Sir Keir Starmer has launched a livid outburst towards Vladimir Putin, accusing the Russian president of “sabotaging hopes of peace” after a British Council constructing was caught in Kyiv. Russia hit the constructing in its newest aerial onslaught of the Ukrainian capital.
The ferocious bombardment has killed a minimum of 15 folks, together with 4 youngsters. The Prime Minsiter condemned final night time’s “senseless” assault on Kyiv and accused Putin of “killing children and civilians”. And French President Emmanuel Macron branded it “terror and barbarism”.
Missiles and drones rained down throughout 20 districts of the capital metropolis, destroying buildings and forcing residents to hunt shelter in underground metro stations. The British Council mentioned its workplaces have been “severely damaged” in a brief assertion, including that they are going to be closed “until further notice”.
They wrote: “Following last night’s attack on Kyiv, our British Council office has been severely damaged and will be closed to visitors until further notice. While there may be some delays in our responses, our work with our Ukrainian partners in education and culture continues.”
The British Council is the UK’s worldwide organisation for cultural relations and academic alternatives. It operates in over 100 nations to construct belief, understanding, and connections between folks worldwide and the UK.
Founded in 1934 and included by Royal Charter in 1940, the organisation is impartial however works carefully with the UK authorities.
A Telegram channel linked to hardline Russian MP Andrey Lugovoy – accused of poisoning Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium in London – celebrated the assault on the British Council. Without offering proof, the channel Zametki Volanda claimed {that a} dozen British “gentlemen” have been contained in the constructing on the time.
It additionally alleges the British Council is a device of the UK authorities. The channel wrote: “Its activities are aimed at undermining the cultural and political sovereignty of countries that London considers its ‘zones of interest’. An organisation that disguises itself as a ‘cultural centre’ but actually conducts subversive work cannot expect immunity during wartime.”
The British Council constructing is positioned very near the EU delegation workplaces, which additionally have been focused. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen mentioned she was “outraged” by the brazen assault.
“Last night’s attack struck in close proximity of the diplomatic mission, the representation of our union, two missiles hit in a distance of 50 metres of the delegation within 20 seconds,” she mentioned in a press release.
She added: “And this is another grim reminder of what is at stake. It shows that the Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorise Ukraine, blindly killing civilians, men, women and children, and even targeting the European Union.”
The EU official mentioned Brussels was getting ready “a 19th package of hard, biting sanctions”, in addition to “advancing the work on the Russian frozen assets to contribute to Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2101276/keir-starmer-russia-british-council-attack-kyiv