Mr Starmer arrived in Kyiv with a 100-year partnership agreement with Ukraine to deepen security and cultural ties. Read more at straitstimes.com.

While air raid sirens during visits by foreign leaders have sounded before, it is rare for air defenses to actually have to fight off attacking drones.

Ukraine's air defenses worked to repel a Russian drone assault, with debris reported in five districts of Kyiv.

Gunfire erupts near presidential palace before Starmer and Zelenskyy are due to hold press conference

Russia launched 39 Shahed drones, other simulator drones and four ballistic missiles according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down two missiles and 24 drones. A further 14 drone simulators were lost in location, the statement said.

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to put Ukraine in the "strongest possible position" in a trip to Kyiv where he signed a "landmark" 100-year pact with the war-stricken country. The prime minister's visit on Thursday was at one point marked by loud explosions and air raid sirens as Ukraine's defence systems intercepted a Russian drone attack.

Ukraine’s air defense systems shot down a drone near the presidential palace Thursday during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first visit to the wartorn country. Starmer said the drone threat was “a reminder of what Ukraine is facing every day” and that the war was brought about by “Russian aggression,

Ukraine attacks a Russian explosives factory in Tambov. Just four days before Donald Trump's arrival at the White House, Keir Starmer has shown support for Ukraine on his first visit to Kiev as the British Prime Minister.