UK summons Russian ambassador after British Council building hit in Kyiv

The Russian ambassador to the UK has been summoned by the Foreign Office following attacks on Kyiv overnight.

It comes after the British Council building in the Ukrainian capital suffered major damage in Russian strikes.

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Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed the government had summoned Andrey Kelin in response.

Mr Kelin was seen arriving at the Foreign Office building in Whitehall today.

Mr Lammy posted on X: "Putin's strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv.

"We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop."

The British Council's chief executive, Scott McDonald, said their guard for the building was injured but "stable".

"At the insistence of my amazing colleagues, we will continue operations in Ukraine today wherever possible," he said.

"Their resilience is awe-inspiring, and I am deeply thankful they are all safe."

Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer said: "My thoughts are with all those affected by the senseless Russian strikes on Kyiv, which have damaged the British Council building.

"Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. This bloodshed must end."

The British Council is an arms-length body from the government, and says its mission is to "support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide".

It facilitates schemes like working, living and learning abroad for British people.

Most of its funding comes from the fees it charges people for its services, but it does also get funding from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

As well as the attack on the British Council building, Russia also targeted the EU delegation building in the Ukrainian capital overnight.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, told reporters two missiles hit within 50 metres of the site in 20 seconds.

And Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said the bloc was also summoning Russia's ambassador following the strike.

"No diplomatic mission should ever be a target," she said.

The attacks came as part of wider strikes on Kyiv, which destroyed homes and buildings and killed at least 15 people and injured 38, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russia has said it targeted military sites and air bases in its large overnight strike on Ukraine - and that it is still interested in negotiations to meet its aims.

"The special military operation continues," he said, referring to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which it launched in February 2022.

"You see that strikes on Russian infrastructure facilities are also continuing, and often Russian civilian infrastructure is targeted by the Kyiv regime."

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He added: "At the same time, Russia will maintain its interest in continuing the negotiation process in order to achieve the goals we face through political and diplomatic means."

Russia's latest attack on Ukraine has been widely condemned, with Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul saying there must be "consequences".

"Last night we once again experienced in a terrible way how Russia attacked and bombed Kyiv, civilians died, children died, and the European Union delegation was also attacked," he told reporters.

"And that cannot remain without consequences."

Mr Wadephul added that Germany wanted to show it was considering a further response and that any action would be taken jointly by the EU.