European Leaders Join Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day Celebrations as Russian War Continues

European leaders gathered in Kyiv on Monday, August 24, to mark Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day as Russia’s war against the country continues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed European leaders, including European Council President António Costa, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991, with the decision later receiving overwhelming support in a nationwide referendum.

The celebrations came amid continued fighting, with little significant movement along the front line in recent months and no major breakthrough in more than a year of U.S.-led peace efforts. Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified long-range drone and missile attacks, causing civilian deaths and damaging critical infrastructure.

European leaders reaffirm support for Ukraine

Burnham, who recently became Britain’s prime minister, travelled to Kyiv on his first foreign trip since taking office. He joined nearly a dozen European leaders and other officials for events marking Ukraine’s independence.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the presence of European leaders demonstrated the importance of international support for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also said Russia’s war was about more than Ukraine, arguing that the conflict had implications for the security of Europe as a whole.

The British prime minister was expected to co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries supporting Ukraine. French and German leaders were expected to participate virtually.

Britain backs production of long-range missiles

The visiting leaders brought new pledges of military and financial assistance.

Burnham was expected to announce that Britain would allow defence company MBDA to share classified information concerning British components used in the SCALP long-range missile. The move could help France and Ukraine advance plans to manufacture the weapon in Ukraine.

SCALP is the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow missile, with both systems using French and British technology.

Burnham described Ukraine as a key defender of European security and said its allies needed to maintain pressure on Moscow.

Russia strongly criticised the plan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Britain of becoming directly involved in the war on Ukraine’s side.

Ukraine displays its drone capabilities

Ukraine also showcased domestically produced weapons and drones during an Independence Day parade in Kyiv.

Ukrainian drone technology has developed rapidly, allowing Kyiv to strike Russian targets deep inside Russia, in some cases up to about 2,000 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted Russia’s oil facilities, contributing to fuel shortages, while both sides have increasingly used long-range attacks to damage military supplies, infrastructure and economic activity.

Ukraine is also facing shortages of U.S.-made Patriot missile interceptors, which are crucial for defending against Russian ballistic missiles. Kyiv is seeking additional interceptors ahead of winter, when Russia traditionally intensifies attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian strikes kill three teenagers in Russia

Three teenagers were reportedly killed and six children wounded in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar during Ukrainian drone attacks, according to Russian officials.

Several warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Ozon were reportedly targeted, with a major fire breaking out at a logistics facility near Krasnodar.

Ukraine’s General Staff also said its forces struck a Russian defence company in the Rostov region that produces fuel for rockets and missiles.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that its air defences intercepted and destroyed 351 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, Crimea and the Black and Azov seas.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continued attacks on Ukrainian ports and infrastructure.

A large Russian missile and drone attack also struck Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, damaging food-storage facilities and energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian authorities. Eighteen people, including two children, were reportedly injured in a separate Russian drone strike on Chernihiv.

The claims made by both sides could not be independently verified.