Key points
- Drone strike on Ukrainian nuclear power plant sees safety deteriorate
- Zelenskyy says Ukraine inflicting 'maximum damage' on Russian forces in Kursk
- Kyiv refutes 'insane Russian propaganda' campaign warning of Ukrainian dirty bomb
- Kyiv used Western rockets to destroy Russian bridge, says Moscow
- Putin's forces capture territory in Donetsk - amid Ukrainian strikes on region
- 'We could lose': Russian state TV commentators gloomy over Kursk
- Sean Bell:Humiliated Putin will respond ruthlessly to Ukrainian masterstroke
- Michael Clarke:Pokrovsk in real trouble as Russian troops advance
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Zelenskyy praises UK's 'true leadership' - but warns support has 'slowed down'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the UK's "true leadership" in its support of Ukraine - but warned "the situation has slowed down recently" as it pushes into Russian territory.
In his nightly video address, he stressed it is "crucial that our partners remove barriers that hinder us from weakening Russian positions in the way this war demands".
He promised to "intensify our diplomatic efforts" amid the Kursk incursion, naming the UK, US, and France as key targets.
It comes amid speculation Germany is planning to halve its Ukrainian aid budget next year.
Mr Zelenskyy finished his X post by saying: "Throughout this war, we've seen the UK demonstrate true leadership—in arms, politics, and support for Ukrainian society.
"This has saved thousands of lives, reflecting the strength of the UK."
But he added: "Unfortunately, the situation has slowed down recently.
"We will discuss how to fix this because long-range capabilities are vital for us. The whole world sees how effective Ukrainians are—how our entire nation defends its independence."
In a Sunday Express interview, Defence Secretary John Healey endorsed Ukraine using British weapons inside Russia - as long as it keeps within international law.
UK should be 'proud' Ukraine is using its weapons inside Russia
The UK "should be proud" British weapons are being used by Ukraine – including inside Russia, the defence secretary has said.
John Healey told the Sunday Express that he is happy for weapons to be used over the Russian border, providing international law is maintained.
He told the newspaper: "Let me be very clear: under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia's illegal attacks.
"Providing international law is followed, that does not rule out operations inside Russia."
He added: "We should be proud of Britain's support for Ukraine's struggle.
"We should be proud that British-donated equipment, in the hands of brave Ukrainians on the front line, is helping them to defend their country and push back Putin."
Ukrainian troops crossed into the Russian border region of Kursk on 6 August in a bid to divert the Kremlin's military focus away from the frontline in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Ukrainian forces claimed to have seized the town of Sudzha, six miles from the border.
The UK is one of Ukraine's leading military donors,providing lethal and non-lethal weaponry, including tanks, air defence systems, and long-range precision strike missiles.
Safety 'deteriorating' at Ukrainian nuclear power plant
Safety at Ukraine's occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is deteriorating after a drone strike on the road surrounding it, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday.
Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear facility in Europe and has been occupied by Russian soldiers since the early stages of its war with Ukraine.
Earlier today, the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia (ISAMZ) team was informed that an explosive carried by a drone detonated just outside the plant's protected area.
A visit by the team found no casualties and no damage to nuclear equipment - but the surrounding road and gates were impacted.
The impact site was close to the essential cooling water sprinkler ponds and about 100m from the Dniprovska power line, the only remaining 750-kilovolt line providing a power supply to the plant, the team said.
IAEA Director General Grossi commented: "Yet again we see an escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
"I remain extremely concerned and reiterate my call for maximum restraint from all sides and for strict observance of the five concrete principles established for the protection of the plant."
The ISAMZ team has reported heightened military activity in the area over the past week.
Germany to cut military aid to Ukraine in 2025
Germany plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine in 2025, according to a parliamentary source.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is instead planning to use money generated from frozen Russian assets in Germany to support Ukraine's war against Russia, the source told AFP on Saturday.
It is not planning "any additional aid" to the $4.4bn (£3.4bn) already set aside in next year’s budget, the source added.
But Germany's foreign ministry denied the claims on X on Saturday.
"Rumours that Germany stops its support to #Ukraine are wrong," a post read.
"We stand with Ukraine & will support Ukraine as long as it takes.
"Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression, Germany has supported Ukraine with €34 billion.
"This year, we will provide military aid north of €7 billion."
Germany is Ukraine's second biggest military donor, providing £6.8bn in aid this year.
Chechnya leader threatens to send Tesla to Ukraine – and praises Elon Musk
The leader of Russia's Chechnya region has appeared in a video threatening to send a Telsa into Ukraine – while praising Elon Musk.
Ramzan Kadyrov, who is known for extravagant publicity stunts, posted the video of himself on Telegram.
