Ukraine-Russia war latest: Burnham compares Kyiv’s battle with Moscow to Britain’s fight with Nazi Germany

Andy Burnham is set to give Ukraine blueprints for the British Storm Shadow long-range missile during his Independence Day visit.

The prime minister arrived in Kyiv this morning, just hours after at least three people were killed in a Russian attack on the outskirts of Kharkiv.

It is the first overseas visit for the leader, more than a month after entering Downing Street, and it comes as Kyiv and Moscow continued to exchange devastating attacks overnight.

He is set to announce that Britain has agreed to allow European missile manufacturer ⁠MBDA to release classified information on UK-made ​components ⁠used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile, according to his office.

"Ukraine's security is our security," ‌Burnham said in a statement, adding that Britain would stand by Ukraine "for as long as it takes".

In Kharkiv, emergency services ‌have rescued ‌and evacuated eight ⁠people, some of whom were injured, governor Oleh Syniehubov said, adding the search was ‌ongoing to ​identify ‌any ⁠other possible ⁠casualties.

Meanwhile, two people were killed and two more injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian border region of Belgorod, local authorities said.

Ukraine also hit another online retailer, setting fire to Ozon's logistics hub in Makhachkala in the Russian republic of Dagestan.

Andy Burnham laid a wreath and flowers at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers at the National Military Cemetery, as part of events marking the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

During the ceremony, the PM spoke to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who told him that “we are in a war period” and warned of Ukraine’s difficulties repelling Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Later, he is expected to chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, set up by the UK and France to help Ukraine under his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.

Ukraine is not ready “to simply surrender” to Russia at any price, Volodymyr Zelensky said in a defiant speech marking Independence Day ⁠celebrations.

Standing in a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt in front of the golden-domed St Michael's monastery ⁠in Kyiv where burned-out Russian tanks are on show, the president reiterated that his country will not surrender territory.

He said Russia's demand - repeatedly rejected by Ukraine - that ​Kyiv cede ⁠the remaining part of the eastern ‌Donbas area that is not in Russian hands after 4-1/2 years of war would not be enough to stop the war.