Defence Secretary visits Ukraine as Russia launches large attack across the country
Defence Secretary John Healey has visited Ukraine as Moscow fired drones and missiles at the country overnight in the latest attack.
Mr Healey saw the destruction caused by Russian strikes on a British Council building during the trip to Kyiv, and he will meet Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's defence minister, for a bilateral discussion while he is in Ukraine's capital.
It comes as there is an increased possibility that British troops could be deployed in a peacekeeping capacity, as part of a reassurance force, in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.
Defence Secretary sees damage in Ukraine first-hand
Mr Healey was pictured with his hands on his waist, looking at the building that housed an organisation that was created to spread peace and prosperity in Ukraine's capital city, in a post about the visit on the Ministry of Defence's X profile.
The building had its windows blown out, and red and white tape cordoned off the destruction.
"We will not jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war," the MOD said in the post.
"A war Putin continues to wage.
"Today in Kyiv the Defence Secretary John Healey saw first-hand the damage inflicted on the British Council building by Russian strikes last week, some of the deadliest of the war."
Meeting with Ukrainian defence minister
Mr Shmyhal, 49, posted on Telegram explaining what the pair hopes to accomplish when they come together.
"I am pleased to welcome the British Minister of Defence, John Healey, to Ukraine," the former Ukrainian prime minister said on Telegram.
"During the meeting, we will coordinate the main issues of the next Ramstein format meeting in London, as well as joint defence projects.
"We are preparing important bilateral decisions that will strengthen the defence capabilities of our countries."
The Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) is commonly referred to as the Ramstein format, after the UDCG gathered at Ramstein Air Base in January 2023.
The UDCG, made up of 56 nations, as well as the European Union, gives military support to Ukraine following the Russian invasion more than three-and-a-half years ago.
Russian overnight attacks
Meanwhile, Russia shot drones and missiles at Ukraine in the night, causing injuries to at least four railway workers and damage to critical infrastructure, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian officials have said that air raid sirens went off around the country and explosions were documented in nine regions.
Out of the 502 drones and 24 missiles hurled at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force shot down 430 drones and 21 missiles, respectively, the air force revealed; however, three missiles and 69 drones hit 14 locations.
The attacks led Poland, a Nato member, to activate its own and allied aircraft to keep safe, Warsaw's armed forces command said.
Four railway workers from Ukraine's central Kirovohrad region ended up in hospital following the attack, the railway said on Telegram.
The emergency service of Ukraine also said that 28 houses were damaged in the strikes on the major rail hub of Znamianka.
Join Our Newsletter
