President Trump earlier denied a suggestion that the US had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.”
- “once again, no early warning from our partners. The main target was energy infrastructure.”
Channel 4's summary is brief and focuses on the damage to energy infrastructure and the figure of 600,000 people without power. It is the only bulletin here to lead on the Starlink disruption as a direct military problem for Ukraine. It also flags Zelensky's planned London meeting.
- “Russia has again targeted energy infrastructure in overnight attacks on Ukraine, leaving 600,000 people without power, according to President Zelensky.”
- “Ukraine also says that an unexpected reduction in service from Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system has disrupted Ukraine's ability to conduct combat drone missions.”
- “Mr Zelensky is due to meet Andy Burnham for talks in London later today.”
5 News frames the attack as the third in a row and tests Trump's claim of an energy ceasefire. It highlights the power cuts and the UK political response, including the US diesel deal with Russia. The tone is short and straightforward.
- “At least 600,000 people in Ukraine have been left without power, according to President Vladimir Zelensky, after Russian missiles struck Kyiv.”
- “This is the third attack in a row, despite Donald Trump's claim of an energy ceasefire between the countries.”
- “The PM wants to show British support, particularly after the US struck a diesel deal with Russia.”
BBC One West gives the most detailed account, including first-hand reporting from Kyiv and the warning gap. It stresses suspicion that the US withheld intelligence and gives technical detail on Starlink restrictions affecting long-range drones. It also links the diplomacy to the battlefield and Zelensky's London talks.
- “Ukrainian officials claim Elon Musk's Starlink communications system, which it uses to control drones, was restricted overnight.”
- “It comes after President Zelensky accused the US of withholding crucial intelligence, raising questions about whether it's a deliberate move from Washington.”
- “Overnight, reports from Ukraine said it had stopped working on any devices travelling more than 100 miles an hour.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.