UK pledges £17 million to repair Chernobyl shelter damaged by Russian drone

Britain has committed £17 million to repair the protective enclosure and ventilation infrastructure at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which suffered damage from a Russian drone attack last year. Chancellor John Healey described the pledge as proof of the UK's steadfast support for the Ukrainian people, while Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine until it prevails. The funding will be channelled through a broader reconstruction effort led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in partnership with the Ukrainian government and other G7 contributors.

The announcement came amid strained UK-US relations following recent US sanctions relief for Russian diesel and President Donald Trump's remarks on Ukraine's leadership. During a meeting at No 10, President Zelensky received an honour guard from the Irish Guards and warned that the loss of Elon Musk’s Starlink service could cost lives. The UK also said it would speed up delivery of British lightweight multi-role air-defence missiles to Ukraine.