Thick smoke rises over the Russian city of Cheboksary after the reported drone strike (Image: Social media)
A Ukrainian drone has struck a facility that makes parts for the Russian military, according to reports. Unverified footage circulating online appears to show a kamikaze UAV hitting the plant in the city of Cheboksary, hundreds of miles from the Ukraine border, causing a loud explosion.
Flames and plumes of thick smoke can be seen filling the sky in the pictures. The head of the Chuvashia Republic, Oleg Nikolayev, said two drones “fell” on the JSC VNIIR-Progress facility, the Kyiv Independent reports. VNIIR-Progress specialises in the production on electronic warfare kit and has been under Western sanctions.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR LIVE COVERAGE. FOR MORE, HEAD TO WWW.DAILYEXPRESS.CO.UK
2 days ago18:00 Conor Wilson
‘The people of Ukraine deserve a just and lasting peace’
Mr Rutte further reemphasised the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine.
He said: “NATO’s practical and political support to Ukraine continues.
“Our long-term support is not about prolonging the war.
“It is about helping Ukraine defend itself today and preventing any future aggression.
“NATO stands with Ukraine now, and through the challenges ahead.”
2 days ago16:35 Conor Wilson
Russia could attack ‘within five years’
Speaking today at Chatham House, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that there is no longer “east or west”, there is simply NATO.
The remarks came as he discussed the speed and lethality of Russia‘s missile arsenal as he called on member states to increase spending.
He said: “Let’s not kid ourselves, we are all on the eastern flank. There is no east or west, there is just NATO.
“The distance between European capitals is only a few minutes.”
He warned that the impact of a Russian attack would be devastating.
He said: “We are deadly serious that if anyone tries to attack us, the consequences of that attack would be devastating, be it Russia or anyone else.
“This is not only about money and weaponry but mentality. We do realise there is a lot at stake here. The people trying to act against us must understand that.”
Mr Rutte also praised the UK’s Strategic Defence Review which laid out plans to increase in a host of areas crucial to the nation’s defence.
He added: I’m really impressed by the strategic defence review. It’s exactly what we need. The drones, the latest technology, investing in six factories producing ammunition.
“This is at the core of the UK defence review, including spending targets.”
(Image: Getty)
2 days ago15:33 Conor Wilson
NATO Chief expected to make the case for ‘quantum leap’ in defence spending
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to call on the alliance to increase funding for air and missile attack defences by 400%.
He is expected to say at Chatham House in London: “The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence. The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defence plans in full.
“The fact is, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends.”
The UK has committed to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027 and says that it has “an ambition” to increase spending to 3% in the next parliament.
Defence spending levels will be a significant talking point at the NATO summit later this month, with nations expected to agree to an icnrease to 5%, comprising of 3.5% on traditional defence capabilitites and 1.5% on yet to be defined infrastructure.
(Image: Getty)
2 days ago15:20 Conor Wilson
‘War not about the land, but the people’ – Oleksandr Usyk
Speaking to the Daily Express last month, the undisputed boxing heavyweight champion of the world Oleksandr Usyk said that he believes what Ukraine is fighting for is often forgotten.
He said: “I would also like to emphasize one important point that is often overlooked in discussions about the war.
“Ukrainians are not fighting for territories. Ukrainians are fighting for the people who live on those lands. These are our people – our family, our loved ones, our friends.
“How could we possibly hand them over to a country that has been killing them for years?
“We know very well what Russia is doing to our people living in the territories it occupies – and we don’t learn this from Instagram stories.
“It’s not just the atrocities in Bucha; it’s prisons and torture, it’s the kidnapping of tens of thousands of children to Russia – to turn them into ‘Russians.’”
“For us, it’s not about the land, but the people. That’s why Ukrainians came together so strongly at the start of the full-scale war and stopped the aggressor.”
(Image: Getty)
2 days ago14:52 Conor Wilson
Photos of the prisoner exchange emerge
Ukraine‘s Ministry of Defence says that “we must bring home every person who is in captivity. We are doing everything possible to return everybody.”
Our people are home \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6
A group of wounded, severely wounded, and prisoners of war under the age of 25 is returning from captivity.
We must bring home every person who is in captivity. We are doing everything possible to return everybody. pic.twitter.com/RVqPgKB91q
\u2014 Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 9, 2025
2 days ago14:08 Rebecca Perring
Prisoner exchange begins
Volodymyr Zelensky has taken to social media to reveal that the first Ukrainians have returned home from captivity in the latest prisoner exchange with Russia.
He said the returning group were seriously wounded, as well as those under 25.
2 days ago13:05 Rebecca Perring
Putin approves new naval strategy
Vladimir Putin has approved a new naval strategy in a bid to fully restore Russia‘s position as one of the world’s leading maritime powers, a Kremlin aide has claimed.
Nikolai Patrushev, a former KGB officer who served with Putin in St Petersburg, said the new naval strategy was approved by Putin in late May.
Patrushev told the Russian weekly Argumenti i Fakti newspaper: “Russia‘s position as one of the world’s greatest maritime powers is gradually recovering.”
2 days ago12:04 James Knuckey
Huge plumes of smoke seen across major Russian city
Thick black smoke has been seen billowing across the Russian city of Kazan.
Photos and videos shared on social media show huge amounts of smoke filling the sky.
Details of the incident are currently unclear and unconfirmed, with conflicting reports over what is on fire — some suggest it is a paint shop, while other reports claim it is a gunpowder plant.
There had reportedly been an air raid alert in the major city on the Volga River earlier.
2 days ago11:12 James Knuckey
Over 100 Russian armoured vehicles destroyed in audacious attack by Ukraine
The armed forces of Ukraine have destroyed a Russian military supply train carrying heavy armour in another daring drone attack behind enemy lines.
Ukrainian troops managed to conceal the drones in a grain carriage attached to the train, reports suggest.
Ukraine‘s Southern Forces Command claims the attack caused significant damage and equipment loss, including 103 armoured vehicles and 13 tanks.
Full story here.
2 days ago10:02 James Knuckey
Ukrainian special forces launch attack on Russian airfield
Ukraine says its special forces have carried out an attack on a Russian airfield, less than 10 days after Kyiv forces launched an audacious raid on Russia‘s strategic bombers across four different air bases.
Kyiv’s Chief of the General Staff, Major General Andrii Hnatov, said two Russian fighter jets are believed to have been hit during the mission at Savasleyka airfield in Russia‘s Nizhny Novgorod region.
He said, according to initial information, the aircraft thought to have been struck are “probably” a MiG-31 and S0-30/34.