Russian officials claim that a fire at a nuclear power plant in the western Kursk region has been extinguished after the country’s air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian military drone.
In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the plant reported that the drone exploded on impact, damaging an electrical transformer. However, radiation levels remain within normal limits, and there were no casualties or injuries.
The incident occurred as Ukraine celebrates Independence Day, commemorating its 1991 declaration of sovereignty following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly urged both Russia and Ukraine to exercise extreme caution in military operations near nuclear facilities. Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia’s allegations.
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Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference later in the day.
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, wrote on Telegram:
“On this special day Ukraine’s Independence Day it is particularly important for us to feel the support of our friends. Canada has always stood by us.”
King Charles of the United Kingdom also sent a message to President Zelensky, expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people:
“I continue to admire the resilience of the Ukrainian people,” the letter read. “I remain hopeful that our nations can continue to work closely together to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
Zelensky said the King’s words “truly uplift our people during these challenging times of war.”
To mark the occasion, the UK government announced that Ukrainian flags would be flown over Downing Street. British Defense Secretary John Healey reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Ukraine, pledging increased support:
“On this special day for freedom and democracy, the UK is stepping up its assistance to the Ukrainian people.”
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that British military trainers will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers under Operation Interflex until at least the end of 2026. This program, launched to prepare Ukrainian forces for combat against Russian aggression, will be extended further.
On Saturday, Russia claimed its troops captured two villages in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Despite these gains, Moscow’s forces have advanced slowly and suffered heavy losses. Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, following its full-scale invasion launched in 2022.
This month has seen a flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. On August 15, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for talks widely viewed as a potential breakthrough.
Although both leaders described the meeting as positive, Trump later expressed frustration over the lack of progress toward a peace agreement. He suggested that the U.S. may impose additional economic sanctions on Russia or withdraw from the talks entirely.
“I’m going to make a decision soon,” Trump said on Friday. “It will be a very significant decision whether to impose more sanctions, introduce higher tariffs, do both, or do nothing and leave them to fight their war.”
President Zelensky has repeatedly called for an unconditional ceasefire, a stance echoed by Ukraine’s European allies. Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately obstructing peace efforts, saying Moscow is “doing everything possible” to prevent his proposed summit with Putin.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov countered that Putin is ready to meet once the agenda is fully agreed upon something Lavrov says Ukraine is unwilling to do. “Zelensky says no to everything,” Lavrov added.
