BBCRussia’s ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office, following Moscow’s major strikes on Kyiv overnight.
At least 18 people, including four children, were killed in a wave of attacks on Ukraine’s capital, according to Ukrainian officials. The offices of the British Council were also “severely damaged,” the organisation said.
Andrei Kelin is thought to have met Foreign Office officials – not ministers – when he attended on Thursday afternoon.
In a post on X, Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed Mr Kelin had been summoned, and said that “the killing and destruction must stop”.
The British Council which works to promote cultural relationships and educational opportunities between the UK and other countries, said a worker at its office was injured in the attack and is in a stable condition in hospital.
In a statement it said: “Following last night’s attack on Kyiv, our British Council office has been severely damaged and will be closed to visitors until further notice.
“While there may be some delays in our responses, our work with our Ukrainian partners in education and culture continues.”
Lammy condemned the attack and said: “Putin strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU delegation in Kyiv.”
ReutersThe Ukrainian military said Russia’s attack involved almost 600 drones and more than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles, marking its first combined attack on the Ukrainian capital in weeks.
Alongside the 17 killed and damage to the British Council building, dozens more were injured and a five-storey residential building was destroyed.
The EU will also summon its Russian envoy over Moscow’s strikes on Kyiv following the air strike on its office. No one was hurt in this attack.
The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said the attack showed Russia had made a “deliberate choice to escalate and mock the peace efforts”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused Russia of “sabotaging hopes of peace” with its “senseless” attacks.