Keir Starmer makes farewell trip to Kyiv after more die in Russian drone strikes

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 07:47, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 07:57, 16 July 2026 Keir Starmer has arrived in Kyiv for a farewell visit today after more deaths in Russian drone strikes. The PM is in the Ukraine capital to meet Volodymyr Zelensky just days before he is due to hand over to Andy Burnham. Sir Keir travelled into the country via an overnight train and was met by Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis and Directorate General for State Protocol Olena Yalova. The city's mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that two ​people had died and six others, including ​a 16-year-old teenager, had been injured in overnight ⁠attacks. Keir Starmer is in the Ukraine capital to meet Volodymyr Zelensky just days before he is due to hand over to Andy Burnham The visit comes after more deaths in the Ukraine capital due to Russian drone strikes The Russian defence ministry claimed it attacked Ukrainian military sites. Sir Keir is reassuring Mr Zelensky that the UK's 'cast-iron' support will 'always endure' ahead of the switch in No10. The trip comes after Sir Keir's hopes of being PM when England lift the World Cup were dashed, with the team falling to defeat at the hands of Argentina last night.  Kyiv is facing its own political turmoil after Mr Zelensky sacked his defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Kyiv is facing its own political turmoil after Mr Zelensky (pictured) sacked his defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov