U.K., EU summon Russian ambassadors over attacks in Ukraine

The European Union and United Kingdom summoned their Russian ambassadors after a strike that damaged the British Council office. Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA

Aug. 28 (UPI) — The United Kingdom and the European Union summoned Russian ambassadors in response to Russia’s Thursday attack on Kyiv.

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that the British government summoned Russian Ambassador to the U.K. Andrei Kelin to the U.K. Foreign Office to discuss the attack, which killed 17 people, including four children. The British Council offices were severely damaged, BBC reported.

“Putin’s strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv. We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop,” Lammy said on X.

A guard at the British Council was injured in the attack. The British Council works to promote cultural relationships and education between the U.K. and other countries.

“Following last night’s attack on Kyiv, our British Council office has been severely damaged and will be closed to visitors until further notice,” the Council said on X. “While there may be some delays in our responses, our work with our Ukrainian partners in education and culture continues.”

Following last night’s attack on Kyiv, our office has been severely damaged and is closed to visitors until further notice. Sadly, one of our guards was injured and is now in hospital. While responses may be delayed, our work with partners in education and culture continues. pic.twitter.com/Zth8Uo0byw— British Council (@uaBritish) August 28, 2025

The European Union’s delegation in Kyiv was also severely damaged in the attack.

“No diplomatic mission should ever be a target,” High Representative Kaja Kallas said on X. She announced she was summoning the Russian envoy in Brussels.

Russia’s chargé d’affaires to the EU is Karen Malayan. The meeting with Kallas is expected to happen Thursday, euronews reported.

“While the world seeks a path to peace, Russia responds with missiles,” Kallas said. “The overnight attack on Kyiv shows a deliberate choice to escalate and mock the peace efforts. Russia must stop the killing and negotiate.”

Two Russian missiles hit within 54 yards of the EU offices within about 20 seconds. The delegation is still “fully operational” and “open,” a spokesperson told Euro News.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 created protection for diplomatic and consular premises against intrusion or damage, but during war, it’s common for these buildings to suffer damage.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said she was “outraged” by the attack and confirmed that no member of the delegation had been harmed.

“This is another grim reminder of what is at stake,” she said in a recorded statement on X. “It shows that the Kremlin will stop at nothing to terrorize Ukraine, blindly killing civilians — men, women and children — and even targeting the European Union.”

She promised that the E.U. will add a new package of “hard biting” sanctions soon.