Keir Starmer launches furious 4-word outburst at Putin after British Council attack

Sir Keir Starmer has launched a furious outburst against Vladimir Putin, accusing the Russian president of "sabotaging hopes of peace" after a British Council building was stuck in Kyiv. Russia hit the building in its latest aerial onslaught of the Ukrainian capital.

The ferocious bombardment has killed at least 15 people, including four children. The Prime Minsiter condemned last night's "senseless" attack 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 across 20 districts of the capital city, destroying buildings and forcing citizens to seek shelter in underground metro stations. The British Council said its offices have been "severely damaged" in a short statement, adding that they will 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 international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It operates in over 100 countries to build trust, understanding, and connections between people worldwide and the UK.

Founded in 1934 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1940, the organisation is independent but works closely with the UK government.

A Telegram channel linked to hardline Russian MP Andrey Lugovoy - accused of poisoning Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium in London - celebrated the attack on the British Council. Without providing evidence, the channel Zametki Volanda claimed that a dozen British “gentlemen” were inside the building at the time.

It also alleges the British Council is a tool of the UK government. 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 building is located very close to the EU delegation offices, which also were targeted. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was “outraged” by the brazen attack.

"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 said in a statement.

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 said Brussels was preparing "a 19th package of hard, biting sanctions", as well as "advancing the work on the Russian frozen assets to contribute to Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction."