On Ukraine’s Independence Day, Ukraine launched a wave of drone strikes on Russia, triggering a fire at a Russian nuclear power plant. The deadly war continues along 1,250 mile frontline with missiles, drones and artillery attacks, as recent peace push shows little sign of progress.
The drone attack at one of Russia’s biggest nuclear power plants sparked a blaze at Ust-Luga fuel export terminal, according to Russian officials. The UN nuclear watchdog said there was no nuclear contamination.
Ukrainians celebrated Independency Day on 24th August 2025, commemorating the country’s formal break from the Soviet Union on this day in 1991. The celebrations in Kyiv this year were “low key” as “large gatherings of people is still considered a security risk”. A day earlier, President Zelenskyy and other officials had participated in National Flag Day celebrations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that a meeting with Russian President Putin remained “the most effective way forward” as the two sides exchanged prisoners and his country celebrated Independence Day against a backdrop of fading hopes from recent peace efforts.
Canadian PM Mark Carney and US envoy Keith Kellogg were among those present in Kviy to show support for Ukraine on its Independence Day amid the ongoing war. Carney said: “True peace and security requires security guarantees for Ukraine”. He did not rule out the possibility of Canadian troops on ground.
On 05 December 1994, Ukraine had surrendered a vast array of Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for “security guarantees” from the US, UK, France, Russia and China. Ukraine has been seeking NATO-like guarantees. Trump has said no to US boots on the ground, although he has not ruled out providing air support.
Disclaimer: The article has references to open sources including France 24, and Euacitv.