'We will respond,' Zelenskyy says after 10 killed in overnight Russian attack — Russia warns UK of 'consequences' over reports Ukraine using British drones

19 August 2026 | Kyiv, Moscow, London, Berlin — Updated 12:30 GMT

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the overnight Russian attack, saying Ukraine "will definitely respond" by strikes on Russia. "As of now, 10 people have been reported killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Many people have been injured and are receiving all necessary medical care," he said.

Russian missile attacks on Tuesday killed 10 people and injured eight in a village in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv oblast, the regional governor said. The strike on the village of Pechenihy damaged 10 private buildings, a cafe, a post office, a shop and at least seven cars.

Moscow has threatened the UK with "consequences" after reports that British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia's mainland for the first time. Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep-strike campaign, the Sunday Times reported.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded to Russia's warnings, saying: "This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100% against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin. We are not fair weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine's hour of need, and that won't change."

Estonia's foreign minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the attacks, saying: "Once again, Russia has deliberately targeted innocent Ukrainian civilians. Ten lives cut short in an attack that served only one purpose: terror."

Welcome to the latest world headlines — where drone warfare, deep strikes, and the escalating air war collide across Ukraine and Russia.

10 Killed in Overnight Russian Attack on Kharkiv Village, Zelenskyy Vows Response

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the overnight Russian attack, saying Ukraine "will definitely respond" by strikes on Russia.

"As of now, 10 people have been reported killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Many people have been injured and are receiving all necessary medical care. First responders have already extinguished the fire, and all emergency and response services continue working at the site. All the circumstances of this tragedy are being established," he said.

"We will definitely respond to this Russian strike. And it is equally important that our partners also complement our just kinetic responses with their own actions to put pressure on Russia and support Ukraine."

Russian missile attacks on Tuesday killed 10 people and injured eight in a village in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv oblast, the regional governor said. The strike on the village of Pechenihy damaged 10 private buildings, a cafe, a post office, a shop and at least seven cars, Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.

Estonia Condemns 'Terror' Attack as Russia Targets Civilians

Estonia's foreign minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine, calling them deliberate acts of terror against civilians.

Tsahkna's statement echoed growing international outrage over Russia's continued targeting of civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Ukraine. The attack on Pechenihy, which damaged homes, a café, a post office, a shop and cars, is part of a pattern of Russian strikes that have killed hundreds of civilians in recent months.

Ukraine Expands Deep-Strike Capabilities as Drone Attacks Intensify

A rapid development of largely homegrown technologies, including the Flamingo cruise missile and the FP-1 long-range fixed-wing drone from Fire Point, have allowed Ukraine to bomb warehouses, oil refineries, ports and military facilities up to 1,500 miles (2,400km) from its border.

Ukraine can now almost match the deep-strike capability that Russia has had since the beginning of the war using large drones and cruise missiles, though it does not possess the high-speed ballistic missiles that Moscow frequently uses.

Ukraine launched three times as many such strikes in July as it did in January, according to data from Acled, an independent conflict monitor.

Repeatedly hitting deep into Russia has forced Moscow to stretch air defences over a larger area. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday that it had shot down 598 Ukrainian drones over 19 Russian regions as well as the Black Sea, the Azov Sea and the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.

At the same time, both sides' air defences are stretched to the point of near exhaustion, leading to a rise in civilian casualties and worries that the impact of the conflict beyond the immediate frontlines will only increase into the winter.

Ukrainian Man Jailed in Germany Over Arson Attack Plot Ordered by Russia

A Ukrainian man has been sentenced to jail in Germany after he was found guilty of plotting arson attacks on behalf of Russia, German news agency dpa reported.

The case involved three men arrested in Cologne, Konstanz and the Swiss canton of Thurgau last year and accused of planning a plot to target a Ukrainian parcel delivery company.

The prosecutors alleged the man was involved in a plan to send explosives meant to ignite in Germany and Ukraine and cause "as much damage as possible," dpa said.

A 30-year-old man was jailed for 15 months, local German media reported today. However, the time he has already spent in pre-trial detention counted towards his sentence and he will now be released, AFP added.

The case drew parallels with a 2024 incident involving a DHL logistics centre at the Leipzig airport. Two other defendants were acquitted.

Germany remains on high alert for sabotage attempts after another Leipzig airport incident earlier this month, involving a drone carrying explosives.

Germany Opens New Centre for Drone Security to Fight 'Shadow War of the 21st Century'

Meanwhile, the German interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, opened a new centre for drone security in Cochstedt in Saxony-Anhalt.

Dobrindt said the new centre will form a central part of Germany's response to the emerging hybrid threat, as he said the country is often targeted with espionage, sabotage, destabilisation efforts, and drone attacks for its central role in upholding Europe's stability and supporting Ukraine.

"What we are experiencing today is the shadow war of the 21st century," he warned, adding "whoever targets Germany, hits all of Europe."

The new Cochstedt centre will be "a key component of the security architecture" to fight back against the threats posed by drones, he said.

The opening comes two weeks after a drone incident at the Leipzig airport, which was linked to "foreign powers," widely seen as a reference to Russia.

Russia Warns UK of 'Consequences' Over Reports Ukraine Using British Drones

Moscow has threatened the UK with "consequences" after reports that British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia's mainland for the first time.

Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep-strike campaign, the Sunday Times reported.

Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia this year, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones increasingly targeting military industries and energy facilities.

It has also targeted giant depots for Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, burning billions of pounds' worth of merchandise and bringing the war home to the Russian public more than four years into Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's embassy to the UK said in a statement on Monday that the reports "confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis" and accused Britain of "seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy".

"London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer," it said. "The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kyiv's terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay."

PM Burnham: UK's Position on Drones 'Won't Change' Despite Russia's Threats

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded to Russia's warnings against London after reports of Ukraine using British-made drones to strike Russian territory.

Speaking to reporters, Burnham said:

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson earlier said: "Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin's illegal invasion. Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies."

Ukraine's strategy of long-range drone strikes is thought to be intended to cut Moscow's revenue for the war and make Russian citizens feel the impact of the invasion.

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