Ukraine war latest: Russia hits 'almost all of Ukraine' with more than 400 drones and 40 missiles - Zelenskyy

Ukraine hits more Russian airfields, claims military

More from the overnight attacks, this time in Russia.

According to Ukraine's general staff, its military struck airfields in Saratov and Ryazan, in western Russia.

They also said they hit fuel reservoirs.

"The Ukrainian Defence Forces launched a preemptive strike," they said in a statement.

"On the eve of the massive enemy attack, enemy airfields and other important military facilities were hit."

Russia hits 'almost all of Ukraine' with more than 400 drones and 40 missiles - Zelenskyy

Russia attacked towns and cities across Ukraine overnight, according to authorities.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just said that assault was formed of more than 400 drones and 40 missiles.

So far, 49 people have been reported injured, he said, while the number of people killed could still rise from the current figure of three.

All were rescue workers, he added.

Earlier, officials said four people were killed in Kyiv.

"They targeted almost all of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

"Russia must be held accountable for this. Since the first minute of this war, they have been striking cities and villages to destroy life."

He repeated calls for pressure on Russia, and warned "giving the war more time" becomes "complicity and accountability".

"We must act decisively," he said.

Ukraine's recent attacks on Russian airbases risk 'world war three'

Ukraine's recent attacks risk escalating the conflict to "world war three", Russia's UK ambassador told us yesterday, as he partly blamed the UK.

Andrei Kelin warned Ukraine's actions "are bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation", in an interview with our lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim.

French minister hopes for new round of Russian sanctions this month

The EU has been busy putting together packages of sanctions on Russia since they invaded Ukraine.

Last month, the bloc finalised its 17th round of measures, with attentions turning virtually immediately to the 18th.

This morning, France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he hopes the European Commission will present the latest package by the end of this month.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman said Russia would never bow to ultimatums from anyone, when asked about the bloc's last sanctions.

Maria Zakharova added it is clear Europe wants to re-arm Ukraine to continue the war.

Worth noting here that Russia started the war when it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, despite repeatedly dismissing concerns it would do just that.

Why doesn't Ukraine target the heart of Russian power?

Ukraine executed a daring attack deep into Russia over the weekend.

Kyiv says it took out up to 40 Russian bomber planes, though the US thinks around 10 were destroyed and Russian officials say none were destroyed.

And, as suggested in the post below this one, Ukraine is capable of launching waves of drone attacks across the border - so why not target the Kremlin itself?

This was put to our military analyst Michael Clarke on Wednesday during his weekly Q&A.

But that, he said, would "play to Putin's narrative that Ukraine is involved in a war to destroy Russia".

"I don't think there's much to be gained politically from attacks on the Kremlin," he said.

"And Ukrainians have got to stick to the idea that they are attacking into Russia, and they're sticking to military targets that make a difference to them.

"Things that will ease the pressure on them: so aircraft that can launch glide bombs, fuel centres that are sending fuel to the front line, railway lines and logistics."

Hitting the Kremlin would also be "playing with fire".

Russia shoots down 174 drones across country, MoD says

Russia says it downed 174 Ukrainian drones and three cruise missiles overnight.

In a statement by the defence ministry, cited by Interfax news agency, Moscow said those drones were downed over several regions.

These include: the Moscow region, Bryansk, Rostov, Saratov, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Ryazan, Tula, Belgorod, Tambov regions and Crimea.

"Also, air defence systems on duty over the Black Sea destroyed three Ukrainian Neptune-MD guided missiles," the ministry added.

Strikes on Kyiv came after Putin vowed response to airbase attacks

Over the weekend, Ukraine used drones to strike heavy bomber planes at airbases in Siberia and the far north of Russia.

Russia also accused Ukraine of blowing up rail bridges in the south.

Noises from Moscow since then have been about retaliation, with Donald Trump telling reporters yesterday Vladimir Putin's response will "not be pretty".

"I don't like it, I said don't do it, you shouldn't do it, you should stop it," Trump said he told the Russian president.

Putin's mouthpiece, Dmitry Peskov, said Russia is obliged to hit back - and it will happen as and when its military sees fit.

It's not clear if this air attack on Kyiv is that response, or part of it, or simply part of Russia's nightly attacks.

But search and rescue operations are ongoing in the Ukrainian capital, far from the war's frontlines.

Four killed in intense air attacks on Kyiv

Explosions reverberated around Kyiv overnight as Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones, Ukrainian officials said.

Four people have been killed and 20 injured, with 16 in hospital, according to the capital's mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The local military administration said the city's metro was disrupted by a strike on a train between stations.

A Russian drone slammed into the side of apartment building in the Solomenskiy district, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks.

Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars below, and two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine.

It's been a busy day, with NATO defence ministers gathering in Brussels and Donald Trump hosting the German chancellor at the White House.

Here's a breakdown of all the key events:

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth started the day by doubling down on calls for NATO allies to hike defence spending to 5% of GDP.

"Countries in there are well exceeding 2% and we think are very close, almost near consensus, on a 5% commitment for NATO," he told reporters ahead of the meeting.

Speaking after those talks, the alliance's secretary general Mark Rutte said he will propose a 5% defence investment plan to leaders at the NATO summit later this month.

He added that his proposal will include 3.5% for core defence spending and 1.5% in defence and security-related investments.

'Path to ending war has changed direction in past week'

Reacting to that interview with the Russian ambassador, our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn has said the path to ending the war has changed direction in the past week.

"I think we're moving away from where we were a few weeks ago when the direction of travel seemed to be towards some kind of talks and possibly a ceasefire," he said.

Waghorn explained that despite there being "diplomatic momentum", things are now going in a different direction.

"I think we're going to see some kind of retaliatory action by the Russians that will continue that direction away from diplomatic progress," he added.

"What they [Ukraine] did against this airbase... it makes it clear they do have cards to play.

"They could win this war with enough support from the European allies, and they've got to keep the Europeans believing in that possibility."

'We do not represent any threat to Britain', Russian ambassador tells Sky News

Russia's ambassador to the UK has also been asked about a US-led push for NATO countries to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP.

"It is fantastic and I like it," Andrei Kelin told Yalda Hakim.

"Your defence secretary [Healey] has said that they have a daily threat from Russia from the land, sea and air... I would very much like to see these threats," he said.

"What does he mean?"

Krelin goes on to say it is all part of a story that's "as old as the world".

"When the government is not capable of its internal economics and cannot provide for its population, it is trying to find and outside threat," he added.

"If Europeans decide to spend more money on its military, it is up to them, you shouldn't ask us about it.

"We've stated many times we do not represent any threat to Britain at all, neither on land, sea or in the air."

-SKY NEWS