Ukraine hits Russian nuclear site as Kyiv marks independence day

A fire has been put out at a nuclear power plant in Russias western Kursk region and air defences have shot down a Ukrainian drone, Russian officials have said.

The drone detonated when it fell and damaged a transformer, but radiation levels were normal and there were no casualties, a post from the plants account on messaging app Telegram said.

The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly called on both Russia and Ukraine to show maximum restraint around nuclear facilities in the war.

Ukraine is celebrating its independence day on Sunday, which marks the countrys declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The UK government has announced that Ukrainian flags will appear above Downing Street on Sunday in recognition of the anniversary.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey has said Britain is "ramping up" its support for Ukraine "on this special day for the freedom and democracy of the Ukrainian people".

The Ministry of Defence has announced that British military experts will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers until at least the end of 2026, with an extension to Operation Interflex.

Operation Interflex is the codename given to the UK Armed Forces training programme, which has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight their countrys Russian invaders.

On Saturday, Russia said its forces in eastern Ukraine seized two villages in the Donetsk region.

Russian forces have been advancing very slowly, and at great cost, in eastern Ukraine and they now control about 20% of Ukraines territory.

A full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched by Russia in 2022.

There has been intense diplomacy over the war this month, with US President Donald Trump meeting his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August.

The summit was billed as a vital step towards peace in Ukraine. However, despite both leaders claiming the talks were a success, Trump has since shown growing frustration publicly over the lack of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump has said he is considering either hitting Russia with further economic sanctions or walking away from peace talks.

"Im going to make a decision as to what we do and its going to be, its going to be a very important decision, and thats whether or not its massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or we do nothing and say its your fight," Trump said on Friday.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for an unconditional ceasefire and his European allies have also insisted on a halt in fighting.

Zelensky has also accused Russia of "doing everything it can" to prevent a meeting with Putin to try to end the war.

Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Putin was ready to meet Ukraines leader "when the agenda is ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all", accusing Zelensky of saying "no to everything".