And, on that note, we will be closing the blog for today.

• German state prosecutors including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention have taken over an investigation into a drone carrying explosives that was found at Leipzig airport in vicinity of Ukrainian cargo planes (14:02).

• According to local media, the drone was packed with highly explosive substances, but failed to ignite properly after a detonated broke off the rest of the machine (16:11).

• German interior minister will chair an emergency meeting this evening, bringing together federal and state authorities looking into the incident (15:22, 15:37, 17:04).

• A press briefing with further updates is expected around 7.30pm local time (6.30pm UK).

• The incident sparked calls for investigation into possible links with Russia given its history of attempted sabotage in Europe, denied by Moscow (16:35, 17:22).

• Leipzig serves as a maintenance base for six Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes (16:58) and a large hub for military help for Ukraine (11:02).

• In a separate incident, a DHL transport plane collided with another unidentified object near the same airport, with minor damage to the machine.

In other news,

• At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured after another horrific night of Russian attacks on Kyiv, as Ukraine repeated its calls to help protect Ukrainian skies from ballistic missiles (9:46, 17:26).

• Austria and Slovakia set new all-time high temperature records as large parts of central and eastern Europe are gripped by another extreme heatwave (17:18).

If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.

I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.

As reported earlier (9:46), at least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured in another round of deadly Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for more air defence weapons, saying ballistic missile interceptors “could have saved the lives of those killed today”.

For months, Ukraine has been warning about shortages after Donald Trump backtracked on his promise to let Ukraine manufacture missiles locally.

And in response to the attack, the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen said “Russia must pay” (10:36) – but will it?

Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian’s Russia affairs correspondent, Pjotr Sauer.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, suggested Russia was behind the drone incident at Leipzig airport overnight, DPA International reported.

“I hope the German authorities establish the facts. But who else could it have been besides Russia?” he told broadcaster Welt TV.

In other news, Slovakia has recorded a provisional all-time high temperature record of 41.4C in the village of Kamenica nad Hronom.

Similarly, Austria also set an all-time record for the second day running, with 41.2C reported in the east of the country, GeoSphere Austria said in a statement quoted by AFP.

Meanwhile, ⁠Slovenia’s Krsko ⁠nuclear ⁠plant will reduce ​output to ⁠80% due to ⁠low ​water ‌levels ‌and ‌high temperatures in the Sava River and ‌will proceed with ​further cuts if needed, ⁠it ​said in ​a ​statement quoted by Reuters.

Saxony state interior minister Armin Schuster said the events at Leipzig airport constituted “a very serious security incident,” with state and federal authorities working together to establish the facts.

He said he was in constant contact with the federal interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, who will chair this evening’s emergency meeting on the incident.

There is some useful context from the German news agency DPA on why the Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes are positioned in Leipzig.

This is from DPA International:

“Leipzig/Halle Airport has served as a maintenance base for Ukrainian cargo carrier Antonov since 2006.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Antonov relocated its fleet to the eastern German airport, where six aircraft are now based. A new maintenance hangar is due to open in 2027.”

in Berlin

Konstantin von Notz, the opposition Green party’s spokesperson on intelligence oversight, called for an investigation to be conducted with the utmost urgency and hinted at possible Russian involvement.

“Should it transpire that a state is behind this action, this would constitute not merely terrorism but state terrorism directed against the federal republic of Germany and its citizens,” he told Der Spiegel.

German media NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung carried a report saying that the drone found at Leipzig airport was packed with highly explosive substances, with reported traces of PETN and semtex.

This was also separately reported by local newspaper Leipziger Volkszeitung.

Citing an internal investigation memo, the three media outlets reported that the detonator failed to ignite after breaking off from the rest of the drone.

German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt is reportedly interrupting his holidays in Italy and flying back to Berlin to chair an emergency meeting on the Leipzig airport incident this evening, Bild reported.

The newspaper said that he also briefed the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on the state of investigation into the incident.

The Saxony region’s interior minister Armin Schuster will also attend the meeting.

German state prosecutors including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention have taken over the investigation into the Leipzig incident, confirming the presence of an “explosive” device on one of the two drones involved.

They said that “a drone carrying an unknown explosive device” was discovered by an airport employee in the cargo zone, fitting the media describing of a location near a Ukrainian cargo plane. It was dealt with using a bomb disposal robot.

A second “unidentified flying object” collided with a DHL plane, with “minor damage” confirmed upon landing in Hanover, they confirmed.

“There is no danger to life or health of passengers or airport staff. Passenger air traffic is not affected,” they stressed.

They added “no further information can be provided at this matter due to the ongoing investigation.”

Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron condemned the overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv, calling out Moscow’s “policy of terror,” which he said was “unacceptable.”

“In Kyiv and its region, Russia has once again chosen to target civilians. This policy of terror, carried out with missiles and drones, is unacceptable.

