The Kremlin is testing Ukrainian resolve again. A major barrage of missiles and drones hit Kyiv overnight. At least two dead. More casualties likely. This is not a stray strike. This is a coordinated assault. The kind that targets power grids. The kind designed to break morale. But it won't work. Not yet.
Sources in the Kyiv military administration tell me the attack came in waves. Cruise missiles first. Then Shahed drones. Then more missiles. Air defences scrambled. Some got through. The debris fell on residential areas. Two confirmed dead. A woman and her child. That detail is unconfirmed officially but the lobby is buzzing with it.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the nation shortly. Expect anger. Expect defiance. But also expect a plea for more air defence systems. The West is listening. But are they acting? That's the question. The Americans are dragging their feet. The Germans are hesitating. Berlin worries about escalation. Meanwhile, Kyiv burns.
Inside Number 10, the mood is grim. Downing Street sources are tight-lipped. But I hear they are preparing a statement condemning the attacks. More sanctions maybe. More training for Ukrainian troops. But no boots on the ground. That's a red line. For now.
The Tory backbenches are restless. Some want more. More weapons. More money. More support. Others worry about the cost. The war is hurting British wallets. Energy bills are up. Inflation is sticky. The government is squeezed. A Cabinet revolt rumble? Not yet. But I'm watching.
In the Kremlin, this attack serves a purpose. It reminds Ukraine of its vulnerability. It reminds the West of Russia's reach. But it also hardens resolve. Every strike on a hospital, every dead child, makes peace harder. Putin knows this. He doesn't want peace. He wants submission. He won't get it.
The polling data is interesting. British public support for Ukraine remains high. 60% approve of current support levels. But that number is slipping. Slowly. The longer the war drags on, the more patience erodes. The government knows this. They are walking a tightrope. Support Ukraine but don't break the economy. Don't alienate voters.
Back to Kyiv. The barrage is ongoing. Air raid sirens are wailing. People are in shelters. The metro stations are packed. The city is used to this now. A grim routine. But resilience is a muscle. It gets stronger with use. The Ukrainian spirit is not broken. Not yet.
I'm told the next few hours are critical. Will Russia launch a second wave? Are they trying to overwhelm the defences? Possibly. Possibly not. The game is unpredictable. But one thing is certain: this war is not ending soon. The fighting will intensify. The suffering will continue. And the West will have to decide how much it is willing to sacrifice.
Stay tuned. More to come.
