Storm Shadow missile blueprints gifted to Kyiv as Zelensky hands over 'goldmine of Ukrainian battlefield data'

Day 1,641.

Today we assess a hectic weekend of diplomacy, with Andy Burnham and other world leaders in Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day – his first foreign trip as Britain’s new Prime Minister. He came ready to hand over blueprints for Storm Shadow cruise missiles, not long after President Zelensky discussed fresh supplies of missile interceptors with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Meanwhile, Ukraine has targeted another major Russian online retailer – Ozon – for the first time, and Russia’s ambassador to London Andrei Kelin was withdrawn to Moscow with no explanation.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X

With thanks to John Foreman CBE, Chatham House associate fellow and former UK defence attaché to Russia.

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan and Tom Steed

Social Producer: Aaron Wheeler

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest

CONTENT REFERENCED:

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at [email protected]

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 23, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-23-2026/

Burnham hits back after Kremlin accuses him of prolonging war in Ukraine (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/24/kremlin-attacks-burnham-over-storm-shadows-for-ukraine/

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• British Storm Shadow missile blueprints exchanged for 'goldmine of Ukrainian battlefield data'
• Coalition of the Willing meet in Kyiv in Ukraine’s Independence Day, including Andy Burnham

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