It shows him driving a Tesla Cybertruck, seemingly with a machine gun strapped to the roof.
He says he will send the vehicle into the Ukrainian conflict zone, before praising the company's chief executive Elon Musk.
Mr Kadyrov describes Musk as the "strongest genius of modern times", inviting him to Chechnya.
"We... await your future products that will help us finish the special military operation," referring to the Kremlin’s term for the Ukraine war.
Italian journalists fly home for own safety after Moscow angered by Kursk report
Two Italian journalists whoangered Moscow with a TV report from Ukrainian-controlled parts of Kursk will return to Italy for their own safety, according to Italian state broadcasterRAI.
Russia's foreign ministry summoned Italy's ambassador yesterday over what it called an "illegal border crossing" by the RAI crew.
The interior ministry was planning to open criminal cases against the two journalists, posted Baza, a Telegram channel close to Russian law enforcement.
"The company decided to make journalist Stefania Battistiniand cameraman Simone Traini return temporarily to Italy, solelyto ensure personal safety and security," RAI said.
"Journalism is not a crime. The Moscow authorities' possibility of putting Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini on trial is unacceptable. Reporting is not done with prior authorisations," RAI union Usigrai and Italy's national press union FNSI said in a joint statement.
A four-person RAI crew, working under Ukrainian militaryescort, produced the first foreign media report from thewar-damaged Russian town of Sudzha last week.
Italy's foreign ministry said its ambassador Cecilia Piccioni had explained to the Russian authorities that RAI and its news teams acted independently and autonomously.
The two reporters are scheduled to fly back to the northernItalian city of Milan tomorrow.
Watch: Glide bomb threat grows in Sumy since Kursk offensive
Security and defence correspondent Deborah Haynes was at the site of a missile strike in Sumy city this morning.
Residents described being awoken by a huge explosion.
One said the blinds across her window saved her from glass shattering as a result of the blast.
Watch more below...
US blocks UK from greenlighting Storm Shadow attacks on Russia
Washington appears to be effectively blocking the UK from permitting Kyiv to fire Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia, The Times reports.
The UK has been waiting for US approval for over a month, a government source said.
The British government wants Ukraine to use the weapons as they wish, but consensus is required between the US, France and another unnamed NATO country.
A government source stressed to The Times that the UK was not blaming the US for any delay.
Britain was the first country to publicly supply Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles.
While it has permitted the use of British tanks and other weapons on Russian soil, restrictions remain on the missiles.
A British source previously said Ukrainian troops are thought to have used British Challenger 2 tanks inside Kursk.
Ukrainian MP calls on West to untie army's hands in Russia
Ukraine's success in Kursk has shown the West it does not need to take an incremental approach to Russia, says Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko.
Kyiv's allies need to approve the use of Western weapons to strike deep inside its territory, he said.
He added the incremental style of Western support has only drawn out the war.
"Watch the Russian reaction. For more than one week, for the first time since the Second World War, Russian territory is occupied. And what is the reaction? Just some mumbling from Putin," said Mr Goncharenko.
"I hope that this will help us to convince our allies that Ukraine is capable of big successes and to win this war, so finally our hands will be untied," he said, adding Ukraine needs permission to use the UK's Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russian territory.
"I think this incremental style is very, very bad."
He continued: "Russia only understands one language, the language of force, and Ukraine has shown it now."
Kyiv refutes 'insane Russian propaganda' campaign warning of Ukrainian dirty bomb
Kyiv has dismissed "insane Russian propaganda" alleging that Ukraine plans to carry out nuclear attacks.
Moscow has accused Ukraine - without providing any evidence - of gearing up to attack Kursk nuclear power plant and developing a "dirty bomb"; an explosive used to scatter radioactive waste.
The Russian defence ministry said Ukraine would blame Moscow and that it would respond harshly in the event of such an attack.
The allegations were "dangerous lies" and Ukraine officially denies them, said Ukrainian foreign office spokespersonHeorhii Tykhyi.
"We are witnessing another surge of insane Russian propaganda."
He continued: "Ukraine has neither the intention nor the ability to carry out any such actions. Russia must stop spreading dangerous lies.
"Ukraine has always been and remains a loyal member of the NPT (Non-proliferation treaty).
"We do not have any 'dirty bombs' and do not plan to acquire them."
Vladimir Putin made similar allegations shortly before launching the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Then, in March the same year, Moscow alleged Ukraine was going to use a dirty bomb. Neither claims were borne out.
Russia also alleged a Ukrainiandrone dropped an explosive charge on a road outside the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine this morning.
Its Russian management posted an image to Telegram showing several men in IAEA jackets surrounding a dent in the road the width and depth of a pothole.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused eachother of close calls with drones and rockets at the power plant since Russia occupied it.