Each new attack reinforces an obvious truth: Russia must pay the price for its aggression and answer for its crimes.

Alongside Ukraine, we will not yield to either fatigue or intimidation. The European Union and its partners will continue to increase the pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions, while strengthening military support for Ukraine so that it can defend itself and protect its population.”

A Nato official told the Guardian:

“We are aware of the incident, which the German authorities continue to investigate.”

But, also contacted by the Guardian, most German authorities still point to their holding statements from earlier, so it may be a while before we get any more details.

Nato has confirmed to the German press agency DPA that a drone was seen near a Ukrainian aircraft at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle airport, the German press agency DPA reported.

The confirmation comes after flight operations were briefly suspended overnight following a security incident (11:02).

Separately, Bild reported that early tests appeared to confirm the drone was carrying explosive materials that failed to ignite due to a defective detonator.

Lithuanian foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys called Russia “a terrorist state” when responding to the latest round of attacks on Kyiv.

“At least 17 people were killed and 44 injured. Pure terror. Ukraine needs more air defence – now. Every intercepted missile means lives saved. The only language the Kremlin understands is strength.

The world must increase pressure on Russia and force it to the negotiating table.”

Overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv also struck Epicentr, Ukraine’s largest home improvement and DIY retail chain.

Two key logistics facilities and a factory were destroyed within minutes during the attacks, Reuters reported.

It was too early to assess the full scale of the damage, it said.

“This is a deliberate attack on Ukrainian manufacturing, logistics, jobs and the country’s ability to recover,” Epicentr said in a statement.

Iryna Chechotkina, co-founder of leading online retailer Rozetka, said she watched overnight as the work of her entire life went ⁠up in flames after strikes by three ballistic missiles.

Overnight, “an unidentified flying object” disrupted operations at Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany, with local media speculating over the severity of the incident.

A brief police statement offered no details on the “object,” but stated that “a bomb disposal robot was deployed as part of the investigation.” The south runway remained closed this morning.

But Süddeutsche Zeitung reported the object may have been“a drone with a detonator,” targeting “a Ukrainian transport plane” at the airport. “Police are not ruling out a deliberate act of sabotage,” it said.

Meanwhile, German tabloid Bild reported that the device containing “an unknown substance” was found “in close proximity to a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane.”

There is no reported danger to the public.

Separately, a DHL transport plane reportedly collided with another unidentified object near the airport, according to Reuters. It later safely landed in Hanover with “minor damage,” SZ said. There are conflicting reports on the timing of this incident.

SZ noted that Leipzig is considered a key hub for arm deliveries to Ukraine. In 2024, an incendiary device plot due to be sent by air to the UK was discovered at the airport as part of a suspected Russian sabotage plan. Russia has denied any link.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned “horrible atrocities” by Russia after another night of attacks on Kyiv, which killed at least 17 people.

“Once again we wake up to the news of horrible atrocities by Russia through its aerial attacks on Ukraine. Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused.”

She said the commission was planning to “use the proceeds from the immobilised Russian assets to make sure it does.”

“We are making a further €1.4bn of them available to Ukraine. This will support Ukraine’s continued resistance against Russia’s illegal war.”

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha responded to the latest overnight attacks on Kyiv, saying that “Russian strikes take no summer vacation.”

“Support for Ukraine and pressure on the aggressor must not pause either. Every interceptor counts,” he said.

Sybiha continued:

“They are life-saving tools, and I urge all partners to expedite all relevant decisions. Russia’s ability to produce these tools of ballistic terror must be disrupted. Additional, tough sanctions are critical and urgent.”

At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured after another horrific night of Russian attacks on Kyiv, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying that “ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today”.

“It is very important for partners to realise that delays in their deliveries or failure to provide anti-ballistic measures lead to such terrible casualties and destruction,” he said on social media.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko earlier warned that “there may still be people under the rubble”.

Ukraine has for months been warning about its shortages of anti-ballistic measures, urging allies to increase their deliveries after the US president, Donald Trump, backtracked on his promise to let Ukraine manufacture Patriot missiles locally.

“Partners who are not yet ready to play a more active role in supplying interceptors can help by implementing new sanctions. A significant share of Russia’s ballistic missile production is still not under sanctions. Even now. New steps are needed – from the G7, the European Union, and everyone who supports the protection of life,” Zelenskyy said.

I will keep an eye on this for you.

Elsewhere, large parts of Europe will face another day of extreme temperatures after multiple records were broken in central and eastern part of the continent yesterday.

The Czech city of Plzeň reported the all-time high of 41.5C yesterday, with the Slovak capital of Bratislava recording an August high of 40.8C.

Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia will all see temperatures in high 30s and possibly into low 40s today, with the extreme temperatures worsening the already tricky drought and energy crunch situation.

I will bring you all the latest news from across the continent here.

It’s Wednesday, 5 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.